Changing your own oil

[maurice]

I have always changed my own oil in all my vehicles. But this Mazda3 which we got this summer looks like a pain to change. I looked underneath and tried taking off some bolts for the cover, some were striped. so no go. Also my ramps are too big for the m3 low clearance. Which ramps are recommended and how to take off the stripped bolts. Any suggestions. Thanks

[sas]

To remove cover not necessary. There is hole for it.
Or You could do it from gap between cover and engine.
My frend lifted his Scorpio on 1.5m altitude by ordinary jak.

[Mazda3X2]

My ramps were too tall as well. I used a couple pieces of 2X4's laid in front to ease the car up to a better hieght.

For the cover. I'm not sure about everyone else's experience but the hole under mine doesn;t even come close to lining up to the filter bowl. The first time I took it off I dremeled the round hole into an elipse. Now I don't have to remove it any more.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

To remove cover not necessary. There is hole for it.
Or You could do it from gap between cover and engine.
My frend lifted his Scorpio on 1.5m altitude by ordinary jak.

what size engine do you have? iirc, you're in europe so 1.6L?

the hole in the engine cover on the 2.0L and 2.3L don't line up at all with the oil filter and...

the "official excuse" is that it is an "inspection hole" used during assembly whereby a tech would stick their finger in that hole to see if there were any oil leaks on the top-side of the cover :bana2

[Flagrum_3]

I have always changed my own oil in all my vehicles. But this Mazda3 which we got this summer looks like a pain to change. I looked underneath and tried taking off some bolts for the cover, some were striped. so no go. Also my ramps are too big for the m3 low clearance. Which ramps are recommended and how to take off the stripped bolts. Any suggestions. Thanks

Take the car to the dealer, there is a TSB on the under-cover bolts, they should replace them no charge under warranty then like mentioned earlier just get a couple of 2x6 planks of wood in front of the ramps, this will work.



_3

[megaxyu]

I use Rhino Ramps and they are fine

I also dont take the cover off ... I got the 2.3 so i made a new hole and coverd the old one with some plastic i had laying around

[maurice]

What kind of oil wrench do you guys use?

[sas]

Yes i have europe car by VIN from Hiroshima.
I already heard maintenance workers did holes for filter
and was certain, they do it wider for wrench.
I was wrong and ready to accept any punishment.
Any case if no hole, maybe there is sence to do it.
My wrench is homemade, I did it from piece of plastic pipe
with some modifications.

[Mazda3X2]

What kind of oil wrench do you guys use?

If you're talking about the filter wrench I purchased one from Mazda. I couldn't get the plastic ones you get from Canadian Tire to work properly, they just kept slipping.

[Mazda3X2]

If you're talking about the filter wrench I purchased one from Mazda. I couldn't get the plastic ones you get from Canadian Tire to work properly, they just kept slipping.

Here is a link incase that's what you are looking for.

http://torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=25496&highlight=wrench