Oil Change

[xtoofast4youx]

does anyone do there own oil changes? i never have but i was reading up on it and it says u can change the oil but not the filter. Dont you have to change the filter? please tell me if you know how to cahnge the filter without going to the dealership.

 

[zmepro]

yes you have to change the filter, but don't take it to the dealership

to locate the filter you have to be under the car, its located on the back side of your engine block and right over your axle i believe, you won't be able to see it from the ground so you have to feel around for it (its more towards the passager side of the car) and i will be a pain in the ass to get off (after you find it) but have faith, some time and some oil filter removal tools if you can (makes it much easyer)

 

[girth]

Yes you can change your own filter - it is rediculous that Mazda says you should take it to the dealer in the manual. Just get your body in line with the passenger seat and scoot under the car. It's on the backside of the engine like the guy above said, about 1/2 way up. You can easily reach it with your hand and you'll see it right there above the axel - the OEM one is either gray or black (can't remember). It's super easy to remove with your hand if you have a leather glove available, but the filter that was installed at the factory is usually super-ultra-tight and hard to get off - you MIGHT need a tool for that one (but I didn't, so who knows).

 

[jred321]

oem is black, and changing your oil is very easy. the filter isn't that hard to get to. my original filter wasn't on super tight like everyone says, i just used a rubber glove (like a kitchen glove, for example) and it came off no problem. everyone should change their own oil if they have the time and space to do it in, 1 plug, 1 unscrewing and rescrewing of a filter, and adding oil to the engine. that's it. real simple.

 

[DeputySherif]

why change you own oil if your local, truthsworthy mechanic does it basically for free. Around here, all oil changes costs consist of the oil and air filter. Hell, why worry about how to get rid of oil, when changes are basically free???

 

[jred321]

if they're free then go for it, but around here they cost ~$30. our recycling program takes our oil away for us, so that's how we dispose of it, but i know in other areas it's different. but it only takes like 15 mins, so it's not a big deal to do it and it's not worth paying $30 for it.

 

[BrianV]

9.99 for oil/filter change at FireStone if you have their autopass credit card (which is free).

I used to do it, but $9.99 is just too hard to turn down. I bring my own oil though, and they charge me even less.

When I spoke with the manager where I bought my car, they said you'll need proof of oil installations, and without getting real crazy with newspapers and pictures it's hard to prove you changed your oil, where as an invoice from a reputable shop carries more weight.

 

[ONRAILS]

What type of oil do you guys use? I am going to be taking the car in for the first time once I hit 1000k miles. Should I buy synthetic and bring it with me? Dealership is going to be doing all of my service, since I don't live far. Rather have them do it so it's all in their system and I later don't have any issues regarding warranties.

Do they give you a hard time if you bring your own oil?