What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

Just get another set of ramps for the back or don't use them.. or keep the truck in neutral with the e-brake applied

 

Since the V6 engine takes 6 (ish) quarts of oil to fill up on an oil change, just put 5 to 5.5 quarts in it and start the engine and back off ramps to level ground, then stop engine and top off as needed...

Close enough, no matter what, there will be oil left in the VVT system as well as the heads, oil passages, bearings etc etc...

EDITed to say V6

 

I can’t see how you get all the oil to drain out if it is on an angle while on the ramps. Seems counter productive to me. But to each his own.

 

Easy enough to test, just drain the engine oil with the vehicle up on the ramps, then install the plug finger tight, use a floor jack to lower vehicle and using a empty pan, pull the plug again and measure what comes out...

And is the drain plug not towards the rear of the engine on the V6 anyway??

 

Please say it don't make any difference, Aunt Belle! Please! You gotta say! You gotta tell me it don't make any difference!

 

Some probably will not like this, but I am certain that there is a fair margin with regard to oil level, the dip stick range is a very good reference, to understand the "acceptable" range, but know that the "Critical" range is even wider. The Acceptable range these days is about 1.5-2 qts wide, and the critical range is likely more than 2-1/2 qts (estimate). Though I might be more cautious with both over filling and running low on oil, if I were off-roading, at steep angles of any kind, for obvious reasons.

I regularly change the oil every 5,000 miles (for MANY years, used to change every 3,300; before synthetic oils); and I bet that I have not pulled the dipstick on any family vehicles more than 2-5 times in the life of each vehicle, all within the first 2 oil changes. The most used vehicle having acquired 270,000 miles, which burned almost 2qts of oil between changes, near the end of its time with me.

I have a list on the wall, of each vehicle and how much oil it takes, I drain and measure what comes out (so I understand how much oil was used, and I put a measured amount in, check for leaks, and send it out the door.

Even more against the norm, I NEVER use a wrench on an oil filter. back in the early 1980's, I got tired of fighting an oil wrench into place to remove an oil filter; and started only hand tightening oil filters; and not even installing as tight as possible by bare hand, but to what I figure is tight enough, and regulated by how difficult it was to remove by hand, on the next oil change. Probably nearing 100 oil changes since, I had only one instance where I wish I had tightened the filter just a little more. It was on my IO boat, and I would see traces of oil when i pumped the bilge; turned out that the oil filter was dripping slightly, so put a hand on it and snugged it a bit more to stop the drip.

The opposite of Garage mechanics, I find it offensive and detrimental to over tighten Lugs, Oil filters and drain plugs; I do not have fear of these things falling off, and I find it offensive to disregard stripped threads and warped rotors; for an artificial peace of mind that some get from making things Extra Tight. God help anyone that lets a garage rotate tires, and later needs to change a flat, with the tools provided with the car!!

 

For lugs, Discount Tire seems to do wheel mounting correctly using torque sockets although it would be even better to use a quality torque wrench. At least it prevents overtightening!

 

PDR = pillar door repair guy? How do I find a local?

 

Paintless dent repair...

Google...

 

5.5 quarts.

I think drainage difference amounts from level, to slightly raised, is negligible, at most difference of 1 ounce? Not worth my time to contemplate. Am I right or wrong?

 

Over the course of a few weeks.

TRD PRO Tails with Meso Customs Total Tails. Had Morimoto XB tails, those were faulty. Having a new set shipped to me, which I will be selling.

AMP Research Power Retractable Running Boards with lights. (OEM aluminum steps for sale)

Removed OEM rear retractable step. No need for it, takes away from the looks. (For sale)

 

First off, I don't know why you need to use ramps with a truck. Second, 6 quarts of oil is 192 oz. A couple of ounces isn't going to be a significant amount of oil left behind. Even when level, all of the old oil doesn't drain.

 

I keep hearing about warped brake rotors due to overtightened lug nuts. I just don't understand how, if the rotors are on properly to start with. They are sandwiched between the hub and the wheel. If neither of them are distorted, how does a rotor get distorted? People just parrot shit they heard without thinking.

 

I enjoy the added clearance whilst rolling around gripping valves and hoses, and sliding oil pans in place as hot dirty oil spurts about. And some guys are talented, efficient, and clean enough not to be bothered with subtleties of even thinking about accessible cheats like using car ramps to lift front end a few inches. I've done it both ways, and prefer my ramps 2 to 1.

 

Not 100% required, there is more than one way to skin a cat. 2 cents; ramps make task easier for me!

 

Oh my this was a good laugh!!

 

I can feel the experience, and wisdom, in this reply. Truly amazing how many tire technicians believe that 150 ft/lbs is the universal wheel lug torque spec. I've discovered this trade secret FIRST hand even.

 

Touchee, I'm just a little lazy this morning. My apologies....TY.

 

Aight, I'll contact one PDR. Ty.

 

Sorry, wasn't meaning to sound like a prick, just had to run, fulltime care giver for mom now...