Oil Change

Archives of Posts to the NZ MX5 List back in 2001
Locked
Phil Dyer

Oil Change

Post by Phil Dyer » Tue Nov 06, 2001 9:16 am

Did my first oil change and filter yesterday.Used a friends hoist which made
it easier, but why do they make the filter so difficult to get at? Do you
have to take off the plastic covers under the car and reach up to undo it? I
ended up undoing the filter from the top and let the oil run down the side of
the engine, over the chassis rail, across the plastic tray and onto the floor,
then used the steam cleaner to get rid of the spilt oil. What do others do?
(Noticed the old filter was made in India!)
Phil


Have you visited http://inet.net.nz/~pdyer yet?

redwon
See my 5 and raise you.
See my 5 and raise you.
Posts: 70
Joined: Sat May 20, 2006 3:14 pm
Location: Auckland

Oil Change

Post by redwon » Tue Nov 06, 2001 9:38 am

If you have the car jacked up take the right front wheel off and you can
reach
the filter through the opening.Put a rag under the filter before you unscrew
it to catch most of the oil that runs out.

Steve

From MattGunn@newstalkzb.co.nz Fri Apr 27 15:56:15 2007
content-class: urn:content-classes:message
Subject: VISITED THE SITE
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2001 11:13:04 +1300
Thread-Topic: VISITED THE SITE
Thread-Index: AcFmQ7g3hdEC0dKiEdWrPQABA0T4ow==
From: "Matt Gunn" <MattGunn@newstalkzb.co.nz>
To: "MX5List" <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Precedence: list
Message-ID: <oY6qSC.A.-N.BVXMGB@L733>

YES I HAVE BEEN TO THE ( <http://inet.net.nz/~pdyer> ) SITE , COULDN'T
SEE ANY RAG TOPS AND FELL TO SLEEP IN A PEACEFUL BLISS.


THANKS...


MADMXV

carl.halvorsen

Oil Change

Post by carl.halvorsen » Tue Nov 06, 2001 7:10 pm

I get the old filter loose with access from the top, then put a plastic bag
over it and unscrew the rest of the way ( you can put an old rag in the
bottom of the bag to immediatly soak up the oil ). If you are careful you
will minimise the mess. I also use a pair of latex surgical gloves ( 50c at
the chemist ) to protect the hands.

Carl

Bill

Oil Change

Post by Bill » Tue Nov 06, 2001 7:36 pm

Why not do what my mechanic does, drain the oil first then remove the filter.
Bill

SG & NA Fisk

Oil Change

Post by SG & NA Fisk » Tue Nov 06, 2001 9:39 pm

Hi guys - gee I've read a lot of mumbo jumbo on the web about oil filter
changes for MX5s using nappies and everything - its very easy - I do what
Bill does - drain the oil - use a pair of latex gloves - unscrew from the top
- the gloves let you get a good grip so no tool needed. Then unscrew and tip
straight away - usually do not spill any oil. but a rag under gives insurance.
The only hard part is actually locating the filter every time cos they insist
on giving me black ones.
Now what's the recommended oil change period for the beasties. I have always
done all my cars for the last 25 years at 5000 Km but this one as I do 800 Km
a week at open road commuting so I have slipped to every 7000 K - for the past
2 changes. ( I have slick 50'ed the motor which I do for all my vehicles) and
I change the filter every time and use 20/50 Valvoline oil so I think I'm Ok -
what do you experts say for these beasties
By the way the MTL redline in the shifter housing worked better - will try the
box itself next.
Stevan

From MattGunn@newstalkzb.co.nz Fri Apr 27 15:56:18 2007
content-class: urn:content-classes:message
Subject: RE: Oil Change
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 06:49:43 +1300
Thread-Topic: Oil Change
Thread-Index: AcFmj0Mlds+VRYnCQlaGCJj99lS8eAAWGdzw
From: "Matt Gunn" <MattGunn@newstalkzb.co.nz>
To: "MX5List" <mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Precedence: list
Message-ID: <CtmdqD.A.EO.BVXMGB@L733>

Hi Bill

The best advise so far. You must have read the word logic recently.

