Notices
Scion xB 2nd-Gen Drivetrain & Power Engine and transmission discussions...

Ramp or Floor Jack for Oil Change

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-29-2008, 08:34 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
 
BBN-Boys's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 353
Default Ramp or Floor Jack for Oil Change

I haven't changed my oil yet on the xB2, but I was wondering if using a ramp makes the oil change task easier? If so, would you recommend using a ramp at all 4 tires or just the 2 up front?


or maybe a floor jack with a couple of jacks?


I would think the ramps would be quicker since all you have to do is position the ramps in front of the tires and CAREFULLY drive the car up.

With the floor jack and jack stands, I'm always worried about the positioning and making sure not to damage anything under there while lowering the car to the jack stands.

Although, with the ramps you'll have to worry about giving it too much gas and going over the edge..... I wouldn't want to find out how much damage that would do.

Another thought..... since the car is not level after lifting the front, does this prevent all the dirty oil from draining out? If so, maybe using a ramp at all 4 tires to make the car level would help the draining process.

Thanks
BBN-Boys is offline  
Old 07-29-2008, 08:45 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
CDogbert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: N38° 37', W90° 17'
Posts: 1,906
Default

It'll go faster with 4 ramps just because you won't have to position them as much as you do the jack/stands.
CDogbert is offline  
Old 07-29-2008, 09:33 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
hwybox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: "big" O
Posts: 515
Default

my car would not go up the ramps it just pushed them I tried and tried with no luck. I'd say jack and stands but be very careful either way.
hwybox is offline  
Old 07-29-2008, 09:45 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
CDogbert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: N38° 37', W90° 17'
Posts: 1,906
Default

Originally Posted by hwybox
my car would not go up the ramps it just pushed them I tried and tried with no luck. I'd say jack and stands but be very careful either way.
Set them up like you're chalking them, and then drive up.
CDogbert is offline  
Old 07-29-2008, 09:53 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
 
BBN-Boys's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 353
Default

Originally Posted by CDogbert
Set them up like you're chalking them, and then drive up.
What does "chalking" mean? Please explain.

Sorry for my ignorance.
BBN-Boys is offline  
Old 07-29-2008, 11:40 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
CDogbert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: N38° 37', W90° 17'
Posts: 1,906
Default

Take them and jam them between the ground and the tires so that they're stuck. You should have some much steeper ones designed to not let the tires go anywhere if you're going to jack the car up, but with the ramps it ensures that they don't slide.
CDogbert is offline  
Old 07-29-2008, 12:02 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
iTrader: (7)
 
ack154's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,701
Default

My car wouldn't go up ramps either. the bumper pushes them and the tire never touches them.
ack154 is offline  
Old 07-29-2008, 03:24 PM
  #8  
Former Sponsor
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
Team No Limitz
AlphaSquad
SL Member
 
NoLimitzBuilt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: AlphaSquad - AZ
Posts: 2,622
Default

I use both. I had to make ramps to get my xB up high enough to get the jack under. I made wood ramps. Use 4 layers of 3/4" wood and they are about 3 feet long. Gets the front end up high enough to get the jack under it. Then I use stands. Better safe then sorry.
NoLimitzBuilt is offline  
Old 07-29-2008, 03:41 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
CDogbert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: N38° 37', W90° 17'
Posts: 1,906
Default

Originally Posted by ack154
My car wouldn't go up ramps either. the bumper pushes them and the tire never touches them.
Urk, are you serious? I'm going to have a lower drop than you, and I love using ramps.

Originally Posted by NoLimitzInd
I made wood ramps.
Were you the one that made that DIY ramp thread?
CDogbert is offline  
Old 07-29-2008, 03:43 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
iTrader: (7)
 
ack154's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,701
Default

If I recall, that was originally with Hotchkis. So it was pretty low. But I'm pretty sure I tried the H&Rs too. Ended up selling the ramps.

You'd probably have to make something like NoLimitz did.
ack154 is offline  
Old 07-29-2008, 04:43 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
iTrader: (1)
 
CIONIDE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Napa, CA
Posts: 6,012
Default

Here's Invertalon's DIY for the homemade wooden ramps:

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=209587
CIONIDE is offline  
Old 07-29-2008, 05:43 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Thread Starter
 
BBN-Boys's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 353
Default

When draining the dirty oil, do you think there's any advantage to having the car level compared to having the front end higher? I'm sure it's not a big deal, but maybe having the car's front end higher will not allow all the dirty oil to drain out.
BBN-Boys is offline  
Old 07-29-2008, 05:50 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
iTrader: (7)
 
ack154's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,701
Default

I know on the tC that the drain plug is toward the rear of the engine, so it would actually drain better when on a slight incline like that (from what I can tell).
ack154 is offline  
Old 07-29-2008, 06:05 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
iTrader: (3)
 
swartzautoman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Mid MO
Posts: 1,915
Default

i use a set of custom ramps i made myself




my front end is only sittin 4" of the ground & thease ramps work perfect.
each pice of wood is only 3/4" and the edges that the tires role on are rounded off so the car just glides right up the ramps nice and easy
swartzautoman is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
voodoo2crue
Scion tC 1G Owners Lounge
11
03-18-2015 01:30 AM
mischadoll
Maintenance & Car Care
3
03-09-2015 05:48 AM
cid_mcdp
Maintenance & Car Care
4
01-05-2015 02:45 PM
scionman2003
Maintenance & Car Care
19
02-26-2004 02:55 AM
BlueBox
Maintenance & Car Care
22
11-07-2003 08:18 PM



Quick Reply: Ramp or Floor Jack for Oil Change



All times are GMT. The time now is 12:32 PM.