 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / Mazda / Mazda Miata / August 2005MazdaSpeed
I'm new here and only recently purchased my Miata. Do most people change their own oil, take it to a corner shop or take it to a Mazda dealer? >I'm new here and only recently purchased my Miata. Do most people >change their own oil, take it to a corner shop or take it to a Mazda >dealer? A frequent subject of controversy. I take it to a corner shop and watch them closely. I give them a Mazda oil filter to use, which has a back flow valve. Instructions for doing it yourself are on miata.net. Reaching the oil filter is the biggest difficulty. Leon  SignatureLeon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) I'd suggest that you use full synthetic oil. This (in theory) helps keep the turbo bearings in good condition. > >I'm new here and only recently purchased my Miata. Do most people > >change their own oil, take it to a corner shop or take it to a Mazda [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Leon >I'd suggest that you use full synthetic oil. This (in theory) helps keep the >turbo bearings in good condition. How stupid of me. I overlooked it was a turbo. The synthetic is also recommended for my supercharger because of the higher engine temperatures (I use Mobil 1), but a turbo in addition is revving much higher than a belt SC and lubricated by engine oil. Leon SignatureLeon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) > A frequent subject of controversy. I take it to a corner shop > and watch them closely. I give them a Mazda oil filter to use, [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Leon I have never had any problem with the oil filter removal. The biggest effort involved for me is getting the car in the air, putting a jackstand underneath, removing the plug, removing the jackstand, dropping the car, and then repeating the process. I have thought about using the Rhino ramps, but it seems like the car should be drained while level. Even storing the used oil and taking it to the recycle place is harder than dealing with the filter. I just took 11 gallons of used oil in, now that was fun. ;-) Still, with all of that, I would rather do the change myself than watch a pseudo-mechanic with a wrench "service" my car. Like you said, this is a frequent subject of controversy, but after having a past $800.00 repair bill on a Thunderbird for a cracked oil pan caused by one of these quick-lube shops, my decision is an easy one. Finally, these shops advertise how quick they get you in and out. This does not allow for a very long drain time. I usually drop my oil at night and replace it the next morning. This is far longer than needed, but it can't hurt, and somehow 10 minutes or so doesn't seem like long enough. There is still a pretty steady drip of old oil coming out after only that long. Pat On the Mazdaspeed you can't access the oil filter from the top because the intercooler plumbing is in the way in front and the antilock module is in the back. You can't get at it from the bottom because the crush rail gets in the way and I can't seen to get my hand in between the A/C plumbing and the steel brake lines. The only reasonable way I've found is to remove the front right wheel and get at it through the wheel well. As far as third parties, every time I someone else does it, they either overtighthen the filter or overtighthen the drain plugs. >> A frequent subject of controversy. I take it to a corner shop >> and watch them closely. I give them a Mazda oil filter to use, [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > >Pat > On the Mazdaspeed you can't access the oil filter from the top because > the intercooler plumbing is in the way in front and the antilock [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > The only reasonable way I've found is to remove the front right wheel > and get at it through the wheel well. Didn't I read you need a special tool to re install the oil filter? I was going to attempt to set the code for the radio anti theft feature but hitting the two buttons didn't bring up anything. Do all the radios have the anti theft codes? Mine is the Bose of course. I just purchased this 2004 Mazdaspeed last week with 7,500 miles on it. Any words of wisdom for me from anyone? Was 2004 the first year for the Miata Mazdaspeed? Vern in Arizona I've changed my oil on all my vehicles since I was 16 (a long time ago). I have an '04 MSM and change the oil the same way I did for my '99. I put it up on ramps, and reach behind the right front wheel to remove the oil filter with one hand. I use Castrol Syntec 0-30W (German) and Mobil 1 filters. The oil drains fine in this position, and I re-check the level after running the engine and moving the car off the ramps. Easy-peasy, japaneesy (dumb quote from a good movie). >>On the Mazdaspeed you can't access the oil filter from the top because >>the intercooler plumbing is in the way in front and the antilock [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Didn't I read you need a special tool to re install the oil filter? Oil filters should only be screwed on by hand - generally the spec is 3/4 turn from when the gasket first contacts the engine, or similar, but fully hand-tight is a good approximation. O-rings don't require much force to form a good seal. Do remember to oil - not grease - the O-ring on the new filter to stop it sticking or snagging. They *should* also come off by hand, but IME most dealers seem to think the harder they're screwed on, the better. I can always get my own filters off by hand, but I have to use a 3-claw wrench on the dealer-fitted ones. If in doubt about the radio code, use a cigar lighter code saver when doing battery work, then the radio will never know. >If in doubt about the radio code, use a cigar lighter code saver when doing battery work, then the radio will never know. Could you explain what a cigar lighter code saver is? Never heard of this. I'm an old man and not familiar with new things. I owned two 1960 TR3s from 1973 until 1995. Sold one of them for 10 times what I paid and that car is in France today. A judge purchased it from the man I sold it to. Hey Vern, words of wisdom; good move picking up the MS turbo! wish I could join you. And, YES 04 was the first year. Chris 92BB&T >> On the Mazdaspeed you can't access the oil filter from the top because >> the intercooler plumbing is in the way in front and the antilock [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Vern in Arizona Thanks for the welcome Chris. I got a good deal on my car. If you look around you might be able to find one you just can't live without. <G> I had to fly from Phoenix to Las Vegas to get mine so expand your horizons. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.