Welcome to the Corvette Forums at the Corvette Action Center!

Best method to change your own oil?

jnj

jnj

Well-known member
Joined
May 12, 2004
Messages
109
Location
SoCal
Corvette
2006 Machine Silver Coupe
OK Guys and Gals,
My oil life left is around 30%, time to think about some fresh Mobil 1. I can see the drain plug pointed towards the front at about 45 degrees. Besides jack hammering my garage foundation to build a pit, what other methods are people using. One slip of a floor jack could really cause some damage. I just tried some cheap Wal Mart ramps and ended up pushing them through the garage. Returned them last night. Just curious as to who jacks up the car, who ramps it and who just goes to the dealer. (NEVER use Jiffy Lube or those other 10 minute places)
Thanks to all
Sincerely
JnJ
 
jnj,

On my 1999 C5 coupe, I raise the LF of the car with a floor jack and a jacking pad - then place a jackstand under the frame near the jack. I lay under the car, remove the drain plug and filter, and lower the car for the oil to drain.

I let the oil drain for 30 minutes, then repeat the above to install the drain plug and new filter (Delco UPF44), then add 6 1/2 quarts of Mobil 1 5W30. I wait ten minutes after adding the oil before starting the motor and then reseting the oil life gauge.

An interesting "dealer" story - I bought my Corvette new in September and took it back to the Chevrolet dealer in December for its first oil change at 1,500 miles. I live in a cold climate with below zero temperatures. The service writer quoted me and oil/filter change for the regular price. When I asked if that included Mobil 1 synthetic, he told me that was extra cost and did I want it? I said yes, and insisted Mobil 1 5W30 be used. He said it would but it would cost more.

When the car was finished and I paid, I noticed the service receipt showed that Mobil 1 10W30 was used. (The owner's manual states not to use 10W30 at temperatures below 0 degrees F.) Since it was winter, I asked the service writer why 5W30 was not used - as I specified and also specified on the engine's oil fill cap, and he had agreed to use. He told me that "we never use 5W30". I told him that "I will never be back".

I have never been back to that dealer for an oil change or other routine service, and have changed the oil/filter myself since. I also change the oil on my other cars, and did my previous Corvettes.

I hate dealers and service writers that don't do what you ask them to do and PAY THEM TO DO!.

Good luck.
 
Use a couple pieces of short 2 x 4 across the front of the ramps...this allows the wheels to move up and then down on top of the incline, holding the ramps in place...if you don't get the picture...I'll put up a picture.
 
Have you ever seen that rubbery, nodule looking stuff that lines cabinet shelves? Well, stick a couple of pieces under some 2 X 4's so you can drive the car up onto them without them slipping forward so you can raise the vette enough to get a floor jack under it. Put a 24" piece of 1 inch oak on the jack pad and position it under the frame support at the engine (not the first one but the second one way on back.) Lift the vette, use some pucks (aftermarket) in the jack slots and place a stand under them. Lower the car and go lift the back with the same board. Lower back onto jack stands leaving the vette slightly tilted forward. Now you have good, clear access to everything and oil will drain cleanly and completely.
 
I just jack up each side of the car and then set the front wheels on rhino ramps. Since my oil plug is in the rear of the oil pan, I just let it drain with only the front jacked up.

I always change my own oil.
 
The C5 is supposed to be drained with the car level - so putting it up on ramps with the oil drain plug in the front of the oil pan is a no-no. white99... has a good plan for keeping the car level and doesn't require ramps.

In my case, I have a drive way that slopes down toward the street. I sometimes put my ramps down hill and drive up on them making the car pretty much level once it's up.

That's my 2 cents.
 
jnj said:
OK Guys and Gals,
My oil life left is around 30%, time to think about some fresh Mobil 1. I can see the drain plug pointed towards the front at about 45 degrees. Besides jack hammering my garage foundation to build a pit, what other methods are people using. One slip of a floor jack could really cause some damage. I just tried some cheap Wal Mart ramps and ended up pushing them through the garage. Returned them last night. Just curious as to who jacks up the car, who ramps it and who just goes to the dealer. (NEVER use Jiffy Lube or those other 10 minute places)
Thanks to all
Sincerely
JnJ
Click to expand...


