Would you trust jo blo garage to change the oil on your rx8? I hear its an easy change..
What filter should I tell them to use?

Checking all the fluid levels and stuff should be trivial for any garage too right?

I'd learn to do it myself but I live in an apt complex with no garage and hilly parking lot (not very flat surface).

I live at least 45 miles from the nearest mazda dealership.
Plus I'm worried that they'll give me crap for not using the recommended 5w-20 oil and may not put in anything else but that

 

 

I'd still do the oil myself. Get what you need(filter, oil, and pan) and then go drive somewhere like the remote end of a parking lot and change it. If you have an autozone by you, then try to do it there because unless they are full, they will take your old oil. Just pour the old oil into the containers you just emptied when putting the new oil in. If you park at the end of the lot and aren't there all day, they shouldn't give you any crap. It should take you about 20 minutes tops! This is without actually jacking the car up from side to side to drain the oil coolers......but no shop is gonna do that anyway.

 

Quicklube places scare the hell out of me. I only used them when I was driving my accord, and they would regularly "find problems with my car". "the PCV valve is broken" "look at this black tarry **** on my finger. it came from your engine. you need a $200 engine cleaning" "Your airfilter is filthy" and I've heard one to many horror stories of things like "oh, you wanted us to put the drain plug back in?" "oh, you mean you wanted us to put clean oil back in after draining it?" to trust any quick lube place anymore.

The hardest part of changing your oil is getting the old filter off. it's a bitch to get a good grip on it down there.

I usually spend about an hour on my oil changes. I like to let as much oil drain as possible.

find a flat spot somewhere, use the spare tire jack to lift the drivers side wheel up and put a brick underneath the wheel so you can get an oil pan under the car.

If you really don't want to do it yourself, find an trustworthy mechanic and have them do it for you.

whatever you do, just don't go to a quick lube place.

 

Okay......okay Socket7. You're right about the hour if you do the full drill, and I always do..................but if you have the right pan(and I do), you can actually get it under there without having to jack it up. Of course this is if you want to just do a quick oil change. Crap.........I won't even let a dealer change my oil much less any friggin Jiffy Lube place.

 

yeah you will b fine to change it yourself at ur apt complex if you can find a flat spot...I also live at one and just do it right in the parking lot....never had anyone say anything to me...then take the old oil to autozone for free recycling....and it is fine to use something other than 5w20 around this forum it is actually recommended to use a heavier oil..

 

I mean I did my first oil change all by myself on my RX8. I mean I only needed to jack it up because the oil pan bolt was on super tight from the dealer. Actually needed a breaker bar to loosen it up. Changing the oil on an RX8 is easier ::insert something easy::

 

I may go to a stealership. I got an extended warranty. I know how to take computers & laptops apart, but I'm not about to risk screwing up my 8 :-/ even if the chances are low

knowing my luck I'll end up being the first guy to blow up his engine doing a routine oil change.

 

I don't think its worth it considering how far the dealer is. I have had the dealer do the last few oil changes only because I want to show that I've done some regular maintenance at the dealer and to build a relationship at that dealer.

I think it is sometimes easier, if they recognize you or show up for oil changes in case you need something fixed under warranty.

 

I take mine to the dealer for changes. But the dealer is only 10 minutes away, changes were free for the first two years, and once that expired they usually have discount coupons. CarAndDriver's comment about building a relationship is good, but I concur with him about miles being a bit much. See if you can find a local garage to do the changes. IMHO, a relation with a decent local garage will come in handier than one with a place 45 miles away.

I did one change myself (at 1000 miles), and I didn't even have to jack the car up to get to the drain plug. I do have long arms.

Ken

 

Buy a Pella pump and suck the oil out through the dipstick holder. I can have the oil changed in 15 mins with no mess.

 

I just had my oil changed at the dealer since they offered a free complimentary first one. I figured why not. They took two frickin hours! Came up with a lame excuse that it was really busy that day. Last time I go to the dealers. I guess there is no such thing as a free lunch since this one cost me a lot of time.

 

I bring it to the dealer. They aren't expensive, they check the car over, and I don't get stupid **** said to me like their mechanic saying "your car doesn't sound right. I think it's the camshafts"....yeah, actually happened.

 

Two hours and a lame excuse! That dealer is sure on the ball - really knows how to sell themselves.

My dealer (Rosenthal at Tyson's Corner) has been great on the changes. They always say it will take 45 minutes, and it always does. There was a time when I could do an oil change myself in under half an hour, including cleanup, but nowadays I come out ahead on time using the dealer. If I get a coupon for $20 I'm even ahead on money.

Ken

 

Used windshield fluid containers are conveniently sized to hold the full volume of old oil; easier to empty the pan into, and lug around one container than several small ones.

If you use an oil filter cap wrench at the end of a 12" socket extension it makes it as easy as pie.

That's why I'll buy the filter and crush washer from the dealership, if anything just for them to have a record. I think that's why they stopped sending me notices to bring the car in for oil changes.

 

[QUOTE=Socket7;2767725
find a flat spot somewhere, use the spare tire jack to lift the drivers side wheel up and put a brick underneath the wheel so you can get an oil pan under the car.

If you really don't want to do it yourself, find an trustworthy mechanic and have them do it for you.

[/QUOTE]



What! No jack stand? only a brick?

You must use a jack stand. Be safe.

 

I've used dealership and jiffy lube. Dealership when I get a coupon and jiffy lube because I know the guys who work at the one by my house.

Dealership is nice because I've formed a relationship with my tech and I'm in and out in under 30 mins. They have a nice waiting area with a plasma TV and current magazines.

The Jiffy Lube is convienent and I've schooled the guys on not over filling the oil and I end up talking up rotaries with all the guys while they work on my car. They all know better then to try and sell the "extras" crap.

I'm also banned from changing oil in my driveway since it's illegal in Willow Glen and most people who live here have the non emergency police line on speed dial.

 

That's easy Laythor.......... do it in the garage!

 

I need to go up to columbus every now and then. its really no big deal for me to drive that distance.

I'm going up to the airport for a trip to honolulu this weekend, I'll park my car in the airport parking lot (2 weeks), then hit up the dealership on the way home for the oil change. I'm just a tad bit over the 3000 mile mark (since purchasing)

 

we have a two car garage but it's full of my GF's extra stuff and her son's furniture. He's in south korea for the next 6 months... so my garage is just a glorified storage shed.

 

never had oil changed in any of my cars anywhere than at my house.....don't trust stealerships or jo-blo's so ill do it myself safer and quicker

 

The brick sits under the tire. The full weight of the car rests on the brick. Much like driving up on a 2x4. It's not like I stick anything underneath the car other then the oil pan anyways.