Ramps for oil change?

[Buccilli15]

Hi all,

I just picked up my car last week and planning on giving it an oil change tomorrow. I'm the 2nd owner, but there's only 3k miles on the clock. Has anybody done an oil change using only ramps? I'm just not sure where the drain plug is located on the pan and I'm concerned that if the plug is not located toward the back (trunk side) then the oil will not fully drain. I will use a jack and stands if need be to raise/lower the car to allow for a proper drain, but ramps are allot more convienent.

Thanks!

 

[nocoolnames]

There is a thread here giving ya pictures and step by step directions on changing the oil. I haven't tried ramps yet with how low the front clearance on the sonic is so just watch it. As for leaving It on the ramps during the oil change lots of people do, I personally feel it drains better lowering with a jack after ya pull the plug.

 

[Buccilli15]

I'm going to give it a go in the AM. I'll break out the jack if need be, but was mostly curious if anyone had personal experience with the draining or lack thereof. Thanks for the advice though in regards to clearance

 

[Eric Smit]

I'm a ramp guy myself.


-Eric Smit

 

[dvn]

I use ramps also. No problem. Just be aware that the flexible lower plastic spoiler lip will rub the ramps. Not an issue.

 

[Eric Smit]

I use ramps also. No problem. Just be aware that the flexible lower plastic spoiler lip will rub the ramps. Not an issue.

And only initially.


-Eric Smit

 

[dvn]

And only initially.


-Eric Smit

Yep.

 

[$ub$onic]

Ya I used 2 pieces of frame from when we cut down our freightliner and put a block of wood under it.....

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Buccilli15]

Thanks for all of the responses. Ramps worked very well.

 

[CoHPhasor]

I'm too cheap for ramps and have nowhere to store them.
If this is for oil change purposes just go buy a section of 2x6 or 2x8 from Home Depot, they'll cut it for free.

It's guaranteed to fit under the fascia, gives enough clearance, is very sturdy(doesn't 'flip') and pretty easy to store.

If you want to get fancy you can double it up to get it higher off the ground but you'd have to bolt them together, inset the bolt heads and nuts.

It'd look like:
......................_____________________
..__________ /_____________________|
/_________________________________|

Just make sure you double check the clearance.
If both together are taller than the clearance the lower portion will have to be long enough
to get the tire on it(elevated) before the top stud reached the clearance issue.
(And then be long enough to also have the top board on it/long enough for the tire to be safely on it)

 

[ChrisJ]

ramps

I bought a pair of Rhino ramps from Advanced auto parks. They are black, small, light and rated for (12,000lbs GVW) which really means something like 3000lbs per ramp.

Either way they were like $50 and fit under the Sonic well and are light to carry. The rubber on the front rubs a tad as others have mentioned but it doesn't hurt it.

Buy Rhino Gear 12000 GVW RAMP 11909 at Advance Auto Parts

 

[MartyH]

Add me to the ramp camp. I already have a set of the heavier quality plastic ramps. They'll handle the Sonic without issue. Just eyeballing the ground clearance of my Sonic hatch suggests this will not be a problem. I look forward to getting it on the ramp for the first time and getting my belly pan installed.

 

[AxelRipper]

I'm too cheap or fancy for ramps, depending on where I decide to do it. Pretty sure when I did the oil the first time I just reached under the car on the ground and changed it. If I'm at my parent's or in our shop at school, I can use a lift.

 

[mowcowbell]

Question: when backing off the ramps, does it put too much bend on the lower flexible spoiler? I need to do my 1st oil change and have plastic ramps, but was worried I might pull the bumper cover loose when backing down the ramp. The going up I would think would be fine.

Darin

 

[rdss]

Question: when backing off the ramps, does it put too much bend on the lower flexible spoiler? I need to do my 1st oil change and have plastic ramps, but was worried I might pull the bumper cover loose when backing down the ramp. The going up I would think would be fine.

Darin

The black lower lip? If so you should be fine. If you're getting ahold of the actual bumper cover than you might need to worry and either invest in lower profile ramps or pick up a set of jack stands and a hydraulic jack.

 

[Bogus]

Question: when backing off the ramps, does it put too much bend on the lower flexible spoiler? I need to do my 1st oil change and have plastic ramps, but was worried I might pull the bumper cover loose when backing down the ramp. The going up I would think would be fine.

Darin

I've does a few oil changes with ramps already and no it wont hurt the air damn at all. It's very flexible. Mine drag everywhere, driveways, dips, ramps, parking curbs, etc.

 

[mowcowbell]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. My ramps are not very steep, but I did notice they do touch the flexible front spoiler, not the bumper cover itself.

On my previous ride, a '03 Toyota Matrix XR, I had to constantly be on the alert for steep driveways, parking curbs, etc. as that front lip would catch on anything more than 3" high. That thing had zero flexibility, too.

Darin

 

[rdss]

If you drop your Sonic you will find out that your buffer, the black diverter, is now a warning device for curbs but it is usually to late.

 

[mowcowbell]

Just to update this thread... I had a minimal amount of rubbing on the flexible air dam when going up and down the ramp. Since the ramp was plastic, no scratches or marks were left on the flexible air dam.

Oil change done, and frankly, it was one of the easiest changes of any vehicle I've ever owned. My car was built in Oct '12, so it didn't have any belly pan to get in the way.

Just wish GM engineers had done a bit better job with routing radiator hose out of the way. I did have to mash the radiator hose down a bit to make room to extract and replace the oil filter cartridge.

Darin

 

[Bogus]

Hmm the hose didn't get in my way too much.