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oil change

#101
Since I have a Powerstroke diesel I NEVER let anyone else do oil changes on my truck. Being a HEUI motor (oil driven fuel injectors) clean and healthy oil is a MUST HAVE not to mention its about $120 to have a shop change my oil and I can do it for $70. She takes 4 gallons of oil and a HUGE filter every 5k.
 
#102
Growing up my dad had a pair of two piece steel ramps that we pulled the cars onto for oil changes. Can't find anything like that now, it's all cheap plastic or single piece steel (also cheap).

I'm very interested in the drain valves and Pela stuff, never heard of them before but seem like a great idea.
 
#103
Balog said:
Growing up my dad had a pair of two piece steel ramps that we pulled the cars onto for oil changes. Can't find anything like that now, it's all cheap plastic or single piece steel (also cheap).

I'm very interested in the drain valves and Pela stuff, never heard of them before but seem like a great idea.
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I use the Fumoto drain valve on my F-250 and I love it. My truck sees a lot of off road trails and corn fields and have not had any issues with the valve. I was leary about it at first but after two yrs of use in just about every terrain imaginable I would definitely recommend it. I hear ya on the ramps too, everything sold now is so cheaply built, I still have my dads ramps from the early 80s that won't even flex under my 4 ton truck...though being lifted I can just sit under my truck without the ramps unless I need some serious clearance to work with lol.
 
#108
I do it myself on the MG because there's a bunch of grease nipples and stuff that need attention over and above the regular oil change. For the regular cars (Mustang, Escape) I take it to the shop at the end of the road. They do a good job and I can get on with something else while they're working. It's a little job that I could do myself, but it's not that much more to have them do it and they repay the business by being extra-helpful on the big jobs.
 
#109
MatticusMania said:
All of the last few GM cars Ive owned have the oil filter at the top.
One advantage: unlike my gf's Toyota, you dont have oil spill anywhere when you take the old filter out.
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Riseinside1892 said:
I don't think there would be any advantage other than convenience. But I bet it is real nice to not have to crawl under and snake the filter around a million different parts like on some vehicles
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sjeverett said:
our Camry and 4Runner had the filters on top. Its really nice having it there.
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Gee wiz, here I thought this was just a Subaru thing, I'm mistaken. The last car I owned was an old 1992 Nissan Senstra. oops.
 
#112
Balog said:
Growing up my dad had a pair of two piece steel ramps that we pulled the cars onto for oil changes. Can't find anything like that now, it's all cheap plastic or single piece steel (also cheap).

I'm very interested in the drain valves and Pela stuff, never heard of them before but seem like a great idea.
Click to expand...

I never liked the ramps, and I have always use a jack, and jack stands.

I once saw someone drive a mid-sized car up on a set of metal ramps, and just before he was about to go underneath the car, one of the ramps collapsed. It was not very old, and not rusted. A weld broke. I assume they were made in China, and bought at the ubiquitous source for cheap Chinese crap, (Walmart).

Witnessing that reinforced my distrust of ramps, (and anything else that could cause harm or death that is made in China).

Be careful when working underneath your vehicle. Inspect anything you must trust your life with. If you use welded jack stands, make sure they are not rusty. Get rid of any that don't look safe.

I use two jack stands, and leave some weight on the jack as well. I give the car a little shove back, and forth to check that all is stable before crawling around under it.
 
#113
pedroims said:
Its not a scam, oil gets dirty and burned with the time losing properties. Changing oil can be cheaper than changing strings in your bass so make yourself a favor and give regular maintenance services to your car.
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I do! Truck is getting the oil changed today. At about 10,000km.

Balog said:
Growing up my dad had a pair of two piece steel ramps that we pulled the cars onto for oil changes. Can't find anything like that now, it's all cheap plastic or single piece steel (also cheap).

I'm very interested in the drain valves and Pela stuff, never heard of them before but seem like a great idea.
Click to expand...

My Uncles had some timber that backed out into a ravine. Very narrow and no "stop" on it. If you got out of alignment, it was into the ravine with you. Kinda like the bridge of never-ending peril! But it worked for them.
 
#119
Tony Flow MMMM said:
Sorry I meant anti drain back valves, sorry been a while.
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You'd be shocked at how much oil hangs around after shutoff and even after sitting. I've pulled engines apart after they're sat in the corner of the shop for a year and the bearings are nice and oily. Also, since there's essentially no load on an engine at start up there's no real need to be worried that you're burning stuff up without a drainback valve. The oil pump moves oil pretty quickly.
 
#120
hover said:
A lowered truck still has higher ground clearance than your common car. My Wife's car has about 6-8" of ground clearance. You ain't fitting under that.
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7.5 inches to the frame on my truck. I ain't crawling under; I'm reaching. Still, point taken.

My '91 Mazda comes from a time before SUV/ 4X4/ pre-runner style, led to tall 2WD trucks. It left the factory much lower than any 2WD truck on offer today.
 

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