Oil change question..I'm not a novice I promise!!

[brocja01]

Hey guys, real quick. I'm going to do an oil change on my 2008 Fleetwood Fiesta LX (2007 Ford Chassis) and I'm need some quick advice. How do you guys normally change the oil? RV completely flat? Front Jacks only? I don't have ramps heavy duty enough to handle the weight of the rig. I've changed oil in all my vehicles many times, but this being a bigger rig I'm just wondering what you all do.

Thanks in advance guys/gals!

Jeremiah

[John58]

We have a 97 Bounder and I change it the same way I do the car.




John/Lynette

1997 Fleetwood Bounder (Ford F53 V-8 460)

[Deny]

all you need is enough clearance to get far enough under to reach the drain plug, put a flat pan under the drain , & get the filter off (if you can't reach the filter from the top)

I put a piece of cardboard (from my local dumpster) on the ground, to lay on

if you do not have clearance, put 1 or 2 pieces of 2X6 under each (or 1) Front wheel.

Drain should be the at the low point-to allow complete drainage.

[ga traveler]

No need to use jacks. The chassis is high enough off the ground to change oil and service without jacking. DO NOT get under a motorhome with the leveling jacks only supporting it. We used to have the jacks factory team install jacks at our place. They said that a line failure would bring down the motorhome before you could get out from under it. I have changed tires using the motorhome jacks, but I never got under the motorhome. If I dropped a lug nut and it rolled under the motorhome, it stayed under there until I got the motorhome back on the ground.

[brocja01]

Thanks everyone. I figured it would be that simple, just wanted to double check. Now I need to find a pan that will hold 6 quarts!!!

[TeJay]

Get a Futomo valve to make changing it in the future a lot easier.

TeJay

[rjsupersonic]

I use a quart size ziplock bag and put it around the filter once it is loose then take it off not as messy zip it up easy to dispose of .

[mel s]

Originally Posted by brocja01

Hey guys, real quick. I'm going to do an oil change on my 2008 Fleetwood Fiesta LX (2007 Ford Chassis) and I'm need some quick advice. How do you guys normally change the oil? RV completely flat? Front Jacks only? I don't have ramps heavy duty enough to handle the weight of the rig. I've changed oil in all my vehicles many times, but this being a bigger rig I'm just wondering what you all do.

Thanks in advance guys/gals!

Jeremiah

brocja01
I don't use jacks ...just a "mortar mixing tub" to catch the oil, (and the filter)....Lowe's - 36-in x 24-1/2-in High Density Polyethylene Large Black Mixing Tub customer reviews - product reviews - read top consumer ratings

BTW, it also works when changing the transmission filters and/or fluid... and when draining the coolant.
Mel
'96 Safari

[Waiter21]

Like others , I simply slide under there, no jacks.

On mine the oil will come down and hit the axle, so I use a small piece of cardboard on the axle to deflect it.

Two suggestions I picked up on this site:

1) I need to get one of those oil drain valve things so I don't need the cardboard. NOTE - I just ordered one on Amazon

F106S (14mm-1.5): Fumoto Oil Drain Valve $33 with shipping. I'll install it at next oil change.


2) Knock the filter lose, when your sure its really lose (not leaking oil all over the place yet, but lose) , punch a hole in the bottom of the filter with a nail to drain the oil before pulling it off. The oil filter may also drain onto the axle, so have that cardboard ready.

While under there look around at other stuff.

[camato5]

Originally Posted by rjsupersonic

I use a quart size ziplock bag and put it around the filter once it is loose then take it off not as messy zip it up easy to dispose of .

Dang that's a great idea

[Milehghcty]

Thanks Brocja01 for asking the question since I had one similar. And to go one step further, how do you get the oil back in? The fill tube is so high underneath the dash on my MH that I don't think you can get a plastic quart bottle up there to pour. Do you use some kind of manual or electric pump?

[hayward3411]

After fooling with funnels for many years, I changed the oil two weeks ago and made another mess, oil running down the side etc.... After a few choice words I went inside and purchased a oil transfer pump on the internet for about $30.00. I hope this will make the job cleaner next year.

[brocja01]

The oil change went extremely well this afternoon. Not sure why I was worried, just like changing the oil on my cars. Also set the tire pressures, topped off the radiator, checked everything else and got on the road. Drove 3.5 hours south on our way to Indiana. RV handled flawlessly!

[charliej]

Good time to get a grease gun and grease all the grease zerks if you have not already.