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.