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05-14-2012, 08:21 AM | #1 |
Drives: 06 Yaris HB CE Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Toronto
Posts: 501
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Jacking up car for oil change question
Hi,
My car is lowered and I can no longer reach the drain bolt without lifting the car, if I need to lift it with the jack came with the car which side is it better to lift? thanks |
05-14-2012, 08:35 AM | #2 |
Nothing beats a Toyota!
Drives: 2013 Yaris 5 dr liftback Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 564
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The driver's side. You will need the left side free because that is where the oil plan is. The oil filter is about center so you don't have a lot of room to put your oil drain plan. The hard part is finding a good spot to out the head of you your jack. Its a quick job. In and out in under 15 minutes if you oil is hot enough and you have everything you need at your fingertips.
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Big Dave Indianapolis, IN Synthetic Oil....its in my car.....for at least 10,000 miles! |
05-14-2012, 09:50 AM | #3 |
ULTIMATE
Drives: 09 5dr LB, 2x 08 3dr LB Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: USA, CT
Posts: 13,460
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The OEM jack is not safe to use if you are under the car. You would be better off with a set of the low profile plastic ramps.
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05-14-2012, 10:23 AM | #4 |
Drives: 2008 Yaris sedan, 5 speed Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Ontario
Posts: 30
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There is an easier way to do oil changes - this is how I do mine......get a 8 foot length of 2x6 from Home Depot...cut it up into 4 pieces - 2 pieces each at 2 1/2 ft in length and the other 2 pieces 1 1/2 ft in length
Place each of the short pieces on top of the 2 1/2 ft pieces in the middle of these long pieces and nail them together - home made ramps that will never give out.....a heck of lot safer than relying on a jack. |
05-14-2012, 11:22 AM | #5 |
Drives: 06 Yaris HB CE Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Toronto
Posts: 501
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very newbie to this, but how unsafe is it to use the OEM jack stand? I just have go under the car to unscrew the bolt then i'll come back right out. Is that still ok?
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05-14-2012, 11:29 AM | #6 | |
ULTIMATE
Drives: 09 5dr LB, 2x 08 3dr LB Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: USA, CT
Posts: 13,460
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Quote:
The OEM jacks are really unstable and are really designed as emergency tire changing only devices. When the car is on it, it doesn't take much to make the jack fall over, so even loosening the drain plug could be enough to bring the car down on top of you.
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05-14-2012, 11:32 AM | #7 |
Drives: 2008 HB, A/T, Power W/L/M Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: LI, New Yawk
Posts: 2,063
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Buy a set of jackstands....
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Never take eyes off opponent - Bruce Lee |
05-14-2012, 12:00 PM | #8 |
Drives: Yaris sedan Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Northern Virginia (Fairfax, VA)
Posts: 141
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I use ramps.
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05-14-2012, 01:02 PM | #9 |
Drives: 2008 HB, A/T, Power W/L/M Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: LI, New Yawk
Posts: 2,063
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I have rhino ramps , floor jacks and jack stands. But I also have garage space. If your in a small apt, that stuff takes lots of space, thus the small jack stands...
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Never take eyes off opponent - Bruce Lee |
05-14-2012, 02:59 PM | #10 |
Drives: yaris 08 sedan Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Montreal Canada
Posts: 1,286
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I just go to the corner of the street where the sidewalk dips for wheelchair use and i drive the two rightside wheels up on the sidewalk,i now have enough space to easily do the oil change. however in my old age i've discovered an even easier way,go to my mechanic and let him change the oil twice a year for $30 a pop.
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Have Yaris will travel.. |
05-14-2012, 03:38 PM | #11 | |
Drives: '09 Yaris carmine red 2d HB Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Middletown, NY
Posts: 1,501
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Quote:
I personally know of two people who had an OEM jack fail while under a car. Both were extremely lucky to get away with relatively minor injuries. |
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05-14-2012, 04:12 PM | #12 |
Takes corners too fast!
Drives: Absolute Red 2009 Yaris HB Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 830
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I just changed my oil literally a few hours ago. I started by jacking up the driver's side enough to get a real floor jack under the car, put a jack stand on the the driver side then repeat on the passenger side, once both sides are on jack stands and the read wheels are blocked along with the parking break being on, then I get under the car to change the oil. safety first, right.
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05-14-2012, 04:54 PM | #13 |
Drives: none Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: bay area
Posts: 46
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buy a jack for low cars. best money ever spent
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05-15-2012, 06:33 AM | #14 | |
Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj
Posts: 4,790
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Quote:
I have to believe though if a cop saw you do that in our town youd get a ticket or at least a warning never to change your oil in his town again on the street (I dont have a drive) Now...just how much balls do I have?
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Synthetic Oil: Its All In Your Head |
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05-16-2012, 05:54 PM | #15 | |
Drives: 3-door hatch Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 519
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Quote:
Shouldn't you be/have been driving the two LEFT side wheels up on the sidewalk? The drain plug is on the right side of the car and should be the low point... |
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05-16-2012, 06:23 PM | #16 |
advocatus diaboli
Drives: 07 Yaris hatch Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: San Jacinto California
Posts: 1,126
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Harbor frieght has low profile "rapid pump"(4 pumps vs 10+ to set the jack in place) 2.5 ton jacks for less than 100.00. Once i went coilover there was no way my old jack was getting under the car, now it's a piece of cake...I love this new jack.
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-Type 07 FFL- My odometer 03/11 http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...a/2843ed85.jpg |
05-17-2012, 03:45 AM | #17 | |
Drives: yaris 08 sedan Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Montreal Canada
Posts: 1,286
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Quote:
As for a cop giving you hassle for an in street oil change? maybe if he happens by in the less than the 15 minutes its going to take and depending on his mood i doubt you'd get to much of a problem even if you were observed,if theres a huge puddle of oil on the ground at that time it might be a different matter or if you live in a deed restricted community you may have a problem..
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Have Yaris will travel.. |
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05-17-2012, 02:54 PM | #18 | |
Only Happy When it Rains
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Quote:
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Colin Chapman disciple |
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