Oil Change. Ramps or Jack Stands?
- Thread starter joyriide1113
- Start date
vwgtivw
Don't diss the FAST!!
Anthony A said:
Anthony it happens a lot to the cheap steel ones with no braces. My best friends dad was killed that way,when his ramps collapsed when he was under his stock car. Like these pieces of $hit.
http://www.x5world.com/images/articles/83/oil change 05.jpg
TrueDetailer
All About The Bling Bling
Your better off changing it yourself. At least this way you KNOW its done right and the plug is back on correctly. If you can fit under the truck i would invest in one of those rolling back support deals you see mechanics use. I forgot what they're called. I been needing to get one for myself but forget everytime i go to sears.
BenjiBoy650
New member
I always use jack and jackstands. They are much more practical for me, to do wheel rotations and brake inspections and such...that's why I didn't buy ramps but bought a $70 jack instead.
If you can get under the car as is, no reason to raise it up. IF it's not quite high enough, some people drive one side of the car onto the sidewalk, might raise it just enough...I'm venturing to guess you wouldn't try that on an X5 (and I wouldn't try that on any car)
If you can get under the car as is, no reason to raise it up. IF it's not quite high enough, some people drive one side of the car onto the sidewalk, might raise it just enough...I'm venturing to guess you wouldn't try that on an X5 (and I wouldn't try that on any car)
Ramps with bracing were my choice for years.
Then, vehicles were built so low and with so much overhang that I needed an approach ramp to get onto the ramps.
Next step was the floor jack and the jack stands. Eventually I switched the jack stands for wood blocks cut to the right height with carpet on the top surface.
When the old floor jack gave up and I was shopping for a new one for about $150, my wife asked me how long it would take to pay for the floor jack based on what I could save by doing it myself. It was about 3 to 5 years. She suggested that she might be able to increase my allowance enough to cover that $150 over the following 3 to 5 years.
Guess how it's done now.
As for who you have do it, check with your present mechanic. The guys I go to for my mechanical repairs also change oil, anti-freeze, transmission fluid, any service my vehicles need. They charge very little more than the cheap lube shops. They do it right and I feel like they will see things that I might miss.
Charles
Then, vehicles were built so low and with so much overhang that I needed an approach ramp to get onto the ramps.
Next step was the floor jack and the jack stands. Eventually I switched the jack stands for wood blocks cut to the right height with carpet on the top surface.
When the old floor jack gave up and I was shopping for a new one for about $150, my wife asked me how long it would take to pay for the floor jack based on what I could save by doing it myself. It was about 3 to 5 years. She suggested that she might be able to increase my allowance enough to cover that $150 over the following 3 to 5 years.
Guess how it's done now.
As for who you have do it, check with your present mechanic. The guys I go to for my mechanical repairs also change oil, anti-freeze, transmission fluid, any service my vehicles need. They charge very little more than the cheap lube shops. They do it right and I feel like they will see things that I might miss.
Charles
CharlesW said:Ramps with bracing were my choice for years.
Then, vehicles were built so low and with so much overhang that I needed an approach ramp to get onto the ramps.
Next step was the floor jack and the jack stands. Eventually I switched the jack stands for wood blocks cut to the right height with carpet on the top surface.
When the old floor jack gave up and I was shopping for a new one for about $150, my wife asked me how long it would take to pay for the floor jack based on what I could save by doing it myself. It was about 3 to 5 years. She suggested that she might be able to increase my allowance enough to cover that $150 over the following 3 to 5 years.
Guess how it's done now.
As for who you have do it, check with your present mechanic. The guys I go to for my mechanical repairs also change oil, anti-freeze, transmission fluid, any service my vehicles need. They charge very little more than the cheap lube shops. They do it right and I feel like they will see things that I might miss.
Charles
Getting shops to do it for you is OK if you trust them. I don't. Too many simple things for them to screw up. Stripping the plug, under tighten the plug so it leaks, wrong oil or filter, forget to put oil in which I have seen done at a Walmart, or just plain ripping you off as the Jiffy Lube video that was going around shows. There is no price I can put on my piece of mind.
joe.p
New member
The ramp in the pics are the ones i was reffering too.vwgtivw said:
I agree with charles when he says to look for a mechanic who could do it cheaper even some lube places only chargre $18 - $ 24.00 now adays.
Have you thought about greasing the fittings?
BenjiBoy650
New member
My jack cost $70. It might not last that long, but I like doing it myself. It's a matter of trust...would you let just anybody detail your car? Likewise, I'm picky about who works on my cars, so I do it when I can, just cuz.
I use the jack for more than just oil changes. I use it to do my own tire rotations, brake inspections, general checks for leaks and such, for whatever reason. Whether the jack pays for itself or not isn't really my concern...but I've used it 4 times in the past week to look for a suspension noise, take off a sway bar, and change two vehicle's oils. Not to mention that a proper auto trans flush will take several drain/fills with a few miles driven in between them. So the jack in my case does pay off
I use the jack for more than just oil changes. I use it to do my own tire rotations, brake inspections, general checks for leaks and such, for whatever reason. Whether the jack pays for itself or not isn't really my concern...but I've used it 4 times in the past week to look for a suspension noise, take off a sway bar, and change two vehicle's oils. Not to mention that a proper auto trans flush will take several drain/fills with a few miles driven in between them. So the jack in my case does pay off
Or have it done by a mechanic that has the equipment to flush the entire system including the torque convertor.BenjiBoy650 said:Not to mention that a proper auto trans flush will take several drain/fills with a few miles driven in between them. So the jack in my case does pay off
Charles
BenjiBoy650
New member
Just so happens that Honda put out a bulletin that specifically advises AGAINST using those machines because they can load your tranny with crap soo...I don't really care I drive stickCharlesW said:Or have it done by a mechanic that has the equipment to flush the entire system including the torque convertor.
While I don't drive a Honda, (can't handle the rustBenjiBoy650 said:Just so happens that Honda put out a bulletin that specifically advises AGAINST using those machines because they can load your tranny with crap soo...I don't really care I drive stick
), I did some research on this and there is definitely a lot of discussion on the possible problems associated with the transmission flushing. Guess I will have to visit with my "trusted mechanic" about this.Charles
CharlesW said:
I don't trust them for a head gasket replacement either but I don't know how to do one so I have no choice but to bring it to the shop for service like that. I can tell you that I'm like an expectant father in the waiting room pacing around waiting for them to finish working on the car. First thing I do is go over it front/back and top/bottom.
Anthony, you need to find a different mechanic.Anthony A said:
It's kind of like the "Let someone else detail your car" thing. I don't, but there are a lot of people that I would let do it if they were to volunteer.
Over the years, I have been a definite DIY type of person and have often wished I had never started the project. Some things I just accept as being better done by others.
Charles
CharlesW said:Anthony, you need to find a different mechanic.
It's kind of like the "Let someone else detail your car" thing. I don't, but there are a lot of people that I would let do it if they were to volunteer.
Over the years, I have been a definite DIY type of person and have often wished I had never started the project. Some things I just accept as being better done by others.
Charles
I use the dealership around here and I have to admit they have been very good. I am just battle scared from previous experiences with other vehicles and now I don't trust anybody because I know that there is no one who will take care with your vehicle as well as you will yourself. As a result I do as much as I can myself and only bring it in for service if I have no choice and I try to live with all the heart attacks I have while waiting for them to finish.
