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Hey, How the hell do you remove the oil filter from an NA8 without having 6 elbows, is there a trick im missing here?

Gotta change the oil again, it had about a 60km oil change when i pulled the motor a second time, but after about 300km I think its time to change it again and make sure its not full of metal shavings!

Get an oil filter wrench (those circular ones with a handle) from Supercheap from $10-$20
it's still tricky, but persist with it and put in a few swears and it'll come loose

1red5 wrote:Get an oil filter wrench (those circular ones with a handle) from Supercheap from $10-$20
it's still tricky, but persist with it and put in a few swears and it'll come loose

Yeah, I tried that, could only just get it on, and with not enough space to turn it, Might have to try the ol' stab it with a screwdriver and turn trick!

Mania has the oil filter fitting you can buy. Was only $10 from memory and it just sits over the filter and you use a standard 1/4" drive to turn it. I find it easier to actaully remove the drivers front wheel and attack from under. I usually crack it with the tool until I can move it with my fingers. Then maneuvre a plastic bag over the whole lot and undo it into the bag. I've managed to do about 2/6 oil changes so far on the car without spilling any oil at all

Tighten and loosen it from the top with the left hand. The trick is not to overtighten it in the first place. If you can't get a good grip then it sometimes helps to wrap a dry rag or even a strip of wet&dry paper around it.

sh*t all that is funny. laughed out loud.

seriously though the trick is this. bend the handle of the wrench so it is perpendicular to the grip surface. now with the wrench in your right hand get in under the car and place it over the oil filter. Now get back up and carefully grab the handle from over the top of the engine bay. Pull it up from downwards and turn it towards the firewall so you are pulling it up while pushing the handle away from the filter so it will grip. Hopefully it should grip before the handle is parallel to the ground and pointing directly at the fire wall. Pull up with all your might many times and you will eventually get it. I could try epoxy gluing some 360grip sand paper to the inside of it but I only just through of that then.

actually that may not be the 'trick' but its how i did it. bloody knuckles, swearing and lots of sweat later.

Taking off the driver's side wheel and the mazda filter wrench work well for me

Andrew - since you've gotten so good at pulling the engine out, u could always remove it every 5000kms to change the oil

Fuzzlet wrote:Taking off the driver's side wheel and the mazda filter wrench work well for me

Andrew - since you've gotten so good at pulling the engine out, u could always remove it every 5000kms to change the oil

+1

lol

i had this drama last time i decided to do my own oil change..!!

as magna blue said, dont over tighten it...which I think I did last time LOL

I punctured it with a screw driver and had to try and make it budge with that first, finally did!
i had a generic oil filter adaptor to remove it, but this one I had didnt actually do anything at all

whats one of these mazda ones look like? and mania and or mazda sell them?

does it have a proper name so I can order/buy one?
cheers!!

Is the na8 more difficult to access than the na6? I just reach in from the top of the engine, loosen and take it off by hand. Too easy. Of course as Manga Blue said it can't be too tight or then in becomes a little more difficult.

Get yourself one of these --> http://www.mx5mania.com.au/product1154.htm

Mazda also sell them. It simply slides over the end of your Mazda oil filter, you then either put a 3/8 ratchet extension into the end of it, or use a socket or spanner on the end of it. It's all too easy really

Both the GM and the racecar use a remote filter. Problem solved.

If you change the oil regularly, it makes a HELLUVA difference....

I use the Mazda filter cup thingo and a 3/8" ratchet with lots of extensions. I have to go in from the wheel well on the SP because there's an A/C pipe in the way to go in from the top. There's a bit more room in the NA engine bay.

bensale wrote:Is the na8 more difficult to access than the na6? I just reach in from the top of the engine, loosen and take it off by hand. Too easy. Of course as Manga Blue said it can't be too tight or then in becomes a little more difficult.

+1 here. Don't worry about spilt oil - hit it with degreaser when your done and hose it off. 5 min job for me with big hands and arms, really easy with smaller appendages