Going to do oil change myself at the DIY shop (and rent a lift). What do I need?

[7milesout]

I can't even picture how to get at the filter from the bottom. I think I've tried it, it was not easy. I may try it again next time.

[Wallythacker]

Ha ha! No spaghetti arms. Arthritis in both elbows, both wrists, thumbs and almost all fingers...

Not picking on you my friend, but it appears just from reading this thread that a lot of us have varying degrees of physical impairments, dexterity among them but it doesn't seem to stop us from maintaining our beloved little cars!

[Fummins]

I can't even picture how to get at the filter from the bottom. I think I've tried it, it was not easy. I may try it again next time.

It's easy if you're standing underneath it. Or rip the splash shield off and leave it off for next time? Some shops that service a few of the Mirage's at other locations have hacked a chunk out of the shield off to make it easier I guess.

I have spaghetti arms and can't get the filter off from above without ripping off a bunch of knuckle scabs.

[Mark]

It's easy if you're standing underneath it. Or rip the splash shield off and leave it off for next time? Some shops that service a few of the Mirage's at other locations have hacked a chunk out of the shield off to make it easier I guess.

I have spaghetti arms and can't get the filter off from above without ripping off a bunch of knuckle scabs.

If I had a lift, I would remove the oil filter from the bottom while standing. Now imagine sliding under the car on your back from the front (car only lifted slightly). As you lift your hand up towards the filter, it becomes somewhat of an awkward twist of your arm/hand to grab it. The tiny drain shield directly under the oil filter doesn't help the cause either.

I drive my Mirage up a homemade ramp (height is the thickness of three of 2" x 8" boards made into a simple wooden ramp). I use a cheap mechanic creeper to slide under the car, & I drag two cheap plastic trays with me. One catches the oil from the Fumoto drain valve. The other is placed under the oil filter. I think the angle created by the ramps aids draining through the Fumoto valve, too.

At that height, I can still reach down from the top & remove the oil filter with ease (using a stubby handle ratchet/oil filter socket). By the time I switch out oil filters, the oil pan is pretty well drained. I slide back under with the mechanics creeper, close the valve, & remove the drain pans.

Not saying this is the best way, but it's how I do it with what I have on hand. My homemade wooden ramps each have a 4x4 wooden block added to the end of them (so I don't accidentally drive beyond it).

[CROSSBOLT]

Gotta add two centavos: #3 coming up for me. #1 was a huge suckeroo! The filter socket was a waste. Got tired of fumbling with that "two-sizes-in-one" junk and got out the BIG Channel-Loc pump pliers! Once loosened from the gorilla that put it on the rest was easy. #2 was easy off because I did not put #1 filter on but just shy of 3/4 turn after gasket contact. Been doing it that way for several decades...

The only difference with #2 was to SEE the gasket surface and wipe it clean before installing the new filter. The splash shield came off for this. Mind you, this all is done with old me on the ground and Mitsu on ramps.

Maybe some day I will do a remote filter....

[Mark]

Gotta add two centavos: #3 coming up for me. #1 was a huge suckeroo! The filter socket was a waste. Got tired of fumbling with that "two-sizes-in-one" junk and got out the BIG Channel-Loc pump pliers! Once loosened from the gorilla that put it on the rest was easy. #2 was easy off because I did not put #1 filter on but just shy of 3/4 turn after gasket contact. Been doing it that way for several decades...

The only difference with #2 was to SEE the gasket surface and wipe it clean before installing the new filter. The splash shield came off for this. Mind you, this all is done with old me on the ground and Mitsu on ramps.

Maybe some day I will do a remote filter....

I agree the single size socket is best, and it's also why I recommend buying the socket with your first filter in the store. Pull the oil filter out of the box and make sure it fits snug. I have a plastic & metal one that's the correct size. They both work great. The plastic one, however, could not remove the factory installed oil filter.

The same oil filter sockets fit oil filters for my John Deere Riding lawnmower & Kawasaki Mule, too. I have an assortment of them after decades of oil changes. I would struggle with using a channel-lock type oil wrench (but I have one & the strap models, too), but everyone should do what works for them. If you can grab the darn thing & twist it off, skip the tools!

[defensivetackle88]

Opened the hood this am and tried to loosing the black oil filter by either hands and it went nearly impossible to do so thanks to that front grey hose getting in the way.

I had grips and could only turn the oil at the tip of my fingers. Not my palms obviously. Doesn’t help that I’m tall with thick forearms.

[Mark]

Opened the hood this am and tried to loosing the black oil filter by either hands and it went nearly impossible to do so thanks to that front grey hose getting in the way.

I had grips and could only turn the oil at the tip of my fingers. Not my palms obviously. Doesn’t help that I’m tall with thick forearms.

This is why I use an oil filter socket & stubby handled 3/8" drive ratchet. I may have shared that a few times on the forum.

[defensivetackle88]

I hear you, Mark. Just wanted to try it with my hands for the first time. Will try your suggestion.

[Mark]

I hear you, Mark. Just wanted to try it with my hands for the first time. Will try your suggestion.

Yeah, I wasn't really saying that for you. It sounds like you have done oil changes on other vehicles, and the Mirage is really no different.

If someone is doing a vehicle for the first time, I would always suggest making sure you can remove the oil filter before dropping the oil. Especially if you needed your Mirage to go buy an oil filter wrench of some sort.

I suppose someone could add new oil & replace the oil filter after the fact, but some of the new oil would surely be lost in the process.