Is it easy enough to change the oil without having the car jacked up at all? I live in an apartment and there's nowhere I can go to raise it up.

Also, anybody know the cheapest place to buy Mobil one?

 

Just go to a parking lot somewhere and jack it up, you only need to raise the passenger side. Make sure to have a jack stand handy and drain the oil into some sort of container. I got an oil container at AutoZone, it was like $8 bucks, it lays down sideways, you let the oil drain into it, you put back the oil plug and new filter, you re-fill your engine and then you pour the old oil into the now empty quarts. Return old oil and filter to wherever you bought the new oil (they have to take it) and you're done. Don't do it in the street because some places it's illegal to do any kind of mechanic work on a public street so you might get a ticket. A friend's driveway or backyard would probably be the best place.

But if push comes to shove and you don't know anyone with a driveway or can't find a good location, then find a driveway on the street and use that lowered portion of street as a ramp to drive the passenger side wheels onto the curb. This way your car will be diagonally up on the passenger side only and should give you enough clearance.

 

Jack it up a little and remove the front passenger tire to make it easier.

 

Having it tilted won't cause any of the oil not to drain out?

 

Just raise it up enough to get the passenger-side wheel off. The oil will still drain out.

 

Car Stands u can drive up on they look like ramps pepboys sells um for 20 bucks never tryed them so idk how dangerous it is but looks like it would work well if there strong

 

i have been changing my oil myself for last 4 yrs and have never either jacked up the car or remove wheels. Just turn you passenger side wheel all the way to right and you should have enough clearence to get to the filter and drain plug.

 

i dont jack my car up anymore... you just have to wiggle a little to get under... you can get to the drain plug by sticking your arm under the car... the filter is a little more tricky... you have to get your hand behind the plastic guard

 

I used to jack it up, just so my oil catch container would fit underneath. I now have a smaller 6 qt container, that slides underneath w/o any problems.

I think the cheapest place I've found for Mobil 1 is walmart. They have the 5 qt jugs for about $18-19.

 

It is actually better to jack the car up a little(or even better to put on ramps or boards.
I just use a couple of flat boards and it is enough.
If you don't raise the front of the car at all, the oil cannot drain totally out. The reason: the drain plug hole for the oil pan is at the rear of the car. Therefore, you need to have it tilted up to do it right and get it all out.
It was designed this way on purpose.

I find that the cheapest place to buy Mobil 1 Synthetic oil(all I ever use) is at Walmart. Just go there and look for it in a large 5 quart container. That is usually about $18 or so.

 

does walmart accepts your old oil back? where do you guys take your used oil?

 

Oil Express around here (Chicago/Suburbs) takes used oil. A local Mobil w/repair bays takes anti-freeze too.

 

http://www.recycleoil.org

AutoZone, Jiffy Lube, and Oil Express. I've seen Murray's Discount Auto also advertise that they have free oil recycling (not sure if you have to show a purchase receipt or something)

 

i wish i could change my oil with out jacking it up......i have 5" of ground clearance

 

I just curb my passenger side and stick my arm under (since the street is sort of arched for water drainage, the curbing "balances out" the arching). Just put a cardboard on the ground and lay on that

 

take a couple of boards (2x4), put them infront of the tires. stagger them, so the tire rides up the bottom one then goes to the top one. easiest way to raise the front end.

 

If you dont have a jack and can change oil quick style, you could just drive half way up a curb if youre willing.
Plus walmart is cheapest for me so far. 5 quarts for $20.02 when it was on sale.

 

theres no need to remove the tire. Thats just more work

 

Nevermind. Everyone already have said what I just did.