97 q45 removing oil filter

[q45rida]

i am having trouble fitting the wrench over the oil filter with the limited space. Do i have to remove anything else to properly reach the oil filter.

please respond as soon as possible

[Q45tech]

Double posting within 2 minutes for an answer is VERY bad form!Especially since you were given the answer TWICE.

Nothing but the bottom plastic shield [belly pan] needs to be removed to exchange oil filters.

Of course one must select the proper oil filter tool to fit the space.

[NightRiderQ45]

Remove it from the top!! That is what most of us do there. Take off the air duck that runs to the air box (it has three screws) and unplug the connector. Once you do that, you can just reach down and grab it from the top standing up.

[qship96]

Only the inexperienced newbie Q owners remove the filter from the top!!!!!

[Infinitiguy19]

To emphasize on why everone says its bad to remove the filter from the top. If you remove the filter from the top you have to remove the MAF sensor and carbon canister to get acsess to it in a G50 Q45. and removing and reinstalling those every 3000 miles or 3 months is adding to the wear of those items.

So just suck it up and take the bottom shield out and do it from the bottom unless you fell like potentially replacing the MAF, MAF connector and carbon canister and its hoses.

[qship96]

This is one job{oil/filter change} well worth the $20 investment to take to local shop to have done on a lift{with your supplied oil/filter} WHILE you walk around under the car with your flashlight examining everything from bumper to bumper looking for upcoming issues and leaks/etc....if shop wont allow you to do this, keep looking for one that will.

[NightRiderQ45]

Only the inexperienced newbie Q owners remove the filter from the top!!!!!

In 202k (owned car since 90k), My car is still operating perfectly from doing the horrible act of removing the filter from the top. I'm still waiting for the Q gods to strike me because I took the oil filter off from the top.

Paul the guy said he is working on a FGY33 not a G50. Can someone explain why I haven't had to replace the MAF, MAF connector and carbon canister and its hoses since I committed the horrible act of taking the oil filter from the top??? Oh btw, to change the air filter out on a FGY33, you HAVE TO unplug the connector and remove the air duct that runs to the air filter box according to the FSM unless you are going to force the air filter out of the box without unplugging anything which will be quite stupid. Idk about some of you but I vacuum trash/leaves out of mine quarterly. Maybe some of you might want to explain to the engineers that they are wrong and you are right huh since it's ok to take items off for the air filter but you can't do the same to replace a oil filter.

Only inexperience newbie Q owners do drain & refills instead of doing a full mechanical exchange!!!!

[qship96]

Some smoke cigarettes and live to be 100 also......it is all about limiting your risks son..........why take shortcuts if in the long run, they are foolish expensive ones??????

[oldmako]

This topic cracks me up.

The filter is SO freakin' easy to change from the top that I am unable to fathom the argument here. Because I might damage the MAF? Perhaps I ought to stop driving the car since I might have an accident too? Better stay away from my boat because I might drown....hell I might get a sunburn or hit a beer can in the water!!! Maybe I ought to just lock myself in the house and whimper? Are we not men? (Gotta give credit to DEVO for that one) Damage the MAF? Well, perhaps if you tried to remove the oil filter with a jackhammer. If you're that ham fisted perhaps you ought not be working on your car in the first place. Perhaps on the earlier models you need to attack that mother from underneath, but not on my Q41.

Here's a good reason to change it from the top. My engine pan is a worn out old piece of junk, and the less I mess with it the longer it will remain on the car and I won't need to replace it. Costs less that way, and currently works just fine. Plus my 50 year old back stays much happier while standing....and if my hot neighbor walks by I'm not under the car. You ever try to smoke a Cohiba while under a car? It's just not right! Not only that, but your beer will not flow properly when you are lying on your back. It spills out the side of your mouth. Trust me on this.

To the OP, schlep over to advance auto and get one of those fancy "socket" style filter wrenches that works on a ratchet handle. They cost all of 3 bucks or so. Then, never put that filter back on too tight and you'll never need the tool again. Mine goes on and off with just my wrist. No leaks. Two minutes tops.

Or, go get the jacks (or ramps), jack up the car, lie down on your back, remove the 5 or 6 bolts holding the cover on, get filthy and take 10 times as long to change your oil.

I should mention that I frequently swim immediately after eating!

[Infinitiguy19]

OK to clarify, If you need to undo the MAF and its connector every oil change or 3 months then you are increasing wear more than when you just do the oil from the bottom and change the filter every year.

And I don't know where the carbon canister is on a FGY33 but on a G50 its right above the oil filter so obviously that has to come out and taking out and putting back in increases the chance you will break the nipple where the hose mounts in the carbon canister which is pretty brittle by now.

And of course you have the oil dripping from the filter which will damage the rubber over time, I am unsure of what it does to plastic.

And I am talking about the G50 Q45 not the FGY33 because they are newer, but this will apply in time.

So in this case Qship96 is right about changing it from the bottom for $20 or doing it yourself FROM THE BOTTOM.

[qship96]

In this case???? LOL

One of the biggest side benefits of frequent oil changes{performed properly -from underneath} is the OPPORTUNITY to do a complete under-car inspection to catch small problems before they become BIG problems....perfect example would be cracked steering boots caught early enough will save you from replacing the entire steering rack

Let the idiots do their filter from above and miss these money saving inspections.

[oldmako]

It's a 97. The MAF and it's plumbing are in the next county. I suppose that your comment about the rack are aimed at my thread regarding the rack bushings. Perhaps I should have contacted the previous owner a few years ago and offered to replace the bushing before I bought the car.

