hi
I changed the engine oil for my motorcycle with assistance of a mate and it was breeze.,
Looking to do the same for my 10+yr old Camry
I was looking at DIY videos - they use a jack to lift the front of the car. Is that necessary?
Can you pls guide what tools are really required for it - may grab some from supercheap auto sale now. thanks
they use a jack to lift the front of the car. Is that necessary?
and why did they do that? If you can do what they did under the car without lifting it, then you don't need one ;)
(or buy some ramps)
Or make them. Couple of thick sleepers and a few bricks. A Camry is pretty lifted anyway.
Socket/spanner
Drip pan
Funnel and oil
Replacement filter
Tool to get the old filter off if you're feeling fancy
Other fancy items-
Newspaper to avoid stains to your carport/garage floor.
Degreaser to clean up tools and mess afterwards.
Replacement washer
Screwdriver/socket/spanner if you have plastic covers underneath.
its all here, how to and what you need. Also they have oil recycling facilities.
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/articles/servicing-mechanic…
No need to buy a new jack, just use the scissor jack in your boot. You'll need to lift one side, support the car with an axle stand. Then take out the scissor jack. Go to the other side of the car and jack the other side and repeat the process. I do mine this way all the time. And yes get axle stands, they usually go on sale at super cheap auto every month or so.
Every now and then, Change the crush washer on the sump plug (the bolt). Oil changes are super easy, there are a tonne of you tube clips.
thanks mate. Worthy advice.
Just reading through reviews - this one seems to be preferred
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/Product/SCA-Car-Stands-Pin-…
Ratchet one is already on sale now
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/Product/SCA-Car-Stands-Ratc…
Any suggestions pls?
ta !
Some people say to go with the pin type stands, due to concern of a chance of the ratchet mechanism failing.
I have pin type stand because they were cheap. I'd get them again just because of preference.
Check welds on the stands before every use to make sure it's structally sound (don't want it to rust over time). I have two cars and sometimes take the scissor jacks from both cars and put 95% of the weight on the axel stand and 5% on the jacks as a fail safe. Once the car is supported I give it a bit of a shake to make sure it's safe, sometimes the sump plug requires a bit of force so you want to make sure the car can withstand the minor shaking. Also, the general consensus is to not work under a car unless it is adequately supported by stands/ramps/kerb /etc.
I have both pin and ratchet types. Both do the job, however I have had my fingers caught on the ratchet type a couple of times when dropping them. ie lift the weight off the stand with the jack, release the ratchet and ouch. Pin type seems less likely to do this.
thanks guys
Budget DIY.
OEM jack up one side and put the spare wheel and some chicks under and lower down. The jack and wheel will take the weight fine.
Screwdriver through the old filter if you can't turn by hand with a rubber glove.
Or drive the car with 2 wheels on the gutter and you can fit under the high side.
-Agree with screw driver through oil filter. That's the absolute last resort. I've previously use D Clamps to loosen oil filter and its done wonders.
-Agree with the wheels on gutter. If its not high enough, I've previously build a ramp on the gutter with wood to raise it slightly.
If you are changing oil, get a drain pan to collect the oil. Makes less mess.
Also recommend putting a piece of large cardboard underneath the car whilst work to collect some oil, and not get too dirty too.
Don’t put the chicks under the car. Use them to get you beverages.
Did the screwdriver thing on the side of a road, before we were more environmentally aware.Pushed it all the way through and turned it and it just sheared the filter into two halves. Thought I might be able to limp it home. Have you ever seen the volume that oil pumps at? Had a very long walk home and then down to the tool shop to buy a filter wrench.
Reminds me of a couple of weeks ago when I saw a guy about 20 years old looking at his IPad for instruction of how to change a flat tyre.
Oh how the younger generation have totally lost the plot, or maybe they need to ask their mummy for help?
Clearly his old man didn't show him how to change a tyre in the past, so he takes the initiative to learn how it's done so he can do it himself? And this is worthy of your ridicule how? Stop having such a bitter, negative outlook on other humans.