Go to idavet.net (idaho vette) and look under C5 technical. They have excellent instructions on how to do it safely and properly. You need to get the back end a little higher than the front to drain all the oil out. They explain how to do it.
 
Thank you all for the input. Tuna's response hit me like a ton of bricks. Aim the car down the driveway, align the ramps, drive on and just like that the car was level and I could fit inder the nose!. One word of note. Don't use the brake pedal while getting on the ramps, use the handbrake. The ramps slid whenever I applied the brakes with the pedal, and not with the handbrake. Fram DoubleGuard filter?, and feedback.

Regards
Jeff
jnj - 2001 Mag Red Convertible
 
Stay away from any Fram product. AC Delco PF46.
 
Your Corvette deserves better than FRAM. Get Delco, K&N, Mobil 1 or Purolator Pure One. Those are fine oil filters. The K&N has the advantage in the sense that you won't need an oil filter wrench because it has a 1" hex on the bottom of the filter. The K&N and Mobil 1 will run you $10-11 while the Delco and Purolator are in the $5-7 range.
 
warren s said:
Rhino ramps and some home made ramp "extenders", than jack up the back making it even with the front with a good floor jack.

Check out the last 3 pictures in the link below.
http://community.webshots.com/album/300401305sRiwca
Click to expand...

That is pretty much what I usually do. My ramp extenders amount to simple boards placed in front, with something rubbery (bathmats, or shelf liner stuff is another good idea mentioned by wx briefer) under the rhino ramps to keep them from traveling. I use a board (about 18" long) under the floor lift in the back, spanning the cross member, with the jackstands placed to the right and left (on the board).

Once I took it to the dealer. The next time I changed the oil, I think the neighbors learned some new words when I tried to get the extremely overtorqued drain plug bolt loose :mad

I would like to find of those drive-over-pit places that would let me get under there and do it myself, for a small fee. That would be the ultimate, because getting the dang thing up on the ramps and the lift can be time consuming.
 
I use Rhino ramps along with jack stands in the back. To keep the ramps from sliding I use some carpet backing a friend gave me. It's very sticky and tough. I found the best thing to do is start out with the ramps tightly wedged under the tires. I slide them up to the tires and give them a couple good kicks.
 
MsSchroder said:
That is pretty much what I usually do. My ramp extenders amount to simple boards placed in front, with something rubbery (bathmats, or shelf liner stuff is another good idea mentioned by wx briefer) under the rhino ramps to keep them from traveling. I use a board (about 18" long) under the floor lift in the back, spanning the cross member, with the jackstands placed to the right and left (on the board).
Click to expand...

Tammy,

Don't you think I've done a good job staying out of this thread?

Remo:cool
 
Remo said:
Tammy,

Don't you think I've done a good job staying out of this thread?

Remo:cool
Click to expand...
:L
Remo, you're doing a SUPERB job. It is a testament to the positive effect of summer, I think :D
I think I'll put a reminder in Outlook to start a thread on this subject around January 15th or so. Just as a little test to see if you've got the right dosage of your meds ;)

Tammy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

cor123
CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Saturday Quotes Package
Replies
0
Views
299
cor123
cor123
cor123
GM Press Release: CORVETTE RACING AT LE MANS: From Hopes to Heartbreak
Replies
0
Views
5K
cor123
cor123
jackfit
Tell me it is a good thing to have gray metal fake in your rear end oil
2 3 4 5
Replies
88
Views
15K
jackfit
jackfit
H
How Red Line Oil saved my ass
Replies
9
Views
4K
Hib Halverson
H
Cruzen
C5 Oil change simplified
Replies
14
Views
14K
mstromquist
mstromquist

Corvette Forums

Not a member of the Corvette Action Center? Join now! It's free!

Help support the Corvette Action Center!

Supporting Vendors

Dealers:

MacMulkin Chevrolet - The Second Largest Corvette Dealer in the Country!

Advertise with the Corvette Action Center!

Double Your Chances!

Our Partners

Back
Top Bottom