Good question. Here is a test you can do at home prior to going to the car. After getting out of the shower one morning stand in front of the mirror ...turns sides ways to it. Now rotate you head slightly and look in the mirror. If the item sticking out the farthest (above the waist now) is your nose, you might make it. I need the ramps!!
Scott

 

Pretty popular decision. I did the same. But my next question is. When would you do your 2nd oil change? I am thinking 3,000 and then every 5,000 after that. I am using Mobil 1...

 

Device to remove filter:

An extra large pair of Channel Lock pliers. Squeeze the living cr_p out of the filter. Always works for me.

I do wish that the Mobil One filters had that Fram non-slip material on the outside, too...

 

I did the same as you. 1st change was at 500 miles second change I went to Mobil 1 @ 3000 miles. These cars come out of the factory with semi-synthetic already in them. Going full synthetic after 3000 miles is no problem.

 

Is that my new name, Mr. Fantastic.
I can slide under and do the change, but it is really tight.
If I had the 17" wheels I don't think I could.

 

The 17s are the same height as the 18s and don't affect the ride height of the vehicle. Well, in theory, you have .05" more room with the 18s since they are 27.3" in diameter, and the 17s are 27.2".

 

My biggest problem with changing the oil is that while I'm under there, I begin thinking of new mods to do. I just changed my oil tonight and while it was draining, I layed there on my creeper and scoped out how hard it would be to install longtube headers...... and replace my motor mounts while doing it.

Oh and by the way, my car has the 17" bullitts and CDC classic spoiler; I use Rhyno ramps.

 

Yep, I couldn't make it. I can just barely squeeze under with mine.

 

Add 20 lbs of air to the front tires!

 

I always put a trash bag around the filter between it and other parts and the ground.

This way it catches the oil, keeps it off other parts and the ground and makes cleanup a sinch as you just toss the bag with the filter in a box and dispose of it.

 

Or, after you crack it loose, you can put a ziplock freezer bag around it, and you will not spill a drop.

 

Just wanted to say thanks for the guide with pics. I never bothered with oil changes on my old daily driver since it was nothing special, but I want to take care of these things on my own now with the pony. While I knew the basics of an oil change from growing up around my mechanic father, the pics helped to make the process quick, since I had the exact tools and knew where to look for everything.

I tried using the 2 liter trick someone else posted, didn't work well for me with the oil filter. I'll probably try the ziplock bag idea next time.

 

Or pick up one of those telescoping-magnetic-parts-grabbers to get a drain plug dropped in hot oil. They usually have them at the parts counter near the check-out next to the mini flashlights and spark plug gappers... They also come in handy when a nut or bolt rolls to the dead center under the car during any other maintenance activity

 

Wanted to say thanks a lot for the walk through with the great pics. I successfully performed my first oil change ever today and it was a breeze with all this help. You're the man TacoBill!

P.S. I love this site.

 

good write-up, Bill. One thing though.... ever wonder why the oil containers have the screw top off-center such as they are. It's so that the oil doesn't go glub-glub-glub-glub all over the place when you are pouring it... assuming you have the right side up (opposite to your photos). But seeing as you have a funnel it doesn't matter that much.

 

After 4+ years of working on cars, I did my first oil change tonight. LOL. It went well, only one injury, a forearm burn from the passenger side cat.

I tried the oil filter cap thingy but I couldn't get my ratchet between the sway bar to mate with the cap. Off to AutoZone I went to pick up the death pliers which worked well.

My ramps started to slide also, but I stayed with it and it eventually went up. My wife's eyes got real big because she was standing in front of the car (a few feet away) guiding me up when it started to slide. I'll try some of the sticky ideas next time.

Oh yeah, all of the used oil fit back into the 5 quart Mobil one container.

Thanks again, Bill! And to all who added to this.

 

Changed the oil in the GT today. Didnt have any problems getting the filter off using a normal filter wratchet.

 

one thing i wanted to know, did you prefill the filter or did you just leave it dry and put it on

 

I'm not sure who you're asking, but I filled it.

 

I filled mine.