Oil Filter - impossible to get at to replace

CobbnWebbs · Postby **CobbnWebbs** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 10:36 am

Ok, can anyone tell me the secret to replacing the almost impossible to get at Oil Filter on my 2003 NB MX-5..?
Some idiot with impossibly small arms decided it would be a good trick to put it immediately below the Exhaust Manifold and then crowded a whole heap of tubes, cables and sh*t in its way so it cannot be reached without tearing skin from arms, and then only just touching it with my fingertips.
I have tried to use 3 different types of filter removers and mostly cannot even get them near the damned filter.
Is there an Oil Filter Relocation Kit available for this engine..?

Postby **NitroDann** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 10:44 am

Filter relocation kits are available, the Works Engineering one is popular, I have installed a few, they are great quality.

There has been a few threads on this, basically the answer is don't do up oil filters tight, they don't need to be tight. Just on with your finger tips and an eighth of a turn after its 'on'.

This will turn into a 50 page long thread of people who do them up too tight whining, so don't tighten it so much.

Dann

chrisearl88 · Postby **chrisearl88** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 11:17 am

Steering full lock the the right, take off front right wheel and attack it from there. Dont be afraid to lie on the ground, oh and wear long sleeves.
Just think, if Nigella Lawson asked you to open her jar of mustard, you man up and you get that jar open!

MrRevhead · Postby **MrRevhead** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 12:47 pm

Some more ideas & discussion here: http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=57798

hejira · Postby **hejira** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 12:50 pm

If your hand/arm is too big then how do manage to fit in an mx5 to drive it? or are you not the owner?

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 1:23 pm

My father bought one of these cloth strap wrenches about 40 years ago. It's still going. I have used it once on every car we've owned. After that first time it's fingertips only - never had a leaking filter.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 4:06 pm

Oil filter relocation kits can be a bitch to fit but once fitted, you'll love (or at least appreciate) them every time you have to do a filter change.

I'd recommend that you fit it yourself too so that you can locate it where it's most convenient for you to change the filter rather than some turn-key garage who only cares about fitting the kit in the fastest time possible. The other option is to look at what others have done and tell the garage that's how you want it installed.