Why help when you can point, laugh and feel superior?
Moments like that don't come along all that often, so take advantage while you can.
LOL … actually cracked up.
Beats some blokes I know. Call NRMA (:-s)
If you do not know the basics of a car then you should not be on the roads in the first place.
People who don't offer to help but prefer to criticise shouldn't be in society.
Oh how the younger generation have totally lost the plot
Yeah! Whoever taught them how to do things suck! Oh wait..
Person doesn't know how to do something.
Person learns how to do something.
Person can now do something.
Don't see the problem mate. It's really great that you got to go through the all important 'real man' ritual where your Dad taught you how to do it at the appropriate 'real man' age so that you can now be a 'real man'.
My newer holden has different type of oil filter to the ones i was used too that were under the car . So maybe some research as i didn't have a big enough socket when i was half way through the oil change.
remember to hand tighten the filter back on with a small amount of oil rubbed on the gasket .
A set of car ramps are the way to go. Do 2008 model Camrys have oil filter or cartridge filter. If it’s a cartridge filter you will need a special tool to remove the filter housing. The tool loooks like a large bottle top and you can by the king chrome brand at most spares places. You can get a cheapie on flea bay for around $15. However you need to check if it’s a cartridge filter.
thanks mate.
Car ramps are one of the things that are ever rarely on sale.
I've been waiting 😎
Then go for the 25% off "everything" Repco sales…..
A couple of extras, having done some older Toyota Corollas. Sorry no Camry.
10mm socket and ratchet or 10mm spanner to remove to the engine splash shield (it can be a pain with it attached), provided your oil filter is not top mountable.
Oil removal tool, a couple of different types, the strap type and the claw type are the most common.
If it hasn't been flushed in awhile something like nulon oil flush additive.
Hand tight is enough when refitting the new filter.
Do you know what oil you need, normally something like 10W-40 or 5W-30? Check your manual or use supercheaps e-manual.
Correct oil filter check supercheap manual.
Crush washer if it has been reused too many times. (go to Toyota service dep)
Don't believe the internet and simply pour the oil until it flows out the top, the dip stick is your friend. Recheck the dip stick while on flat ground.
My old man didn't teach me, so my first oil change was with an old corolla that i bought for a few hundred and it didn't blow up.
So i kept learning from there.
Good Luck
thanks mate - my old man just gets it serviced. This is my attempt to do some DIY
When doing up the oil drain plug do you need a torque wrench or will purely tightening by feel suffice? Thinking of doing a Merc but slightly worried I might stuff it up!
If you have one, then use it, if not snug should be enough. The main issue with leaks will likely be a damaged crush washer.
Ideally you should use a new one every time but every second shouldn't cause you issue.
Large Multigrips to get stubborn Filters off help
Guys - what sort of toolset you recommend me picking up?
I have got all other stuff for oil change and today tried doing it but the sump screw won’t come off with the spanner - suppose need more leverage. Must say was a bit of defining moment getting under the car on pin stand !!
May as well spend up to $50 and get some good tool set as I have only got some spammers.
Thanks !
Get an engine oil extractor, either a Topsider or a Mityvac. I chose the Topsider since it has a more stable base and is impossible to tip over.
It arguably gets most of the oil (some say that it doesn't, some say it gets more due to the shape of the sump, the angle of the car when jacked up etc).
This is the unit I bought - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001445IZ8 (strangely, doesn't ship to Australia anymore…)
With an engine oil extractor, no need to jack the car up, no need to undo sump plug.
An engine oil change takes me 5 - 15 minutes depending on whether I warmed the car up beforehand or not.
Procedure: take out dipstick, put in tube, pump oil out, refill new oil.
In any case, I suppose it doesn't matter much even if it doesn't get every last drop of engine oil out. I do mine in between services and having 90% clean oil inside is better than not.
if you change gravity, you don't need to.