So, I attempted the first oil change in the new mustang today. Did not go as anticipated.

Tried to put it up on ramps. No go, the ramps have too steep of an angle to fit under the chin spoiler. Okay, let's just jack it up. No go, both of the jacks are too high profile to fit under the car. The only thing that worked somewhat was to put some wood in front of the ramps, but that felt super sketchy and when I went to move the car further forward the car actually rolled back to the ground.

I have to go to AutoZone today anyway, I'll see if they have some low profile ramps or something.

My son's Mustang, we have to roll it on a 2" X 6" and then we can use the floor jack to get it up. They do make some low profile floor jacks BTW

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
They do make some low profile floor jacks BTW

They do. I have one. Needed it to jack up my mower, of all things, to replace the PTO drive belt.

Bought mine at my favorite tool store. Later spotted what appeared to be the very same product at Harbor Freight.

i used to use the curb cut at the driveway to get one side up then the jack would fit.
drive perpendicular to the driveway and up one side on the curb. Once you get it jacked, lower it to stands. clearly not osha certified so be careful

jack it up and place on the ramps





or get a higher lifting jack [from Harbor Freight]

You could always make your own ramps out of 2x8 or 2x10's.
Adding another layer every couple feet (think pyramid) until you reach the height needed.

Do you have clearance to jack it up from the side?

As a Corvette owner I feel your pain. Bought a not cheap very low profile hydraulic jack LOL, it still did not work even from the side. Finally bought the corvette forum recommended 2 piece Race Ramps that did it.

quote:

Originally posted by Muddflap:
Do you have clearance to jack it up from the side?

Maybe, if I got a super low profile jack.

I was actually just looking at the Race Ramps. Nearly $200 is annoyingly steep, but it's not the end of the world.

I had to get the Harbor Tool low profile jack to change the oil on my BMW.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
I had to get the Harbor Tool low profile jack to change the oil on my BMW.

Ditto. I got the extended low profile so I can just lift from the middle.

Race Ramps are what you need...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ZAGI9E

They have multiple designs/configurations depending on your needs. DEFINITELY Not cheap (quality tools never are), but the price of admission when own REALLY Cool toys and want to do your own work.

quote:

So, I attempted the first oil change in the new mustang today.

Just wait until you try to get the drain plug off....

I just use the factory jack and put jack stands under the car.

Ha! I drive a jeep, one with lots of lift to clear the 35" tires. What's this jack thing you speak of? You just crawl under the jeep, with the tools in hand. That's after you skitter the drain pan to the approximate position. Pull the filter first, then the drain plug. If you remembered to bring along the new filter, just screw it on, then replace the drain plug. Inch worm your poor old wretched body back into the sunlight. Go get the 5 quart jug plus the extra 6th quart. Lift the hood and dump it all into the engine. More than 5 minutes, less than 10. Whats this jacking up shit y'all are talking about?

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
jack it up and place on the ramps





or get a higher lifting jack [from Harbor Freight]

He will still need a low profile jack. I needed one for my Challenger.

It's worth it to buy a low profile jack and some jack stands. Makes the job quick and most importantly safe.

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:
You could always make your own ramps out of 2x8 or 2x10's.
Adding another layer every couple feet (think pyramid) until you reach the height needed.

This is what I have to get up some, 3-5.5” or so. I usually don’t need a whole lot of lift.

Floor jacks are good suggestions, but I'll go the other route. A four-post car lift is the way to go.

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:

quote:

So, I attempted the first oil change in the new mustang today.

Just wait until you try to get the drain plug off....

This definitely concerned me a little. It's 9 years old and I was the one to take it to 2,000 miles. I just broke 5500.

quote:

Originally posted by petr:
I just use the factory jack and put jack stands under the car.

You talk as though the car came with a spare tire. No spare, no jack, not even a lug wrench.

I actually measured it - I have 5.5" from the ground to the plastic side runner. Take about 0.5-1" off to account for the weld seam, and we have my ground clearance.

On my list is now a hazard fraught low profile jack. The Race Ramps were already on the list.

I'm thinking about just taking it to the stealer and having them do the work. If I bring my own oil and filter they charge $30 for labor. I hate doing it this way, but it gives me time to collect tools for the next interval or for the diff/trans fluid/radiator fluid swap (whatever comes first).

ptruck, if I had room for a lift I'd probably already have one. I definitely do enough of my own maintenance (and I've got the number to several good mechanics for what I can't handle).

On my Honda S2000, I use a vacuum pump to extract the oil from the dipstick hole. The oil filter is placed so I can get it off from on top.