I've been using the racing jack they sell at Harbor Freight. Great jack for low cars,so far so good.

 

Oil pna . .. . WTF. Goodluck man

 

yea, I started doing it when I swapped my clutch out. I moved the motor to do it, so needed something to push on on the engine and it was convenient, and ever since then...
But now that you mention it, I think when I first put on my wheels I used the crossmember (is this the jacking point you all speak of?) but forgot about it

So both work.

 

using the oil pan as a jack point is pretty scarey... that has got to be a jack point for the car..

stupid question.. : it's the rear diff. at the rear axis of the car... what good would that do jacking the car up there for changing oil

 

Just seconding the Monument Car parts having the cheapest redline...
There is a Monument Car Parts in:

Tracy
Livermore
Pleasanton
San Ramon
Concord
Antioch
Pacheco

 

rofl. i think they replied with the jacking up the rear diff to my question as to where people jack up the car when using those smaller jacks instead of the big prof. floor jacks.

 

^^^ exactly, sorry bout the confusion

 

DO NOT JACK ON THE OIL PAN! Doesn't anyone read manuals any more?! I have a dented oil pan on the legacy due to the previous owner doing that, which can lead to oil feed issues. There is a jacking plate behind the oil pan that is the correct place to jack up your car. The correct place for the rear of the car is the rear diff, just make sure that your jack is securely seated, since you wouldn't want the jack to slip and crack your rear diff.

 

I second the Fumoto engine oil drain valve. I had one on my explorer, easiest way to change oil. Just reach under and open it up. This will be a part I'll be adding soon.

 

People...do not use your oil pan as a jacking spot. There's a Jacking plate right behind the oil pan that is specifically for jacking up the front of the car. I got the Craftsman floorjack and two jackstands deal for about $100 a few years ago and I'd recommend the same to anyone looking for a floor jack.

-Brian

 

if you get the craftsman, make sure you get the set with the full-size, 3 or 3.5 ton jack.

Its a great, strong jack, unlike their little ones.

This aluminum jack at costco sounds nice tho...

 

Craftsman actually makes an all-aluminum jack that is very nice, my buddy has it. I'm seriously considering buying one.

 

I just saw the craftsman aluminum one, the better one is a 2 ton, and it's $200.

I read some reviews, and it's supposed to be really well-made...

 

NAPA sells Redline oil. I don't know how the prices are. I have a large heavy floor jack, I don't know the brand. It works great and is very stable and has a large platform to lift the car. The small floor jacks are narrow and the platform is very small that worries me. I have had cars shift on the jack when lifting them and with a small jack the car can slip off or the jack can fall over, not good. Another reason a large jack is nice is the lift you can get. I used to use mine on a Jeep and had no problem getting it off the ground.

On my WRX I use Rhino ramps for oil changes. They are cheap and quick to use, just drive up on them, block the wheels and change the oil. Either ramps or jack and jack stands will work. If you use a jack be sure to use jack stands. When I was a kid my Dad used only the jack when changing the oil on a Buick Riviera. The jack slipped and the car fell a little and broke his collar bone. He was lucky the jack caught on the radiator, it saved his life and trashed the radiator.

 

unless if your car is lowered... i just use the ghetto way to change oil. park half of the car on a curve. you don't even have to break a sweat cranking up the jack. =)