View Full Version : DIY: max oil out, oil change.


swoope
05-27-2006, 03:38 AM
ok i stumbled on this because i forgot to loosen the lugs before i jacked the car up to change oil and rotate tires...

here is how you do it....

after removing the oil filter

1 jack up the exhaust manifold side of the motor (pass side in usa)

2 take out drain plug, let drain till just a trickle comes out.

3 let down the car, jack up the other side.

4 let drain till complete..

5 install drain plug. drop car back to ground.

6 install oil filter.

put 5 qts of oil in car. start car let run for a bit... but dont flood it...

check oil level..... fill as necessary...

i put in over 6 qts when i made this fortunate error...

hope this helps.

beers :beer:

tjbourgoyne
05-27-2006, 04:01 AM
not tracking on why you put 5 in the first place.

swoope
05-27-2006, 04:45 AM
normally if you do the car flat, you put in ~ 4 qts...

if you do it this way you get out ~ 6 qts... as i said this happened by accident. i put 4 in ran the car and the dipstick was dry....

this is why i suggest 5 qts.... dry dipstick bad....

beers :beer:

Go48
05-27-2006, 05:54 AM
Yup, that's similar to what I do. Except that I jack up the passenger side, remove the wheel, remove the drain plug and then lower the passenger side with the wheel off until the oil pan is slanted towards the drain hole side. Then punch a hold in the filter, let drain, remove the filter using rags around the base to catch any minor spillage, install new filter, reinstall drain plug, raise car, install wheel, lower car, torque lug nuts, refill with oil.

I have never needed 6 qts to fill, however. More like 5.5 qts in my case.

swoope
05-27-2006, 06:04 AM
by lifting the other side my guess is it drains most of the oil out of the drivers side oil cooler...

and after it drains it is easy to install the oil bolt from the drivers side...

beers :beer:

dannobre
05-27-2006, 12:33 PM
This works.......when I did similar and tried to get all the oil out I removed the oil cooler lines and blew them out with compressed air.....total waste of time...I maybe got 1/2 quart if I really exagerate :).

Good work Swoope !

ddub
05-28-2006, 10:33 PM
I thought this type of technique was common knowledge haha.

Well good for all of those out there that didn't know or think of this on their own.

nycgps
05-28-2006, 10:50 PM
wait wait wait ... I thought its DIY (Do It Yourself)

whats dyi ? (Do yourself idol????)

Anyway, good DYI ! :P :P :P

swoope
05-28-2006, 11:57 PM
wait wait wait ... I thought its DIY (Do It Yourself)

whats dyi ? (Do yourself idol????)

Anyway, good DYI ! :P :P :P

do yourself idiot..... duh
:)

the joke is i stumbled across this...

beers :beer:

turbine
09-05-2006, 06:46 AM
I got over 6 out. I jacked up the car from center front. Put Jack stands behind front wheels. let it drain out complete. Remove the Driver Jack stand. Get the Oil filter off. Jack it back up from front center. Put jack stand back on drivers side. Remove the passenger jack stand. Lower the car from the center front. It will cause the car to lean to passenger side. Drain complete. Jack it back up, so that you can get both jack stands out. Lower the car. Pour a quart of clean oil through the engine with the plug out. Stand from underneath and watch dirty oil turn clean. Wait until it drains complete. Jack car up from front center, as high as possible. This drains any oil from coolers. Lower it back down. More dirty oil pours out. Put new filter back on, and plug. Fill with at least 5 quarts. Put two quarts in the trunk for top off.

Go48
09-05-2006, 10:12 AM
Why did you only "fill with at least 5 qts" when you removed 6 qts? I typically drain 5 qts out by removing the right-side wheel and lowering the car as far as possible on that side.

turbine
09-05-2006, 10:27 AM
Why did you only "fill with at least 5 qts" when you removed 6 qts? I typically drain 5 qts out by removing the right-side wheel and lowering the car as far as possible on that side.

I knew that much came out. The oil filter will soak up some too. I think I got closer to 7 out anyway. When you lift the car up from the front center, the oil coolers will drain. Get it up as high as possible.

turbine
09-05-2006, 10:28 AM
What happens when you overfill. What bad things happen? We need a digital gauge for oil levels.

turbine
09-05-2006, 10:31 AM
Why did you only "fill with at least 5 qts" when you removed 6 qts? I typically drain 5 qts out by removing the right-side wheel and lowering the car as far as possible on that side.

