+1 to gorilla ramps..got a pair from wally world for like $29 and use them regularly for my cars.

As for the torque wrech it's useful but be careful...more than a few people have stripped their oil drain (not talking FIT specific here) torquing to mfg specs. My guess is it happens because you get oil on the plug and it's wet while the torque specs may be a dry rating. I dont use a torque wrench most of the time but if I do I take off ~25% of the lbs/ft on the drain plug and just check to see that it's snug and the crush washer is doing its job.

Sears has their digital torque wrenches on sale several times a year for like $50

 

I can’t believe I just looked at a pic of someone putting a Fram filter on a new Honda Fit!! I just about passed out when got to that pic.

Yes, Fram filters are SHIT!! Having worked for an OEM filter company in the past and seeing test on all different types of filters, trust me stay away from Fram filters. If you don’t want to believe me, do your own research. There are plenty of sites you can go to that just talk about oil and filters and they also do testing and have plenty of data support what many people with tell you about Fram filters. Please use a good quality filter like WIX, Amsoil, K&N or an OEM Honda filter.

Also, never EVER use Pennzoil. I have personally seen it destroy more then one motor.

Last, I would also stay away from Lucas Oil stabilizer. I have seen detailed articles that shows how Lucas Oil stabilizer will foam up in your oil.

My recommendations for oil and filters is easy, Amsoil 5w-20 and a WIX filter. The oil tests I have done over the years have show this combo works and many other people will say the same thing.

 

use greddy oil. it made my car feel faster and like it ran better. and changing the oil on a honda is the easiest thing ive ever done!

 

I only use amsoil 5-30 and amsoil filter in my honda. lots of data backing up the quality and performance of amsoil. Mobil 1 is also good. synthetic out performs dino oil in every way. And I agree, dont touch fram with a 10 foot pole!! have a good one.

 

hope ur using 5w20 cuz ur using the wrong weights,

 

im pretty sure its ok if you use a 5w30. you dont HAVE to do everything the owners manual says

 

using 5-30 is just fine. the only reason they recomend a 5-20 is to help them show better fuel economy with all their vehicles. you would pretty much notice no better gas milage using a 5-20 versus 5-30. I worked for a chrysler dealer and all there new vehicles recommend 5-20 also but they installed a 200 or so gallon oil tank for oil changes and its 5-30!!! the techs even say 5-20 is to damn thin. Its totally safe to use the 5-30. It will not affect warranty.

 

I just picked up my 2007 Honda Fit on Sat., Sept. 1, 2007. I went through the Owner's Manual and was unable to find the part number of the Oil Filter and/or the Oil Filter. On my previous Honda's this info was always printed in the Manual but not in this one!!! As I do my own maintenance I would really appreciate someone who also has purchased an Oil Filter and/or Air Filter to please give me the numbers. Thanks in advance.

 

Does anyone plan on trying the new 0w-20 Amsoil has available? I know some people will say it's to thin but Amsoil clams it's designed for Hondas and Acura’s and other vehicles currently using 5w-20. I'm going to do some test comparisons between the 5w-20 and 0w-20 and see if the 0w-20 protects as good as the current oil I'm using. I'm also going to keep track of my gas mileage to see it there is any change with thinner oil.

 

I use it now- no problems at all. You WILL NOT see measurable gas mileage changes between 5W-20 and 0W-20 vis. oils.

 

The recommendation to read some and learn about filters (and oil) is a good one as a lot of the Fram-bashing is unwarranted.

The site linked below is the most extensive oil-related discussion site on the web. Many of the folks there say that Fram's are not as bad as many claim, only that there are often better filters for the money...

Bob Is The Oil Guy: Are Fram Oil Filters Really That Bad?

Bob Is The Oil Guy: Would you use a FRAM filter if they were free?

If Bob and Pete C (who works for a Fram competitor) say that Fram's are adequate filters, I'm more inclined to believe them than anyone else.

Fram also has multiple lines of filters. Here's the internals of a Fram Extended Guard vs an Amsoil filter...

Bob Is The Oil Guy: FRAM vs AMSOIL

I'm not saying that Fram filters would be my choice, but I've purchased them when that was what was easiest to get and never had an issue.

Anything that is manufactured will have a % of failures Here's a first-hand thread of a leaking Napa/Wix...

Bob Is The Oil Guy: Wix (Napa Gold) leaking at crimp seam.

And now on to Penzoil...

Bob Is The Oil Guy: Mobil vs. Pennzoil

http://theoildrop.server101.com/foru...&Number=975152

As with filters, it's tough to defend a "Pennzoil stinks" stance because they make a ton of motor oils and some, such as their Pennzoil Platinum Synthetic, have turned in some stellar UOA's, for instance...

Bob Is The Oil Guy: 01 Nissan Sentra, PP-5W-30, 9500 Miles

 

I saw amsoil came out with a 5-20, but I know ill see no difference in mileage so Im gonna just stick with the amsoil 5-30.
Thinking about picking up a k&n air filter for my fit also. And will keep using the amsoil filter too, synthetic nano fiber media, good up to 25000 miles
and im just not comfortable with a filter that has cardboard end caps. even though many have had no trouble with fram its just not something i dont want to chance.

 

Free advice- DON'T buy the K&N SRI- it's the worst intake on the market for the Fit. The K&N drop-in filters work fine.

 

Thanks for the info. I was planning on the drop in.

 

All,
I just received the Helm 2007 Fit Service Manual and turned to page 1-7 to learn about the recommended front and rear jacking brackets for my hydraulic floor jack. The illustrations are clear as mud to a newbie to DIY maintenance. Anyone who can clarify with better illustrationss or specifics? It is almost as if Honda is holding cards close to chest, but perhaps I am being unfair. OK, here goes:
1) Front jack bracket -- Looks like it is collinear with front axle. I try to put my Torin Big Red 3 1/2 ton (OK, overkill!) "low rider" quick lift jack in the lowest (3-3/4") position, and even with the 6' handle it is difficult to start to raise the car due to the 5" ground clearance, if I am in fact using the correct jacking point.
2) Rear jack bracket -- Looks like you are supposed to use the fuel filler guard (see pg. 29-146). Is this in fact correct?
Thanks in advance!

 

On rear jack bracket, should say "...see pg. 20-146" of 2007 Fit Service Manual.

 

The rear "lift pad" is the black, steel, 3-sided "hump" between the rear wheels. Some people have called it (wrongly) a skid plate. It is the only black object poking down from the floor. The front lift pad is a square plate about 6" X 6" between the front wheels. Your floor jack is too big to reach it properly. You will need to raise one side of the car with your scissor jack to make enough room to place your floor jack.

 

greddy makes great products, but their oil and filters are too expensive for a daily driver. even if u change the oil every 7k miles. it would be great to use but not worth it. HAMP filters are awsome too and quite a bit cheaper if u are looking for jdm quality products.

 

I just did my first oil change and I used the Bosch filter. I read a review that the Bosch, Mobil 1 and some other brand is better than OEM filters. I've also heard that Fram is not that good. I might try the WIX filter if they are good in price.

 

i always hear people talking about Fram sucks and see all these links to articles and tests. i don't know what's true and what's not since there's just too much contradicting going on all over the place. but i do know one thing for certain, we had a 1994 honda accord dx and used fram filters on it EVERY SINGLE oil change (approx. every 3-4k miles), and the car was running perfect, never had any engine repairs or problems, and just sold the car this year at 170k miles. so i testify that crappy as Frams may or may not be, they worked fine for me.