DIY: First Oil Change w/ Ramps

[Terminus]

I know there are a bunch of posts about oil changes under the maintenance forum but most are having someone else do it. Hence my posting to the DIY forum.

A picture is worth a thousand words so here are thousands of words.

Maiden oil change at 985 miles 10/8/25. Trusting my life to plastic ramps made in China purchased at local Wal-Mart.

Rolled her on.

Engage parking brake, put in gear & chock rear wheels.

I've read that the S550 has a little door in the plastic/fiber bottom engine cover to access the oil filter but not our S650s. A good way to dissuade cheap-ass DIYs like me from doing it themselves so that the local dealer might get the business!?

15 metal screws & 4 plastic fasteners-2 retaining clips & 2 push pins (ripped 1 in half).

I got a fastener kit off Amazon a while back. I replaced 2 push pins with retaining clips.

Pull the plug. Pleased to discover oil pan plug is at the rear of the oil pan. Should adequately drain oil even though front-end is raised!?

Pull factory filter.

My old filter wrench is too big. Rubber glove gave me the grip to loosen.

6"x12" cardboard fastened with duct tape to keep oil off components.

New filter.

Costco oil. Drink up.

Approved for Chevys, WTF.

Lastly, injector cleaner & DONE!

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[Vapor]

All I can say is "ouch" but kudo's to you for getting that accomplished with a set of ramps

 

[DarkMatterGrey]

Approved for Chevys, WTF.

Correct, that’s Dexos-1, Ford spec calls for ILSAC GF-6.

 

[BimmerDriver]

Excellent write-up and pics. I do question the need for the fuel injector cleaner. Unless you've got just horrible gas, you could cause damage* to the injectors using a cleaner too often.


* - or so I was led to believe from a very experienced mechanic many years ago

 

[POHLHAMMER]

Nice Job !

I am still wincing from seeing that cardboard box and jugs just sitting on your black hood though... lol

 

[robvas]

Excellent write-up and pics. I do question the need for the fuel injector cleaner. Unless you've got just horrible gas, you could cause damage* to the injectors using a cleaner too often.


* - or so I was led to believe from a very experienced mechanic many years ago

First time I've heard that! Plus I'm guessing he's only doing it every oil change.

I would suggest using a cleaner with PEA in it, though. So not that one.

 

[BimmerDriver]

First time I've heard that! Plus I'm guessing he's only doing it every oil change.

I would suggest using a cleaner with PEA in it, though. So not that one.

Well, in hindsight, I was told this back in the 90s in reference to an 80s car, and with today's DI and presumably higher tolerance in the injectors and everything else, maybe using a cleaner every few thousand may be OK. Still, I never use one unless the car is experiencing performance issues. Old habits die hard.

 

[robvas]

Well, in hindsight, I was told this back in the 90s in reference to an 80s car, and with today's DI and presumably higher tolerance in the injectors and everything else, maybe using a cleaner every few thousand may be OK. Still, I never use one unless the car is experiencing performance issues. Old habits die hard.

I would argue it's more of a maintenance thing, if your injectors are dirty enough to be causing issues, pouring a bottle in the tank won't do much. They need to be removed and cleaned and put on a machine to test.

 

[MustangNoob]

@Terminus nice. may I ask if

• you had to change any washers with new one and what torque did you use?
• How tight do you hasten the filter?
• Did you put all 10qt at once ? and if not what did you check for
• After putting the 10 qt , did you run the engine / check oil level/ add beyond 10qt to bring the level in the max (or closer to the max) ?
• How long do you run the engine after the change , to ensure nothing is leaking ?

Thanks

 

[Doug Watson]

I do my own oil changes all the time with ramps. Change the push pins to the ones with pull heads much easier to remove and won't break, also did the same with the battery cover. I'm not sure about the Kirkland oil and using injection cleaner. I use Chevron with Techron already added and Pennzoil ultra platinum oil. Take a look at "The Motor Oil Geek" on YouTube he has some great videos.

 

[DarkMatterGrey]

Take a look at "The Motor Oil Geek" on YouTube he has some great videos.

He's great. I wish he'd do a video on Coyote BBQ/Typewriter Tick. It goes away only to come back after a fresh oil change. Theory out there is that some suspended carbon has a beneficial tribological effect, which we get from blow by. Too much and it's a wear agent. And that the cars from the factory may come with a carbon (graphene/graphite) friction modifier additive (Motorcraft XL13). Lake Speed has the knowledge, equipment, and network to get to the bottom of it.

 

[CMcA]

tell us what it was like to get the car up on the ramps. I purchased the same ones , took about 6 attempts to get the confidence to drive up on to them. only by the grace of God did not drive off . I've been driving stick since 1972, probably much easier with the 10 speed auto. I left the belly pan off. have driven all summer no issues

 

[Doug Watson]

tell us what it was like to get the car up on the ramps. I purchased the same ones , took about 6 attempts to get the confidence to drive up on to them. only by the grace of God did not drive off . I've been driving stick since 1972, probably much easier with the 10 speed auto. I left the belly pan off. have driven all summer no issues

I use race ramps and their great, I've had them for 12 years light weight and never any issues but they are not cheap.

 

[NVERL8]

second for race ramps. One of my most used purchases

 

[Frogdog1]

Nice job! I buy my PUP and Motorcraft filter from Amazon and my dealer only charges me $35 for an oil change. Worth every penny of it to not have to crawl under the car and remove all those fasteners. I've read that Kirkland oil is good stuff so I would not worry about it.

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