On first oil change

What sadist decided to put the Miata oil filter where it is? I could
barely get my hand under and through..much less any kind of an oil
filter wrench. I finally got a pair of dish washing gloves which gave
me the leverage but I couldn't pull my hand and filter back out the
way I put my hand in.. and I ended up dropping the filter. Then I got
a wire hanger and bent it so that it would pick up the filter. Of
course all the oil coming out of the filter made a real mess..but I
did accomplish my first oil change on my 2000 Miata. So how does
everyone else get the &^%$^%$^ filter off and back on without making
the mess and burning your arm?

zenmartini wrote:
> What sadist decided to put the Miata oil filter where it is? I could
> barely get my hand under and through..much less any kind of an oil
> filter wrench. I finally got a pair of dish washing gloves which gave
> me the leverage but I couldn't pull my hand and filter back out the
> way I put my hand in.. and I ended up dropping the filter. Then I got
> a wire hanger and bent it so that it would pick up the filter. Of
> course all the oil coming out of the filter made a real mess..but I
> did accomplish my first oil change on my 2000 Miata. So how does
> everyone else get the &^%$^%$^ filter off and back on without making
> the mess and burning your arm?
>

I never found it that bad on my old '91 but I guess they may have made
changes in the intervening 9 years to make it more difficult. But if you
really hate the task and plan on doing more oil changes yourself you
might want to consider relocating the filter.

This is one example of a kit to do the job:

http://www.miatamania.com/Shop/ViewP...36&SortOrder=1

but there are probably others. You could always install a cooler while
you are at it.

--
John McGaw
[Knoxville, TN, USA]
http://johnmcgaw.com

On Jun 3, 7:58 am, zenmartini > wrote:
> What sadist decided to put the Miata oil filter where it is? I could
> barely get my hand under and through..much less any kind of an oil
> filter wrench. I finally got a pair of dish washing gloves which gave
> me the leverage but I couldn't pull my hand and filter back out the
> way I put my hand in.. and I ended up dropping the filter. Then I got
> a wire hanger and bent it so that it would pick up the filter. Of
> course all the oil coming out of the filter made a real mess..but I
> did accomplish my first oil change on my 2000 Miata. So how does
> everyone else get the &^%$^%$^ filter off and back on without making
> the mess and burning your arm?

Get your wife, girlfriend, sister, female neighbor, or kid to do it
for you...little hands work better than big ones, and "hand tight" is
good enough for the new filter going on as well. Just let the
engine cool off a bit more before they stick their arm in there, and
then they can unscrew the filter and let it fall into their hand
"right-side up," then bring it up beside the engine and safely out.

It also helps to stuff a few paper towels under the filter before
unscrewing it, to catch the excess oil. Be sure to open the oil
filler cap on top and drain as much oil out the bottom as possible
first before removing the filter.

Jeannie
'90 A

Ya, it's a huge PIA to say the least but, I don't recommend that you resort
to the girlfriend / wife or child, that's ridiculous. And yes, the NB IS
more difficult than the NA was (hard to believe after fighting the NA for
years but it's true!).

I generally drive the car up on ramps for the oil change but, once up there
and stopped, I crank the steering wheel all the way to the left and access
the filter thru the wheel well. By hand it's do-able but still close to a
blind operation. If you buy the "end cap" type of filter removal tool (make
sure you get one that matches your filter type and then make sure you don't
change filter types willy nilly as they aren't all the same size / shape)
this works pretty well in conjunction with a 3/8" rachet. Obviously, hand
tighten or at least hand start the filter before you use the rachet to
re-install it. I find that a properly creased paper plate works pretty well
to catch the oil spill and get it into the drain pan. Properly location of
this "oil slide" is critical. I'd love to have the relocation setup and love
an oil cooler even more but, it never seems to raise to that priority level
with kids in college and such.

Oh, and be carefull, I've got a "quarter sized" permanent burn scar from the
time I decided I was going to get my arm in there from above, no matter
what! Not too smart.

Good luck,
Chris
99BBB

Chris,
Go buy a "Thompson" relocation kit. Make the change once and you will
"never" suffer again. :-)
The Thompson kit puts the filter behind the RH headlight. It's so easy,
it will make you smile. :-)

Bruce Bing '03 LS

How much do they get for that kit?

Chris
99BBB

"BRUCE HASKIN" > wrote in message
...
> Chris,
> Go buy a "Thompson" relocation kit. Make the change once and you will
> "never" suffer again. :-)
> The Thompson kit puts the filter behind the RH headlight. It's so easy,
> it will make you smile. :-)
>
> Bruce Bing '03 LS
>

Chris D'Agnolo wrote:
> How much do they get for that kit?
>
> Chris
> 99BBB

What's up Chris, google not working for ya? ;-)

They want 190 miata spending units plus shipping for that kit.

http://www.thompson-automotive.com/c...63/2029486.htm

Pat

Hi Chris,
I don't remember just off-hand. I think it was about $150. Go to
miata.net and look up Thompson on the "Marketplace" , it will be in
there. It is the "best kit I have seen so far. I had a remote kit on my
'91 that I got from RacingBeat that was nice, but this one will top that
one. I love it!

Bruce

I guess if I want it cheaper I can watch for one to come along. Every now
and then someone buys one thinking it's a good idea and then decides it's
over their head to install it properly. I'll watch for this brand though.

Thanks guys,
Chris
99BBB


"BRUCE HASKIN" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Chris,
> I don't remember just off-hand. I think it was about $150. Go to
> miata.net and look up Thompson on the "Marketplace" , it will be in
> there. It is the "best kit I have seen so far. I had a remote kit on my
> '91 that I got from RacingBeat that was nice, but this one will top that
> one. I love it!
>
> Bruce
>