Silly oil change question

That will be fine, as the drain plug is toward the rear of the car. It actually drains better in that position.

Just make sure that you check the fill level on level ground.

 

BE SAFE!!!

Make sure you put something under the wheels or tires in case something goes wrong with the jack. Many autopart stores allow you to borrow tools and such. See if one in your area has some jack-stands.

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Get and use something like these. Jack stands will wreck the lift points because they aren’t shaped to fit. I use a floor jack to elevate the front from the lift point then position the stands and lower back onto the stands.

 

I place hockey pucks between the floor jack and lift point and between the jack stands and stationary points. Even a scrap piece of thick rubber will work fine to protect against scraping the paint from the metal contact areas.

 

Even though I have all sorts of jacking options including Safejacks, Rennstands and standard jack stands with custom pinch weld adapters, I use drive on - drive off ramps for oil changes.

 

Lots of jack stand info but no p brake and chocks?

That one time I got grilled here for not unplugging the 12v bat during egr cleaning at a meet up.

 

Don't put any part of your body under a car supported by a jack.

Use axle stands or a pair of plastic ramps - they're cheaper than a visit to the ER (or an undertaker)

 

Those plastic ramps are known to crack and split with car on top. See the reviews and photos.

 

Don't buy hollow ramps, or use use axle stands instead? Either option is safer than a jack

 

Expensive, but these are the best. They don't collapse.

 

Keep them out of sunlight, use them only on level, clean concrete floors and they'll be safe and useful for a long time.

Using them and storing them outdoors is where they invite trouble.

I've done DIY oil changes to save a few bucks for many years. I've seen a zillion ways to lift a car for basic service, some of them safe.

From that experience, I think plastic ramps are the sweet spot for homeowner/DIY usage in terms of safety, cost and hassle. Like any tool you can use it right or wrong.

 

I've been using the same set of plastic Rinio ramps for more than 15 years. Never an issue and if the ramp splits - you've got to be an idiot to crawl under a car with a split ramp. I've never seen a plastic ramp split. It was probably abused and left out in the elements for years. The same would happen to a jack stand or jack. You guy know the sun deteriorates plastic, right? Newer plastic is somewhat more resist than the older plastics, because the chemist has dialed in the process.

PS. Resist the urge to buy the taller ramps, they won't clear your air-dam.

 

Easy to forget in the heat of the moment, just done another oil change on ramps and guess who forgot to chock back wheels...... Ah poop I even forgot to turn the thing off.... Other things on my mind.. Good job it only takes me minutes to drop oil and get fresh back in....

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

your lucky the engine didn't kick on. I saw this happen in a shop. The car was up on a hoist, drain plug out, and the engine fired up. Of course no-one could get to the ignition switch because it was up six feet.

hummmm; I wonder why my car feels funny after that oil change???

 

I hang my chocks on the top of the handle of my hydraulic floor jack. That keeps them up closer to eye height whether I'm standing in the garage or sitting in the driver's seat. They're bright orange, so it is easy to notice if they're stored or deployed.

I also have a "NO OIL" sign that I hang on the steering wheel right before I drain the oil out and remove after pouring the new oil in.

Other bits from the DIY safety advice locker:

One habit I picked up a long time ago: however you lift the car, give it a mighty shove on the bumper before you put anything important underneath it.

If you can knock it off the jack/ramp/stacked stones etc that easily, it wasn't stable enough to risk crawling under.

 

Those are actually some very good habits and routines to incorporate into my oil change procedures. I've noticed I've been losing a step or two in my old age, so I'm trying to build in safety habit and routines. I do give the car a shove before I crawl under it.

Thanks for sharing

 

I had left over wood so I made these.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/06/e0/66/06e066a85084e82abd65f43248c3fb11.jpg

But I did buy wheel chocks for the rears.

 

^ this.

There’s an oil change link with some tips in my signature; if you’re on a phone you’ll need to turn it landscape to see signatures.

I like the trust-but-verify approach to safety stand (and/or ramp) integrity: I use safety stands, solidly positioned, and before crawling under, push a squat/wide section of tree trunk under; it’s thicker than me.