# Oil change problem for shade-tree mechanic **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 19, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-problem-for-shade-tree-mechanic/65554 "2011-06-19T12:59:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tbake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@tbake](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tbake)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-problem-for-shade-tree-mechanic/65554/1 "2011-06-19T12:59:05Z")
I have a 2011 Prius, and I want to change the oil myself. Previously, I had a 1991 Honda–440 k miles–and used a standard ramp to elevate the car so I could get at the fittings. However, the Prius has much lower bumpers–plastic–and I fear that they may be damaged if I use them to elevete the front end. Is getting a LONGER ramp–at a considerable cost–the way to go, or should I bite the bullet and let the service people do what I can’t seem to do, even though it will lighten my wallet? ``` Changing oil is such a non-techie task, I hate to give it over to the dealership. HELP!!! ``` ---
**Author:** ![chaissos](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/chaissos/32/2347_2.png) [@chaissos](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chaissos)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-problem-for-shade-tree-mechanic/65554/2 "2011-06-19T13:07:43Z")
Have a read of [this thread](http://community.cartalk.com/discussion/2277806/how-can-i-use-a-floor-jack-to-lift-a-pt-cruiser-really-new-to-working-on-cars/p1). We went through a number of options in it. Ramps, stands, and more. ---
**Author:** ![pipin\_mechanic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@pipin\_mechanic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pipin_mechanic)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 1:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-problem-for-shade-tree-mechanic/65554/3 "2011-06-19T13:08:39Z")
You can get a set of sturdy plastic ramps (Rhino Ramps) for short money,as I had to, when I got a car with a very low front bumper, check their web site for details ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-problem-for-shade-tree-mechanic/65554/4 "2011-06-19T13:09:04Z")
Many of us have the same problem. We simply jack up one corner of the car, support it with a jack stand, and continue. Jack stands are cheap and useful for all kinds of other DIY tasks. Get a set. They will soon pay for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![bloody\_knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bloody\_knuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bloody_knuckles)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-problem-for-shade-tree-mechanic/65554/5 "2011-06-19T13:21:44Z")
I purchased ramps that came with extensions to deal with low hanging bumpers. Many modern cars, including my Accord, need the extensions to lower the angle to get onto ramps. The extensions work great and actually make it easier to get up the ramps. They were fairly inexpensive. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-problem-for-shade-tree-mechanic/65554/6 "2011-06-19T18:28:37Z")
A small hydraulic jack costs $20 and some boards to put under the wheels must cost about $4. Your car jack that came with the car is now free of charge and the boards still cost the same. Space wasn’t always the final frontier, it used to be found under our cars. If 83 Corollas were made today, we wouldn’t need jacks and ramps, 83 Camrys, 83 Hondas… We’d all average 38 MPG too. Truthfully, the 83 Camry and Accord didn’t average 38 MPG, but with some small improvements it could have been possible. ---
**Author:** ![Joe-Guy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joe-guy/32/124_2.png) [@Joe-Guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joe-Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-problem-for-shade-tree-mechanic/65554/7 "2011-06-19T18:42:42Z")
I asked a similar question a while back and one of the best ideas I was given was to build something like pictured here - [http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTs17uCaep5S2JSIK11NzjcGiYAk6TUEDRYFRXYWt5uGkAPdbgODw](http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTs17uCaep5S2JSIK11NzjcGiYAk6TUEDRYFRXYWt5uGkAPdbgODw)