how do you guys change your oil so that when you drain it it all comes out? i have to drive my car onto a ramp to get under it, and some of the oil drifts to the back of the oil pan, so i cant get it out, and i always have black streaks in my nice knew oil change, but when i get it done by a mechanic its so clean.

what are your tips?

 

Why not just start it up and back up.

You could back it up in N and have it roll down. Then once it's all drained try to jack it up, maybe you can get under it enough to put the plug back in.

I just let it drain completely so no more oil is coming out, even if there is some left, I'm sure it's not enough to cause any damage.

 

The mechanic uses a lift, so the car is level and all the oil drains out. Try putting the rear of the car on jackstands while the front is on ramps. In reality though, it doesn't make that much difference. A few ounces of dirty oil diluted into 5 quarts of clean oil isn't a big issue.

 

If you're really worried about it just run a quart of clean oil through it after it stops draining. I've seen a lot of sludge come out this way, but really 5 new quarts is 5 new quarts. Its pretty clean oil.

 

You guys prabably wont belive this , but I have changed the oil in my car atleast twice without even jacking it up .:sillylol: I even have ground effects so my car is low Im pretty slinder .Not saying there are any large or big peops around here .But I just slid under it part of the way , yeah it was a pain in the a$$ thats why I have only changed it like that twice .All the other times I use my jack . ....Im not telling anyone to change their oil by sliding under there without using a jack b/c its not easy at all , I just thought Id humor you guys !:sillylol:

 

I'd say, I can't even get my head under the gfx.

 

A good trick is to straddle a curb so that the drain plug is facing down. It can be a pain in the *** if you live on a busy street, but I don't.

 

When you jack it up, and put it on stands, leave the stand on the side with the drain plug lower then the other, to run oil toward drain plug.

 

Wayne... That's crazy I cant even get my head under my car with out jacking it up...i can spread out my hand as if i was giving some one a 'five' and touch the road with my thumb and my pinky wont fit under my ground effects....

how i change my oil...

Let the car cool down!
jack up the drivers side enough to slide under there... pull the plug off and let it drain.

while the oil is draining through the plug i pop a hole in the bottom of my filter and then pull that off... let it just drain until there are very few drips...

smear a ring of oil around the new oil filter and screw that back on there... then put the plug in... 5 quarts later its all new!

 

I guess we all have different ways of doing this.
I jack it up, pull the drain plug, then jack it back down until all oil comes out.
Jack it back up, put in the plug, then pull the oil filter.

I guess there's no wrong way to eat a Reese's

 

haha, if i were to start the car after draining all of the oil, then back up off of the ramps to drain the last few ounces, how many seconds would it take for my motor to sieze?

 

Well, I'd hope you'd just put the trans in neutral, and let the car roll off the ramps.

I see no need to drain that last little bit of oil, either. The pickup doesn't suck from the extreme bottom of the pan, so that sludge isn't going to get sucked in. I put the car on ramps, pull the plug, and start a lube job. When the oil stops pouring out and starts dripping, I pull the filter, and finish the lube job. Then I put the new filter on (pre-filling it, of course), put the drain plug in, and fill it up with oil.

 

Thanks TomP, I was wondering if I was the only nut pre fill the oil filter.

 

You guys who are saying that you just jack it up and then crawl under there...... you are using jackstands or putting the car on ramps, right?

 

i usually just use the hydrualic lift to hold the car up, i know it isnt exactly safe, but i really doubt it would fall out.

 

I'm sure there's a good reason for pre-filling the filter. But what is it? And maybe my memory is faded but I thought my chiltons says use 5 and a half quarts?

 

I think the whole idea behind 'pre-filling' an oil filter is just to prime it on intitial start-up.


Greg K; cooling down the car before doing an oil change? I'm not an expert by no means, but I don't think that would make alot of sense. Wouldn't it be a better idea to have the oil hot?
oil is less dense hot..more would drain out

just my 3 canadian cents (=million american!)

latz,

87GTA57L

 

you guys can't slide under your car??? I can get my whole body under my car without jacking it up and that's how I change my oil. by the way your sposted to fill the filter up to keep the engine from running dry on startup.

 

Draining that last little bit out, draining it hot or cold, and filling up the filter are all not going to matter in the end. Just change the oil by whatever means you think is correct(draining the majority of oil out) and install a new filter--and do this every 3000 miles. Please, Please, Please use jack stands. If that jack fails while you are under the car, you will probably be killed--or hurt really bad.

 

Yeah, always use jack stands

I use Engine Flush for 10 miles or so before the change. I then let the car cool down for 10-15 mins- so the oil is still warm/hot. I then jack the front of the car up, release the drain plug. Wait for all oil to drain, remove the filter and do up the plug. I always prime my filter, smear some oil around the seal and put it back on.

Job done- oh yeah don't forget to fill the block up with oil either

 

We're special :sillylol:

 

They must have had their cars fall of their jacks onto them before. Now they can fit

 

hehehe:sillylol: ...you make me think of cartoons .

 

Yeah, me too.

 

if you buy your oil in the big bulk cases like i do; you'll always be left with about 3 or 4 quarts after 2 oil changes.

Thats why i just pour a quart of oil into the engine after its done draining. It's being pretty pickey, that little bit that dosnt drain out isnt going to affect anything really, but hey i already got the extra oil thats just going to be doing nothing.