Miata Mailing List: November 1999, Message #706

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At 07:07 PM 11/05/1999 -0500, Jeff wrote:
>Did my first oil change on my 91. All I can say is, damn that was hard. I
>took about 30 minutes just trying to figure out my attack on the filter. The
>way I found easiest for me, was to remove the splash pan and the brace(?)
>going from the intake to the bottom of the block, and then was able to get
>to it from the bottom. This has to be the hardest car I've ever had to do an
>oil change on. I was originally going to go for Castrol and a Bosch filter,
>but from what I saw on the list, I just ended up getting a Mazda filter and
>some Mobil 1 10w30.
>
>Jeff
>91 A
>Team I Did It! :P
>

It's not easy to do.  I changed Dino's oil/filter last weekend.  I can get
the filter from the top and usually only bleed a small amount from the cuts
on my forearm that something always manages to slice.  Another way is to
turn the wheels to the left and go up through the right wheelwell.  I've
done that a few times, but since it's up on ramps, that doesn't always work
too well.  Do you have an end-cap filter wrench?  If not, you should get
one.  On my Honda, there is no way to get the filter off and not have oil
dripping off your elbow before you're done.
Bill Kellenberger & Dino
'90  Red  R-4RE
Team Escargot
Gateway Miata Club
http://www.geocities.com/gatewaymiata (club)
http://members.xoom.com/kberger (personal)