Oil Change Tools
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For all my vehicles (listed in sig), including my 3.5L G6, all require a 13mm socket to take the oil plug out. To remove the filter, you should only require a good, strong hand to turn it. If it is on tight, an oil filter wrench will be of assistance. I'm VERY impressed at how easily accessible the oil filter is on my GT. I custom built some car ramps so I can do basic services at home without an expensive lift. They've paid for themselves twenty times over and I've only had them a year!
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Ramps:
I bought 5, 2"x10"x10' standard plywood boards and ripped them in half. I angle cut all the boards so they'd work on all my vehicles without scraping any underbody components. I left 16" or so as the tire platform. I used galvanized bolts, nuts and washers to secure the boards together. Total cost was approx $85 (CAN$). It took me about an hour to cut an assemble the ramps.
The local auto parts store wanted $60 for two rubber ramps that were only 5.5" high - which are useless.
Ramps:
I bought 5, 2"x10"x10' standard plywood boards and ripped them in half. I angle cut all the boards so they'd work on all my vehicles without scraping any underbody components. I left 16" or so as the tire platform. I used galvanized bolts, nuts and washers to secure the boards together. Total cost was approx $85 (CAN$). It took me about an hour to cut an assemble the ramps.
The local auto parts store wanted $60 for two rubber ramps that were only 5.5" high - which are useless.
The oil filter in the 2.4L Ecotec is not a standard one with a canister, but rather a drop in filter. I forget what size it uses on the little oil filter cover...
That's good to know! Ford went the same route with their 2.5L I4 engine. Soon, filters will probably be obsolete altogether! lol.
For what it's worth, I went out and took a look at my '09 2.4 G6 and I didn't even see the need for ramps. The drain plug (or what I think is the drain plug) is at the front of the engine. It's pretty easy to get to without ramps. Now on my mother's '00 Malibu, that's another story...
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3,269 Posts
Nice, thanks for the idea!![]()
Ramps:
I bought 5, 2"x10"x10' standard plywood boards and ripped them in half. I angle cut all the boards so they'd work on all my vehicles without scraping any underbody components. I left 16" or so as the tire platform. I used galvanized bolts, nuts and washers to secure the boards together. Total cost was approx $85 (CAN$). It took me about an hour to cut an assemble the ramps.
The local auto parts store wanted $60 for two rubber ramps that were only 5.5" high - which are useless.
Do they slide when you try to drive on them?
Welcome, and no, they don't slip! I bought a can of rubber bed liner spray for $5 (on sale) and was going to coat the tops of the ramps as I didn't sand them down smooth, but rather left them rough for a better grip after I had ripped them. If I had to make another set, I'd get 12' long boards instead so the ramps are 6' long giving you an extra 1' of flat space for the tire to rest on. I always use a friend to spot me while I drive the vehicles up but haven't had any issues with the vehicle (front wheel drive/2wd) getting up on the ramps.
I'm not a small guy at 250lbs 6'2", so building my own ramps was a no brainer versus buying the much smaller and shorter ones at the auto part stores. I like the added height for one reason alone - I can use a floor crawler to easily get under and around the vehicle as they're 2-3" high. Best part, it only takes 20min for an oil change. I always run 1/4 bottle of new, cheapo 5W30 through after the old oil has drained, then I wait for that small bit of oil to run out and then I'll fill the crankcase. Works great.
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751 Posts
I have a 3 ton Michelin jack and several stands, too! I'd much prefer getting a vehicle lift. It's almost worth the $2-3K just to have the wheels up at chest height when I work on my vehicles.
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2 Posts
how do you remove the oil filter on a 2007 G6 4cyl.
You need a 1 and 1/4 inch socket. There's a plastic housing that the oil filter sits in with a big ass plastic nut on top. It's right underneath the air intake. I actually went to a dealership when the Mac Tool truck was there so I could buy the socket and not have to pay shipping. It's a specially made one so that you can get it under the air intake.
Actually called an "Oil Filter Socket"
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-14700-Filter-Wrench-2-2L/dp/B0009OMYAQ[/ame]
Ha.
On an older tractor that I had, the filter was so dirty to begin with as it was fairly exposed to the elements, I'd just take a long blade screwdriver, stick it through on an angle and twist it off enough so I can hand turn it without any fuss. It adds to the mess of course, but it only takes five seconds including wiping off the screw driver and you save your sandpaper!
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