Tools and tips for 30K maintenance?

[clicknext]

Well, today marks the day all the maintenance is done. Total cost was around $235 CAD, keeping in mind that I had to buy absolutely all the tools for everything because I had nothing. And side costs include a plastic cap now floating around in the transmission, some scrapes on hands, and quite a few hours. So I didn't exactly save a lot of money, but I think the experience is of huge value. I just really hope that the transmission doesn't end up giving me a major costly problem.

Thanks, everyone, for giving a newb his first experience touching anything inside a car.

 

[aMaff]

hehehehehe. U've now officially been deflowered .

Um...where can u take tranny fluid to be "deposited"?

 

[RaiderMS3]

hehehehehe. U've now officially been deflowered .

Um...where can u take tranny fluid to be "deposited"?

same place as engie oil. any car parts store, even mechanics will accept it.

 

[aMaff]

ok. I'm guessing u can't mix the 2?

 

[RaiderMS3]

ok. I'm guessing u can't mix the 2?

I got both in my oil drain pan right now, actually. too lazy to go dump it.

 

[aMaff]

nice

 

[RaiderMS3]

yup. Gonna use Seafoam this weekend, then change the oil, so I am prolly gonna have to dump it, thing is pretty full after my car 2x and my wifes truck 1x.

 

[RandomNY]

Anyone got any suggestions(besides buying my own lift) on how to remove the oil FILTER easier? That reaching over the pan is a pain in the ass. I do my own oil changes in my driveway, and always get old oil on my arm.

Congrats Click.. .I didn't do my own plugs because I thought the same as you, I thought it I pulled too hard I would have broken something... so I had a shop do it.

A good reference tool, if you can still find it on ebay, is the manual that explains all the steps and shows where everything goes. I bought the CD off ebay for $12 bucks.

It's the official shop manual in pdf form.

 

[clicknext]

Anyone got any suggestions(besides buying my own lift) on how to remove the oil FILTER easier? That reaching over the pan is a pain in the ass. I do my own oil changes in my driveway, and always get old oil on my arm.

Congrats Click.. .I didn't do my own plugs because I thought the same as you, I thought it I pulled too hard I would have broken something... so I had a shop do it.

A good reference tool, if you can still find it on ebay, is the manual that explains all the steps and shows where everything goes. I bought the CD off ebay for $12 bucks.

It's the official shop manual in pdf form.

Oil filter was relatively easy to remove using an oil filter wrench, looks like a flexible metal strap stuck onto a handle. There's also an oil filter attachment that you can put on a ratchet, and it goes on the end of the oil filter. I got oil on my arm too.

I got a download of the shop manual, but it doesn't seem all that useful. Only lists the very basic steps to doing everything. Mazda documentation doesn't seem to be very good, because the owners manual for my Honda CRV is far more detailed and clear than both the Mazda ones.

 

[RandomNY]

I usually use the FRAM OIL filter with the rubber top. I can usually get it to come off with the 3 fingers I can reach the filter with.

 

[clicknext]

Sorry for revival of an old thread, but I didn't want to start a new one just for this question. Does anyone know the size of the drain plug gasket, and what material I'm supposed to use?

Time to change the oil again, going synthetic this time (geez, the stuff is expensive, and sold out all around me!)