"New" Protege 2002 ES
 

Hello to all you out there in Mazda land.

Last December I bought a 2002 Protege ES from a local dealer. 42,000 miles, beautiful car. Currently own a 1990 Miata and it has been such a sweetheart, I had no reservations about buying the Protege. Don't understand a lot of the lingo on this forum. What is a P5? What is a BJ chasis. I have no idea what my car is. Fully equipped and meticuously maintained by previous owner.

How hard to change oil filter? One post indicated it is rather difficult, but done once it gets easier. Miata oil filter is no picnic, but I manage.

Not interested in hopping it up--old geezer like me happy enough to have standard transmission.

Any tips or warnings are appreciated.

Greg

"P5" = Protege 5, the hatchback/wagon-ette version. You have a BJ chassis (99-03), the BH was 2nd generation (95-98) etc. You can do your own oil changes. Oil filter is below the intake plenum. Get to it from under the car, and use a filter socket. It doesn't drip all over you either. :)

Thanks, RustyChops. I believe the oil filters are the same for the Protege and the Miata. I have an oil filter socket.

'Preciate the reply.

Greg

agree with rusty....it's not fun to do but it is MUCH easier than a miata filter....and yes it is the same filter.

Great news for me, this thing about the oil filter. I have a '99 Miata, and don't think changing it's oil is tough at all. On my '03 Protege5, I cannot even see the oil filter from above. I've only had one oil change so far, and it killed me to let the dealer do it. Can you tell me how to get to the filter without lifting the car? I cannot even see the thing.

I've never seen anyone able to get the filter from the top....I'm not even sure it can be done. Honestly...i'm a hands-on guy and I'd rather pay $20 to have the oil changed than fight that thing myself under a jack in the drive.

The only way to get to the filter from the top is to do something crazy like remove the intake manifold. I do my own changes, and it takes about 15 minutes in all to jack it, drain, and refill. It's hard the first time because the OEM filter is machine tight. ..but after you get it off once, you shouldn't need tools again.

Jack the front of the car up. Use jackstands of course. On your back, slide under the car from the front, with your legs dangling out in front of the car. The filter is up under the intake plenum. I reach up between the R/H axle shaft and the firewall. A filter socket helps. The good news is it won't drip all over you. Once you've done it, it's easy.

What are you talking about? A FILTER WRENCH!?!?! You WUSSES! Get that redneck blood flowing and use a few long phillips head screw drivers and punch a hole in that filter! Muahahaha! That's what I had to do when I changed my oil for the first time. Then again... I am too lazy to get the wrench. Use the Fram filter with the grippy dippy. Make it easy peasy japan-eazy.

Fram filters are made of cardboard...I'd never put one on a car I plan on keeping for very long.

I save my energy for the good stuff, not oil changes. Mazda does that on my car. An the those bitches can wash my car afterwards. :P

I had a 1994 Plymouth Sundance Duster 2.5 w/turbo, I used fram up untill I sold it a few months ago... never had a problem and it's still running as strong as the day I bought it. Never had any engine problems or anything to do with worn parts... I guess I dont liek buying 40 dollar filter from my friends farrari shop... even if he has one that fits.

The sure grip melted on my last fram. I had to employ the above mentioned screwdriver/john henry technique. bad times.

yikes!