im changing my oil for the first time...and dont have my manual. how many quarts should i put in, and what else is there to do when changing it? i read about pokin a hole in the oil filter to make less of a mess? anyone wanna make a quick newbie write up on it for me or point me in the right direction. sorry, i tried searching first but couldnt find anythin but what types of oil to use.

 

Definitely poke a hole in the filter, then drain the oil. If you don't you will get oil from the filter all over when you pull the filter off the car and it may slop on your sending unit. My mazda dealer learned the hard way after they had to replace one sending unit

 

how many quarts do i put in when i fill the oil?

 

should take just under 4 quarts, remember that the difference between L and F on the dipstick is 1.7 quarts, not 1 quart like in most cars

 

I never make a mess when I take off my filter. Nothing ever drains out... I've used both Fram and Mazda filters, and I've never had a problem. I believe most filters have anti-drainback valves to prevent this sort of thing.

 

It takes 3.7 quarts as the manual say's

 

thanks boys, hopefully i can keep it clean my first time

 

man......what the heck is with my filter...its in a bad enough spot already to get good leverage on it....but the thing is tight as a ****! tried for 20min and it wont budge...what do i do?

 

Most oil filter wrenchs are too big for the oil filters a FD uses so I ended up getting a small tractor/lawn mower oil filter wrench(which fits perfectly) from the local auto parts store which had a small lawn mower parts section.

 

Whenever you have someone else change your oil it is put on FOREVER. I always put mine on hand tight, never wrench it down. Never leaked oil and never had a bitch getting it off. Don't bother with poking a hole! Open the oil cap first, then drain pan, then remove filter. This give time for everything to settle out of filter. Mine took a 4 qrts and was a bit low. I think it really depends on when you last drove and the temp. Oil will sit in the turbos, lines, and oil cooler during a change...reason you are supposed to change every 2K.

 

Same here never had a problem either..

 

dang, well ill give it another go when my arm recovers, lol....that thing is TIGHT! i've always just done it hand tight, but this is my first one on the car since i got it so i dunno who did it last

 

What type of FD do you have? If i remember correctly the r1 takes more then the base/touring due to its dual oil coolers. I have the touring so i never worried about it. . .

 

4.5 quarts dude! In anycase, it is pretty simple to change oil, jsut drain it, change filter and refill it. This is not brain surgury!

 

just wanted to be sure on how much, thats all. its not brain surgery, but this oil filter is definately a workout

 

being a girl i have had the problem of getting the oil filter off on a few occasions. i have yet to do my own FD, but i pulled this on my other cars:

drive a screwdriver throught the oilfilter and use the screwdriver handle as leverage to loosen it.

 

you know... if you change the oilfilter every 1k mile and oil ever 500, its very easy It never gets a chance to stick, the first time i got my car and changed the oilfilter, it took me damn near an hour to get that bitch out cuz i think the oring sealed to the filter adaptor. In anycase, I have been changing oil like I have been and just being able to spin off the filter easily is worth the 5-8 bucks I spend for the filter/oil.

 

Next time it won't be such a problem if you put a light film of oil on the O-ring, and install it as tight as you can by hand.

I just didn't see mention of the oil on the filter seal. Hopefully because it's just second-nature for everyone.

 

I use an oil filter wrench which is basically a nylon belt that you wrap around the filter and hook a 1/2" ratchet drive and 5" extension up to it. You turn it until it takes up the slack in the belt, then it will loosten your filter. It also crushes the hell out of it but that's no biggie.

 

How much oil? Well it depends on what model you have. If you have an R version mine takes 4.5 quarts to level out. If you don't have an R version go with just 4 quarts. Also try to use the Mazda oil filters. That's one thing they did right.

 

I dont' know how much I recommend stabbing the oil filter. When you are punching holes in it what keeps metal fragments from getting in the oil line?

As most filter manufacturers say on the box, use the oil film like state above and turn the filter about 1/4 turn after the seal hits the seat. If you don't overtorque it it won't be hard to get off, the seal should not stick to the seat as to make it harder to get off.

 

I go with 4 quarts in my touring.