Jacking up a C5 Corvette to change oil?

Regarding C5s... how do you guys change your oil? Or more specifically, how
do you jack the car up so you can change your oil? Use ramps or jacks or?
Many commercially obtainable ramps will not work on cars that are very low
to the ground. So... just wondering how most Corvette owners get their cars
off the ground for service. Thanks.

The only ramps that work are Rhino Ramps available at most automotive
stores.

My driveway is sloped so that driving onto the rhino ramps at the bottom
gives just enough room to change the oil and the car is roughly horizontal.

Here's a site with instructions for changing your oil:

http://www.idavette.net/hib/C5diy/c5diy1.htm

in article , Fred at
wrote on 9/4/04 10:27 AM:

> Regarding C5s... how do you guys change your oil? Or more specifically, how
> do you jack the car up so you can change your oil? Use ramps or jacks or?
> Many commercially obtainable ramps will not work on cars that are very low
> to the ground. So... just wondering how most Corvette owners get their cars
> off the ground for service. Thanks.
>
>

--
'99 Magnetic Red coupe, light gray interior
6-speed, performance handling, active handling, HUD, etc.

The only ramps that work are Rhino Ramps available at most automotive
stores.

My driveway is sloped so that driving onto the rhino ramps at the bottom
gives just enough room to change the oil and the car is roughly horizontal.

Here's a site with instructions for changing your oil:

http://www.idavette.net/hib/C5diy/c5diy1.htm

in article , Fred at
wrote on 9/4/04 10:27 AM:

> Regarding C5s... how do you guys change your oil? Or more specifically, how
> do you jack the car up so you can change your oil? Use ramps or jacks or?
> Many commercially obtainable ramps will not work on cars that are very low
> to the ground. So... just wondering how most Corvette owners get their cars
> off the ground for service. Thanks.
>
>

--
'99 Magnetic Red coupe, light gray interior
6-speed, performance handling, active handling, HUD, etc.

You'll need a floor jack and four jack stands. There are jacking points
under the side of the car where the front of the door is. Look for an oval
hole in the frame. Ramps wont help much to change the oil since you'll need
the car level and not at an angle. It will cost you a few bucks the first
time, but then it'll get cheaper. Since you wont be buying a floor jack and
jack stands. Oh, btw, I lift the back of the car by the crossmember in the
back but you should check the web for jacking points. Dont forget to get
cat litter for the mess you'll make on the garage floor. Good luck.

-Stan


"C5_Alan" > wrote in message
...
> The only ramps that work are Rhino Ramps available at most automotive
> stores.
>
> My driveway is sloped so that driving onto the rhino ramps at the bottom
> gives just enough room to change the oil and the car is roughly
> horizontal.
>
> Here's a site with instructions for changing your oil:
>
> http://www.idavette.net/hib/C5diy/c5diy1.htm
>
> in article , Fred at
> wrote on 9/4/04 10:27 AM:
>
>> Regarding C5s... how do you guys change your oil? Or more specifically,
>> how
>> do you jack the car up so you can change your oil? Use ramps or jacks
>> or?
>> Many commercially obtainable ramps will not work on cars that are very
>> low
>> to the ground. So... just wondering how most Corvette owners get their
>> cars
>> off the ground for service. Thanks.
>>
>>
>
> --
> '99 Magnetic Red coupe, light gray interior
> 6-speed, performance handling, active handling, HUD, etc.
>

You'll need a floor jack and four jack stands. There are jacking points
under the side of the car where the front of the door is. Look for an oval
hole in the frame. Ramps wont help much to change the oil since you'll need
the car level and not at an angle. It will cost you a few bucks the first
time, but then it'll get cheaper. Since you wont be buying a floor jack and
jack stands. Oh, btw, I lift the back of the car by the crossmember in the
back but you should check the web for jacking points. Dont forget to get
cat litter for the mess you'll make on the garage floor. Good luck.

-Stan


"C5_Alan" > wrote in message
...
> The only ramps that work are Rhino Ramps available at most automotive
> stores.
>
> My driveway is sloped so that driving onto the rhino ramps at the bottom
> gives just enough room to change the oil and the car is roughly
> horizontal.
>
> Here's a site with instructions for changing your oil:
>
> http://www.idavette.net/hib/C5diy/c5diy1.htm
>
> in article , Fred at
> wrote on 9/4/04 10:27 AM:
>
>> Regarding C5s... how do you guys change your oil? Or more specifically,
>> how
>> do you jack the car up so you can change your oil? Use ramps or jacks
>> or?
>> Many commercially obtainable ramps will not work on cars that are very
>> low
>> to the ground. So... just wondering how most Corvette owners get their
>> cars
>> off the ground for service. Thanks.
>>
>>
>
> --
> '99 Magnetic Red coupe, light gray interior
> 6-speed, performance handling, active handling, HUD, etc.
>

<<...Dont forget to get cat litter for the mess you'll make on the garage
floor....>>

Thanks for the advise. I was hoping that ramps would be ok for an oil
change since using ramps is much easier than jacking the entire car off the
ground with floor jacks and stands. Many cars have the drain plugs located
at the rear edge of the oil pan so that if the car is on ramps, the oil will
flow toward the rear of the pan and fully exit via the rear plug.... not
sure if these plugs were placed there for that purpose, but it works out
well if you use ramps. Being that you mentioned the Vette needs to be level
for an oil change, I assume that the drain plug is not at the rear of the
pan.

As for using cat litter... another method I use that works really well is
just placing a large sheet of old cardboard under the the entire engine area
before changing oil. Next time you buy a TV or refridgerator or computer
etc, save the boxes and chop into large flat panels. Cardboard keeps the
ground totally clean from splashed or spilled oil, also absorbs the oil to
an extent which keeps it from running and dripping off the sides onto the
floor. After a few uses, throw the cardboard panel away and use a new
piece... doesn't cost much.

<<...Dont forget to get cat litter for the mess you'll make on the garage
floor....>>

Thanks for the advise. I was hoping that ramps would be ok for an oil
change since using ramps is much easier than jacking the entire car off the
ground with floor jacks and stands. Many cars have the drain plugs located
at the rear edge of the oil pan so that if the car is on ramps, the oil will
flow toward the rear of the pan and fully exit via the rear plug.... not
sure if these plugs were placed there for that purpose, but it works out
well if you use ramps. Being that you mentioned the Vette needs to be level
for an oil change, I assume that the drain plug is not at the rear of the
pan.

As for using cat litter... another method I use that works really well is
just placing a large sheet of old cardboard under the the entire engine area
before changing oil. Next time you buy a TV or refridgerator or computer
etc, save the boxes and chop into large flat panels. Cardboard keeps the
ground totally clean from splashed or spilled oil, also absorbs the oil to
an extent which keeps it from running and dripping off the sides onto the
floor. After a few uses, throw the cardboard panel away and use a new
piece... doesn't cost much.