oil change=PITA

[Young Roids]

The oil change gets pretty simple after you have done it a few times

 

[Rotus8]

Well I don't give a flip about the environment. Thats why I drive a catless 93 323 that spits a cloud of fuel when I shift. F the EPA

Your children with hate you for this, assuming you are allowed to have any. (evil)

 

[hilmar2k]

I changed the oil in my mother's scooby, and that is a real pain compared to the speed. At least the Mazda filter is right at the front of the engine. The Subaru flat four has the fliter up in a hole in the exhaust manifold. It is possible to unscrew it if you have the right wrench, but my wrench only unscrews, not tightens so you have to tighten by hand, but you can't get your hand in there, plus it's hot if you warmed it up a bit like you should before draining. And when removing, it is impossible to get the filter out without making a major mess because you can't reach the filter except directly below it.

What kind of crazy oil filter wrench do you have that only loosens?

 

[wheresthericego]

Your children with hate you for this, assuming you are allowed to have any. (evil)

People like me don't procreate. Thats possibly the best thing for the environment less human interaction, waste, consumption and whatever else mankind does to ruin the earth and its natural resources. But thats not my reason. Children suck and i'd rather not deal with them. So you're children will hate me

 

[Rotus8]

What kind of crazy oil filter wrench do you have that only loosens?

It automatically adjusts to the size of the filter when turned counter clockwise. Technically, you are not supposed to use a wrench to tighten them anyway - read the box, it says "hand tighten only". Anyway, I getting a new wrench before I tackle that car again.

 

[Jasnall]

A cartrige filter like the MS3 has is much more environmentally friendly than a metal spin-on cannister. You can drain it completely and there is less material that ends up in the land fill. Also, you can inspect the filter for metal bits without cutting the can open.

+1 Cartrige filter perform better then spin ons too.

 

[Nliiitend1]

My gripe has more to do with the condition of the screws/u nut clips that hold on the lower shroud after taking them off and putting them back on so many times. One of mine is stuck on there now because the nut has come loose and just spins now. Another one broke. I need to order a bunch of new ones so that I have them around in case they break each time I change the oil...

 

[Hank3]

I changed the oil in my mother's scooby, and that is a real pain compared to the speed. At least the Mazda filter is right at the front of the engine. The Subaru flat four has the fliter up in a hole in the exhaust manifold. It is possible to unscrew it if you have the right wrench, but my wrench only unscrews, not tightens so you have to tighten by hand, but you can't get your hand in there, plus it's hot if you warmed it up a bit like you should before draining. And when removing, it is impossible to get the filter out without making a major mess because you can't reach the filter except directly below it.

Which Subaru was this? I had an '02 WRX prior the Speed3 and the oil change was SUPER simple - especially with a Fumoto valve. As far as the Speed3 goes, I haven't attempted it yet, but there definitely seems to be more posts about it taking longer and it being inconvenient from what I've read. Not really looking forward to it.

 

[BlackCherry06]

The most inconvenient part of it is the shield..and it adds 2 minutes to the process. It's a much easier vehicle to change the oil in than my Nissan Frontier. I don't know where some carmakers dream up their oil filter placement, but with the MS3 / MS6, its all right there in front of your face.

 

[dan1101]

Best plan is to buy from a dealer that gives you 3 years of free oil changes.

 

[Hank3]

I had my dealer do the first oil change last week (had a free one for them breaking my imported air freshner from Japan when I brought it in for an alignment), but you can't trust them all the time as there always seems to be something missing or messed up when you check behind their work. At least that's my experience - my car's condition has never been returned to me the way I brought it in (no matter if it's been my two Nissans, Subaru, or my curren Speed3).

 

[DaleNixon]

The cover's not so bad to take off compared to the 8th generation Civic. Imagine all those bolts being flimsy plastic popper pieces that are damn near impossible to remove without breaking.

Also +1 on the dealer doing wtf things during oil changes. I got my Protege5 back with the bass turned all the way up, an oily handprint on the white door, and a nice huge ding in the door. These were 3 separate occasions... I don't know why I went back. The last straw was when they dented the hell out of one of my wheels. I made them get it repainted it was so bad.

I'm doing all my MS3 maintenance myself. I know those guys are pressed for time and don't always take the best care of your car.

 

[F430TECH]

Cut a half moon notch with a dremel...problem solved...

 

[Sport6]

I had my dealer do the first oil change last week (fhad a free one for them breaking my imported air freshner from Japan when I brought it in for an alignment)

Not to knock it but why'd you import an air freshener? Did it smell like hello kitty or something?

 

[Hank3]

It's a Giga one that's imported from Japan. You can't get them locally here so the dealer had to pay it back somehow. The dealer didn't want to go through the trouble of buying one off eBay or on the net so they gave me an oil change.

 

[Kain]

Not to knock it but why'd you import an air freshener? Did it smell like hello kitty or something?

I lawl'd. I think he got the special "used panties" scent instead.

 

[ChrisK]

Well I don't give a flip about the environment. Thats why I drive a catless 93 323 that spits a cloud of fuel when I shift. F the EPA

I agree F the EPA. I have 4 vehicles and none of them have cats!

 

[rmgedon69]

Best plan is to buy from a dealer that gives you 3 years of free oil changes.

not exactly the best dan. i do have 3 years of free oil change from the dealer and i only used it 3 times. Y ? because everytime i went for an oil change my cel comes on. and this happened after driving maybe 10 miles or so (the same day the dealer changed the oil). the last time i told them about the cel, i had to leave the car in the shop and ended up with nothing. cel was off but no explanation as to what is wrong and why the **** it went on. my guess is they just clear the codes. after that, i just buy my oil and filter and do it myself. never once the cel came on. true story.

 

[dan1101]

Luckily my dealer seems to have it together, so far. If there were ******* anything up I'd stop with the free oil changes.

The dealer I go to (Whitten Brothers Mazda, south of Richmond, VA) has a sort of valet service to take your car when you pull into the service area, and they bring it back afterwards. I don't think these guys are the mechanics, so no oily fingerprints.

 

[Kain]

I like the trap door idea for the filter. That and a Fumoto valve would mean never having to take off the splash guard again.