Using Jack Stands To Change Oil

Do not use a jack to hold the car up.

Using jack stands to change oil.

Some people prefer using jacks while others stick with ramps. So the first question is should you use vehicle ramps or jack stands to lift your car off the ground for an oil change. This often sparks a hot debate in the car world on which ramp or jack stand is the best option to lift your vehicle. To use jack stands start by activating your vehicle s parking brake and jacking up the vehicle with a hydraulic floor jack so the tires are 2 3 inches off the ground.

Jack stands under your car would ensure that even if one of the car ramps would break. Use a jack to get the vehicle off the ground. Only once you are certain of the car being secured on stands should you proceed to change your oil. If you re using a hydraulic jack use the rod to turn the pressure release valve.

The jack will do the rest of the work for you. If you re using a scissor jack simply turn the crank in the opposite direction. Jack stands are important tools that keep a vehicle propped up after having used a floor jack like a scissor jack or a hydraulic jack to lift a vehicle once the vehicle is lifted enough to fit the jack stands on a solid part of the car underneath it like the chassis they can be carefully fitted and tested by hand for sturdiness at which point the jack can be removed. When you are using car ramps once you have your car positioned on the car ramps it s a good idea to go ahead and position some jack stands under your vehicle in case one or both of the car ramps fail.

Do not lean on the car or into the engine bay when it is up. Jack up the front first place jack stands and move to the back jack the back and place jack stands. When you re finished replace the jack remove the stands and lower the vehicle to the ground.