Changing oil yourself or going to the lube place

[ReggieD]

It seems to me that everyone is having their oil changed by a shop. Is it possible to change my own oil at home in my garage with a floor jack. I can see the oil filter by looking under the car.

I really think I can change my oil myself. AM I missing something or is changing your own oil a bad idea..

If changing your oil is a good thing then what are the simple steps.
(this way I will know if I am missing something)

Remember...I am a newbee vette owner (2 weeks old)

:TALK

 

[Dave C. '04 Z06]

Changing the oil in a Corvette is the same as changing it in any other car, except you probably want to use synthetic oil.

1. Jack the car up (using proper location, remember...it's fiberglass)
2. put pan under drain hole and remove oil pan plug
3. After oil is finished draining, move pan under oil filter and remove
4. Lube o-ring of new filter, fill with new oil, and and put on
5. install oil pan drain plug
6. fill up with remaining 4.5 (0.5 went into filter) quarts of new oil in oil fill cap on passenger valve cover.

that's about it...

-Dave

 

[vader86]

Ive usually had it changed by a quicklube place where the guy who manages owns an 89 6speed.

However, while i do watch the guys as they work, you cant see the guy under the car.

It turns out that the guy under the car had crossthreaded and stripped my oil pan bolt, which created a large leak. I had to replace the oil pan recently.

Its not hard to change it yourself, i plan on doing so from now on. Just get the car far enough in the air so you can reach the bolt with a wrench, and twist off the filter. Id use 2 jacks, and/or some jackstands. If you cant get the filter off theres a little tool that helps. Id just replace it with a K&N after that.

Most of the parts stores also have an oil pan for draining that you can buy and slide under the car. Then theyll take the oil for reprocessing.

 

[Edmond]

Just what Dave said but I would use Rhino ramps instead of jacking. Is there any difference? Not really, but the Rhino ramps are easier to use!:L:L:L

Definitely use synthetic oil. You can get a 5 quart bottle of Mobil 1 10W-30 at Wal Mart for $19.00. I would recommend the use of a high quality oil filter such as Delco, Mobil 1 or K&N. I use the K&N because the 1" hex nut on the end makes the oil filter wrench obsolete.

 

[Tuna]

What he said.

I use ramps also.
If you use a jack, make sure you place jack stands under the car. Don't want it falling on you - believe me!

I pour the waste oil into a large spare 'gas can', properly marked as "used oil" and take the used oil to the nearest AutoZone for recycling. The gas can give me room to change more than one car's oil before having to head to AutoZone.

 

[8388]

One more tip and reason for doing it yourself. The machining process that creates the threads on the filter also creates metal shaving. I always carefully clean the threads, catching most of the debree before filling the filter with oil and installing it.

 

[Minnesota Fats]

As a new owner I understand the mobil oil but how about during winter storage when the vehicle is not driven except from and back to the oil changer?

 

[afree]

Do it yourself. Basic steps have been described in the threads. I usually warm up the oil a little (warm not hot) before I start and I allow plenty of time for it to drain. No reason to be in a big hurry when you do it yourself.
Also you have peace of mind knowing the jobs was done right and while you are under the car it gives you a chance to take a look around at other things that might require attention, like bushings, oil leaks, exhaust problems etc...
I as well as a lot of people I know have had some pretty bad experiences with some garage mechanics ( although I am sure there are plenty of goods ones out there) they just done seem to be in my area.
I've been a car guy all my life and working on the car myself is just part of the pleasure of owning the car, at least for me anyway. There are very few people I would trust with any of my cars.

 

[stu]

While you are changing the oil you should also grease the upper and lower ball joints as well as the front and rear control arms.

I really hate to start a debate on synthetic v.s. mineral, but, I bought my 87 with 64k miles on it and did not know if it had been running synthetic oil or not so I put in regular stuff.

After about 2500 miles it was about 3/4 of a quart low so I topped it off with Mobil1 since it was all I had. Well, a valve guide seal started leaking.

I can't prove one way or another if the synthetic caused the problem but a friend said that the synthetic cleaned out the deposits on the seals which were keeping it from leaking. I'm not sure if he is right or not but it does make sense.

 

[KEN2258]

TRY to use the same brand type weight as last owner if they used syn then use syn oil mobil 1 best oil made my opin just use same brand as last owner

 

[Gorgon]

LT1 and newer engines came from the factory with Mobil 1 synthetic. I would keep using the same.

Leon

 

[DkBG]

And to all those who have their's done , be sure they know about greaseing those rear control arms (as Stu said) . I've seen alot of them caked over with dirt because they hadn't been touched in years . Cliff

 

[larry bud]

Just don't forget to fill it up after you drain it...

 

[Chetzki]

And to all those who have their's done....

I've been taking my truck to a shop because they gave me free oil, filter and lube coupons when I bought it through their dealership. I change the oil in my Vette and van, but thought I would give my self a break in both time and money with my truck.

Well.....

Last night I had the truck on jackstands rotating the tires and realized all the grease zerks were caked over with the dirt from the previous owner - not that kind of dirt here. And I was quite surprised they would use NAPA oil filters at a dealership. Especially one that looked like it had been on for awile. Obviously, they have not been doing all the work. At least it comes back with clean oil each time. They're getting a call tomorrow. That would be Gulf Coast Auto Sales - South of Houston on Highway 288 ad

Chetzki

 

[93aquaConvert]

I bring my oil and filter to a amaco station were they dont mind if im right there watching everything..$10 labor.. Reggie definatly use mobil1 oil and use the original acdelco filter or better yet a mobil1 filter or k&n.

Edmond everytime they tighten the filter by hand.. never no wrench..