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

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.

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Originally Posted by Majik

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.

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that's what I did with the filter. takes me about 5 minutes of different maneuvering but it works.

Try replacing the filter on a 2nd gen CR-V or an RX-8 and you'll never complain about the Miata again...

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Originally Posted by Majik

Instead I use a cheap baby diaper right under the oil filter.

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Well now that you're married ::Curls:: and have one on the way ::Baby::, you won't have a problem coming by cheap diapers.


;)

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Originally Posted by Treibenschnell

Well now that you're married ::Curls:: and have one on the way ::Baby::, you won't have a problem coming by cheap diapers.


;)

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Yup! And as an added bonus his neighbors won't stare at him wondering when he takes the packages out of the car anymore.

::Hmm::

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. ::Rant::

S.

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Originally Posted by Aku

Alrighty...
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

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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.

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Originally Posted by srivendel

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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Miatamoto

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.

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Oh goody. One more reason to buy a 335i Coupe. ;)

S.

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Originally Posted by Miatamoto

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.

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Same with my Fathers' Cadilac V8 CTS.

He was amazed at how easy it was to change the oil.

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Originally Posted by Treibenschnell

Well now that you're married ::Curls:: and have one on the way ::Baby::, you won't have a problem coming by cheap diapers.


;)

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:thumbdow: Not so much, but thanks anyway.

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Originally Posted by srivendel

The filter on the Si, on the other hand, is as much of a PITA as any Miata. ::Rant::

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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. ::Censor::

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! ::Afro::

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. ::Censor::

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.

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.

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Originally Posted by jrj512

Yes, that was humor.

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Are you sure! ::Banana::

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Are you sure! ::Banana::

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You have to change the oil? :confused:

How neccessary is it to have the little brace from the engine to the bottom of the intake? It was missing on the engine I got for my 1.8 swap so I can easily reach up under the bumper and over the steering rack to the filter in plain view and easy to get to since my splash pan replacement has yet to be installed.