Oil Change Tips
Alrighty... I just did my first oil change on "Aku". A few things of note. 1) Terrible place for the oil filter! Damn near impossible to get to and when the oil runs out, it's all over the bloody subframe! 2) The panel under the engine... wow. What, no service flap? The whole thing had to come off to avoid getting filled with oil.
Needless to say, it was somewhat messy and I used a lot of brake cleaner to try to get the oil off of the subframe. Anyone have any solutions to the oily mess oil change? I'd be greatful.
M
'04 Ti MSM
"Drive till you hear glass and smell sh**!"
I dont remove the panel. Instead I use a cheap baby diaper right under the oil filter. It is very absorbent. I can fit my arms between the intake manifold and take the filter out from there. It is tricky, but easier than laying on my back. Or you can reach up from behind the front wheel and get to it also. Alot of people remove the wheel to make it easier.
that's what I did with the filter. takes me about 5 minutes of different maneuvering but it works.Originally Posted by Majik
Try replacing the filter on a 2nd gen CR-V or an RX-8 and you'll never complain about the Miata again...
Iain
"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
Well now that you're marriedand have one on the way
, you won't have a problem coming by cheap diapers.
Yup! And as an added bonus his neighbors won't stare at him wondering when he takes the packages out of the car anymore.Well now that you're married
Daily Driver: 2013 Club edition in Pearl White Mica
Lightness? What's that? I drive a PRHT!
Or you could buy a Subaru. Changing the oil on the wife's 9-2X is a breeze. The filter hangs straight down, in plain view. Reach up, unscrew it, carefully pull it down so you don't spill any over the sides, and replace it with a new one. Ridiculously easy.
The filter on the Si, on the other hand, is as much of a PITA as any Miata.
S.
You might try taking the right front tire off to get to the oil filter. You can control the oil drip more and clean what drips around the subframe.
It keeps it off the belly pan also. I think taking the wheel off is a lot easier than the belly pan.
The BMW 3 series is even easier. It's a cartridge filter with a canister that opens on the top of the engine bay. No need to go under the car for anything but the oil pan.
Thomas
V-to-the-Dub
Oh goody. One more reason to buy a 335i Coupe.
S.
Same with my Fathers' Cadilac V8 CTS.
He was amazed at how easy it was to change the oil.
05 MX-5 Mazdaspeed #1024 Titanium Gray Mica
Well now that you're married
Not so much, but thanks anyway.
Don't you just love how close it is to the header? On the Type S, there's a STB that runs along the firewall, but there's just enough room to fit my arm through the gap. It's a blind grab, and I got hold of the (Comptech) header's #1 runner.The filter on the Si, on the other hand, is as much of a PITA as any Miata.
'02 Berlina S2k
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Yes, my mechanic will do it for $10 if I supply the oil and filter. It's worth it, just because he has a lift and can see what he's doing.
S.
My Toyota 4Runner is the easiest ever! I pull into the Toyota service bay the nice folks ask what I want, they give me a pager and say they will get it done quick for me. I go check out the free snackage, they page me, I pay and drive off! The joys of NMC!
But my Miatas are tricky, I got a nice scar on my arm from a failed attempt to get the filter from above while the car was still hot.
I take the oil filter out the same was as Majik with a shop towel underneath. I use thick rubber gloves for grip and so I don't burn my forearms on the intake manifold.
Thomas
V-to-the-Dub
I just skip changing the filter and only change the oil. I wash my car a lot, so the oil should be clean, anyway.
Yes, that was humor.
Are you sure!
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