cheers

MADMXV

Bill

Oil Change

Post by Bill » Wed Nov 07, 2001 8:06 am

Sorry Matt, I can't take the credit -- I would personally probably have suggested that one remove the engine (or turn the car upside down) to gain access to the oil filter more easily ;-)

Credit goes to my friend who assisted me in changing my oil & filter the last time and who is a former auto garage owner/mechanic, and yes it does make a lot of sense, but then as with so many things in life what's common sense isn't necessarily common practice.
-B

redwon
See my 5 and raise you.
See my 5 and raise you.
Posts: 70
Joined: Sat May 20, 2006 3:14 pm
Location: Auckland

Oil Change

Post by redwon » Wed Nov 07, 2001 8:28 am

Sorry guys its not that easy.When you drain the sump some oil stays in the
filter.This is what makes the mess when you remove the filter in the confined
area where the filter is.The plastic bag idea sounds good.

Steve

Gary Morrison
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 100
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:24 pm
Location: Wellington

Oil Change

Post by Gary Morrison » Wed Nov 07, 2001 11:06 am

As the filter is up on the side of the block, if the car has been sitting
most of the oil will have drained down into the sump... but there will still
be some in the filter that has to be caught when it is unscrewed. If you run
the engine before the oil change to warm the oil so it drains better you
will have more in the filter... in any case I'd be surprised if anyone
didn't drain the sump first... I leave it draining for 15 minutes or so, and
even then there is enough oil in the filter when its removed to require care
if you want to avoid a big mess.

Gary

carl.halvorsen

Oil Change

Post by carl.halvorsen » Wed Nov 07, 2001 6:05 pm

Thanks Steve. I did sound like an idiot. I do drain the oil first but there
is always some left in the filter.

Carl

MC

Oil Change

Post by MC » Wed Nov 07, 2001 7:21 pm

Hi
for those that get an extra tight filter i made a removal tool from an old
seat belt, make a loop twice the diameter of the filter, i then riveted the
loose ends to a 12mm square bar 150mm long, fit over the filter and roll it
up, it sticks out enough to put a spanner on the end from under the bonnet,
keep tightening till it loosens, also works on any size filter.
MC

Phil Dyer

Oil Change

Post by Phil Dyer » Wed Nov 07, 2001 7:38 pm

Yep thats' what I found hence the steam cleaner. By the way does anyone
know the amount of oil it needs? Both with and without filter change?
Phil

Robin Thomas

Oil Change

Post by Robin Thomas » Wed Nov 07, 2001 8:48 pm

Can't understand all you guys - just take it to the garage and get them to
do it --- far less hassle, no mess, and more time to get out and drive and
enjoy
the car rather than stressing about such minutia...;)

Cheers
Robin

rossandmeg

Oil Change

Post by rossandmeg » Thu Nov 08, 2001 12:02 pm

Engine Oil Capacity from the Mazda Miata Enthusiast's shop manual
Dry engine - 3.6 litres
Oil pan - 3.2 litres
Oil filter - 0.17 litres

Regards
Ross Harvey

Gary Morrison
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 100
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:24 pm
Location: Wellington

Oil Change

Post by Gary Morrison » Thu Nov 08, 2001 12:13 pm

About 3.5 litres... you need to watch the dipstick anyway to ensure you
don't overfill. Some suggest filling the filter the day before and letting
it soak, then tipping up and draining before fitting it. Supposed to help
with lifter noise... it makes installation of the filter almost as messy as
removal.

Gary

Fletcher Blades

Oil Change

Post by Fletcher Blades » Thu Nov 08, 2001 6:23 pm

I can understand that some people dont want to bother them-selves with
the "dirty jobs" but I actually feel more connected to my car from
knowing its internals... (taught myself how to re-build the
engine!)...

But please explain how you've got more time to drive the car by
getting some-one else to change the oil?

Can you drive it WHILE the mechanic is changing the oil? :-)

Fletch.

Phil Dyer

Oil Change

Post by Phil Dyer » Fri Nov 09, 2001 8:09 am

Thanks Ross,
Nothing worse than pouring in too much then wondering whether you have to
let some out the sump drain plug.
Phil

Locked

Return to “2001”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests