Using ramps to change oil?

Craig in Canada · Feb 11, 2011

Originally Posted By: morris
no no no no. DO NOT use ramps. i lost my farther -in- law on ramps. whats your life wroth? $300 floor jack $200 stands. or is your life worth less? if you insist on risking your life, be sure you ALWAYS chock the wheels.

In my uses, I've found my rhino ramps to be a much safer set up than stands. I can't say the same for all ramp out there but I definitely don't feel safer when using stands. The parking brake is set and the transmission is left in gear also. When using properly rated ramps in good condition the weight of the car is supported by what was intended to support it - the wheel and tires. Nothing can simply topple over, or slip off of a little jack pad. The mass is already as "low as it can go" assuming your ramps don't completely fail and assuming your car doesn't simply roll off of them.

ajchien · Feb 11, 2011

Originally Posted By: morris
no no no no. DO NOT use ramps. i lost my farther -in- law on ramps. whats your life wroth? $300 floor jack $200 stands. or is your life worth less? if you insist on risking your life, be sure you ALWAYS chock the wheels.

I understand $300 for a good USA jack, but what kind of jackstands are you buying or $200?

I myself use solid wooden ramps and wheel chocks.not as nice as the pics previously posted, but similar idea. If I had rhino ramps I would probably add jack stands under the frame as a secondary level of security.

antonmnster · Feb 11, 2011

My drain plug is on the side, and I use the ramps. I just live with leaving that extra couple ounces in the sump.

But then I change my 7 qt sump with Full Synthetic every 4000 miles, so I think I'm in the clear

bcossa2001 · Feb 12, 2011

My 2003 Town and Country is too low for my steel ramps. A good tip from BITOG--put a 2x4 on the ground in front of the ramp. Driving over that raised the front of the car enough so that it could get on the ramp....

Eddie · Feb 12, 2011

I use Rhino ramps on my Jeep GC, Subaru and now my Mazda CX7 with never an issue. People who have problems usually don't set the ramps on level concrete and or drive on a some off angle. .

Old Mustang Guy · Feb 12, 2011

I'd like to know how the ramps failed that resulted in death.

Kestas · Feb 12, 2011

Ditto to BigMike's wooden ramps. I have a version of them in my garage.

Spector · Feb 12, 2011

On low front ends I use a 2X4 piece of wood before the ramp which raised the front end as it moves to the ramp and permits the car to get on the ramp without scraping

ltslimjim · Feb 12, 2011

Originally Posted By: Spector
On low front ends I use a 2X4 piece of wood before the ramp which raised the front end as it moves to the ramp and permits the car to get on the ramp without scraping

We do the same thing at our house. Our ramps are old, but are made of steel and have grip pads at the bottom to cushion downward as the car's weight comes to the top. We always put the car in park or gear, with park brake applied, and wheels chocked. Never have had a problem.

HTSS_TR · Feb 12, 2011

Originally Posted By: Kestas
Ditto to BigMike's wooden ramps. I have a version of them in my garage.

I bet yours is not as nice looking as BigMike's wooden ramps, it is almost a work of art.

If I have BigMike's ramps, I would not drive my car on it, for reason that it would leave tire marks on the beautiful ramps.

jcwit · Feb 12, 2011

I'll bet everyone is in more danger driving to wherever they buy their oil & filter than using ramps.

ltslimjim · Feb 12, 2011

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: Kestas
Ditto to BigMike's wooden ramps. I have a version of them in my garage.

I bet yours is not as nice looking as BigMike's wooden ramps, it is almost a work of art.

If I have BigMike's ramps, I would not drive my car on it, for reason that it would leave tire marks on the beautiful ramps.

lol, +1!

wiswind · Feb 12, 2011

I use ramps due to the low ground clearance.
I do block the rear wheels also.
While under there......take a look around for any signs of trouble.....fluid leaks, torn CV joint boots, etc.

ltslimjim · Feb 12, 2011

Originally Posted By: wiswind
I use ramps due to the low ground clearance.
I do block the rear wheels also.
While under there......take a look around for any signs of trouble.....fluid leaks, torn CV joint boots, etc.

