Well, after a couple of weeks, I'm at 400 miles now and I'll need to get that factory oil changed soon.

How do you guys and gals do your oil changes? I was thinking about getting a floor jack and a couple of jack stands. What capacity floor jack should I get (2.5 or 3 ton?) and is there a safe place to put the jack stands under the front end?

Oh and one more thing, what about going to Mobile 1 at 500 miles?

 

Look up when you come here. See "NEW TO THE LIGHTNING FORUMS? CLICK HERE." Click on FAQ.
Read entire FAQ. Come back to forum.
noelvm
PS Most of us are running Mobil 1.

[This message has been edited by noelvm (edited 10-16-2000).]

 

Uh, thanks noelvm. Been lurking for over six months and have read the FAQ.

Why not just shut down this board, probably just about everything has already been said and put in the FAQ, right?

BTT, maybe someone will help.

 

What do you need a floor jack and jack stands for. Do you weight 500 pounds. Just crawl under with pan, remove plug when engine is cold because plug is on side and you will not want to take it out all the way as oil will shoot out to the side and go everywhere so let it ease out until it drops down, then remove filter. there is only one grease fitting and it is on the steering whatchamacallit. Actually it takes a little more than 6 qts with the filter. Its a metric thing.
noelvm

 

mracer,

Although there is a varying opinion related to when you chould change your factory oil and how to/not to drive it(seperate issue). Here goes....

Buy a 3 ton jack, good jackstands, and a good catch pan, and some rags/shoptowels. I prefer the popular machanics, 2.5 foot diameter self-enclosing model myself.

park it on a hard flat surface where you can let the motor cool and the oil can drain into the pan completely. preferably overnight.

open the fill cap on the motor

check the owners manual for jacking points, this will determine where to place the stands. chock rear wheel, set emergency brake.

use floorjack under the cross member. you will get comfortable with the height with practice.

place jackstand under the appropriate places on the frame. Lower the vehicle S_L_O_W_L_Y onto the jack stands leaving slight pressure on the crossmember. ensure jackstands are centered on the frame and are resting flat on the ground. release pressure and remove floorjack.

drain the oil pan first, filter second. (keep rags/shoptowels handy)

let the motor set for about 20 minutes to drain all the oil out. while your under there, lube the steering stops with wheel bearing grease and inspect driver's side control arm and bolt for movement. schedule appointment with dealer as necessary.

prep new filter gasket with light coat of new oil, install handtight + quarter turn.

inspect pan plug threads for damage. install pan plug if ok. just snug it up. wipe excess oil off pan and plug.

fill with 5 quarts of Mobil 1, check dipstick, replace oil fill cap.

start engine while watching oil pressure gauge, let it run @ idle for approx two minutes.

check dipstick and add oil as needed. do not overfill.

raise vehicle with floor jack, remove jackstands, lower vehicle SLOWLY, remive chock and release E-brake.

take it for test drive and recheck.

call filtermag, order one, and install it. info thread is here.... https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/003924.html ,group buy thread here https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/004031.html

that is the way I've always done it.

------------------
Brake Late, Dive Deep

Speedin Bob
'99 'Red Rocket' Lightning #2504, 6/17/99
NLOC # 438
13.56 @ 100.89, 1.97 60' on F-1's
JL Ram Air, R9 Chip,Keyless Entry, Retrax Bed Cover, Shackles, Wet Okoles, Mobil 1/FilterMag, Corners & Tails
Autophysics filter FOR SALE [9" x 3.5" Red Trim]



[This message has been edited by Speedin Bob (edited 10-16-2000).]

 

by the time you get done screwing with those stands and jack, I'll be finished changing mine.
noelvm

 

My truck is lowered and it's a little easier with a floor jack and jack stands, although I think it's still possible without.

I don't see anything wrong with mracer's questions. I have been using the chassis - the metal bars that run along the sides of the truck as jacking points. Don't know if this is "correct" but seems to work fine.

I think I have a 3 ton floor jack but it sucks. My question would be can anyone recommend a good brand name or a good place to get a quality floor jack?

Mike

 

NO NO NO
One never canges one's oil oneself. That's whant mechanics are for!

Here's how I do it.

Get up early on Saturday or Sunday, even better if you have weekday mornings available.

Grab a good cup of coffee at Starbucks or other coffeeshop, even 7-11 will do.

