Oil change - do it yourself it's so easy

[Zing]

Did the first oil change for my H2 today (6,000 miles, while my indicator still said I had 26% oil life )). Soooo easy. Here are a few pointers for the less experienced.

1. What you need: 6 quarts of 5W-30, oil filter, tool to loosen/tighten filter, wrench (15mm or adjustable), tin foil, container for old oil, funnel, lots of rags, 1/2 hour.

2. What you don't need: to jack up the H2, or remove underbody protection.

3. Drive around the block a couple times first (my dad always told me this stirs up any particles settling on the bottom). But don't change your oil after driving over 5 miles. Oil will be scaulding hot (and you will be touching it).

3. Put down rags and the container w/funnel in place. Hard to find a container that holds 6 quarts and fits under the H2. The plastic container for "Tidey Cat" kitty litter works perfectly with a funnel on top. Otherwise use a bucket.

4. Loosen the oil plug nut SLOWLY. Since the hole faces sideways (not down) oil shoots out 6 inches and winds up skimming off the funnel all over. When the nut is ready to come out, keep it there to regulate. After a quart comes out, you can remove the nut completely and let it drain. Put the nut back on.

5. Next remove the oil filter, and be aware that over a pint of oil will spill. Simple solution. Take one foot of tin foil and cover what's next to and under the filter and shape the foil so it funnels the spillage into your container. Loosen the filter (need the tool designed for this), let it drain, then remove it and put it in a rag to dispose. Put the new filter on and tighten.

6. Open the hood, look for the cap that says oil/5W-30, put in your 6 quarts and your done.

I remember my dealer telling me changing oil on an H2 costs $160 because it requires removing the underbody protection, which is bullsh#t. See the picture. $10 and 1/2 hour work beats $30-$160 and waiting around for service on my day off.

[Zing]

Did the first oil change for my H2 today (6,000 miles, while my indicator still said I had 26% oil life )). Soooo easy. Here are a few pointers for the less experienced.

1. What you need: 6 quarts of 5W-30, oil filter, tool to loosen/tighten filter, wrench (15mm or adjustable), tin foil, container for old oil, funnel, lots of rags, 1/2 hour.

2. What you don't need: to jack up the H2, or remove underbody protection.

3. Drive around the block a couple times first (my dad always told me this stirs up any particles settling on the bottom). But don't change your oil after driving over 5 miles. Oil will be scaulding hot (and you will be touching it).

3. Put down rags and the container w/funnel in place. Hard to find a container that holds 6 quarts and fits under the H2. The plastic container for "Tidey Cat" kitty litter works perfectly with a funnel on top. Otherwise use a bucket.

4. Loosen the oil plug nut SLOWLY. Since the hole faces sideways (not down) oil shoots out 6 inches and winds up skimming off the funnel all over. When the nut is ready to come out, keep it there to regulate. After a quart comes out, you can remove the nut completely and let it drain. Put the nut back on.

5. Next remove the oil filter, and be aware that over a pint of oil will spill. Simple solution. Take one foot of tin foil and cover what's next to and under the filter and shape the foil so it funnels the spillage into your container. Loosen the filter (need the tool designed for this), let it drain, then remove it and put it in a rag to dispose. Put the new filter on and tighten.

6. Open the hood, look for the cap that says oil/5W-30, put in your 6 quarts and your done.

I remember my dealer telling me changing oil on an H2 costs $160 because it requires removing the underbody protection, which is bullsh#t. See the picture. $10 and 1/2 hour work beats $30-$160 and waiting around for service on my day off.

[PARAGON]

Hummer Man(ic), you are definitely getting screwed in the deal. You have personally sold 157 H2s and all you have gotten out of it is less than $1000 in free service?

[Hummer Man]

Thanks KenP, YOU ARE THE MAN ! Thanks for your kind words and support!

[Zing]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by noc:
6 Quarts is all we need? What does the service manual say?? not 6 1/2? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I remember reading 6 quarts, but anyway the dipstick indicated 6 quarts was just right.

[noc]

6 Quarts is all we need? What does the service manual say?? not 6 1/2?

[Dan]

I see the bucket of used motor oil you tossed over the fence

Good idea about using foil, I'll have to try that!

[Zing]

Wow, this NY area is so overpriced. I forgot about greasing the joints. Anybody do that themselves? That happens to be really easy if you have the grease gun and fitting.

Dan, I did implicate myself. That Pushrod is even all over me.

By the way Happy Easter everybody.

[Zing]

Oil change costs $40-$60 for regular cars in Manhattan, probably $50 to $100 for an H2. And most people go to the suburbs. When I had a Jeep, I used to go to a little shop in NJ who charged $20. Nice, honest people. No appointments, though. You show up at 7 am and hope your the first one.

I find generally merchants try to take advantage of the H2. Parking in garages is interesting. You pay a standard $10 premium for an H2 in all parking facilities in NYC. And if it's covered garage (as opposed to a lot) most turn you away, particularly if it's busy. Either you're too tall, too heavy for the elevator, or the guy just doesn't want to think about it unless you slip him a $20.

[Dan]

There are these products out there too:

http://www.fumotovalve.com/

http://www.autobarn.net/frasdseries....01&PID=1407856

No experience with either, but they look useful.

[Hummer Man]

Just counted 156!!!

[Hummer Man]

I got free services for the first two years (unlimited miles) from the dealer. To date I have gotten $966.00 worth of free services. I had already purchased my H2 and then asked the dealer a month later and he said sure. He gave it to me in writing.

[sKauGhTiEe]

Good Ole Wal-Mart charges 10 to 15 bucks, fills all the other fluids for ya and vacumns the vehicle while you shop... Much easier to just have someone else do it at a good rate.

[Yetti]

the best way to remove the rust is to take it to the sand dunes! it will have everything down to shiney metal when you get done, drive straight to the undercoating shop and have sealed.

and as for changing the oil, half the fun of owning any car is taking care of it. when the wife took her mini van in for its first oil change the mechanic droped a 6' jackstand down the side and scratched the door and fender,and when my GMC dually went in for a trans at 6000 miles it was run into a post and the box side had a ten inch tear in it. the dealer wanted me to take the truck wrecked, and bring it back for repair a month later!
after the wifes run in I bought a 9000lb rotory hoist for the garage, just to do oil changes, brakes.etc.. I have already had the H2 up on it and it handles the weight fine.

[frank6150]

Does the Government know about the kiddie porn on your hard drive?

[RIC-H0]

You can actually take any kind of oil you would like to Walmart, and they will do an oil change for $10. I used to do that when I had My Super Duty with the Powersroke (15 quarts of oil!).
It is just so much easier to have them dispose of the oil. Besides, some places will only take a gallon of oil at a time for disposal, so you end up going to several different places to get rid of all your oil.

Ric-H2

[Yetti]

KenP,
its not the hoist time I worry about its the folks who show up wanting to use it and once their ride is disabled they want you to cart them around and buy their parts.
I have a list for the rates I always use, they read like this
$50 an hour for normal repairs
$75 an hour for family + parts
$100 an hour if you help...

sorry no motorhomes or dump trucks unless its a life or death emergency,

[pushrod]

Does the EPA know what you have in that blue drum on the other side of the fence? It looks like a Super Fund Cleanup Site to me.

[Mike (by the beach)]

Thanks for the pics -- I have not changed my own oil in 15 years -- but I think I will start again ...

[MAC]

I paid $900 for 3 years of services. Very good deal for me.
I like it very much. One less thing to think about or shop for.
After that, if I still have the Hummer, I'll take it to independent shops.