Miata Mailing List: November 1999, Message #711

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FWIW, here is how I reach the filter on my '96:  I turn the wheels
slightly to the left.  With the car jacked up a little (so I can reach
the drain plug also) I lay on my back and scoot up to car reaching
behind the front wheel (with my head against the car).  I can just
barely reach the filter with a cup filter wrench and a small ratchet.
I always stuff a few rags below the filter before I remove it.  After
it is loose, I can remove it with my fingers.  It wouldn't take any
longer than a regular car but I always let the car down after I remove
the drain plug and jack it up on the driver's side of the car
(left-side drive) so the oil will drain more completely.  I'll have to
admit though, if my arms were any shorter I couldn't do it!

On a related subject, I was reading on the list recently about the
rubber center drain plug gaskets that some are using.  Someone posted
on their web site (sorry, I don't remember who) that they got them
from a Mazda dealer but the gaskets were actually designed for a Ford
truck.  Since we don't have a Mazda dealer in my town, I went to the
Ford dealer and they had them.  I can't wait to try it next time I
change my oil.  It looks like a lot better gasket that won't require a
lot of torque to seal.  If you are interested, the Ford Part number
is:  F3DZ6734A.
Happy Miataing,
Jay and Bullet


<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>