For the Fourth of July, my girlfriend and I were getting ready to take the Z on a 800 mile round-trip journey to the Chicagoland area to visit my parents for a few days. With this trip in mind, I started gathering the necessary equipment to change the oil.
Before I was able to even think about changing the oil, I needed a way to get under the car. I thought about using Rhino Ramps, but since I had the front air dam installed, I didn't feel like piecing together a makeshift 2x4 "approach" ramp. Plus, the Rhino Ramps felt cheap and I didn't want the possibility of them sliding out from under the car. Thus, I started searching for an alternative.
I did a quick search on the forums and read some information about Race Ramps. I have heard about them before, but I never took the time to read about them. Although they are expensive, I was very impressed by their reviews. Through the forums, I found a website,
Reverse Logic Limited Jack Pad Tools for People Who Love Their Cars, who sold Race Ramps at a very good price. At first, I thought the website was a little sketchy, but a few members on here vouched for them. Since I needed the ramps ASAP, I tried my luck and called them on a Saturday. When Fred picked up the phone, I was startled!
After a long conversation with Fred, I felt comfortable enough to make the transaction. I paid $219 for the 56", 2-piece ramps. That price also included free shipping! Needless to say, Fred is an AWESOME guy and I had my ramps in three business days.
Next, I needed oil, crush washers, and an oil filter. Here is a tip guys; tell your girlfriend to go pick up the crush washers at a local dealership and smile pretty. The dealer gave her 5 washers for free, so I was pretty excited about that! For the oil filter, I went with a Purolator PureONE, which is easily found at many auto stores. Lastly, I needed to get oil. As many of you know, I'm an Amsoil guy so it didn't take long for me to place an order for Amsoil's 0W-30 Signature Series. Since I live in Columbus, I'm able to pick the oil up locally at their distribution center and avoid shipping costs.
All said and done, the oil was changed and I was ready for the trip. The car started up with an effortless roar, the idle was noticeably smoother, and the engine just felt happier. I never thought an oil change could have such a positive impact on my driving experience, but I'll spare you all the Amsoil dealer jargon
