Has anyone tried changing the oil filter themselves? The manual indicates that the filter should only be changed by the dealer because it requires a special tool.

I'll use the dealer for the normal scheduled service but I would like to change the oil on a very regular basis, (probably every 3 months) and would like to avoid the £80 dealer charge.

Thanks
Graham

Originally posted by epgs1
Has anyone tried changing the oil filter themselves? The manual indicates that the filter should only be changed by the dealer because it requires a special tool.

I'll use the dealer for the normal scheduled service but I would like to change the oil on a very regular basis, (probably every 3 months) and would like to avoid the £80 dealer charge.

Thanks
Graham

I just did my 4th oil change on my 8 yesterday (5000 miles). I have done them all myself, and there has been NO issue except for the first one. I could not get the OEM oil filter off!!! I don't know what they have the air gun set to, but it was ON there. I had the dealer remove it, and I have done all the rest.

I do use the mazda oil filter wrench to remove the filter, then tighten the new one by hand, but the tool was $5 at the dealer.

If you are used to changing your own oil, this has been one of the easiest cars to change I have ever owned (25 years).

No worries.

If you are used to changing your own oil, this has been one of the easiest cars to change I have ever owned (25 years).

Agreed.

I did not even have to jack the RX-8 up to drain the oil pan. Was able to reach the drain plug from the passenger side. Picked up my filter wrench at Wal-Mart.

Don't forget to get some drain plug washers. They are the compression type and should be changed each time.

Thanks for the advice folks - that is really helpful. I have always done inter-service oil changes myself. It all sounds straight forwards and a great deal easier than on the two cars I run at this moment!

Thanks again
Graham

Anyone know the deal on the filter wrench size? I called the dealer and verified that the replacement filter PN matches my stock of Miata filters -- fine, great! But the OEM Miata wrench is too big for the original filter on the 8, and that li'l bugger just ain't coming off by hand.

{{{{

my dealer charges me approx $10 for a oil filter...

Here is a little tip for getting the filter off the first time. Try sticking a little sandpaper around the inside of the filter wrench. It will give you a little better grip that is much needed with the factory installed filter.

Originally posted by rxeightr
Picked up my filter wrench at Wal-Mart.

What type of filter wrench did you (or anyone else) get?

I've read my manual and I was surprised to read "requires special tool."

I used the "standard" wrench from my Miata to remove the factory fitted filter. Of course the wrench is too big, so I drilled a hole in the side of the wrench and threaded a screw into it. I then put the wrench on the filter, screwed the screw good and tight onto the filter and with a long extension and a torque wrench for leverage removed the filter. Leverage is your friend. The good news is that once you've got the factory filter off you can then use the standard wrench to install and remove the filter in the future.

Another tip: I put an absorbent shop towel around the base of the filter so that any remaining oil in the filter wouldn't leak all over the place.

Boy sometimes I hate to post but effini 8 said that the dealer in Irvine is charging 10.00 for a oil filter. I'm here in the northern most city in the united states and I only pay 6.75 for a filter at the dealer and 25cents for the oil plug crush washer. And that includes all the "expensive freight" to this north country. I'd say the dealer in Irvine is making a pretty profit. Found an oil filter wrench at a Pacific northwest chain parts store here for 3.99. Shucks auto parts just like Pep Boys.

where did u buy the oil? is 5w20 easily found?

I am not even going to get into my first experience changing the filter. FYI for those who haven't seen it yet, it is under the hood and behind the engine. kind of an awkward place. Has anyone read the factory installed filter? It is great...it says "Hand Tighten." As for the tool...go to Walmart or a Pep boys...or whatever. Find the filter specified for your car (they should have a catalog or it will be in a computer somewhere) take the filter and find what tool fits it.

Trussville is selling filters for $5, $6 with a washer (a dollar for a crush washer??? Ouch.)

Hey guys,

Trussville shows that there are new different oil filters and a VIN is required to determine which oil filter you need.. hmmm

Was there some big change on the cars to have different filters?

Another thing.. my local dealer says I need to buy the o-ring/gasket for the oil filter separate.. is this right?!

Is there anything wrong with taking my car to a Jiffy Lube type place for oil change? Going to the dealer is a super pain, and there's a Mobil quick change place on my corner.

You can find the 5W- 20W Castrol at Walmart. I have been using Castrol for 30 years and never had a engine oil problem. All cars and trucks driven well over 150,000 miles.

How about the gasket thingy.... Dealer says I need to buy this in order to change my filter.. what is that?

Originally posted by noahprtlnd
Is there anything wrong with taking my car to a Jiffy Lube type place for oil change? Going to the dealer is a super pain, and there's a Mobil quick change place on my corner.

Don't do it!!! Those quicky places are filled with brainless drones that could care less if a job was done correctly. I stopped doing that years ago after cross-threaded filters, wrong filters, missing oil filler cap (I shit you not), etc... and this was my POS car. That marked the beginning of me becoming handy with a wrench, and I haven't looked back yet. If you can't do it yourself, for whatever reason, find a reputable mechanic instead of a high-volume monkeys-with-wrenches joint.

All you need is a Type/Size "F" oil filter wrench. Paid about $6 at Pep boys.


And No there is no seperate gasket for the filter. It is assembled with one at the factory. He may have been refering to the crush washer for the drain plug which, yes it needs to be replaced everytime the plug is reinstalled.

Hmm.. they said something about a gasket that goes under the filter.. strange. I know one is already on the filter.. what a scam..

Originally posted by JaxFL_RX8
(a dollar for a crush washer??? Ouch.)

We spend $30,000+ for a car, I don't think 1 dollar is going to hurt, but yes, it's pretty ridiculous since it probably costs less than a penny to manufacture.

Originally posted by Squidward
We spend $30,000+ for a car, I don't think 1 dollar is going to hurt, but yes, it's pretty ridiculous since it probably costs less than a penny to manufacture.

A common practice in the Miata community is to flip the crush washer over and use it twice. I changed my Miata's oil nearly 20 times with this method and never had a leak or a prematurely loosened drain plug (always torque the plug to the right specs).

Originally posted by G8rboy
drain plug (always torque the plug to the right specs).

Any idea what the torque spec is?
I couldn't find it in the owners manual since it just say's to take it in to the dealer. Did the first oil/filter replacement recently and just got it fairly tight. (not going to fall off, but I didn't have it screamin').

Originally posted by adrian-1
Any idea what the torque spec is?
I couldn't find it in the owners manual since it just say's to take it in to the dealer. Did the first oil/filter replacement recently and just got it fairly tight. (not going to fall off, but I didn't have it screamin').

Good question... I'll probably use the Miata torque specs for now (25-30 ft/lbs), since it's the same drain plug size. That reminds me to start looking for a shop manual... those things are priceless.