Stupid oil change question

woodlandfarms · Jun 5, 2015

OK, this is pretty stupid but want to make sure I am thinking this through.

Bought myself an Acura TL. Nice car. But a bit low to the ground. Going to change the oil and realize there is no way I can the them up my normal auto ramps. At first I was stumped; jack the car up? Now I am wondering if it makes sense to build a ramp helper (or maybe just full ramps) out of like 2X8 cut and mounted stepped up. The wheels are set pretty far back (or the nose sticks out long) so the 2X is going to be long before the next step comes up. Or is there something else I am not thinking about. No, this car is in LA so no digging a pit.

QRTRHRS · Jun 5, 2015

I have a six foot long set of ramps that I use. I lay some bocking down then the ramps and drive on. This is for my wife's CTS. For myself, I prefer vehicles that I can crawl under without the use of jacks or run over to my friend's shop and let them have at it with the lift, lol! Seriously though, a long dedicated set of ramps made from wood sound pretty heavy to be moving around. I don't know if anyone offers something big enough and lightweight or not?

BigRol · Jun 5, 2015

Have you got a set of forks for that power trac?

hutchman · Jun 5, 2015

I don't know where you get these anymore but I have a set of extensions that look just like these:

http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/808...rom-walmart/page__view__findpost__p__19280865

Baby Grand · Jun 6, 2015

I ended up having to get a low profile jack from HF for working on our cars, due to their "low-rye-da" body styles.

Once you have the front up a few inches you could position your ramps under the tires, drop the jack and drive up the rest of the way?

On second thought, why bother? Those extensions, that hutchman showed, look like a great solution for all your ramping needs.

von-mil · Jun 6, 2015

I had the same problem with my small car - the floor jack does not fit under the front valance. I just used some scrap wood and built these. I slowly drive up to the third step, roll the floor jack under, lift and set back down on jackstands.

RalphVa · Jun 6, 2015

Is the oil filter accessible from the top like it should be? If so, I'd buy an oil extractor and change the oil from the top. That's the way I did it on my 240D and now on my VW Jetta. Even do it on my tractor.

HATE my Tacoma. Oil filter is a ***** to get to from the bottom. Toyota engineers should be lashed with 40 stripes.

Ralph

Fawken · Jun 7, 2015

Is that a 4 foot bucket on your machine? Scrape out a 4'x8'x12" trench in the pasture and lay some cardboard or old carpet in it/

Jay4200 · Jun 8, 2015

woodlandfarms said:
OK, this is pretty stupid but want to make sure I am thinking this through.

Bought myself an Acura TL. Nice car. But a bit low to the ground. Going to change the oil and realize there is no way I can the them up my normal auto ramps. At first I was stumped; jack the car up? Now I am wondering if it makes sense to build a ramp helper (or maybe just full ramps) out of like 2X8 cut and mounted stepped up. The wheels are set pretty far back (or the nose sticks out long) so the 2X is going to be long before the next step comes up. Or is there something else I am not thinking about. No, this car is in LA so no digging a pit.

What - no Jiffy Lubes in your area? I decided I was way too old to change oil anymore - SO worth the extra $20. Just not having to deal with the old stuff is worth $20 to me.

pohorsky · Jun 8, 2015

von-mil said:
I had the same problem with my small car - the floor jack does not fit under the front valance. I just used some scrap wood and built these. I slowly drive up to the third step, roll the floor jack under, lift and set back down on jackstands.

View attachment 428441

I did something similar, except I just used a concrete block. The front bumper hit the ramps, so I put the block in front of the ramp and it cleared it.

D2Cat · Jun 9, 2015

At my local Chrysler dealer I get 4 oil changes for $64. Doesn't have to be their brand either. Can't fiddle with it for that.

CobyRupert · Jun 9, 2015

Same problem with my VW. Get some scrap boards, set the incline side of the ramps on one end of the board and have the boards so that the car tire drives onto the other end of board and raises the car up before the front spoiler hits the ramp. Boards only need to be about 3' long

clemsonfor · Jun 10, 2015

Jay4200 said:
What - no Jiffy Lubes in your area? I decided I was way too old to change oil anymore - SO worth the extra $20. Just not having to deal with the old stuff is worth $20 to me.

But you then have some moron kid under your car that may leave a plug loose or not top the oil all the way. My buddy just lost the engine in his F150 due to thinking they underfilled it. he has no way to prove it and its partially his fault for not checking the oil at all!!! but still.

Oh and to the OP, get a jack a low profile one is needed if your gonna drive small cars esp.

clemsonfor · Jun 10, 2015

i Change my oil in all the newer stuff with Mobil1 you cant buy an oilchange for a large SUV for what i do it for and i use a premium filter and Oil. Now if you find a place that lets you bring your own supplies in and chatges you $20 for labor and disposal and your alright for paying somone $80+ an hour to change your oil (an oil change takes 15 mins). go ahead. I will continue to do my own for now.

