Car leveling and oil change

[jpc763]

I am about to do my first oil change and have read that the car needs to be level in order to drain the most oil out.

I have ramps and jack stands. The ramps will raise the front of the car 8" while the jack stands will raise the back 11.5"

Will that 3.5" be an issue?

I *did* do a search and looked at Pelican Tech Articles as well. Great info on the actual change but nothing about raising the car.

[epapp]

I have never once worried about being totally level when changing my oil...I jack up the rear, give enough space with jack stands to get under there, drain and fill. I can't be really missing that much oil by doing it this way - it still takes 9 quarts to fill it up to the correct level again!

[JayG]

My understanding is the the car should be level to properly drain all the oil. A full change is ~9.5 quarts

Best to get 4 jack stands. I do the front of the car by putting the jack at the rear jack point, it will raise the entire side. I do one side and then the other. Then for the back i use a the rear jack point at shown in the Pelican DIY and it will raise the entire back so you can slide in jack stand for both sides

Note that the car should be warmed up and the oil will be hot when draining. You should let it drain for at least 30 minutes

[hancock1701]

Originally Posted by JayG

My understanding is the the car should be level to properly drain all the oil. A full change is ~9.5 quarts

Best to get 4 jack stands. I do the front of the car by putting the jack at the rear jack point, it will raise the entire side. I do one side and then the other. Then for the back i use a the rear jack point at shown in the Pelican DIY and it will raise the entire back so you can slide in jack stand for both sides

Note that the car should be warmed up and the oil will be hot when draining. You should let it drain for at least 30 minutes

Bro, you're so poor you can't even afford to pay somebody to change your oil, and have to do it yourself?

Anyway, like he said. Best is car level, and warm oil when draining. But personally, I just raise the rear to change it, and sometimes the oil is cold too. If you don't feel comfortable knowing that you didn't completely drain all the oil, then get the car level.

[JayG]

Originally Posted by hancock1701

Bro, you're so poor you can't even afford to pay somebody to change your oil, and have to do it yourself?

Anyway, like he said. Best is car level, and warm oil when draining. But personally, I just raise the rear to change it, and sometimes the oil is cold too. If you don't feel comfortable knowing that you didn't completely drain all the oil, then get the car level.

I'm so poor, I filter the oil with used coffee filters and then reuse it

Where in So Cal are you?

[hancock1701]

I'm in Orange County, but I also frequent San Diego County.

[epapp]

I even mixed mobil 1 and redline the other day to make up for the lost oil while replacing a broken drain plug!

Don't tell my IMSB!!!!

[particlewave]

I literally raise the back end all of an inch or 2 to change the oil, so it's fairly level.
It only needs to come up a bit to fit the catch pan under there, otherwise I wouldn't raise it at all. The drain plug and filter can be reached easily without getting under it.

[911monty]

Here is a picture of the internals of a stock oil pan. As you can see having the rear higher than the front is desired due to the channels into the baffle. Rear low or unlevel side to side would trap much more oil. When I dropped this pan I had the rear on ramps approx 4" higher than front and had less than 1/2 cup residual oil after draining.

[JayG]

Originally Posted by particlewave

I literally raise the back end all of an inch or 2 to change the oil, so it's fairly level.
It only needs to come up a bit to fit the catch pan under there, otherwise I wouldn't raise it at all. The drain plug and filter can be reached easily without getting under it.

Originally Posted by 911monty

Here is a picture of the internals of a stock oil pan. As you can see having the rear higher than the front is desired due to the channels into the baffle. Rear low or unlevel side to side would trap much more oil. When I dropped this pan I had the rear on ramps approx 4" higher than front and had less than 1/2 cup residual oil after draining.

good to know
Thanks

So just raising the rear is actually better than level?

[JayG]

Originally Posted by hancock1701

I'm in Orange County, but I also frequent San Diego County.

You should come down for some of the San Diego PCA events. We have a great group of owners and have a lot of fun

Thee is a back road tour coming up on Aug 30. We usually get between 80 & 125 cars
Driving Tour – starts at TBD | Porsche Club of America San Diego Region

Great 3-3,.5 hour round trip drive
The start and end locations as well as the rout changes each time

PM me if you will be going and we can say hi

[911monty]

Originally Posted by JayG

good to know
Thanks

So just raising the rear is actually better than level?

Well I believe a picture is worth a thousand words! The only channel into the baffle is from the front. From there into the depression for the oil pump pickup and into the relief for the drain plug. So IMO PW's 2" height is ideal. I have a slope in my driveway, so I put front wheels up slope and rears on ramps. Plenty of room to drain and inspect bottom of car!

[JayG]

Gonna have to get some ramps

[911monty]

Forgot to attach earlier.

[Deserion]

I set my jack stands so the car is level. It gives me enough room to get myself underneath to inspect as well.

Thanks for the oil pan pic.

[Ben006]

I did it on ramps, and I've got all 9+ quarts out
You never get all the old oil out anyway.