RhinoRamps 8000

semtex · 03-30-2009, 09:30 AM

Looking at the service manual, the drain plug appears to be on the side. I was planning to lift the car up both front and rear and set it on jack stands. These ramps look more convenient, but I don't want to leave old oil undrained, hence my question. Too bad the drain isn't facing rearwards. Thanks for answering!

Edit: I forgot to add -- I thought about using an evacuator to suck the oil out from the top, but I'm replacing my drain plug with a magnetic one, and the whole point of those is for the magnet to catch any metallic debris not caught by the filter. Point being, it'd kinda defeat the purpose if I never removed the plug and cleaned it off, so I may was well drain the oil the old-fashioned way.

molamann · 03-30-2009, 09:54 AM

Well it still somewhat sits on the back side

wstar · 03-30-2009, 10:40 AM

FYI I picked up some Rhino Ramps recently for my 370Z. I went with the 12K ones since I'll be using them for other cars too, but they're the same slope angle. Another reason you might want to use the 12K is they're wider. Even with the 12K model, there's not a lot of clearance tire-width-wise.

If you don't have the Sport package's front spoilers (the long one as well as the two little ones in front of the front wheel wells) you might be able to use the Rhino Ramps as-is. However, to clear the little spoilers in front of the wheel wells, I found that I needed to place some boards in front of the ramps. You could probably do it with a peice of 2x4 at each, but since I was at the hardware store anyways, I had them cut up some 1x8 and 2x8 for me into 2ft pieces. Lay those sideways and you get nice little 1" steps to the ramp and avoid spoiler clearance issues.

The clearance provided by the ramps was adequate for me to work in the front-middle of the car (I used the ramps to torque the two bottom-rear header bolts and the rest of the front part of the exhaust), but obviously without jacking up the rear you'll have issues working underneath the rear half of the car.

Speaking of oil changes, that's my plan for those as well: drive onto the rhino ramps, then use a jack to raise the rear of the car to level it out again.

ChrisSlicks · 03-30-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

Looking at the service manual, the drain plug appears to be on the side. I was planning to lift the car up both front and rear and set it on jack stands. These ramps look more convenient, but I don't want to leave old oil undrained, hence my question. Too bad the drain isn't facing rearwards. Thanks for answering!

Actually it looks like the location might work where it is for slight angles. I'll have to see if I can find a picture of the oil pan, but it looks like there is a groove in the back that would direct oil to the drain on left.

03-30-2009, 09:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
molamann A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,666 Drives: 370Z with NAVVVVV Rep Power: 285	Well it still somewhat sits on the back side

03-30-2009, 10:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3595	FYI I picked up some Rhino Ramps recently for my 370Z. I went with the 12K ones since I'll be using them for other cars too, but they're the same slope angle. Another reason you might want to use the 12K is they're wider. Even with the 12K model, there's not a lot of clearance tire-width-wise. If you don't have the Sport package's front spoilers (the long one as well as the two little ones in front of the front wheel wells) you might be able to use the Rhino Ramps as-is. However, to clear the little spoilers in front of the wheel wells, I found that I needed to place some boards in front of the ramps. You could probably do it with a peice of 2x4 at each, but since I was at the hardware store anyways, I had them cut up some 1x8 and 2x8 for me into 2ft pieces. Lay those sideways and you get nice little 1" steps to the ramp and avoid spoiler clearance issues. The clearance provided by the ramps was adequate for me to work in the front-middle of the car (I used the ramps to torque the two bottom-rear header bolts and the rest of the front part of the exhaust), but obviously without jacking up the rear you'll have issues working underneath the rear half of the car. Speaking of oil changes, that's my plan for those as well: drive onto the rhino ramps, then use a jack to raise the rear of the car to level it out again.