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Changing oil, low profile cars...

I've never given it much thought, but I imagine with a car as low to the ground as the 370z, that getting "all" the oil out may prove difficult. When

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Old 12-08-2009, 12:53 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Changing oil, low profile cars...

I've never given it much thought, but I imagine with a car as low to the ground as the 370z, that getting "all" the oil out may prove difficult.

When I changed my oil around 1.2K ago, I didn't think much of it, but the angle required for me to get enough room to remove the cover bolts, fit my drain pan underneath, and so on...probably sent some oil to the back fo the pan, and it didn't drain out.

How does one solve this issue, short of getting a lift or similar?

With my previous vehicles (Civic) it didn't seem like there was enough of an angle there since the car has decent ground clearance...and my truck...I change it without needing to jack it up (nice!)
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Old 12-08-2009, 12:56 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Get the front end up via some ramps, crawl under and drain the oil. When it's pretty much done draining, jack of the rear of the car (via a service jack on the pumpkin) to level it out. That gets the remaining oil to drain out. That's what I do anyway.
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Old 12-08-2009, 01:05 PM   #3 (permalink)
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just drain it using a ramp. you dont need to get every little drop out.
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Old 12-08-2009, 08:53 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by kenchan View Post
just drain it using a ramp. you dont need to get every little drop out.
Just don't put 5 1/8 qts back in thinking you'll be spot on. You'll be overfilled and then stuck trying to figure out how to get the excess oil out. (get 3/16" polyurethane tubing from Home Depot and siphon it out through the dipstick hole....been there, done that)
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Old 12-08-2009, 10:18 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Just don't put 5 1/8 qts back in thinking you'll be spot on. You'll be overfilled and then stuck trying to figure out how to get the excess oil out. (get 3/16" polyurethane tubing from Home Depot and siphon it out through the dipstick hole....been there, done that)
Actually I'd probably use the drain plug if that was the case.

Anyhow, given that I dumped 5 quarts in the engine without thinking about it, and my oil level seemed fine - I guess I ended up leaving 1/8th more oil in there than I could have drained out had it been on level ground...
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Old 12-08-2009, 11:15 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by semtex View Post
Get the front end up via some ramps, crawl under and drain the oil. When it's pretty much done draining, jack of the rear of the car (via a service jack on the pumpkin) to level it out. That gets the remaining oil to drain out. That's what I do anyway.
works for me too.
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Old 12-08-2009, 11:57 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Like others have said, you raise the other side of the car after getting it on the ramps. However, its really a non-issue if there is only 1/4 quart of dirty oil being mixed with new. Esp not if you're changing it regularly.
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Old 12-09-2009, 06:52 AM   #8 (permalink)
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And if you have an oil cooler, you're also going to have the old oil stuck in the core mixing back in anyway. Really not a big deal.
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Old 12-09-2009, 09:31 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by kannibul View Post
Actually I'd probably use the drain plug if that was the case.
really? that would create a big mess... ive never over filled but you can drain from the oil filter (just loosen it) and it will come out in a more controlled fashion... but yah, i too have an extractor if needed.
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Old 12-09-2009, 09:32 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spearfish25 View Post
Just don't put 5 1/8 qts back in thinking you'll be spot on. You'll be overfilled and then stuck trying to figure out how to get the excess oil out. (get 3/16" polyurethane tubing from Home Depot and siphon it out through the dipstick hole....been there, done that)
wat you do is pour in about 4.75qts, cap it, start the car, check for drips, shut off, put everything back and lower off ramps. then add as necessary.

you'll never over fill this way.
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Old 12-09-2009, 12:35 PM   #11 (permalink)
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This is obviously rocket science..

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Old 12-09-2009, 12:42 PM   #12 (permalink)
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modshack - you are welcome to leave the forum and never come back.
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Old 12-09-2009, 02:42 PM   #13 (permalink)
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modshack - you are welcome to leave the forum and never come back.
I was going to suggest getting a bendy straw, stick it in the drain hole and suck the little bit trapped out, but didn't think you guys would go for that as that would be an Anal, over the top suggestion and some may actually try it. . I find some of the worries expressed here unbelievable and the OP seems to have a lot of them. Maybe I should leave...
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Old 12-09-2009, 02:45 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by Modshack View Post
I was going to suggest getting a bendy straw, stick it in the drain hole and suck the little bit trapped out, but didn't think you guys would go for that as that would be an Anal, over the top suggestion and some may actually try it. . I find some of the worries expressed here unbelievable and the OP seems to have a lot of them. Maybe I should leave...
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Old 12-09-2009, 03:38 PM   #15 (permalink)
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