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I just changed the oil in my civic today and I heard a somewhat worrying "pop" noise when I was letting the car down on one side. I use a scissor jack to jack up one side at a time and place jack stands underneath. After I'm done changing the oil, I take one side down at a time with the scissor jack. I've done this many times before and not had any problems.

However, today when I was letting the left side of the car down (the right side is still up on jack stands), I hear a pop from the right side and it appears the jack stand over there bent the area underneath the car that was supporting it upward a little bit. I always put the scissor jack on the actual jack point (the little metal ridge behind the front wheels) and I put the jack stands as close behind that as I can.

The car still drives fine and I don't believe there is any serious damage to the frame but I think this is a warning that I should be jacking my car up differently. How would you suggest? I prefer to use the scissor jack as opposed to a hydraulic jack as its more portable and I travel frequently. However, maybe I could use wooden blocks under the wheels instead of jack stands to take stress off the frame? Or is there somewhere else I should put my jack stands?

On a side note, I'm currently using conventional oil and I've thought about switching to synthetic several times but I worry about blowing out my seals and causing leaks. I'm assuming several of you have experience with this so I'd appreciate input.

Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 235

I always jack it at the center jack point. There's one in front and one in back.

 
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You need a hydraulic jack for that, don't you?

 
Rep Power: 285

No, it just might be a bit more difficult for you to reach with a scissor jack.

Don't switch to synthetic at this point in the cars life.

 
Rep Power: 285

No, it just might be a bit more difficult for you to reach with a scissor jack.

Don't switch to synthetic at this point in the cars life.

 
Rep Power: 0

The metal post behind/infront of the wheel's bent?

 
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Not sure what you mean by "post" but if you come about 1-1.5 ft back from the front right wheel well then there is a dent in the underside of the car that is in line with the wheel well (if that makes sense).

 
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Oh okay. Did you try moving your carpet and looking from the inside(above) the damage?