Can't jack or ramp my '03 for oil change

[Effen Fish]

I went to change my oil and found that the Accord's front end was too low to use my current ramps. I know the trick of putting boards ahead of the ramp to raise the car, but I need a a long term solution. Probably need lower ramps.

I thought I could just jack it up since it's time to rotate the tires too, but there isn't any jacking point on the car that I can see to put my floor jack.

Anybody know how to use a floor jack on the '03s?

[Effen Fish]

Dang, have to answer my own post! I bought some Blitz Rhino ramps at Auto Zone today. The have a low degree of rise to allow for vehicles with low clearance. I tried them and they do the trick as far as an oil change.

I'm still looking for jacking points. I have a Helm manual on order, it should show them.

[Bean]

Hey fish,

How did the oil change go?
Was everything relatively easy to get to?

Does the oil pan drain plug have one of those "crush" washers on it, and if so, did you replace it?

I plan on doing my own oil changes as well. Not so much for the cost savings, but for piece of mind. I'd prefer not to let any garage monkeys get their hands on my precious!

[Effen Fish]

Bean,

Oil change went well. The new smaller filter threw me a bit, but it fit. I got my Helm manual and found the jacking point. Here is a pic (sorry about the size, I can't get it right. Mod HELP!). Once I found the jacking point, it was "DUH!!!" The arrow points to it (the raised area with a round hole in the middle near the very front of the vehicle).


http://www.driveaccord.net/gallery/front%20jacking%20point.jpg

[Bean]

Thanks for the pic.
How about the crush washer? Did you replace it?

Also, what brand of Filter did you go with, and did you use synthetic oil or dino?

I plan on going w/ Mobil1 after the break-in oil is changed, as I plan on keeping this car for many, many years.

[Effen Fish]

I use a new crush washer at each change. I used a Fram filter this time.

I use regular oil and will continue to do so because I have had good luck with it (over 200k miles on my 85 chevy truck before trade-in and over 160k on my current 95 chevy truck).

My Grand Caravan's tranny went twice but never had engine problems with over 130k miles before trade-in.

As for oil filters, I get whatever is on sale.

You can start a long debate about the types and brands of oil and filters. However, everyone agrees that changing the oil every 3-5k miles is the best thing going.

[Bean]

Hmmm..

So you said you jacked it up, but you mentioned the ramps.
Did you still use the ramps?

Can you add a pic of your ramps?
I may get myself a set. Haven't used ramps in years, as I was always able to just slide under my other vehicles. How hard is it to get the Accord up on the ramps?

Thanks!

[according2me]

I ran into the low clearance problem when I bought my 01. I had to buy new ramps also (hated to do it).


Just be sure the angle of attack is correct before climbing those ramps, maybe use a spotter the first time.

[Effen Fish]

Bean,

I used the jack to rotate the tires. Using jackstands, you can change the oil and rotate the tires almost at the same time. Many people rotate tires at every other oil change, so they would alternate jack and ramps when changing the oil.

Here is the web page for the Rhino ramps:
http://www.blitzusa.com/auto_products_ramps.html

[Bean]

Excellent!
The 12000 ramps were the ones I saw at my local auto parts store for ~$30 I think. They had something like an 18 degree angle.

I have to look at my owners manual, but isn't the Accord rotation pattern: front to back and then cross? Do you jack up one side of the car at a time, and switch the wheels on that side?

And while I have your ear, a couple more questions:

Where is the safest place to place the jackstands? I never really gave it much thought on my older cars, just kinda stuck them wherever it looked sturdy. But I wanna do it right on the new one, and don't want to cause any damage. Do you use the jack that came w/ the car or a hydraulic floor jack?

Finally, how hard is it to remove the oil filter? The pic in the Owner's Manual makes it look as if you really have to snake your hand around to get to it.

Thanks for your info.
You are an asset to this board.

[Effen Fish]

Bean,

The jacking points for a hydraulic floor jack are in the center of the vehicle, so you jack front and back, not either side. With the jack that came with the car, you jack individual tires. The car jack is for emergencies, so use a hydraulic jack for maintenance.

Which brings us to jack stands. The jack stands go in the same places where you put the car jack. Those are shown in the owners manual. There are four points, one near each tire.

To rotate the tires, I jack up the front, (after loosing the lug nuts), and remove the tires. Then I place jack stands under the strong points behind each tire. I loosen the lugs on the back tires, jack up the back of the car, and remove the tires. Tires from the drive wheels go straight back and stay on the same side of the car they came from. Non-drive tires cross over to the opposite side.

You are right about the oil filter. I use the same wrenches I've had for years, but there is very little room on the newer vehicles to use these older tools. I still manage to get them to turn the filter enough to break it loose. The best filter wrench appears to be the kind that fits on the end of the filter, not the kind that goes around the body of the filter.

[princess]

bump.....

[jbuffethed]

Man I cant even get my jack out by hand. Havent had a chance to use tools though, I always forget.