Changing oil, where to put jacks?

[Gold Bird]

Time to change my oil, where are the best places to raise the front of the car? I can almost reach the oil pan but sure would be better to get the car up in the air some more!

[JohnG]

behind the bumper and then behind the radiator is a massive crossmember that I put a floor jack under. I put it under the driver's side and it gets me plenty of room to get under there and drain the oil as the drain plug is on the passenger's side. The filter is messy and the challenge is to both catch the oil and also not have it run down your arm.

[bcomo]

I also use a floor jack on that front crossmember, and two jack stands on each side of it -- just in case.

I get the engine good and hot before I change the oil, but it also makes for many ouch-ouch 4 letter words while I'm doing the change.

[Gold Bird]

I take it that you do not want to put a jack behind the front wheel area by the transmission. On my oil pan for the 352 the drain plug is on the driver side, front pan area. I know our cars are very heavy and did not want to screw anything up! My Father who is 84 would kill me! LOL...

[JohnG]

In your case I would then put the floor jack on the passenger's side in front. I recall there is one place where the crossmember nicely fits into the cup of my floor jack and it is a piece of cake. In your case you then have the plug and the filter on the same side which is nice!

I remember the two guys on Car Talk recalling their initial days in Boston with a drive-in, do-your-own-repairs garage. They would stand by in horror as a guy would put the floor jack under the oil pan, lift away and.... well, you know the rest!!

I have to do mine in the next hour or so and would take a photo if you like - no problem.

John

PS (later)having done mine, I find the drain plug on the driver's side as in your case...duh. It's my Subaru which has it on the passenger side... gets alot more oil changes. The jack under the front crossmember works fine and is in front of the filter sufficiently no matter which side you put it on.

[tbird430]

I do the same as Bart does apparently. Apply the E-Brake and block the back tires (for extra safety).

[Guest]

I really hate to jack up the ole girl so I made me a pair of these to pull her up on to change the oil.There is plenty of room to get at the plug and I don't worry about her falling on my head.

[Dan Leavens]

George ( Colonel ) you are such a resourceful guy and who would have thought of that. By the way, I take it they are your mess around shoes ( if they are your feet in the pix )

Dano Calgary,Alberta Canada

[scumdog]

Normally jack-up using the cross-member under the radiator - and ALWAYS place large slabs of wood under the front wheels and as well I have the car in Park and block the rear wheels with chocks.

[Petrolhead]

I always use axle stands too, under the mounts for the lower suspension arms on my '62, can't be too careful.

[Gold Bird]

Changed the oil tonight, worked great no problems. Thanks to all for the comments, sorry to be a little slow!

[tbird430]

I usually fill the new oil filter up with fresh oil too before installing....

[dgs]

Careful using the radiator supports for jack stands. I put them under there doing my suspension rebuild and they dented the radiator support. Not dangerous, but disappointing that it was dented.

Of course, it was up on the stands for about 3 months as opposed to 30 minutes ...