Oil Filter

[2003DOHC]

Changed the oil for the first time today. I thought the filter on my 97 CV was hard to get at but the MM is even worse. Makes such a mess and hard to remove because of all the small hoses around it. Now be kind and tell me what I am doing wrong. I am no mechanic but have always changed my own oil. This car needs a remote filter.

[LincMercLover]

It'll inevitability spill a crap load of oil all over the ps hoses and the ps rack. I've heard of some lining it all with foil, or stuff papers towels everywhere. Me, I just let it go everywhere, clean the most of it up, and every so often take her up to the power wash to blast all the crud that cakes on to it from driving it oily like that. As for getting the filter out, you gotta let it pretty much fall straight down from the block. It'll rest on the sway bar and a cooling hose. Then slide it towards the front of the car and down, passing the sway bar. That's the easiest process I've found to get the little *bleepity bleep bleep* outta there. I think there's a couple people around here who have installed remote filters though.

[2003DOHC]

That is how I did get the filter out but what a PITA should not be that difficult. I cleaned up the oil as best I could. That is one reason I will start using Amsoil 5W20 and only change the oil 2 times a year.

[junehhan]

I have pretty much given up even attempting to change my own oil on this car. It's just so difficult, especially if you don't have a lift. I have just about never seen a worse oil filter location, in any of my cars ever! As far as using Amsoil 5w20 and only changing it 2 times a year goes, it all depends on your driving habits and environmental factors whether you can exploit the maximum drain intervals safely or not. As far as relocating the filter to a remote location goes, anytime you add distance to the setup, it increases the complexity of the system, and increases the distance the oil has to travel. This add's further resistance to oil flow which can cause a slight pressure drop, although I don't think 1 BAD 03 MM encountered much of one. However, with having to run extra and longer oil lines, it does increase the complexity, and IMHO offers more than can go wrong or get damaged.

[chrish]

The MM is a dream to change the oil in, compaired to the SVT focas. It took me 15 minutes to simply locate the filter location. As you can imagine, if you can't find it it is very hard to remove & then reinstall.If anyone ever buys one of these cars I will unlock the puzzle for them before they take a wrench to the hood.

[Krytin]

The service techs @ my dealer use the box the filter came in to make a trough so the oil runs over the cardboard and into the catch basin. My hoses & rack are free of oil and clean after 26k miles.