Drive to E-Z Lube. At least that's what we have here in So. Cal. They are sort of like Jiffy Lube but much better, and they specialize in Mobil 1 Products. Find an establishment like that in the Raleigh area.

Go there and tell them to change the oil and filter. Use Mobil1 5W-30 and use the Mobil1 Filter.

Enjoy your coffee and stay clean while someone else does the dirty work.

As a point of reference, I changed my oil at 1500 miles with regular 5w30 oil. At 3000 miles I made the switch to Mobil1, and still change every 3000 with Mobil1.



------------------
2000 Silver Lightning
SnugLid
BedRug
dual Ravin Z-33 Exhaust
Valentine 1
Hyper Bright Headlamps and Foglamps
Mobil 1 Tri Synthetic and Mobil1 Filter
Mobil1 FactoryFill Plaque in Engine Bay
Matter/Antimatter Exchange Unit


http://www.zing.com/album/?id=4293534625

 

Speedin Bob, I appreciate that detailed description and thank you for taking the time to explain.

I'll be shopping for a floor jack and stands this weekend. I just don't trust anyone else to change the oil and I wanted to do it right. I'll probably start changing the oil in my other truck and my wife's car also, since I will have all the equipment.

I used to do all my oil changes back when I was a kid.

 

Step 1) Wake up
Step 2) Drink Coffee
Step 3) Drive to Walmart
Step 4) Offer Lightning ride to oil jockey if he trys to do it right
Step 5) Watch them like a hawk
Step 6) Pay $38 for a Mobil 1 oil change with Motorcraft Filter
Step 7)Check the dipstick
Step 8) WOT

Doug

------------------
Picked up Silver 2000 Lightning 2/28/00!!
1st run 13.9 sec 1/4 !!
Best Run 13.43
Carrollton TX
drbdkb@hotmail.com
http://www.SVTLightnings.com
Had 87 Turbo Coupe traded for
92 F150 XLT 302, Put K&N Filter, cat back and Chip on 92 still not enough.

Silver 2000 Lightning, FMS 3.73 gears ( Expensive ), PSP 4 Way Chip ( Retired due to pinging ), PSP Intake, <A HREF="http://www.valentine1.com" TARGET=_blank> Valentine
1</A>, Snuglid, Bedrug, Lighted Ford Logos, Superchip R9, and 3m Panther Black nickel tint, Clear corners.

 

Buy a 2 ton jack, that way if you decide to race and get slicks you can put the jack under the pumpkin and jack both sides at once. Much easier than jacking both sides separately.
noelvm

 

Kobiashi, I like the way you think.

Crawling around on one's back, coating oneself with petroleum products is so uncivilized, and wastes time that could be better spent applying a coat of wax..

------------------
Regards,
Gordon

'99 Red Lightning
Johnny Lightning Superchip
Johnny Lighting Ram Air Kit
Century Tonneau
Best 1/4 mi. ET: 13.49 secs

 

Thanks Gordon -

However I don't wax it myself either.

That's what my detail guy is for.




------------------
2000 Silver Lightning
SnugLid
BedRug
dual Ravin Z-33 Exhaust
Valentine 1
Hyper Bright Headlamps and Foglamps
Mobil 1 Tri Synthetic and Mobil1 Filter
Mobil1 FactoryFill Plaque in Engine Bay
Matter/Antimatter Exchange Unit

http://www.zing.com/album/?id=4293534625


[This message has been edited by kobiashi (edited 10-16-2000).]

 

Man, some of us have allllll the time and money!!! Instead of the jack and stands, I used some 2X12 wood and built up my own ramp. You have to make it rather gradual so you don't scrape. Put it on the drivers side and roll on up. This way you have no problem getting underneath, yes I am a big guy, and the engine is tilted toward the drainplug side so that most of the oil in the bottom goes toward the hole.
Fill with Mobil 1, I use 6 quarts with the filter change, and Mobil 1 filter.


------------------
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
PFA
'99 WHITE LIGHTNIN'
#0873--1 of 866--
RHINO, LoJack, Valentine 1, Mobil 1
Single Blade T-Body
Phantom Boost gauge-#5707
Phantom Water temp. gauge-#5737
Dual pod for pillar-#15303
Plasma Super White headlight and foglight bulbs

2000 Mercury Villager Sport

 

Silver_2000_ ! - i do almost the same thing..
except i go to autozone & buy a mobile1 filter and tell them to put it on at wally world.
also, i dont offer anyone a ride.

[This message has been edited by clonetek (edited 10-17-2000).]