When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Race Ramps or other pragmatic solution for oil change?
Hi all,
I will begin servicing my cars in the new location without my friends lift. Now I know this might seem like a trivial question BUT :-D. All I want to do is a oil change with this procedure.
Naturally I can lift the car up with two jacks and two stands at the rear but then I run into the issue that the front is not braked other that with chocks is that safe? Or should I make some ramps out of wood? Or should I just get a set of service race ramps? I hate being under the car unless it's an actual lift.
Last question, I have a better spot in front of the house with a 2-3 degree grade, is it really that dangerous. For the questions above I have a flat floor of course.
Are you able to park the car at the edge of the garage/driveway and lay down in the driveway? That method usually allows enough room to change the oil with the car on the ground.
With a 2350mm wheelbase, a 3 percent grade would be ~70mm. If you get the 3" race ramps, you'll bring the car nearly back to level(75mm). Perfect for draining the oil. I use 4 ramps because my concrete is nearly level. Good luck!
I don't jack up the car or use ramps for an oil change. I have a low profile oil pan that just slides right under and can hold a little over ten quarts. For safer and easy. Car is on stock suspension. I also have the spin on oil filter adapter. I just reach in with my hand to loosen.
I staggered two 2x12's on top of each other for each side, flat on the ground, and just drove the car onto them. I've had those boards for decades, they were just the length of the wheelbase, I stacked a some scrap 2x6's at the front to give me a little more length. I don't keep up with lumber prices, those boards would probably be pretty pricey these days. But if you have some 2x's laying around, you can rig something up pretty quick and easy.
OP - Liftbars are boss. The only quibble with the bars is I have to run up on boards to get bars (resting on jack pad) under the lowered car. So why not drive up on 2x4s? Plenty of room to get a torque wrench under the pan if your drip pan is low enough.
I have Race Ramps and a homemade lift bar. For oil changes, I find that the ramps are easiest. I jack up the front to make the car closer to level for the oil to drain.
lift up one side from the rear jacking point, place jackstand under front jacking point on same side
repeat the process on the other side, now the front of the car is in the air
lift the whole rear from the cross-beam-support between the engine and transmission (pictured)
slide jackstands under the two rear jacking points, lower the jack
car is now elevated and level
Are you able to park the car at the edge of the garage/driveway and lay down in the driveway? That method usually allows enough room to change the oil with the car on the ground.
I think I do the same thing, just back the car out of the garage until the rear wheels are about to exit the garage floor. I have enough room to pull drain plugs and drain oil without any lift, jacks, or ramps.
I do put down plastic first and keep a roll of paper towels handy.
Car is lowered so I used to park on a pair of 2x10’s. Now I use the quickjack. Can also roll around on a creeper and see what else is going on under the car while it’s draining. Well worth the investment and useful for the other cars too.