Oil changing question...DIY'ers

chetos · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:47 pm

My free oil changes are coming to end here after the next two. So I have some questions.
1. Is it possible to get around underneath with a creeper? Not jacked up of course and yes, I am looking for an excuse to buy a new toy! :twisted:

2. Does anyone jack up there KJ to this? Which leads to...
3. I am not sure if I should go with a floor jack (roll around) or a hydrolic jack (place at point). I've been eyeing them along with some stands at sears. I figure it'll be easier to put the KJ up when installing my sliders (not here yet but soon!! :twisted:

)

Once again, thanks for help and insight.

bmg9b · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:57 pm

I just crawl up under mine, I'm a 4x4 not lifted.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:03 pm

My creeper seems to lift you off the ground alot more than a normal creeper. On mine, the back and bottom will raise up making alittle chair. I had never seen this type before but my dad bought it for me.

Anyway, with my Rustys lift, its a TIGHT fit trying to get under there. Im a fairly small guy too(150lbs)..

I think it would be hard to get under a non lifted jeep while on a creeper. Are you afraid of getting dirty? Be a man and lay on the cold ground! :lol:

chetos · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:08 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Are you afraid of getting dirty? Be a man and lay on the cold ground! :lol:

Dirty is fun...cold sucks!!

Kniggit · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:29 pm

Use some poor man's creeper (corrugated card board)

K

N / A · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:42 pm

im a fairly big guy 240lbs and I can get under mine with a rustys lift fine, I rarely need to jack it

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:54 pm

I vote for the poor mans creeper too, Cardboard. I find it easier to control what I am doing and where I am going if lying on cardboard or the ground. For a jack I would get a nice floor jack as it is usually faster for getting the Jeep up on stands and you can usually find a nice set of stands and jack for a good price at most stores. Another option is ramps which are also nice but storing them sucks. I would also invest in a bottle jack as they are cheap and you can take it with you.

SchnellRS · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:05 pm

I'm with the cardboard crowd. It also doubles to catch those last drops of oil which always seem to be there even after a good wipe down.

I'm not sure you want to jack up the front end for an oil change. The KJ is no longer level which might make a difference as far as draining all the old stuff out.

Ken

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:47 pm

If you do get a rolling jack - get the larger 3ton versions. The small ones do not have enough capability to lift the front end of the Liberty so you can place jackstands. Cardboard is a great thing to lay on and put under the Jeep because it'll absorb the oil that spills instead of staining the driveway.

Warm the engine up for a few minutes before performing an oil change
I like to have the front lifted because this helps get most of the oil out though the drain hole
Have plenty of paper towel for your first time... It'll probably be messy on your hands the first time
Let the oil drain from the pan and leave the plug out while you pull the filter off - sometimes some extra oil will come out
pre-fill the new filter with clean oil (don't forget to oil the gasket), check to make sure the sealing surface is clean and that the old gasket is off - then install
put the plug back in, make sure the gasket is good and reuseable on the drain plug though
Lower the front end
Refill and start to verify there are no leaks....

raceinfan · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 4:00 pm

you could also buy some ramps,I did, Wal Mart specials $25 heavy duty plastic type ( very safe) so far so good

sidewayskj · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 4:16 pm

I'm unlifted and just climb under the kj and do the oil change no problem. I work in a production factory and have access to my own coverall so get the work cloth dirty and not your own :evil:

. I just slap those on and change it the only fun part of the oil change is getting that darn filter on last time was not to bad but the past 2 times it has been a pain.

adamkrz · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 4:20 pm

Its a little tough to get the filter out without spilling some oil all over the place - otherwise it's not too bad,I also use a cardboard box from an old water heater instaed of my creeper -no lift needed...

ShoreRenegade · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 4:30 pm

Just crawl under there. There is plenty of room. I just lay out an old blanket on my garage floor and lay on that.

As far as the mess with the filter. Just unscrew the filter enough to get the oil pouring out of it slowly. Let it drain for a couple minutes before completely pulling it off and you won't have any mess. It is designed to pour down in one stream through the skid plate, just make sure you have a something under there to catch the oil (obviously)

Donkeykong · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:01 pm

raceinfan wrote:

you could also buy some ramps,I did, Wal Mart specials $25 heavy duty plastic type ( very safe) so far so good

I was going to ask about the black plastic ramps.... I thought that they were rated 4400# and I thought that is close to the entire weight of the libby, so I figured that they would be safe..... If I were to use mine I would probably have stuck the jack stands under there the first couple of times just to be safe....

Just out of curiosity:

Is it possible/cleaner to get to the filter from up top? (Ie: Pop the hood and reach down?)

How many quarts of oil does the 3.7Liter need? I have 6 quarts of mobils finest..... also, my oil cap calls for 5W-30 does anyone beg to differ and why?

Thanks
-Mark

raceinfan · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:41 pm

those ramps will be fine NO WORRIES so far

mine usualy takes 5 qts Mobile 1 10w30 & no problems so far

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 7:08 pm

Well Chetos,I hate to be a smart stupid, but I always just run over to the shop I work at (1/4 mile away) and pick a bay,(preferably a drive-on rack), go in the back room and use 5 quarts of Mobile 1 synthetic. This is how I think it's the easiest way. Just had to share........... :lol:

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:16 pm

LiLredLibby wrote:

Well Chetos,I hate to be a smart stupid, but I always just run over to the shop I work at (1/4 mile away) and pick a bay,(preferably a drive-on rack), go in the back room and use 5 quarts of Mobile 1 synthetic. This is how I think it's the easiest way. Just had to share........... :lol:

Ohh bless, what do you do with 5 quarts of oil in the back room?!?!?! :shock:

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:29 pm

That is a lot of lube for the back room. :oops:

If you get some ramps, please becareful when you drive up and down them. They can slip out from under the tires and send your vehicle, in this case the Liberty, crashing down to the ground. I can't even see the filter from the top - stupid mechanical fan.

If you prefill the oil filter, subtract that amount from your 5 qt total.

chetos · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:43 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

LiLredLibby wrote:

Well Chetos,I hate to be a smart stupid, but I always just run over to the shop I work at (1/4 mile away) and pick a bay,(preferably a drive-on rack), go in the back room and use 5 quarts of Mobile 1 synthetic. This is how I think it's the easiest way. Just had to share........... :lol:

Ohh bless, what do you do with 5 quarts of oil in the back room?!?!?! :shock:

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:45 pm

chetos wrote:

Jeepjeepster wrote:

LiLredLibby wrote:

Well Chetos,I hate to be a smart stupid, but I always just run over to the shop I work at (1/4 mile away) and pick a bay,(preferably a drive-on rack), go in the back room and use 5 quarts of Mobile 1 synthetic. This is how I think it's the easiest way. Just had to share........... :lol:

Ohh bless, what do you do with 5 quarts of oil in the back room?!?!?! :shock:

Maybe I could have worded that differently... :oops:

Oil changing question...DIY'ers

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