Do it yourself oil change proceedure?

[mvanbuhl]

I have read the maintenance FAQ for oil changes. However, I have not found any suggestions for changing the oil without a lift. How do I jack the car up and keep it level for proper drainage?

This is obviously my first attempt as a new owner. I would appreciate any and all suggestions - even one that says take it in for an oil change.

 

[KellyJoe]

Just jack up the passenger side rear and remove the wheel. Lower the jack until the car is level and reach everything through the wheel well. Very easy to do from here. I did find that you need a pretty low profile drain pan though.

 

[nsxtasy]

DanO's procedure does not require that you have a lift.

Neither does mine.

 

[Hugh]

I bring my own Mobil 1, a new crush washer and an OEM filter to Jiffy Lube and 10 mins later I'm done.

 

[wswen]

Oil Change

I drive my right side wheels up onto a long 2x4. The floor jack will easily fit under car this way. Loosen wheel, jack car up, remove wheel, get drain pan , remove plug. lower car to level, finish drain, repalce plug/gasket, remove filter, fill new filter ,install new filter, install wheel DONE!

 

[Tom239]

I drive the car up onto 4 pieces of 2x12 lumber (with edges I've beveled to make it easier). Better to back up a foot or so and then drive forward, letting the car's momentum carry it up onto the wood pieces, rather than powering up onto them from a stop--at least on a smooth concrete garage floor (the wood can slip under the drive wheels).

I don't remove the right rear wheel. I can reach everything while lying down on the floor next to the car.

I could reach the filter and drain plug without even driving the car up onto the 2x12s; I only need them to have enough clearance to get the pan under the car to catch the oil.

 

[ceeya32]

If you do it yourself like I did don't make the mistake I made and let the rim fall on the face and scratch the blades.

 

[Hugh]

Just jack up the passenger side rear and remove the wheel. Lower the jack until the car is level and reach everything through the wheel well. Very easy to do from here. I did find that you need a pretty low profile drain pan though.

I just used this procedure for replacing the oil filter since I'm beginning a treatment of Auto-RX.

With that wheel off it's a piece of cake. Sears had a 3 1/2 ton floor jack on sale including 2 jack stands for $29.00 and I picked up 2 additional matching stands for $14.99. This particular floor jack has a minimum height of 5 1/2" so I simply backed the car up over a stack of folded moving boxes and presto, the jack slid right under the jacking point.

Sears has a great looking aluminum floor jack with a 3 1/4" minimum clearance but at $179.00 I'll use the cardboard and the $30.00 jack for the few times a year that the thing will need to be put up on stands.

 

[matteni]

I bought a $5 scisser jack at AutoZone to start the car until my floor jack fits under it for big maintenance.

For oil changes I bought $20 ramps at autozone you just back up on then it is a breaze from there.

 

[nsxtasy]

I bought a $5 scisser jack at AutoZone to start the car until my floor jack fits under it for big maintenance.

Why not just use the stock scissors jack?

 

[matteni]

My floor jack easily fits under my car without a 2x4.

With the $15 jack I have and the bilstein (top perch) / eibach springs - it barely misses

Originally posted by nsxtasy Why not just use the stock scissors jack?

I busted it doing my "Headers for Dummies" back in 98' and found one almost exactly like it for $5 on sale

 

[Tom239]

For oil changes I bought $20 ramps at autozone you just back up on then it is a breaze from there.

I have ramps too but I don't use them for oil changes. The drain is toward the back of the oil pan on an NSX; if the rear of the car is elevated, not as much oil will drain out. It's not a huge deal, but neither are a lot of points that I am all of a sudden particular about because it's an NSX.

I'd re-used the crush washer on my Integra's oil drain over a dozen times, and it never leaked. But the NSX gets a new one every time.

 

[cwood1388]

I feel like a real idiot when I ask this but how often is a crush washer supposed to be replaced?

 

[dgaetano]

I feel like a real idiot when I ask this but how often is a crush washer supposed to be replaced?

They are one use items, meant to be replaced every time you take the nut off.