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Do you change your own oil?

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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 02:16 PM
  #26  
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I had issues driving my 8 up regular Rino Ramps so I made my own out of some 2 x 8

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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 02:19 PM
  #27  
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^^ LOL go for it! The transparency is a plus for obvious reason.

Pumping does make for an easier job, until you have to dispose of the oil. Unless you have a place you can bring the pump, you're stuck with an extra transfer step.

Wow, those are some heavy ramps expo (nice rollers tho'), but I'm sure they work well.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 02:21 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by Huey52
^^ LOL go for it! The transparency is a plus for obvious reason.

Pumping does make for an easier job, until you have to dispose of the oil. Unless you have a place you can bring the pump, you're stuck with an extra transfer step.

Wow, those are some heavy ramps expo (nice rollers tho'), but I'm sure they work well.
I don't have a jack, and I'd rather pump it than allow Mr.Lube to do it...

Haha
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 02:46 PM
  #29  
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i've just been letting the dealer do it. It's cheap enough, they check other stuff out for me also free of charge. I get to hang out and drink free coffee and play some PS3 that they have sitting there. I know its slightly more expensive but I feel a bit better doing it this way because if I ever have engine problems then Mazda already has the info and I don't have worry about them saying doing it myself wasn't good enough for warranty work.

Plus I don't want to deal with the old oil. I don't have a close place to just drag it and have them take it for free.

BTW, Expo., yellow with the black wheels looks awesome, never noticed it in your other pictures.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 02:48 PM
  #30  
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I'm going to be a guinea pig too - in a slightly different way.

I'm planning on letting the oil drain the normal way, and then try to pump out the remainder on my up-coming oil change. And maybe the next one I'll try to pump out all of it instead. Let's just see how much oil I get out with the first method.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 02:59 PM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by Huey52
I hear ya Old Rotor. There comes a point in life where you've 'been there done that' and your time is worth more than the relatively small bill for services. I was speaking more to the younger folks that have not as yet gained that experience.

I don't do my daughter's Mazda6 oil/filter changes any more tho' since you have to remove an undercover, reposition the drain pan fo sump and filter, and it's a canister type filter. Too much work.

nycgps - The Fumoto is fast enough for me. I just go do something else while it drains.
Lazy @ss slacker!

J/K...........I do know what you mean!

I do mine on my daughters 3......drop the undercover and it's a cannister as well.
I'm a firm believer in if you want it done right, then do it yourself......PLUS......there is no better way to stay in tune(so to speak) with the needs and the overall condition of the vehicle besdies doing these little things.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 03:00 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by Bigbacon
Plus I don't want to deal with the old oil. I don't have a close place to just drag it and have them take it for free.

BTW, Expo., yellow with the black wheels looks awesome, never noticed it in your other pictures.
There are 4 vehicles in my household so the used oil does pile up, I buy Royal Purple in 5 Gallon pails so I have about 10 gallons of used oil around most of the time. The county has a recycling center about 25 minutes away were I can dump the stuff so its not too much of a pain. The Black OEM rims have my summer tires on them, I only mention them when the subject of powder coating comes up, but they do go well with yellow.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 03:02 PM
  #33  
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Two low profile floor jacks is my method.
Those and jack stands of course.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 03:04 PM
  #34  
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Depending on your area - the autoshops in my area are required by law to accept up to 5 gallons of engine oil, I believe. Also, some Autozones have a recycle bin they put outside for engine oil.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 03:05 PM
  #35  
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Just as an FYI..............My Autozone takes it inside the store, then they put it in the recycle bin.
I think they do that to keep John Q. Public from throwing all kinds of **** in there!
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 03:12 PM
  #36  
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I do my own, and my jack goes just high enough to set on my jackstand at the lowest setting, then I can climb right under the front. Also helpful because it tips the car so it helps to pour out oil!
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 03:17 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by Mazurfer
Just as an FYI..............My Autozone takes it inside the store, then they put it in the recycle bin.
I think they do that to keep John Q. Public from throwing all kinds of **** in there!
I guess that depends on the area too! My friend goes to an Autozone that just lets you drop it in there. But that area is a very nice area, so I guess they have nothing to be worried about lol.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 05:32 PM
  #38  
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I did my first oil change on the new (to me) 8 today. Using a pump I pulled out about 2 qts. This seems about right to me because I was just above the low mark on the dipstick and my manual says there's about 1.8 qts. between the low mark and the high mark. I filled it back up to just below the high mark and that took around 3.5 qts. The pump I used was a small hand pump that didn't pull a lot of oil per stroke. This spring I'll probably get the MityVac 7400.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 05:41 PM
  #39  
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Does the mitivac just go on the dipstick tube?
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 05:46 PM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by Easy_E1
I had one of my girlfriends do my last oil change. Well you can see what happened.

