I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on:
Servicing.
Good morning,
I just wanted to ask for some advice on servicing.
The current mileage at the moment is 46600 miles.
Looking back through the paperwork I can see the following has been done:
Oil filter and air filter change. July 2022 at 43857m
Air cabin filter change. March 2014 22985m
Manual trans oil change. March 2011 at 19558m.
I just want to know what needs doing in order of urgency. Would I be ok driving it for the next couple of 1000miles or does the service need to be carried out asap?
There’s no mention of spark plugs change either. Just a quote for the work back in July of 2022.
Any links for supplies and tools needed would be great.
I’d do all oils and filters now, they are due for changing. The spark plugs can be done for completion but not necessary until around 64k miles.
These cars don’t have a cabin filter, even Aircon equipped cars don’t. Some service centres will say it’s on the schedule, some probably charge too but that’s another story.
I put my choice of oils in this thread here, bottom of the thread. You can’t go far wrong with those. Same oils/filters applies for 1.8 as the 2ltr…
Filters, buy the genuine Mazda oil filter, I stick a cheaper aftermarket air filter in mine.
Washers can be had from mx5parts for gearbox, diff and engine sump plug.
Now that oil filter, you’ll need to be fit and be able to grovell about under the car to get at it. It should be hand tight but they never are when someone else has put them on.
A three legged oil filter removal tool is my choice. Probably loads of swearing helps as the position of the filter is daft. YouTube is your friend, plenty of videos on there for how to do these jobs using the correct search terms.
Trolley jack, axle stand are required a 23mm and 24mm sockets for diff plugs I can’t remember (an age thing) what’s required for the gearbox and sump plugs.
So you would say I would need to carry out oil changes asap or would I be able to hold off for a 1000 miles round trip to Paris for example or is that not a good idea?
Ah!.. it’s you, I was thinking you’ve just bought it, well very recently.
I suppose it’s ok to go there no problems, engine oil should be ok, I’d say do when you return.
I was thinking you’ve only just bought it, for peace of mind I always change all oils on a recently acquired car, just passing on my wisdom.
Gearbox and diff I will add, remove the upper fill plugs first before removing the drain plugs. If you can’t get the fill plugs out first then you’re not left with no oil in them.
Correction to my earlier post about gearbox plugs, your fill plug on the 5 speed will be a tapered plug with a square end. A wind of PTFE tape on the thread will seal that.
Your right… I should have done it ages ago when I bought it in June. … What with one thing and another the service got replaced by MOT failure, new tyres, wheel bearings, abs sensors, brake discs, pads (front+back), stuck calliper and now I’ve decided to look into servicing it myself before I potentially go on a road trip. For peace of mind I know it’s the best option, but if it’s going to be fine for a road trip then give it a service when I return. But it needs to be done which I will carry out.
The more important stuff has been done those, brakes, abs sensor, wheel bearing and very important an MOT.
Just get yourself on hols and enjoy.
You can look forward to groveling about on the driveway when you get back.
Something like this, the filter came off too easy though…
I found that new gearbox and sump plugs weren’t necessary just new washers (though it can’t hurt if you’re flush for cash).
I ordered the service parts from mx5 parts and all fluids from opie, little cheaper that way for the engine oil especially. Aftermarket air filter from them is a bit cheap seeming but will do the job.
Total for the following came to 250 or thereabouts:
Engine oil (mobil3000) and filter
Gearbox oil redline mt90 x3
Diff oil redline 75w90 x1
Spark plugs x4
Air filter
Plug washers x5 all in
Power steering fluid (Mobil 1)
Brake fluid (Mobil 1)
Gates belt 6pk2253 (nc aircon)
I also bought a second cheapo oil filter and flushed the engine twice with some leftover 5w20 I had from my old car, running it for 10 mins each time then draining. It’s surprising how clean you can initially get the engine oil doing this if you don’t know how often the car has been serviced up until your ownership. Well worth it.
Also many people don’t bother to do the power steering fluid on any cars but it’s so easy, suck out the old fluid with an oil syringe or baster, fill up fresh. Run the car and go from lock to lock multiple times, turn off and repeat. Each time the fluid will get clearer until you’re happy. Just don’t remove the fluid with the engine running as the pump could try drawing air.
That’s interesting. I seriously thought that it was just two oil changes. I’m glad I’m asking the question because I would have totally missed that and only picked it up after the service.
Mine isn’t a 1.8 or 5spd, but aside from specifying the correct items for the engine/box you have, servicing should consist of the same items across all manual models even if part numbers are different ie. One oil filter, 4 plugs, 4 sealing washers, 1 5l carton engine oil etc. That’s why I didn’t put the exact spec, just a list of parts required to do the comprehensive service
Yes I bought filter pliers, same thing just a different variant. Accessed via the passenger wheel arch, only required to remove the old one, not to fit the new. No other special tools required apart from run of the mill sockets and wrenches.
How about when it comes to filling the gear box and differential oil? Is there a pump you need to transfer the oil back in to the tanks? Or is there enough space to pour using a funnel? (I’ve not had a chance to watch any YouTube videos yet.)
I just looked at it that this is the big one, after this servicing will be relatively cheap for many years, mostly consisting of regular engine oil and filter.
I wouldn’t like to say how much a garage would charge, seems like everyone wants to be a millionaire these days. For the last few years I’ve been bound to use dealers for servicing to get a stamp (for warranty) the service usually consisted of an oil and filter change only and the rest are just checks, they don’t even change your air filter nowadays as a matter of course. These were coming in at around 250 just for that, so 250 for all fluids, filters, belts and plugs is good in my opinion and you’re saving on labour and vat. Subsequent interim engine oil and filter services should be about 50 quid all in.
