Today I was focused on changing my damn oil but I'm having some problems with my jack. I know you guys can help me out.


I'm using this Jack for my car.


This is the spot I'm using to jack the car.


Wood in the tire to stop the rolling.

Problem:
The jack top's off at a certain height, and I can't even put the jack stands up because its not high enough off the ground. I cant even get under the car enough to get the oil filter off. Is my jack just cheap or am I dont something really wrong. Another problem that occurs is the rolling of the jack while im jacking the car up. The wheels on the jack moves while I'm lifting the car.

 

try jacking it up where you supose to in the same place you would in you were changing a tire. behind the front well your see a lip. and yes the jack will move while you jack it up but it will stop moving once your done jacking it up.

 

its not the safest thing, but for doing an oil change, i wouldnt even use a jack stand.

you will be under the car for a total of maybe 2 minutes? if you cant get to the il filter from under it, try going at it from the top.

if none of that works, i would just take it up to a valvoline instant oil change.

they put up to 5 quarts of oil in, check your tires and all fluids except brake fluid and gas, check your air filter, replace the oil filter for $31.99 (basic all climate/conventional oil)

if your mileage is over 75,000, throw in some max life for liike $43

i work at valvoline btw

 

I don't reconmends to jack the car in the front... It could go tilt side to side...
best money could buy for oil change is a ramp. probably 10-30 bucks...
It'll save you a life.


Modified by DC_RaceR at 5:01 PM 8/20/2006

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bjorn20 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its not the safest thing, but for doing an oil change, i wouldnt even use a jack stand.

you will be under the car for a total of maybe 2 minutes? </TD></TR></TABLE>
IT ONLY takes a second or so for the car to fall off the jack.ALWAYS USE jackstands or some other kind of support while under a car.To the op,yes the jack is cheap-becuase it's one of those small ones every place sells.Get a real shop size jack.They don't cost that much more and do a way better job.

 

My friend has that jack and he's so proud of it, lol. I just don't have the heart to tell him it's a POS. Either buy a better jack or stick some wood between the jack and the front jacking point. That should give you enough clearance to stick the jackstands under the car...I didn't have any wood so I just ended up using some old textbooks lol. Worked like a charm.

 

no jack needed.
i'm able to remove the oil drain bolt w/o jacking up my car. the filter comes out from the top.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eda6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no jack needed.
i'm able to remove the oil drain bolt w/o jacking up my car. the filter comes out from the top.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Thats cool,but if your car is lowered that wouldn't work at all.

 

dude those jacks are scary.

once they get worn out they dont hold anymore at the top, even if you "lock it"

jackstands are cheap and should always be used.

 

even a block of wood or a brick with wood on it will work not really easy to mve around though but cheap

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lil Red CRXsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Thats cool,but if your car is lowered that wouldn't work at all.</TD></TR></TABLE>

my car is lowered and thats how i do it.

if i were you i would just invest in some ramps. thas wat i need to do

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lil Red CRXsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
IT ONLY takes a second or so for the car to fall off the jack.ALWAYS USE jackstands or some other kind of support while under a car.To the op,yes the jack is cheap-becuase it's one of those small ones every place sells.Get a real shop size jack.They don't cost that much more and do a way better job.</TD></TR></TABLE>



don't expletive around with safety.

 

i always take my oil filter off from the top.

use jackstands or the ramps...don't work under a car supported by a jack.

 

yeah, def always use jack stands. i use a low pro jack (not the currect name, i cant remember right now) but its the jack you can buy thats made for lowered cars. there only like 90-120 depending on where you buy it from. ramps are great but with a lowered car i dont even try. anyways just buy yourself a good jack and some stands if you dont already have some.

 

yea i have a pair of OLD ramps the medtal ones the or higher then the newer ones. i used them last week on my neon and give it it's frist battle scars. but the fit right under the civic and barely rub the front or rear bumper.

 

I have that same jack and yes it doesn't come up too high. I just put a 2x4 on top of the jack head, works well enough to get the jackstands in on the lowest setting..... Don't use the ramps unless you want to expletive up your front bumper (at least that's what my experience was).

 

forget the jackstands then,,try and find some cinderblocks..yeah man no offense but that jack isnt really good at all..

also you could do what i do for oil change,,2 pieces of wood on a sidewalk curb,drive up on the sidewalk..done

 

There was a story recently about an older mechanic who got crushed to death when the "cinderblocks" that were holding up his car gave way...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by andrey320 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There was a story recently about an older mechanic who got crushed to death when the "cinderblocks" that were holding up his car gave way...</TD></TR></TABLE>

sorry bout his life,, but ive been using cinderblocks for years,,i trust them more then welded steel jackstands honestly..you can leave a car up in the air on 4 cinderblocks for 100 years..

 

with that piece of crap, $5 jack, you have to jack up the side at the normal jack stand points on the rocker, then put the jack stands under the suspension arms, or better yet the front crossmember ends, right where the bolts are. for a while, i was using the front tow hooks as jack stand points, until i saw the tow hook start to bend!

they really do suck. but i can understand ppl not able or wanting to spend a good amount of money on a good jack. good ones are over $150. but for me, i wouldnt use anything less than my harbor freight aluminum jack.

 

I'd Like to Introduce you to Harbor Freight.

I have a small jack like you do, which is nice if I need to just lift the car @ the pinch welds, and it cost ~$20...

I had bought a REALLY nice big Jack from Sears for $185 or so. It was great, but it broke, and the warranty is out

I went to Harbor Freight, and I got a Generic Version of my Sears Jack for $40. It's not as fancy, but it's build well enough. I also picked up some nice, shorter Jackstands for ~$20. They're a good inch or two shorter than typical ones, which makes them much better for the most jobs, as I don't need the car 2 feet in the air...

So go check out Harbor Freight if one's in your area, because the $40 for a bigger jack will be a Godsend as you own your car...