Jacking up a vehicle for an oil change

[Gary Fowler]

It wasn't mentioned. Seems pretty obvious that all of the steps from the article should have been mentioned.

I use ramps with our two cars. No need for ramps to change the oil and filter on my 2004 Silverado.

Man you are lucky. My 2007 Z71 Silverado with rail footsteps is so low to the ground that my fat belly wont go under it. I have to lift it with my LS P7010 then put my stands down in order to slide under it to get the drain plug and filter off. At least the filter is accessible unlike on my wifes 2003 Olds Bravada which has the filter up inside a well cut into the frame. You have to reach up past the elbow to get to the filter and then oil runs all over you and the car. That one gets serviced at the dealer almost exclusively. It originally had a plate to be removed to access the hole, but I guess some oil change monkey forgot to put it back on at some point.

 

[FTG-05]

Timely thread: I've had a two post Atlas 12K lb vehicle lift in my shop since I bought my farm back in the fall of 2013, but have never used it to lift/hold a vehicle until this last weekend. For some reason, I just didn't trust it.

But I finally did use it this last weekend to lift and hold my Kubota RTV to change the transmission oil and filters.

On the Atlas, it's electric over hydraulic to lift the vehicle. But then you release the hydraulics to let it down onto mechanical stops so you can work under the vehicle. The first time I got under the RTV was pretty nerve wracking having never worked under one before. Didn't take long to get used to it though and the job went pretty fast. In fact, given the damage to the under armor and tranmission drain plug, it would have been almost impossible without the lift.

It takes two hands to allow the lift to drop completely (one to release the hydraulics, one to bypass/unengage the mechanical stop) and is very slow.

 

[Scott65]

Timely thread: I've had a ...

... to drop completely (one to release the hydraulics, one to bypass/unengage the mechanical stop) and is very slow.

These are amazing tools to have. Not allot of folks have them on a residential or "novice" scale so to speak. Due to the cost and amount of room required, both floor space and ceiling height. That's cool that you have one.

I work in a shop full of these lifts. I wouldn't be without. In my opinion, the key is to maintain a healthy fear of it, but no need to be afraid beyond that as long as it's installed correctly and maintained. This just makes sure that your always paying attention. Weight distribution and proper lifting points are essential. And keep it maintained. I have seen the rollers that guide the cables break off of the posts due to fatigue from never being greased. Bad day. My biggest at the moment is a 12k, hopefully soon I'll have time to install a 15k. I put 10 to 12k on it every day, 8 days a week and I've never had a problem.

One thing you might take note of is the concrete it's bolted to. It can be pretty critical if you ever put any more load on it. I have seen first hand what happens when one is put in concrete that was poured too shallow with not enough steel. And the customer was standing there with the kids watching... (A buddy's shop, not mine thank goodness)