Hi fellas,

In need of an oil change for my fiesta but don't have any ramps/axle stands. Any other way to get at the sump plug safely?

 

cheers

43 minutes ago, skint4sure said:

Hi fellas,

In need of an oil change for my fiesta but don't have any ramps/axle stands. Any other way to get at the sump plug safely?

 

cheers

Why would you even consider an oil change without the proper equipment ?
 

1 minute ago, williamweb said:

Why would you even consider an oil change without the proper equipment to do the job?
 

Well I've got the oil and the filter just need to find someway to raise the car high enough to get at the sump plug.

3 minutes ago, skint4sure said:

Well I've got the oil and the filter just need to find someway to raise the car high enough to get at the sump plug.

Use the proper equipment and work safely.That’s my advice  👍

1 minute ago, williamweb said:

Use the proper equipment and work safely.That’s my advice  👍

I have a trolley jack and could use that and wedge the spare wheel under the car just in case.

Or maybe find a high kerb and try that way.

2 minutes ago, skint4sure said:

I have a trolley jack and could use that and wedge the spare wheel under the car just in case.

Or maybe find a high kerb and try that way.

Or buy a pair of axle stands which would be a better idea👍

2 minutes ago, williamweb said:

Or buy a pair of axle stands which would be a better idea👍

Nah can't be bothered with them, I'll find a neighbour who has ramps. On other cars I've had the sump plug was accessible side on but on this fiesta its slap bang in the middle of the car!

1 minute ago, skint4sure said:

Nah can't be bothered with them, I'll find a neighbour who has ramps

Good luck 👍

Thanks Richard, shame you are in Somerset otherwise you could have let me use your axle stands lol

A set of axle stands from Halfords is less than £15. Just think about the amount of money you've saved by not taking it to a garage and invest some of that into tools.

I've done a couple oil changes by bumping the car up on a high kerb. It's still not ideal though as the engine isn't level, so you don't get as much oil out of it.

Thanks for that. Where do the axle stands go then? I have a trolley jack so can raise the car easily just unsure where the axle stands would go, cheers.

I jack it up on the sill (one of those hockey puck type attachments for your trolley jack will prevent damage if you're bothered).

Then I put the stand on the "box section" a little further into the centre of the car. The best way to describe it is you'll see 2 bolts about 3 inches apart. One looks like it doesn't bolt to anything, the other bolts on some thin "u" section going at a 45 degree angle towards the engine. I put the stand inbetween those bolts. It's a good strong support there.

19 hours ago, skint4sure said:

Thanks Richard, shame you are in Somerset otherwise you could have let me use your axle stands lol

I can do better than that I have a lift and tilt in my garage👍

 

Used ramps and a set of axle stands to support the car just in case.

Plenty of room underneath.

Tools all ready to go.

OH NO! the thread on the sump plug had gone!

Anyone know what size it is as I now need to buy a replacement 😞

Are you sure it's the thread on the plug that's gone? And not the sump itself?

The sump itself is a far softer metal than the plug, so the threads are more likely to strip.

Yes mate the socket set isn't turning the plug. Will buy a new plug and take it to a backstreet garage to fix hopefully. 

1 hour ago, skint4sure said:

Yes mate the socket set isn't turning the plug. Will buy a new plug and take it to a backstreet garage to fix hopefully. 

You need a pair of maul grips.Go to 7zap.com.Find the old catalogue,look for your engine,then lubrications section,you’ll be able to find the correct sump plug👍

Probably cheaper to put the into a garage for a oil change than to buy all the gear to do the job safely plus oil & filter. 

5 minutes ago, auldreekie said:

Probably cheaper to put the into a garage for a oil change than to buy all the gear to do the job safely plus oil & filter. 

Where’s the satisfaction in doing a good job👍

Cheaper to buy an oil suction pump than mess around with a rounded plug.  

All well that ends well. Sorted, old plug off with a gun on ramp in garage. New oil n filter n plug in. Engine purring, I've had a heart attack and got a bank loan to pay for it. Bread n water for tea this week, no jam on the bread. Might take up walking. 

On 6/21/2021 at 9:50 AM, auldreekie said:

Probably cheaper to put the into a garage for a oil change than to buy all the gear to do the job safely plus oil & filter. 

But what happens on the next oil change? Once you've bought all the tools, you won't have to buy them again for many years. Where as you'll still be paying £100 for an oil change in the garage every year. Compare that to <£40 for an oil and filter, seems like a no brainer to me.

On 6/21/2021 at 7:04 AM, skint4sure said:

Yes mate the socket set isn't turning the plug. Will buy a new plug and take it to a backstreet garage to fix hopefully. 

Oh so the thread hasn't gone then, you've just rounded the head off. 12 point socket by any chance 😏.

I have a few off cuts of 18mm mdf and osb board. I just lay them down from the bottom the longest up to the shortes, about 6 pieces then drive up them. If that doesnt lift it enough I'll then jack the wheels and slip and extra piece in each side. By the time its 5 or 6" higher than normal even  a man of - shall we say "Robust" build like myself can slide under it. It can't drop anywhere, its sitting on a block of solid timber. I did my Skoda Octavia the other day using this method.  The sump and the sump plug are plastic - any Fords like this now? I was looking for a metal sump plug for ages!!

Skoda want close to £300 for a service NOT including Plugs, Cabin filter etc (they call that stuff extended scope and charge extra) I got the oil and filter for about £30 by buying 3 x 5'ltr Manol 5w30 VW 507 spec oil from Ebay.

I just cannot bring myself to pay a dealer 10 times the price. I do a very thorough job and greae all sorts while I'm at it, the old oil goes to the tip.

Anyone else still do oil changes?