First oil change on my Miata!

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
02/21/2015 at 14:53 • Filed to: None

Today I changed the oil on my Miata for the first time. I have changed the oil on my old car (a Honda civic) many times so I am pretty used to the concept. It was definitely a ton easier on this car though! Getting to the drain plug is the same difficulty in either car just due to ground clearance. I just used a floor jack and of course a jack stand to hold it up, climb under, and let it drain into a collector. The filter was super easy in the Miata though. At first I thought it would be incredibly difficult since I could not see any way of getting to it from the bottom. However, I could clearly see the filter from the top and was able to get my filter wrench in therewithout too much trouble. It was a little tight in there and I had to do it totally blind, but it was still way easier than the tight space it is located on a 1999 honda civic. In all, it took me about a half hour and then I was on my way! Also, I started a log notebook to keep track of all maintenance. Below is a picture of what I plan to do for every maintenance item I come across.

Anyone else do something similar?

DISCUSSION (26)

Clown Shoe Pilot > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/21/2015 at 15:01

When you get to the next oil change, do an oil analysis. It's a quick and easy way to spot problems before they become major.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com

XJDano > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/21/2015 at 15:05

Yeah kind of, but I stored it in an android app called aCar. Great for mpg calculations & maintenance schedules

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Clown Shoe Pilot
02/21/2015 at 15:06

What exactly does an analysis do? How much of the old oil is needed for that?

Arben72 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/21/2015 at 15:10

Get their kit, it's free. It's a very small amount of oil though.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > XJDano
02/21/2015 at 15:12

ill definitely grab that app too, i do better with electronic schedules anyways.

Tohru > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/21/2015 at 15:13

You monster. How can you use a FRAM filter and look at yourself in the mirror?

XJDano > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/21/2015 at 15:15

Pretty sure the free version would work for you, and if you enter the fill ups it will remind you when oil changes are getting close or due

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/21/2015 at 15:18

What Miata do you have? The NB's are a pain so i just bought a remote mount kit

Clown Shoe Pilot > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/21/2015 at 15:21

I think the sample size is about 100cc. If you contact Blackstone Labs they'll send you a free collection kit/mailer. Then, just snag a sample when you drain your oil next change.

The analysis results will have all the metal contents of your oil, plus unburned fuel, antifreeze, etc. Regular oil analysis can let you see problems coming before you have any other symptoms. For instance, if you see a lot of copper, maybe you've got a bearing that's wearing a little more than it should be. Of, if you've got a lot of silicon maybe your air filter isn't doing its job. They can also tell you the level of additives in the oil and offer an opinion on whether the oil is "used up" or not. There's a lot you can learn from an oil analysis, including "your engine is in fantastic condition and you could stretch your change interval out if you wanted to"

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
02/21/2015 at 15:21

Its a 2001, I had read that it is somewhat of a pain but I did not have much trouble at all. It took a few minutes to figure out exactly how to cram my arms through there, but it was much easier than laying on the ground and reaching up in other cars. I can definitely see how that could be difficult for some people though.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/21/2015 at 15:24

Yea for me its a pain and im relatively skinny wit small arms.Now its mounted right above the windshield washer fluid.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Clown Shoe Pilot
02/21/2015 at 15:24

I ordered one to be shipped! I will definitely give it a try next time I change my oil. $25 is not too bad either for what that would offer. Do they pay for return shipping and how long does the analysis take?

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > XJDano
02/21/2015 at 15:25

Yeah I should probably install it on my phone. I just put it on my tablet but the gas fillups and odometer readings would be more useful on my phone. Thanks for the suggestion!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Tohru
02/21/2015 at 15:27

What is so bad about them? I have found that all filters do pretty much the same thing. And research online has pointed me further to that since everyone has a different favorite brand.

Xyl0c41n3 > Clown Shoe Pilot
02/21/2015 at 15:29

I just read the guy's FAQ and it's hilarious. Think I might order one of those kits. I'm due to change my oil in about 2K more miles, so... At about the end of this month. ^_^ Thank you for sharing!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
02/21/2015 at 15:30

That certainly sounds like a more ideal place for it. You have a link to the kit you used? If it is not too expensive, I surely wouldnt mind that task being easier next time.

Tohru > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/21/2015 at 15:52

I looked up the filter that you put on, and I think that is one of the few Fram filters that isn't complete dogshit.

Most oil filters use metal endcaps on the filter media. Most Frams use glued cardboard. Frams generally have less filter media overall than other filters. When I had my Ninja 250, many members of the Ninja 250 forums reported that the endcap on the Fram filter media would "blow off" the end of the media due to the high RPMs the bike was capable of (redlined at 13,500RPM). With the endcap blown off, this allowed the oil to re-enter the engine unfiltered.

This is a conventional Fram filter construction:

Kinja'd!!!

Standard WIX and Bosch filter construction:

Kinja'd!!!

I am not brand-loyal on oil filters. I just buy what's on sale that isn't a Fram.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/21/2015 at 16:21

http://www.mossmiata.com/Shop/ViewProdu…

They have a free shipping thing going on right now. Also they sell this kit with an oil cooler as well but i dont track my Miata so i just got the one that i linked

Clown Shoe Pilot > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/21/2015 at 16:29

Postage to send the kit back to them w/ oil in it is about $3. It just ships regular ol' US Mail. Once they receive your sample, it's a few days and they'll email you your report.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Tohru
02/21/2015 at 16:40

Very thorough analysis there! I understand what you are talking about, and gladly I picked a less terrible one haha. I figured since its rated for 15k miles, if I plan on doing 10k intervals it will be fine. I will definitely consider other brands though next time. Probably will have to go somewhere other than walmart for a better filter, but the oil is definitely cheapest there!

Frank Grimes > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/21/2015 at 23:05

for my miata NA8 K&N filters are like $5 on amazon. or at least they used to be now more like $7.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
02/21/2015 at 23:42

ouch, $150. I guess I should have expected that, but yeah I will definitely keep doing it the normal way since it was still easier than my Honda.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/21/2015 at 23:42

Yea it was worth it to me just in the time that i saved.

Tohru > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/22/2015 at 00:49

Actually, you're wrong. For oil changes, I usually go to O'Reilly Auto.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/Synthet…

You could have gotten Castrol Edge full synthetic and a Wix filter for $34.99 plus tax. If you want to get crazy, you could get Royal Purple and a K&N filter for $44.99 plus tax.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Tohru
02/22/2015 at 09:51

I don't think I've ever been to an O'Reilly auto before. Actually I can't find any within NJ by looking at Google maps. I'll probably just order from Amazon or rock auto

Tohru > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/22/2015 at 19:27

If you're ordering online, you can get a case of filters usually at a discount and then just get the oil when there's a sale.