The guy getting 4 oil changes at chrysler for $64 your getting the cheapest filter and bulk oil possible if that includes the materials and no way would i put that stuff in my oldest trucks!!!

Capricious · Jun 10, 2015

I change my own oil because there is so little else I am capable of doing on today's autos.

And I can bring the used oil down to work where they will burn it in the boiler, so it's not a problem to get rid of it.

clemsonfor · Jun 24, 2015

many people say that Capricious. But lots of stuff still applies to all your cars today. Diagnostics have changed a bit with computer controlled stuff but mechanical knowlege of things still applies to cars today. all the brakes and suspention stuff is similar to the last 30 years. You can still do a tune up, just plugs and wires today. Coils only need to be when go bad but then you need to diagnose them. Computer just tells you about missfires and then only gross repeated missfires. there so dumb that just cause you pull a wire off dont mean you get a misfire code. You need to look, swap coils, could be a bad coil, could be a cracked plug or even bad wires. transmissions still need fluid changes...well some of them. Water pumps, belts, hoses, batteries, alternators etc still go bad, little has changed there when you get down to it other than you might remove a plastic shield now a days before you start

newbury · Jun 24, 2015

Jay4200 said:
What - no Jiffy Lubes in your area? I decided I was way too old to change oil anymore - SO worth the extra $20. Just not having to deal with the old stuff is worth $20 to me.

IF they do it right. There is a whole section of you tube on Jiffy Lube scams.

clemsonfor said:
But you then have some moron kid under your car that may leave a plug loose or not top the oil all the way. My buddy just lost the engine in his F150 due to thinking they underfilled it. he has no way to prove it and its partially his fault for not checking the oil at all!!! but still.

Oh and to the OP, get a jack a low profile one is needed if your gonna drive small cars esp.

Or just as bad as when they overfill it.

The only way to get it done is to see what they put in it and check it when it comes off the rack, or do it yourself.

To the OP
My VW jetta is low. I drive it up on some 2x4's then jack with a HF jack and rest it on jackstands.

Capricious · Jun 24, 2015

clemsonfor said:
many people say that Capricious. But lots of stuff still applies to all your cars today. Diagnostics have changed a bit with computer controlled stuff but mechanical knowlege of things still applies to cars today. all the brakes and suspention stuff is similar to the last 30 years. You can still do a tune up, just plugs and wires today. Coils only need to be when go bad but then you need to diagnose them. Computer just tells you about missfires and then only gross repeated missfires. there so dumb that just cause you pull a wire off dont mean you get a misfire code. You need to look, swap coils, could be a bad coil, could be a cracked plug or even bad wires. transmissions still need fluid changes...well some of them. Water pumps, belts, hoses, batteries, alternators etc still go bad, little has changed there when you get down to it other than you might remove a plastic shield now a days before you start

Oh, I try to do what I can:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/334620-ranger-repairs.html

Got a "check engine" light last week. Disconnected the battery to kill the light. So far, it has not come on again, but haven't driven it much. Walked over to the auto parts store
today at lunch and bought an air filter element, on the chance that the old one is plugged-up.

If the check engine light comes on again, I guess I will have to go to the trouble of having the auto parts store read the code for me, so I can decide if
it is something I want to deal with.

Since this truck HAS to go away next year (long story) I don't want to put too much money into now.

Mace Canute · Jun 24, 2015

clemsonfor said:
.........The guy getting 4 oil changes at chrysler for $64 your getting the cheapest filter and bulk oil possible if that includes the materials and no way would i put that stuff in my oldest trucks!!!

Yeah, I had the same thought too. At the going shop rates and at that price they must be highly pressured to get it done and out the door.

Capricious · Jun 25, 2015

Mace Canute said:
Yeah, I had the same thought too. At the going shop rates and at that price they must be highly pressured to get it done and out the door.

Oh, I don't know. It might be a pretty good deal.

I figure it is a loss-leader; the place is counting on finding something else that needs done while the vehicle is in the bay, and that is where they will make their
profit. Employees at these sorts of places (and virtually all retail businesses) are under pressure these days to "upsell" services. I understand that the guys are just
doing their jobs- what they are told to do, but it annoys me, and is one BIG reason that I like to buy online instead of at the local stores, assuming the shipping/sales tax works
out. I can buy what I want without someone trying to sell me something else.

If the guy can get into and out of the shop with just an oil change and without being sold other services, it is probably not a bad deal.

However, I find that I can change my own in a lot less time than taking it to a dealer. It MIGHT be faster at one of those "quickie lube" kind of places, if there is not line and I was driving by the place anyway, but going to a car dealer takes too much time.