Can you change CX-5 oil without ramps?

[CC58]

Recently got my CX-5. Since it sits up so high was wondering if anyone changes their oil without ramps?

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Recently got my CX-5. Since it sits up so high was wondering if anyone changes their oil without ramps?

It will be difficult to access the oil pan because after you remove the access panel, you have to be able to get your hand around the filter, and try to remove the drain plug.. I would say a ramp, or at least a jack(+ stand) would help. Mine was out of the question because I'm lowered but even if you manage to squeeze under, no room to work.

The gold valve is where the drain screw is (I replaced it with a valve). As you see it is sideways.

 

[TreyP]

Never get under a car on ramps. They are notorious for spreading out and collapsing.

 

[paris1]

Never get under a car on ramps. They are notorious for spreading out and collapsing.

"Notorious"? I've been on three forums in the past 15 years and have never once heard of this. Closest I've seen is someone once posted a picture of some old rotten ramps that were collapsing under the weight of a clunker that had been sitting on them for years. How could ramp manufacturers survive with a liability issue such as you describe?!

 

[robertmazda]

Like anything else, if you have good tools (ramps) and use them correctly then you'll be fine. I wouldn't get under a car with some of the cheap metal ramps out there. But there are great ramps made from thick plastic/rubber that are rated for 12,000lbs or more.

 

[SayNoToPistons]

Don't forget your wheel chocks if you're using ramps...

 

[baddad]

I'm on my second oil change with no ramps, not hard to do.

 

[TreyP]

"Notorious"? I've been on three forums in the past 15 years and have never once heard of this. Closest I've seen is someone once posted a picture of some old rotten ramps that were collapsing under the weight of a clunker that had been sitting on them for years. How could ramp manufacturers survive with a liability issue such as you describe?!

Just because you haven't read it on internet forums does not mean it doesn't happen. I know of 3 case in my area in the last 10 years, one of which was the boyfriend of a girl I work with. She was waiting on his call, finally got her mom to drive her over there, the mom went in the garage first and found him crushed under his car. So good job there recommending dangerous practices on a public forum.



http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=926496

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=568529

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20131211132933AAV5xO3

 

[CC58]

Never get under a car on ramps. They are notorious for spreading out and collapsing.

I have a set of ramps made of honeycombed plastic rated to hold up just about anything. I suppose there are cheap metal ramps out there that could be dangerous. If I can change oil without them, they are going on craigslist.

More dangerous are hydraulic jacks. The pistons tend to leak eventually and car slowly descends. Get caught under there and it slowly crushes you to death. Always use a jack stand and jack together. If one fails, the other supports car.

 

[CC58]

I'm on my second oil change with no ramps, not hard to do.

Thanks!

 

[CC58]

That gold valve would be handy.

One downside of high clearance is that it makes it easy for catalytic converter thieves. Lowering would prevent that.

 

[NinjaNoises]

Just because you haven't read it on internet forums does not mean it doesn't happen. I know of 3 case in my area in the last 10 years, one of which was the boyfriend of a girl I work with. She was waiting on his call, finally got her mom to drive her over there, the mom went in the garage first and found him crushed under his car. So good job there recommending dangerous practices on a public forum.



http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=926496

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=568529

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20131211132933AAV5xO3

Gasp!

 

[TreyP]

Gasp!

Yeah, ok. Ignore hard facts with snide comebacks.

Please, feel free to crawl under your car up on ramps.

 

[erhayes]

I have used a HD pair of Rino ramps and find them very stable and strong. If however: you can back your car into the garage and move the front wheels to the front edge of the floor, then you usually can gain several inches because the driveway angles down toward the street. Ed

 

[CXVille]

Just because you haven't read it on internet forums does not mean it doesn't happen. I know of 3 case in my area in the last 10 years, one of which was the boyfriend of a girl I work with. She was waiting on his call, finally got her mom to drive her over there, the mom went in the garage first and found him crushed under his car. So good job there recommending dangerous practices on a public forum.



http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=926496

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=568529

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20131211132933AAV5xO3

While there is no doubt that ramps, like everything, else, can fail, your examples are interesting. The first one is a plastic ramp, probably Rhino. It appears that the ramps were hit on the "stop" end, which can cause failure. It appears, after following three links, that the operator went up the ramps and hit the stops. Hard. Speculation on the forums when I stopped reading was that the force from the stops caused the breakage. The second one is a set of steel ramps. The third link, well that one is a question of what kind of ramps to buy, and no information about failures, just folks afraid of ramps because they have heard stories.

If you don't trust ramps, fine, don't use them. I don't believe Paris1 is "recommending dangerous practices on a public forum."

I agree with Paris1, I have been around a few years, and have heard stories of cars falling off jacks, jack stands, and the occasional ramp failing. However, I believe for neophytes, (newbies) ramps are safer because they are less likely to get the vehicle bumped off a jack stand. If you work around cars long enough, you WILL see a car knocked off jack stands.

 

[TreyP]

Anytime you get under a car you are taking a risk. I am just pointing out that ramps do fail sometimes, just as jack stands do tip and hydraulic jacks do spring leaks. Apparently trying to make people aware of potential safety issues is not appreciated on this forum, so I'll quit trying.

 

[MATR6]

I have used a HD pair of Rino ramps and find them very stable and strong. If however: you can back your car into the garage and move the front wheels to the front edge of the floor, then you usually can gain several inches because the driveway angles down toward the street. Ed

This is what I did when I used to change my own oil. Also put 2X4 perpendicular to the front wheels & drove the tires on top of them to add a couple more inches.

 

[V8toilet]

I use a hydraulic jack and some very heavy duty jack stands before I put my body under any vehicle. Regardless of which method you use (ramp vs jack) I personally would never go under either one without a secondary backup just in case. For example, if you use a ramp system, place a floor jack or better jack stand under the vehicles frame before you put your body under it. If you use a hydraulic jack than place a jack stand or multiple jack stands under the vehicle before you go under it. Also never go under a vehicle alone if you can help it.

Ramps are ok but I prefer the jack and stands because it affords you the ability to take the wheels off for things like brake work or suspension work. As far as fitting under the CX5 without jacking it up at all well I can only imagine that is a bit difficult. I'm pretty sure my oil pan wouldn't fit under the car and also have room to spin off the oil pan plug.

 

[GAXIBM]

I built some ramps from 2x6s angle cut to drive up on and stacked and nailed. They will not collapse from the weight of any vehicle and the price is right. It is still a good idea to block the other wheels and use a second prop - jack stand.

 

[Surfsup]

I'm on my second oil change with no ramps, not hard to do.

I haven't done an oil change yet (less than 1k miles still) but I did my last SUV all the time without jacking it. Just wear a crappy Tshirt.

I think I might get one of those valves.