Oh yea! When you pour the clean oil in with plug out, that accounts for some.

overdrive
09-10-2006, 03:24 AM
when you overfill a bunch of white smoke comes out of your exhaust... not to say that I've ever done that :Freak_ani

turbine
09-10-2006, 12:08 PM
It is so hard to know what the level is because, it runs off the stick so fast. Anyone have any tips?

Silver_Surfer
09-10-2006, 12:12 PM
Never knew this. Does it really matter what side you lift first?

ken-x8
09-10-2006, 12:28 PM
It is so hard to know what the level is because, it runs off the stick so fast. Anyone have any tips?

I've never had that trouble, but it can sometimes be hard to see the level with clean oil.

There's a new dipstick with bumps at intermediate positions. That might help. I also believe I saw a post somewhere in here that suggested putting some score marks across the stick. I've had cars where the dipstick had cross-hatching etched in.

An old trick is to drill small holes in the stick.

Ken

turbine
09-10-2006, 01:39 PM
I've never had that trouble, but it can sometimes be hard to see the level with clean oil.

There's a new dipstick with bumps at intermediate positions. That might help. I also believe I saw a post somewhere in here that suggested putting some score marks across the stick. I've had cars where the dipstick had cross-hatching etched in.

An old trick is to drill small holes in the stick.

Ken


Nice.

mysql101
09-24-2006, 11:17 AM
I did this and only got 5 quarts of oil. Was hoping for 6.

The oil that came out was jet black though. Finally using Royal Purple 10w30.

Problem is I forgot one washer. It's not a crush washer though - since there is no cap. It's the oil return from the turbo. I ran the car around a bit, and made sure it's not leaking. I still wish I had found the washer BEFORE I put in the new oil. :(

dgrx8
09-24-2006, 03:07 PM
isn't there an oil cooler drain diy?

swoope
09-24-2006, 04:27 PM
I did this and only got 5 quarts of oil. Was hoping for 6.

The oil that came out was jet black though. Finally using Royal Purple 10w30.

Problem is I forgot one washer. It's not a crush washer though - since there is no cap. It's the oil return from the turbo. I ran the car around a bit, and made sure it's not leaking. I still wish I had found the washer BEFORE I put in the new oil. :(

depends on how full the oil is before you start the drain... ymmv... but it does get out much more than just level...

also... i have an extra crush washer if that helps...

beers :beer:

tlniec
11-01-2006, 09:57 AM
Just wanted to give a 'thank you' to the original poster. I did this while changing my oil over the weekend, and sure enough, was able to get 5 qts out. Much more effective than just leaving the car level while draining.

Soravia
12-10-2007, 07:31 PM
Why do you people keep jacking the car unnecessarily?

I can change oil on the RX-8 but just getting down next to the car.

If you need to tilt the car side to side just put down a 2" wood piece and put the wheel over it. So much quicker and less damage to the body.

chancejat
12-10-2007, 07:36 PM
why r u unnecessarily posting on a thread over a year old...........durrrrrrr

Soravia
12-10-2007, 07:54 PM
Because it involves jacking the car up like two times. There's no jacking needed to change oil nor to tilt the car.

swoope
12-10-2007, 08:29 PM
maybe you should read the thread to see what it does... and figure out how to do it without jacking the car..

beers :beer:



Why do you people keep jacking the car unnecessarily?

I can change oil on the RX-8 but just getting down next to the car.

If you need to tilt the car side to side just put down a 2" wood piece and put the wheel over it. So much quicker and less damage to the body.

Soravia
12-10-2007, 08:43 PM
I already changed oil on my car w/o using any jacks. There's a whole lot of cleareance, unless you have 14" wheels with low profile tires on it.
Even my 240SX with 1.5" lowering can have oil change w/o a jack.

All you need is a low profile 6 quart oil drain pan from Advance Discount Auto.

swoope
12-10-2007, 08:47 PM
you miss the whole point of the tread.. o well..

beers :beer:






I already changed oil on my car w/o using any jacks. There's a whole lot of cleareance, unless you have 14" wheels with low profile tires on it.
Even my 240SX with 1.5" lowering can have oil change w/o a jack.