Good tips. I've noticed old dried oil from prev. owners but I've about stopped all oil loss on the Civic, if not already done so. My Stratus leaks oil still. It from time-to-time will interfere with the starter relay, the oil leak that is, and cause the fuse under the hood to pop. Eventually, this kills the relay/solenoid(built-in) and the original starter must be replaced.

Bottom_Feeder · Feb 12, 2011

Originally Posted By: morris
no no no no. DO NOT use ramps. i lost my farther -in- law on ramps. whats your life wroth? $300 floor jack $200 stands. or is your life worth less? if you insist on risking your life, be sure you ALWAYS chock the wheels.

Originally Posted By: Old Mustang Guy
I'd like to know how the ramps failed that resulted in death.

Yeah, as would I. Details, please.

dakota99 · Feb 12, 2011

I'd like to see some failed ramps too. Not saying it can't happen but dang, the rhino ramps i have are built like a tank. When i first got them i overestimated the gas and drove right up and over them. I just made a small gash in the plastic, i expected worse.

Needless to say i drive up them very slow now lol, with the other foot on the brake ready.

mechanicx · Feb 12, 2011

I've never used ramps and always used a floor jack and jack stands. Any serious mechanic or DIYer needs a floor jack and jack stands more than they do ramps. If I needed to raise the car to get to the oil filter or even the drain plug for an oil change, that's usually a good time to do a tire rotation. You can't rotate tires with the tires on ramps. Although, I can see ramps being easier if all you need is the car lifted to change the oil. I just never did it that way

.

I remember at the begining of Tech school when the topic came up one of the students said that he used ramps but used a floor jack to lift the car then set the tires down on the ramps. This didn't make much sense especially since I don't think he had low cars. If you are going to go through the trouble of jacking the vehicle with a floor jack and you have enough knowledge of where to jack then you should easily be able to lower it on jack stands, with the added bonus of the wheels being free to service.

dubie2003 · Feb 13, 2011

The DIY wooden ramps are the best. You can build them out of 2x4s glued/screwed together and then add some grip tape to them to prevent any wheel slip while driving up them.

I have a set that lifts the front end up 3" and that is enough for me to slide under the car and change the oil and check around some. I also do this "backwards" in the driveway to account for the slop since I am still a little off level but nothing like it would be if I was "forward".

RnR · Feb 13, 2011

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Any serious mechanic or DIYer needs a floor jack and jack stands more than they do ramps.
This may be true under ideal environmental conditions, but not all of us have garages or sheltered areas with spiffy concrete floors. I'm lucky to have a cracked concrete pad where I can successfully use ramps. For me to use a floor jack, I'd have to carry it up from a basement out to the work area. Pretty darn inconvenient! The ramps are a good interim solution to do the oil changes with, but we can't all readily use a more elaborate set of lift tools.

I definitely see the merit to building some of those wood ramps... I'm lovin' the idea of them much more than my current Blitz set (which are certainly getting the job done - just not too comfortable using them in colder weather).

mechanicx · Feb 13, 2011

Originally Posted By: RnR
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Any serious mechanic or DIYer needs a floor jack and jack stands more than they do ramps.
This may be true under ideal environmental conditions, but not all of us have garages or sheltered areas with spiffy concrete floors. I'm lucky to have a cracked concrete pad where I can successfully use ramps. For me to use a floor jack, I'd have to carry it up from a basement out to the work area. Pretty darn inconvenient! The ramps are a good interim solution to do the oil changes with, but we can't all readily use a more elaborate set of lift tools.

There might be some surfaces that are not firm enough to use jack stands but are for ramps and maybe ramps could be more convenient and safe I don't know. But still if you are going to do any suspension, brake or tire work you need a floor jack and jack stands anyway was my point. If all you want to do is change oil and maybe on dirt or gravel, then maybe ramps would would be safe and all you need. If I had to get a small, light floor jack and stands and store it in a closet or basement and use it on the street or a parking lot that's what I'd do.

Using ramps to change oil?

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