How not to change your oil.

[CivicFan]

On Saturday I changed the oil on wife's car. Used a block of wood on the floor jack (placed between the front bumper jack point and the top of the floor jack) to raise the car high enough for a nice clearance under the car. Once everything was done, raised the car with the said piece of wood, removed the jack stands and started lowering the car. Needless to say, as the car got lower, the floor jack remained stationary and it was the piece of wood that moved backwards. Then the car fell.

The floor jack pushed the plastic skirt under the bumper upwards which in turn pushed against the transmission cooling lines. As a result, the radiator developed a leak near the AT cooling line connection.

So the first part of Sunday was wasted on replacing the radiator. Fortunately, nothing else was damaged. The AC lines were a little bent but nothing major.

Now I either need to get a new floor jack that rises higher or to go back sliding under the car that is not raised high enough.

 

[55Test]

Or a set of wheel ramps

 

[XS650]

Aren't you glad you use stands?

 

[sciphi]

How about putting the jack on the wood instead of the other way around?

 

[John_K]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
How about putting the jack on the wood instead of the other way around?


That's what I've done with no issues. Make sure the wood is bigger than the jack and it should be fine.

John

 

[oilboy123]

I was at my job one time and used a piece of plastic on the jack pad. It was so slippery that the car slipped on the plastic and bent the floor pan a little bit, not fun.
Ramps are better if you don't want to mess with the jacks. But you can't change tires with ramps.

 

[Papa Bear]

I would dig a pit and drive over it ....

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: oilboy123
. . . But you can't change tires with ramps.

Oh sure you can. Just drive up ramp, and let ignorant neighborhood teenager guide you, causing you to drive off side, planting suspension of car on ramp, with wheel dangling off side. . . There's a video of this "procedure" on youtube or break.com -- one of those.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk
Originally Posted By: oilboy123
. . . But you can't change tires with ramps.

Oh sure you can. Just drive up ramp, and let ignorant neighborhood teenager guide you, causing you to drive off side, planting suspension of car on ramp, with wheel dangling off side. . . There's a video of this "procedure" on youtube or break.com -- one of those.

I did that before when I was a newb. It wasn't on purpose though. Didn't have anyone to gauge my position and I ran the car over the very small bump and cracked the plastic 12k lbs Rhino ramps. Been using a floor jack and stands since. Although I do get nervous being under a car with dangling wheels.

 

[mechtech2]

Putting the wood underneath the jack instead of on top is kinda like Ed Norton and Ralph Kramden taking the drawers out of the dresser and putting them on top so it would be lighter to carry.

 

[Kestas]

I use 2 by 12s bolted together for a ramp. It gives just enough clearance for an oil change and many other jobs, without any of the problems that ramps and jacks may have.

 

[Schmoe]

Hondas have the "slit" jack alignment position under the doors. I've used that to jack all mine up with no problems. Got a good grip with a standard jack. To me, wood would become slick with all that weight on it. That would make me nervous.