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Both of those typically require jacking up the car (and getting under it for the oil change), which strikes me as much more dangerous for a novice than the risk

Both of those typically require jacking up the car (and getting under it for the oil change), which strikes me as much more dangerous for a novice than the risk associated with puncturing a phone battery. Never mind the added risk of an amateur doing either of those car jobs incorrectly.

sokoloff 8y ago
Many cars are designed nowadays for "topside oil changes" (as a factory recommended procedure). You stick a vacuum line down the dipstick hole, suck out all the oil, replace the filter, fill the oil, put the dipstick back in. I didn't trust it the first time, so I sucked the oil out and then removed the drain plug to see how much oil I was missing; it was less than a shot glass worth. Brake jobs don't require putting your body under the rotor/hub, making the risk of serious injury low. You could use jackstands, but I generally don't as I don't have my head or limbs in a crush area.
- asdff 8y ago
  I would love to find a car that I could replace the filter from the top. Easily the most annoying part of the oil change is getting under the car into a position to find the oil filter conveniently located in a dark crevasse against the firewall with just enough space to make it an absolute bitch to get the tool over the filter. Maybe my car just sucks though.
  - sokoloff 8y ago
    I think most Mercedes and modern Porsche are topside oil filters, probably others now. My wife's CR-V has a backside filter but that can reached from the right side without jacking the car by turning the wheels full left lock. One tip: To aid removal next time, use Dow DC-4 silicone grease on the filter gasket (rather than motor oil or nothing) and the oil filter gasket just needs a little crush; lots of people over-tighten filters, making them needlessly hard to remove. Contact plus a half turn will put about 1/32" of crush on the gasket which is enough to seal.
  - macNchz 8y ago
    I think top-mounted oil filters have been a common feature on German cars for a long time. Even though mine has a top mounted filter, I find changing the oil to be one of the least interesting common DIY car maintenance items. It has big mess potential, requires a stop at a shop anyway to drop off the used oil, and doesn't really save much money.

sokoloff 8y ago

Many cars are designed nowadays for "topside oil changes" (as a factory recommended procedure). You stick a vacuum line down the dipstick hole, suck out all the oil, replace the filter, fill the oil, put the dipstick back in. I didn't trust it the first time, so I sucked the oil out and then removed the drain plug to see how much oil I was missing; it was less than a shot glass worth. Brake jobs don't require putting your body under the rotor/hub, making the risk of serious injury low. You could use jackstands, but I generally don't as I don't have my head or limbs in a crush area.

asdff 8y ago
I would love to find a car that I could replace the filter from the top. Easily the most annoying part of the oil change is getting under the car into a position to find the oil filter conveniently located in a dark crevasse against the firewall with just enough space to make it an absolute bitch to get the tool over the filter. Maybe my car just sucks though.
- sokoloff 8y ago
  I think most Mercedes and modern Porsche are topside oil filters, probably others now. My wife's CR-V has a backside filter but that can reached from the right side without jacking the car by turning the wheels full left lock. One tip: To aid removal next time, use Dow DC-4 silicone grease on the filter gasket (rather than motor oil or nothing) and the oil filter gasket just needs a little crush; lots of people over-tighten filters, making them needlessly hard to remove. Contact plus a half turn will put about 1/32" of crush on the gasket which is enough to seal.
- macNchz 8y ago
  I think top-mounted oil filters have been a common feature on German cars for a long time. Even though mine has a top mounted filter, I find changing the oil to be one of the least interesting common DIY car maintenance items. It has big mess potential, requires a stop at a shop anyway to drop off the used oil, and doesn't really save much money.