As a driver, you know you have a nightmare to wake up from when you discover you don’t have a bottle jack a bottle jack is as important to a driver as water is important to someone on a camping trip.
However, the importance of a bottle jack is not in question here; many drivers have always asked the question, can a bottle jack be used on its side?
Yes, a bottle jack can be used on its side. Most, if not all hydraulic jacks come with a port usually located at the bottom of the reservoir leading to the pump.
However, when the jack is laid to the side of the jack containing the intake for the pump, it will work for a while until the hole is exposed to the atmosphere.
In most cases, that port, in particular, is placed on the same side as the pump because it reduces the amount of work needed. So, depending on the design of the bottle jack and the amount of oil in the reservoir, you shouldn’t have a problem using a bottle jack on its side.
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How to use a bottle jack
The following steps listed below will show you how to use a bottle jack.
Materials needed
Step 1
Park your vehicle safely
Parking your vehicle safely involves two things; parking on the right side of the road and parking on a level surface.
While using your garage will always be the best option, the last place a flat can occur would be a garage, and since they are likely to happen in the course of driving try moving away from incoming traffic to the shoulder of the road.
Once you are safely away from traffic, try parking on a level spot and ensure the surface is hard.
If the surface happens to be muddy, your planks would come in handy to provide a solid base for your bottle jack, and if the road isn’t as level as it should be, you might want to apply your parking brake and use the tire wedge to prevent your car from rolling backward or forward depending on the topography of the landscape.
Step 2
Get a jack stand and inspect your jack before usage
Depending on what you want to do under the vehicle, you may need to use jack stands if you’ll be staying under the vehicle for a prolonged time. Jack stands are a lot safer than bottle jacks as they provide you with the assurance that your car wouldn’t come toppling on you while working. In the case of a flat, a single jack would suffice.
Inspect your bottle jack for any sort of leakage involving hydraulic oil as they could reduce the performance of your bottle jack. Also, ensure the plug behind is tightly fixed and the release valve is properly closed. Clean off any form of dirt on the saddle as it might hamper a clear contact with your vehicle.
Lastly, check your jack stands for any sort of defect since any slight defect could put the integrity of the jack stand in check.
Step 3
Locate the lift point on your vehicle
To be sure of where your jack should be placed, ensure you read the user manual of your vehicle as such points can differ according to the vehicle manufacturer. Using any other points can cause a crack, injury, or even damage to your vehicle.
Run a few test pumps on the bottle jack to be sure of its working condition; slowly pump up the handle upwards and downwards. You can also let down the cylinder by carefully turning the release valve in an anticlockwise direction to ensure it’s in good working condition.
You can also use the handle located at one end of the bottle jack to release the valve which is located near the barrel bottom usually on the front of the jack. Ensure you tighten the release valve before use.
Step 4
Lift your vehicle
After locating the lift point on your vehicle, ensure your workspace is clear enough to work safely, and if you’re working at home don’t allow children to come around.
If the area is swampy or muddy or has soft earth, get your planks to manage the situation by placing them underneath your bottle jack and your jack stand.
Place your bottle jack underneath the designated point for lifting on the vehicle, insert the handle of your bottle jack and start pumping until the saddle of your bottle jack is close to touching your vehicle – don’t forget to ensure the saddle is directly in line with the vehicle lifting point.
Pump your bottle jack until your vehicle is high enough from the ground to safely work under. Most bottle jack jacks will come with safety measures to prevent over-extension, however, it is never advised to lift your vehicle higher than required.
Step 5
Position your jack stands and remove your bottle jack
After achieving the desired height, place your jack stands and ensure they are properly supported if the ground is soft.
Once placed, remove the handle from your jack, and with the use of your notch located at the end of your bottle jack, twist the release valve gently in the anticlockwise direction the same way you did while test running your bottle jack.Â
Gently release the jack until your vehicle rests comfortably on your jack stand(s). Before removing the jacks completely, double-check the location of your jack stand(s) and ensure they are properly placed before allowing your vehicle to rest on them. Once your vehicle is properly resting on the jack stand(s) you can go ahead and carry out your repair or maintenance activity under your vehicle.Â
Step 6
Bringing down your vehicle
After completing your repair and maintenance on your vehicle, place your bottle jack directly facing the required points used in jacking your vehicle up while ensuring you follow the safety measures depending on the state of the ground, then jack your vehicle till the weight is off the jack stand(s) before proceeding to remove them.Â
Once this is done, you might want to remove all the tools you worked with underneath the vehicle, then gently release the bottle jack until your vehicle tire(s) come in direct contact with the ground.
How to maintain a bottle jack
Prevent corrosion on your extension screw and piston
After using your bottle jack, you should try and ensure its longevity by keeping the piston and extension screws in a horizontal position or powered position to prevent your hydraulics from corroding.
Also, try the best you can to ensure they are stored in a water-free environment, and when it does come in contact with water or any external liquid, don’t allow them to dry on their own; use a dry cloth and wipe off the liquid.
Oil the moving parts of your bottle jack
You are unlikely to use your bottle jack often, which means there’s a high chance of the movable parts becoming stiff. To prevent this from happening, try oiling the parts of your bottle jack at timely intervals. This practice will make your bottle jack fresh and usable whenever the need of using them arises.
Store your jack horizontally
Many drivers are guilty of storing their jacks horizontally but this shouldn’t be the case. Storing your bottle jack vertically will help keep it in a top-notch working condition. Hydraulic is a viscose liquid, and when stored horizontally, it could take time to return to its normal function during usage; storing it vertically however will prevent this from happening and also save you loads of time in the process.
Following these maintenance tips will ensure your bottle jack lasts for a very long time before you’ll need a replacement.
FAQs
Can bottle jacks be used as jack stands?
Some bottle jacks are designed with jack stands to serve the same purpose, but ideally, an ordinary bottle jack without this feature should not be used as a jack stand. Bottle jacks are not really as stable as they seem and one wrong move could see the valve released, thereby bringing the vehicle to its original state.
Are bottle jacks unstable?
Yes, bottle jacks are relatively unstable. The reason is simple; bottle jacks have a narrow frame, and distributing a load of a vehicle on such a small surface area can cause even the slightest failure to occur – you really shouldn’t bank on it.
Are bottle jacks better than scissors jacks?
Yes, bottle jacks are tougher and more resilient than scissors jacks. Scissor jacks have the tendency to wear out over time especially when they are used for heavy vehicle lifting.
Bottle jacks on the other hand are designed with a hydraulic mechanism that makes them very suitable and capable of carrying heavy loads without really affecting their components.
Can Bottle Jack be Used on Its Side – Conclusion
If there’s an alternative to using a bottle jack vertically, use it. However, a bottle jack will still work horizontally but as effectively as it would have been vertically. Have a safe time working out there. Cheers!!!
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I am passionate about all things automotive and have a deep understanding of the topic. As a mechanic, I use my free time to share knowledge of everyday challenges that any car owner can experience – helping you make informed decisions about tires.