My two vehicles are easy to change in oil in. My daughters 01 Saturn SL1 is a different story, The car sits low to the ground and the filter is tucked up between the firewall and engine block. My brother told me use car ramps when changing oil which would make the job easier and safer. My concern is if I would do so, would all the oil drain when the car is up on the ramps? Currently I raise and lower the car to get at the filter then I squeeze under there and loosen the plug to drain the oil.
Use of car ramps when changing oil
- Thread starter TheBus36
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On my Mom's 94 Saturn SC2 I do it on the ground, and go through the wheel well to change the filter. On my 98 Cavalier I also change it on the ground and go over the passenger fender to get the filter...
On both IIRC the drain plug is pointed backwards. If anything it would let more drain when on ramps, I just have not bought any ramps.. I personally would not worry about it even if a little less oil got out. Its not going to make that much of a difference.
On both IIRC the drain plug is pointed backwards. If anything it would let more drain when on ramps, I just have not bought any ramps.. I personally would not worry about it even if a little less oil got out. Its not going to make that much of a difference.
Every GM product I have worked on, the drain plug points back at a 30 to 45 degree angle from the pan, and jacking up the front of the car means all the contents of the oil pan run towards the plug.
Then you have probably never worked on GM rear wheel drive vehicles because, with the engine mounted longitudinally, the drain plugs usually angle out sideways, usually on the driver's side, instead of backwards.
Only thing I would make sure of is that the car CAN go on the ramps. I bought some about 15 years ago when I still have my little BMW and I couldn't get the car on the ramps without hitting the front air dam. I enjoy using a floor jack and jack stands much more.
I put a couple of 2X4's in front of the ramps to get the air dam up so it doesn't hit.
Originally Posted By: BrianWC
Only thing I would make sure of is that the car CAN go on the ramps. I bought some about 15 years ago when I still have my little BMW and I couldn't get the car on the ramps without hitting the front air dam. I enjoy using a floor jack and jack stands much more.
The ramps I bought (don't recall the name) are steel and painted yellow. You can order a set of black plastic "extenders" that fold out and hook into the base holes on the steel ramp, allowing the car's air dam to clear as you drive up.
Only thing I would make sure of is that the car CAN go on the ramps. I bought some about 15 years ago when I still have my little BMW and I couldn't get the car on the ramps without hitting the front air dam. I enjoy using a floor jack and jack stands much more.
The ramps I bought (don't recall the name) are steel and painted yellow. You can order a set of black plastic "extenders" that fold out and hook into the base holes on the steel ramp, allowing the car's air dam to clear as you drive up.
Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
I put a couple of 2X4's in front of the ramps to get the air dam up so it doesn't hit.
x2
Even my lowered Sunfire can get on the ramps with 2x4's.
I put a couple of 2X4's in front of the ramps to get the air dam up so it doesn't hit.
x2
Even my lowered Sunfire can get on the ramps with 2x4's.
Originally Posted By: 2002 Maxima SE
Originally Posted By: BrianWC
Only thing I would make sure of is that the car CAN go on the ramps. I bought some about 15 years ago when I still have my little BMW and I couldn't get the car on the ramps without hitting the front air dam. I enjoy using a floor jack and jack stands much more.
The ramps I bought (don't recall the name) are steel and painted yellow. You can order a set of black plastic "extenders" that fold out and hook into the base holes on the steel ramp, allowing the car's air dam to clear as you drive up.
I'm guessing they're the Peterson Ultra Ramps. I have the same steel/yellow ramps and they barely fit under my Malibu's front-end. Problem with the extenders is that they cost almost as much as the ramps do, at least the ones I'm looking at.
Originally Posted By: BrianWC
Only thing I would make sure of is that the car CAN go on the ramps. I bought some about 15 years ago when I still have my little BMW and I couldn't get the car on the ramps without hitting the front air dam. I enjoy using a floor jack and jack stands much more.