All you need is a low profile 6 quart oil drain pan from Advance Discount Auto.

Soravia
12-10-2007, 08:53 PM
the whole point of thread is to completely drain the dirty oil before putting in new oil.

So all you have to do is park the car with the front driver side wheel on top of a 2" thick wooden plank.
Push the low profile drain pan under the drain plug. The little bugger is only about 4 inches tall.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/Kunei_LP/FE-SEP3/124859_front200.jpg

Tug the plug with wrench and some strength, leverage or a rubber mullet.
Take out the drain plug and the washer, let it drain for 15 mins.
Replace the oil filter with cloth towel around it to catch dirty oil.
Put the drain plug and washer back in.
Fill up 5 quarts.
Add in another quart after driving a bit.

swoope
12-10-2007, 09:43 PM
the whole point of thread is to completely drain the dirty oil before putting in new oil.

So all you have to do is park the car with the front driver side wheel on top of a 2" thick wooden plank.
Push the low profile drain pan under the drain plug. The little bugger is only about 4 inches tall.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/Kunei_LP/FE-SEP3/124859_front200.jpg

Tug the plug with wrench and some strength, leverage or a rubber mullet.
Take out the drain plug and the washer, let it drain for 15 mins.
Replace the oil filter with cloth towel around it to catch dirty oil.
Put the drain plug and washer back in.
Fill up 5 quarts.
Add in another quart after driving a bit.

yea,

i have one of those, not as clean. if you do it the way of the post it will also get most of the oil out of both oil coolers...

i have to add a bit over 6qts when i am done.. you just miss the point.

beers :beer:

MPG > HP
12-16-2007, 02:33 PM
Don't know if this is "unnecessary" or not, but does anyone know if/how you can get a dealer (or pay anyone) to do this sort of "angle jacking" when you take your car in for an oil change?

TurboEight
12-16-2007, 03:26 PM
I ;m sure a indie mech. can help you do something like that for like 5-10 extra.

rled
12-16-2007, 04:29 PM
Why do you people keep jacking the car unnecessarily?

I can change oil on the RX-8 but just getting down next to the car.

If you need to tilt the car side to side just put down a 2" wood piece and put the wheel over it. So much quicker and less damage to the body.

I sure can't do it that way. You must have long arms and be of small stature. Just Kidding, .... I can't get my drain pan under the car.. Cheers

Cody Red
12-16-2007, 04:35 PM
why r u unnecessarily posting on a thread over a year old...........durrrrrrr

at least it'll be useful to newer people? hah.

i've never seen this thread, so now i'm gonna try this! woo!

swoope
12-18-2007, 09:28 PM
here is the deal..

the thread is what it is... if you do it this way you get a fair amount of extra oil out of the coolers..

ask a dealer to do it, i would not... they will be confused..

really it is easy to do..

the one person missed the point of the post..

btw, cody.. i had another shitty weekend in corpus.. :)

beers :beer:

kersh4w
12-20-2007, 09:12 PM
nice thread. didnt know about this before, but now that its posted seems like common sense.

also, concerning doing it without jacking up the car. technically its not jacking the car up, you can drive up those 8-12" ramp things. i think i've seen a few in my basement at one point or another. right right?

:D

of course, i'd think that jacking it up, and then putting a jack stand underneath the car is safer.

Brettus
12-20-2007, 10:32 PM
hey cool - never knew that .....

puch96
05-01-2008, 08:35 PM
Great procedure!! I finally got around to do this and I got out 5 and a little bit out..!! The only thing I think that I forgot the washer as I found it laying on the floor when I took the 2nd car out of the garage!:confused: :SHOCKED:
The thing is that I did two oil changes back to back and I am not certain which car it came from....
Oh well, I drove around and checked for leaks just to make sure. Next oil change I'll check for the washer, and if it's not there I"ll just add it... not big deal...

Mazurfer
05-01-2008, 08:43 PM
Just keep an eye on both cars, you will probably develop a leak sooner or later.

chris__n
10-31-2009, 02:37 AM
great writeup, thanks

olddragger
11-04-2009, 03:08 PM
na it wont leak--i havent used one in years.
OD

shaunv74
07-10-2010, 08:19 PM
Just used the technique. I only had to put 4.5 quarts back so not as much as I'd hoped. It must be that Swoope's lying and not that I could have done anything wrong.:p: