You thought the P5 oil filter was a pain!
 

Boys...

My wife's Miata hit the big 1500 mile mark today (finally, she's had the car 4 months)! So it was necessary to dump the stuff that the factory put in and fill it with Mobil 1.

Too make a long story short... I'm very embarrased to say that it took me 2.5 hours to get this done. Forget that the thing is placed in such a way that plasticman would have a hard time getting at it... That fricken' factory filter might as well have been welded on.

I tried everything, and could not get the thing to budge. Finally, I poked a whole in the thing, and stuck a screwdriver in it to get some leverage. I bent my screwdriver! I'm getting desperate at this point, as daylight has faded and I'm resorting to lantern... the shadows aren't helping. And the one thought recuring through my head is "I'd better get this done or she's going to kill me in the morning."

So I finally get a bigger srewdriver in the hole... and after about 10 minutes of leaning on it, it starts to move. I get the thing to turn almost a third of the way around. OK, so it's broken loose at least... I should be able to get it off now, right? Wrong. I still couldn't move the damn filter with both hands on it... Now I'm really in a bind because the hole that I made has turned to point where the screwdriver is banging on metal and can't move around any farther.

So I resorted to pure muscle and after about 15 minutes of huffin' and puffin', I finally got the thing to turn off. But boy, what a mess!

But regardless of the strain, cuts, and banged knuckles, I must say... still completely worth it!!! The car runs so much smoother than it did before. It's got a whole lot more pep now. I'm actually starting to like the car, even though it's an automatic! Even though it's technically my wife's car... I've gotten my hands dirty, and it MINE!!!

You remember the cap-style filter wrench that usually comes up each time we discuss oil changes?

This tool is suggested for changing oil on a Pro, but on a Miata, it is MANDATORY. I have owned 2 Miatas, and you should not even THINK about changing a Miata filter without one. Consider yourselves warned :D

More info on oil filter tools...
 

Oil filters seem to be a popular topic - see my previous comments on another filter thread: http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/pos...p&postid=61952

If you change brand/model of filter, the cap type tool might not work - also a problem if you service more than one car.

Not Me!
 

As you can see by my sig I have a miata also and Have never had to use any sorta of tool to get off the filter. I just reach in there right under the intake manifold. I don't think that he will have to use anything next time being as it wasn't the position it was the in but the amount of torque they put on the damn thing from the factory. Anyway on all new cars I have owned I have always wound up sticking a screw driver through the filter to get it off.

Thanks Tony... I was thinking that carguycw is either a complete wuss or a complete moron.

I did get a wrench, but I got the wrench that fits every single replacement filter that's made (including the mobil 1 filter that I put on). I probably won't have an occasion to use it though.

I'm not going to buy the bit about the Mazda filter being completely unique and special. Everything I've read suggests that if you change your oil with synthetic at a regular interval, there special flow-back valve or what-ever the hell it is won't make a damn bit of difference.

As far as getting at the thing... In trying to get the original off I tried just about every possible method... I think I found one not mentioned that works well, though it's a left-handed grab.

Put your arm straight down in front of the firewall between the engine and the wiper fluid reservoir. Then bend your elbow forward, and you hand'll wrap nicely around the filter. No bruises or scratches that way.

I had an old M1 & usually just twist it on & off by hand. Never had any problems. The factory probably puts it on too tight as it's better too tight than too loose in their minds.

OEM Filter
 

I always use oem filters on the miata and plan to do the same on the p5, I am actually doing my first change on it today when I get home. Hopefully everything will go well I got my big ole flathead screwdriver ready if it gives me any lip. :D As fas as the oil filter, just like has been said before, get a good quality brand and you should be fine. Most of the die hard following for the oem filter on the miata is because of the HLA noise at startup. For me it is just what I have always used.

Just don't put the filter on too tight.

Tony

No, I just like doing things the easy way, and I like filters to be screwed on nice and tight so they don't work loose and leak. It may be *possible* to do a filter on a P5 or a Miata by hand, but if it's a lot easier with a $2.50 tool, I'm going to do it :D

No... I'm sorry about the wuss thing... that was uncalled for. I just don't like people saying that something is MANDATORY after I've just completed the job without it.

I am actually considering the OEM filter in the future. The places around here aren't stocking the smaller Mobil 1's, so I'm thinking of just buying a box of the Mazda filters... their a little cheaper anyway.