The ramps I bought (don't recall the name) are steel and painted yellow. You can order a set of black plastic "extenders" that fold out and hook into the base holes on the steel ramp, allowing the car's air dam to clear as you drive up.
I'm guessing they're the Peterson Ultra Ramps. I have the same steel/yellow ramps and they barely fit under my Malibu's front-end. Problem with the extenders is that they cost almost as much as the ramps do, at least the ones I'm looking at.
Originally Posted By: George7941
Then you have probably never worked on GM rear wheel drive vehicles because, with the engine mounted longitudinally, the drain plugs usually angle out sideways, usually on the driver's side, instead of backwards.
All of the GM vehicles me or any family members have owned, both front and rear wheel drive, have had the oil drain plug facing the rear.
Then you have probably never worked on GM rear wheel drive vehicles because, with the engine mounted longitudinally, the drain plugs usually angle out sideways, usually on the driver's side, instead of backwards.
All of the GM vehicles me or any family members have owned, both front and rear wheel drive, have had the oil drain plug facing the rear.
Every vehicle I have ever owned has had the drain plug facing the rear, regardless of who made it.
Originally Posted By: 47HO
Originally Posted By: George7941
Then you have probably never worked on GM rear wheel drive vehicles because, with the engine mounted longitudinally, the drain plugs usually angle out sideways, usually on the driver's side, instead of backwards.
All of the GM vehicles me or any family members have owned, both front and rear wheel drive, have had the oil drain plug facing the rear.
My 88 Ford E-150 4.9L has the drain plug on the right side of the oil pan, but crawling under to get it is not a problem.
Frank D
Originally Posted By: George7941
Then you have probably never worked on GM rear wheel drive vehicles because, with the engine mounted longitudinally, the drain plugs usually angle out sideways, usually on the driver's side, instead of backwards.
All of the GM vehicles me or any family members have owned, both front and rear wheel drive, have had the oil drain plug facing the rear.
My 88 Ford E-150 4.9L has the drain plug on the right side of the oil pan, but crawling under to get it is not a problem.
Frank D
Patman
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Originally Posted By: Anduril
Every vehicle I have ever owned has had the drain plug facing the rear, regardless of who made it.
The drain plug on my 98 Corvette faces forward, so when my car is up on ramps a little bit of oil does get trapped at the back of the oil pan. A lot of Corvette owners will jack up the rear of their car so it's higher than the front and gets more oil out, but I don't bother worrying about that little bit extra in there that gets left behind.
Every vehicle I have ever owned has had the drain plug facing the rear, regardless of who made it.
The drain plug on my 98 Corvette faces forward, so when my car is up on ramps a little bit of oil does get trapped at the back of the oil pan. A lot of Corvette owners will jack up the rear of their car so it's higher than the front and gets more oil out, but I don't bother worrying about that little bit extra in there that gets left behind.
Same with my Yaris. I don't worry about it.
LT1 has the oil plug on the side 
Same with Ranger
Same with Ranger 
I have ramps made from recycled plastic with an animal name (maybe Hippo) and they have the proper angle to work fine on cars with air dams.
Of course I prefer vehicle like my Suburban where I can almost stand under the vehicle while changing the oil (well not quite, but you get the picture).
Of course I prefer vehicle like my Suburban where I can almost stand under the vehicle while changing the oil (well not quite, but you get the picture).
Originally Posted By: Donald
I have ramps made from recycled plastic with an animal name (maybe Hippo) and they have the proper angle to work fine on cars with air dams.
Of course I prefer vehicle like my Suburban where I can almost stand under the vehicle while changing the oil (well not quite, but you get the picture).
Close, they're Rhino by Blitz.
I have ramps made from recycled plastic with an animal name (maybe Hippo) and they have the proper angle to work fine on cars with air dams.
Of course I prefer vehicle like my Suburban where I can almost stand under the vehicle while changing the oil (well not quite, but you get the picture).
I use a floor jack on the wifes ES350 because it is so low. Remove the drain bolt then lower the car down over the drain pan to make sure it drains completely.
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