Help with Oil change

[NO HOON]

Hello everyone!

I was hoping to change my Oil and filter on my VX Commodore today. Since this will be the first time that I've done it, i was hoping you all could make sure I've got a good plan.

1. Heat the engine up to warm the oil

2. Lift the car up and drain the oil from the sump plug into a pan

3. While the oil's draining remove and replace the Oil filter

4. Once all oil is out of the car put the sump plug back in and start filling the car with the new oil, going slowly.

5. Whilst filling the oil keep checking the oil dipstick to get a correct reading to see if there's enough oil.

Also, when putting the Filter and sump plug back in i will oil appropriately.



Questions:

Can i change the oil when the car is dead cold?

Should i fill the new oil filter up 3/4 with oil before putting it back on?

When filling the car back up, should i only fill 3/4 of the car and let it settle, then come back in a few minutes and check the dipstick? Or can i just fill the whole 4.8 Litres (VX Commodore) straight away?

Also, do i NEED to jack the car up?

Could someone tell me a good oil to buy too, and what oil should i use? I've heard Castrol Magnatec semi Syn 10W - 40 Oil is good.


Thank you.

 

[accentstencil]

The oil will be thinner when warm, so it will drain down from the top of the engine quicker but you could do it when cold I suppose.
Filling the oil filter with oil first is a good idea.
Put about 4.5 litres in first and then check it and add as necessary.
The car needs to be level to get the correct reading on the dip stick.

 

[NO HOON]

The oil will be thinner when warm, so it will drain down from the top of the engine quicker but you could do it when cold I suppose.
Filling the oil filter with oil first is a good idea.
Put about 4.5 litres in first and then check it and add as necessary.
The car needs to be level to get the correct reading on the dip stick.

Ahhhk, thanks for that.

I was considering buying these to do it with:

Stanfred Car Ramp - 4WD, Single, 1000kg - Supercheap Auto Australia

Car Stands Pin Pair 3000kg - Supercheap Auto Australia

Oil Change Pan - 3 Piece, 8 Litre - Supercheap Auto Australia

SCA Wheel Chock - Rubber, Single, Small - Supercheap Auto Australia

Is that a bit overkill? I just want to be as safe as possible if i jack it up.

 

[commodore665]

Ahhhk, thanks for that.

I was considering buying these to do it with:

Stanfred Car Ramp - 4WD, Single, 1000kg - Supercheap Auto Australia

Car Stands Pin Pair 3000kg - Supercheap Auto Australia

Oil Change Pan - 3 Piece, 8 Litre - Supercheap Auto Australia

SCA Wheel Chock - Rubber, Single, Small - Supercheap Auto Australia

Is that a bit overkill? I just want to be as safe as possible if i jack it up.

Better to be safe than sorry , it's good feeling when you can change your own oil in a car , keep it up .

 

[NO HOON]

Better to be safe than sorry , it's good feeling when you can change your own oil in a car , keep it up .

Yeah, that's it. Thanks mate.

 

[kingswood country]

A jack and stands are better, cos then you can drop the car off the stands to make the car level to check the dipstick, that's not to say you can't do that with ramps, ya just easier, you can use nearly anything as a chock, I'm using bricks at the moment, I've also used a tree branch, block of wood, as far as my old v8 exhaust manifolds!


__/ ][ \__
~O-----O\

Don't ruin a good story with the truth.

 

[NO HOON]

A jack and stands are better, cos then you can drop the car off the stands to make the car level to check the dipstick, that's not to say you can't do that with ramps, ya just easier, you can use nearly anything as a chock, I'm using bricks at the moment, I've also used a tree branch, block of wood, as far as my old v8 exhaust manifolds!


__/ ][ \__
~O-----O\

Don't ruin a good story with the truth.

Ahhk fair enough. Would it be possible and safe to just use two trolley jacks on each side to lift it up while changing the oil and filter?

 

[accentstencil]

Ahhk fair enough. Would it be possible and safe to just use two trolley jacks on each side to lift it up while changing the oil and filter?

I would probably be tempted, not much chance of both of them failing at once, besides you really don't need to jack it up very far to change the oil and filter. I can practically do mine without jacking it up.

 

[Big-Al]

doesn't matter if the engine is warm or not. Less risk of burns if it cold. May take slightly longer for the oil to drain.
you can't prefill the oil filter on an Ecotec V6 as it will spill out while you try to screw it onto the engine. Only works on an LS1 V8.
do need to jack the car up, I use a small trolley jack and a single jack stand for safety.

 

[Sabbath']

Ahhk fair enough. Would it be possible and safe to just use two trolley jacks on each side to lift it up while changing the oil and filter?

You have 4 trolley jacks but no stands? Weird.


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