How to Refill the Oil in a Bottle Jack
by Thomas West
There are many different types of hydraulic jacks, but the bottle jack is probably the most popular with do-it-yourselfers due to its small, manageable size. This versatile jack, which gets its name from its upright bottlelike appearance, requires only one person to lift a vehicle off the ground for servicing. Bottle jacks come in a variety of sizes, from a 1.5-ton capacity to a 200-ton weight rating. The most popular bottle jacks for lifting cars and pickup trucks are the 1.5- to 5-ton sizes. Maintenance requires that you check the oil and keep it topped off so that your jack works properly.
Step 1
Place the jack in an upright position on a flat work area. If desired, place newspapers or rags under the jack to catch oil spills.
Step 2
Locate the rubber oil filler plug on the side of the jack cylinder near the top.
Step 3
Pry the oil filler plug out with a screwdriver, and set it aside.
Step 4
Pour hydraulic fluid into a small plastic squeeze bottle with a long, pointed tip. Place the tip of the bottle into the oil filler hole on the side of the jack, and squeeze fluid in until it reaches the bottom of the oil filler hole.
Step 5
Push the rubber oil filler plug back into the hole until it sits in place. Wipe any excess oil from the outside of the jack cylinder that may have spilled.
Things You'll Need
- Newspapers
- Flat-tip screwdriver
- Jack oil (or hydraulic fluid)
- Plastic squeeze bottle
- Rag
