Safe Lifting: Types of Car and Floor Jacks

A “Car Jack” Is a device commonly used to support a car or other vehicle in order to change a tire or perform maintenance on the vehicle. There are two types of “Jacks” used to lift cars. One is mechanical, the other is Hydraulic. Mechanical lifts rely on a screw-thread system, and Hydraulic pumps use oil that transfers pressure to the lift. The amount of oil in hydraulic car jacks (or floor jacks,) must be kept at a certain level, therefore, more maintenance is involved with this type of car jack. Hydraulic jacks require much less force than a mechanical car jack.

You can tell if you have a mechanical or hydraulic jack in this way: If the handle pumps up and down with little force, it is hydraulic. If the handle spins in a circle and there is screw thread visible, you have a mechanical car jack.

A car jack must be kept in a car at all times, along with a spare wheel. You can also acquire a “floor” jack, which is large and heavy. These can be kept at home, in workshops, or in your garage. While jacks in a car are portable, top floor jacks are not easy to transport. They do, however, provide much more force in lifting, up to 9,000lbs. Some are larger than a car, others fit under a car. Floor jacks are often much more expensive than a simple car jack and are always hydraulic.

To perform maintenance on all lifts and jacks, keep around a basic set of tools and extra hydraulic oil (if applicable).

More information on Mechanical Jacks

Mechanical car jacks are often called Scissor Jacks. Scissor car jacks often use mechanical power to allow a human to lift a vehicle manually, using their own strength. Some versions have an included platform used to lift a car, others have a certain attachment that allows them to secure to the car’s frame.

Electric scissor jack, used for cars, are powered by electric current supplied from the car’s cigarette lighter. The electricity allows the jacks to operate automatically. Electric jacks are easier to use for the driver.

More information of Hydraulic Jacks
A hydraulic jack any incompressible liquid. Oil is used since it is self-lubricating. The oil is pressurized by each pump of the lever, and the main cylinder fills to lift the vehicle. Several processes inside the jack build up pressure using oil until the piston of the jack is lifted highly. When done, normally by loosening a small screw you can allow the oil to drain back into the reservoir.

In any floor jack, A long arm is provided as a lever to pump the jack. Floor jacks usually include castors and wheels, allowing the jack to remain stable. Floor jacks have a low profile and are easy to slip under a vehicle, but also provide a large height in lifting capacity.
Hopefully this article has provided you with more information on how car jacks, floor jacks, and other lifts function, and also how to maintain them.

Leave a Reply
