Under engine cowling/oil change/rant comment

[Rhon]

Now I'm convinced Mazda has been with Ford too long. I've got the car on the lift and I'm looking at the cowling and what's this, a nice little hole in the cowling to get to the filter. But no no no...it's off about 4 inches to one side so all you can do is look at the filter and not remove it.

Only Ford could have thought that up, one of their better ideas...

So I guess my question is, is this a universal cover Mazda is using and does it at least work for one of the other models? or did one of the designers have a liquid lunch one day...Time to get the hole saw out and make a new hole.

 

[tsunami]

yeah its an inspection window iirc. at least thats the way i remember it being explained to me... i removed that thing 2 years ago and haven't looked back since... i live in maine and even driving it through 2 winters there isn't an increased sign of wear/rust under there...

 

[Rhon]

Inspection window, interesting. I was thinking of leaving it off the next oil change also. Just wondering what would happen without it...

 

[MZRt3]

Inspection window, interesting. I was thinking of leaving it off the next oil change also. Just wondering what would happen without it...

You'd have potential cooling issues.(the air underneath can go up and push hot air backwards through rad. or air in the front can go down around rad.). road muck, excessive water on electrical component i.e.alt. what about wheel well plastic? any mounting issues?

 

[techspeak]

that hole is lined up for the spin-on type filter...

 

[smelly3]

all i did was cut a small section out to access it with out taking the whole compartment off. it does help with cooling and keeping the underside of the motr and bay clean. one suggestion is to make sure you give you self enough room to work because i had to actualy cut it twice (measured once cut twice(hand)) there has been nothing wrong with mine. it kept what little strength it has so it doesn't rattle. and yes it was put in for an inspection hole and for a twist on oil filter.

 

[Rhon]

I'm just about due for another oil change so I'm going to "fix" it at that time (hole saw adjustment...). I thought about going to the spin on filter but my mechanic is happy with the cartridge and if he's happy...

 

[L3vzoomzooom]

I converted my 3 to a spin-on makes oil changes a breeze