Changing Oil Safely with Air Ride

[Antonm]

ramps are so easy, no jacking. you can drive up on them forward or reverse onto them front wheels or rear wheels.
for basic maintenance that does not require a wheel to come off it's a no brainer.

You what's even easier than ramps,,,, pressing the little button on the dash to raise the air suspension.
...

 

[Fairweatherider]

Thanks everyone. I did the first oil change just by laying under the vehicle at normal ride height. It's not comfortable but it's doable. I was nervous though because I had just turned off the "easy entry/exit" feature where the vehicle lowers 2" below normal ride height upon shifting the transmission into park. If for some reason, the vehicle lowered 2" while I was under it, it would have probably contacted my chest and scared the crap out of me. If the side step deployed due to someone opening a door, it would have crushed me.
I'm going to get some jack stands, set vehicle to max height, and place them under just as a safety, as mentioned by @Antonm
I considered disconnecting the negative cable to the battery so that the electronics can't function but with jack stands, I should be fine. Even if the vehicle lowers to normal ride height, it wouldn't kill me. At the lowest possible setting, I'm not sure - it probably depends on where my head/chest are at the time.

 

[Fairweatherider]

I do wonder, though, what exactly does "Service Mode" do?

 

[PG01]

If it fell clear to the bump stops, on ramps it would still be fine. I don't know why anybody would want to screw with jack stands when ramps solve the whole problem neatly, foolproofly, and efficiently...

What about rotating tires? How ya gonna do an oil change and tire rotation on ramps?? Wut a conundrum…..

 

[Doubeleive]

I do wonder, though, what exactly does "Service Mode" do?

it just let's it run or be powered on instead of shutting off after 10 minutes

 

[Doubeleive]

What about rotating tires? How ya gonna do an oil change and tire rotation on ramps?? Wut a conundrum…..

be like me and have a set of ramps, 6 jack stands, 6 jack's, 4 wheel chocks
thought I had 2 sets of ramps but can't find the 2nd set

 

[PG01]

be like me and have a set of ramps, 6 jack stands, 6 jack's, 4 wheel chocks
thought I had 2 sets of ramps but can't find the 2nd set

Right behind ya, 5 jacks and 6 jackstands… i used to take the bottle and scissor jacks out of the trucks they were junking at work. Threw most of them away in the great basement cleaning of ‘19…..

 

[Stbentoak]

Depending of the finish of your garage floor, ramps may not actually work. On mine the ramps just slide forward when the front tires touch them (smooth concreate floor).

So for me to use ramps, I have to put the ramps outside against the lip where the driveway and garage meet, which in turn makes it so the truck is in the garage doorway and raising the hood makes it hit the door opening.

I had this problem once, till I used my head and put it in 4 HI. Now the vehicle "climbs" the ramps instead of pushing them.
AFA rotation goes.... I'll probably get a few haters, but I never rotate my tires... Too dang old and don't really care how they wear.

I hate the stock tires anyways... Never wore out the last ones on my 21 and probably won't on my 25. As soon as Michelin or Pirelli come out with "Defenders" or AS3's in my size... I'll switch to them. I hate white knuckles in every rainstorm....

 

[DontTaseMeBro]

As high as these trucks sit from factory nowadays you’d think most people could just squeeze under there without even jacking up.

if you are on the heavier side it may be a tight squeeze, but you eliminate the possibility of any vehicle jack/ramp/suspension failure

Was just about to say this. I'm 6'3" 250lbs and have no problems squeezing underneath my non air ride Yukon to do oil changes. It gets even easier when you install a Fumoto drain valve into the oil pan.

 

[tuckerrnr1]

Real men.....

 

[PPV_2018]

View attachment 461182

Real men.....

lol i mean, if that Nissan hard body fell on ya, you could probably push it off with one or two hands anyway

Not so sure about the 6k lb bricks that are tahoes now.

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

Service Mode is your friend, right there in the owners manual.

 

[Fairweatherider]

Service Mode is your friend, right there in the owners manual.

Thanks for posting that. I downloaded and read the owner's manual and couldn't find any info on service mode. I never thought to try a word search within the document.

 

[Scarey]

I just played with the air suspension/service mode. I put tahoe in 4 low, which allows max height, then selected service, this gives me a locked icon on the dash. I feel comfortable sliding under the truck.

 

[PG01]

@Scarey thats scarey

 

[PG01]

God i crack myself up….

 

[Padraig]

I am not fat but cannot get under my 2023 Suburban. I use ramps to change oil, filter etc.

Padraig

 

[ZKWBQD]

I want to change the oil on my 2025 Yukon with air ride suspension. Can I raise the vehicle to the max height, put in park, then lay under it to change the oil? My concern is that it lowers itself while I'm under it and crushes me. Is there a way to do this safely without placing jack stands under the vehicle? I can't find information on the "Service Mode" in the owner manual. Would service mode be the way to go? Everything that I find on a forum search relates to service mode being used for brake pad service.

Document everything regarding an oil change you do yourself. If you have an engine problem, they will work very hard to deny the claim. Keep your receipts and take pictures.

 

[scotflyer]

FWR This is all good advice, do not trust the air ride system. Things break, and Stuff happens.

Beautiful Basenji ......