lol that's hot
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 05:50 PM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8
Does the mitivac just go on the dipstick tube?
Not on . . . in. I think that's how most pumps work - push the intake tube as far down the dipstick tube as you can and start pumping. That's how the hand pump I used today worked also.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 05:55 PM
  #42  
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I use a two post lift .

I think if it was that big of a deal to get all the oil out Mazda would've made a special tool to do so. If you change you oil regularly and don't go over your intervals why are you so worried about a minimal amount of oil not being drained.
The point is your getting the majority out and refilled with fresh oil - more than sufficient. It's not like the engine knows whats old oil and whats fresh oil. It mixes, it's fresh, it's done.

But its your own car, do what you want.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 06:09 PM
  #43  
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Check out Jiffy lube.
After you do the search and read the hooror stories here you will change it on your own.
How many times have you gone to the dealer for service and after you came back home noticed a new scratch or ding?
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 06:34 PM
  #44  
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Originally Posted by Razz1
How many times have you gone to the dealer for service and after you came back home noticed a new scratch or ding?
Or they spill a quart of oil on your engine and don't clean it up or tell you. It's cool sitting at a light looking like your car is on fire.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 06:53 PM
  #45  
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I was planning on getting oil changes done at the dealer, until I went and they told me $50 for an oil change! No way in hell.

So I went out and bought 2 jack stands and use my little 2 ton floor jack to jack at the spot for the oem jack. It was very simple, even though with an 09 you must remove the splash shield. I have big hands I think but it wasnt an issue to take the filter off by hand. I also jack both sides of the car up individually once I get the plug out in order to get the most oil out, but theres still some remaining in the coolers no matter what I guess.

Since I didnt have any jack stands and had to buy them my first DIY oil change cost me $40+ for everything, but it will be cheaper next time. $10 for the filter and then $10~ for the oil.

Autozone or any auto parts store should take your used oil. Most of them sell it to a company which turns it into either fuel for boilers or a base lubricating oil.

Last edited by xexok; Jan 26, 2010 at 07:00 PM.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 07:32 PM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by tubingchamp
Our dipstick doesn't have any "SHARP TURNS" does it?

I know I should know this, but I really don't pay a crapload of attention...

Hmm..

http://www.pelaproducts.com/description.htm


That pump looks amazing.. The PL-650... But if there's sharp turns in the dipstick shaft then what good is it? :P
These pumps are great. Several people here use them. They get more oil out than simply letting the oil drain out in the traditional way. Not quite as much as jacking up each side of the car but a lot quicker and easier so I'm more likely to change my oil more frequently with the pump. I suppose one could also jack the car up on both sides, back and forth, and then pump even more old oil out, but there comes a point in life when you learn not to be ridiculous any more.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 07:47 PM
  #47  
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Google RaceRamps
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 06:09 AM
  #48  
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LOL Or they somehow get some on a cross member and it ends up on my garage floor. No thanks, I'll do my own.

Originally Posted by expo1
Or they spill a quart of oil on your engine and don't clean it up or tell you. It's cool sitting at a light looking like your car is on fire.
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 06:11 AM
  #49  
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wow, google now makes raceramps?
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 06:13 AM
  #50  
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LOL Yeah, we do tend to go too far here sometimes. Changing every 3k assures you're running more than adequately clean oil without going nuts.

Originally Posted by robrecht
.... I suppose one could also jack the car up on both sides, back and forth, and then pump even more old oil out, but there comes a point in life when you learn not to be ridiculous any more.
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