Idiots eh? You guys are a hoot. Grow up.

Modified by oldmako at 8:18 PM 7/1/2009
Modified by oldmako at 8:19 PM 7/1/2009

[qship96]

Perhaps if you understood the difference between "rack bushings" and "rack boots" you would not have posted that??????? Its not about you, really.

[oldmako]

Perhaps you're right. Perhaps I don't know since I have yet to remove them, or the rack itself. I have a pretty good idea of what constitutes a boot. But in looking at the FSM and talking to the almighty Joe, (who also called them bushings BTW) my nomenclature is flawed. The FSM refers to them as a "rack mounting insulator" I guess that's a heinous sin to the Qfascista here. As is changing a Q41 oil filter from up nort.

My thrust is (and continues to be) about the the general abuse levied against those (who recently bought their cars and are) seeking advice by many on this site. Silly me, I thought that the site is for enthusiasts, not factory trained technicians.

Maybe I ought to just stand back and hurl invective and be one of the guys.

[qship96]

Hurl invective? Is that what you call experienced Q owners who try to teach the newbies the correct way to accomplish a task in a manner that will prevent expensive problems that happen when shortcuts are taken?

Would you rather the experienced{sometimes through experiencing costly mistakes they have made along the way} sit back idle and chuckle and fail to offer important advice when they see common newbie mistakes and poor advice being posted ?

Rack bushings{sometimes referred to as mounting insulators} are the bushings that wrap around the rack shaft and attach it to the underside of car- the boots are the accordian shaped rubber tubes that cover and protect the inner tie rods and joints from dirt ingression- common to split after years of use and if not caught early and replaced cause abraisive dirt to abrade rack and create leaks that require total rack replacement.

during my last oil change{3/17/09} while car was on lift and under belly shield removed, the tech spotted oil pressure sender beginning to weep, and power steering line weeping also, and rack bushings worn and allowing play in rack- parts were ordered from joe and all 3 items replaced before it lead to a breakdown- thats why I am a strong believer in getting the Q up on the rack and getting under it 3-4x /year for oil changes...to catch little problems before they become big expensive ones, or worse create a breakdown on the road- which the steering hose or oil pressure sender can easily mount to if not corrected at once. All this would have gone undetected had the oil/filter been changed from above......

Modified by qship96 at 12:41 AM 7/2/2009
Modified by qship96 at 12:47 AM 7/2/2009

[NightRiderQ45]

And of course you have the oil dripping from the filter which will damage the rubber over time, I am unsure of what it does to plastic.

And I am talking about the G50 Q45 not the FGY33 because they are newer, but this will apply in time.

Ok, if you have to deal with the issues you posted for the G50, yes I would do it from the bottom BUT ON A FGY33 once again, the issues you state we don't deal with! We don't have to worry about oil dripping and making a mess over everything BECAUSE we have a "oil catch" cup right under the oil filter that catches the oil as you are unscrewing the filter. The oil then drains down thru a tube. The only way WE FGY33 owners would have oil drips on anything is if you were a complete idiot and unscrewed the oil filter and started slinging oil from it purposely. Paul I know that you always mean well, but giving advice for a car that you don't own or your're not familiar with is silly. I can't give advice about a G50 because I don't own one.

Qship, I look under my car when I get my tires rotated every oil change which is 5k. ONCE again, only idiots do drain & refills instead of full mechanical exchanges!

[jarred15801]

Ok, if you have to deal with the issues you posted for the G50, yes I would do it from the bottom BUT ON A FGY33 once again, the issues you state we don't deal with! We don't have to worry about oil dripping and making a mess over everything BECAUSE we have a "oil catch" cup right under the oil filter that catches the oil as you are unscrewing the filter. The oil then drains down thru a tube. The only way WE FGY33 owners would have oil drips on anything is if you were a complete idiot and unscrewed the oil filter and started slinging oil from it purposely. Paul I know that you always mean well, but giving advice for a car that you don't own or your're not familiar with is silly. I can't give advice about a G50 because I don't own one.

He asked about an FGY33 not a G50 so if you have a G50 well, how you change your oil really doesn't matter or help answer the question so you can just stop talking right now....Paul Wall.....qship96

[qship96]

Looks like nightrider and jarred share a brain.

[maxnix]

Only the inexperienced newbie Q owners remove the filter from the top!!!!!

Amen! It is so much easier and one doesn't have to risk brittle plastic connectors and future problems.

[qship96]

[QUOTE=NightRiderQ45

Qship, I look under my car when I get my tires rotated every oil change which is 5k. [/QUOTE]

Let me try to understand your logic here......you put the car on a lift every 5000 miles to rotate tires......but choose to access the filter from above????????? What a concept.

And how exactly does one perform an undercar inspection without removing the bellyshield??? Xray vision? Last time I looked, the cover must be removed to check critical components......following your wacko-jacko methods, my oil pressure sender and steering hose leaks would have gone undetected- but hey, member standards vary.

[NightRiderQ45]

Let me try to understand your logic here......you put the car on a lift every 5000 miles to rotate tires......but choose to access the filter from above????????? What a concept.

And how exactly does one perform an undercar inspection without removing the bellyshield??? Xray vision? Last time I looked, the cover must be removed to check critical components......following your wacko-jacko methods, my oil pressure sender and steering hose leaks would have gone undetected- but hey, member standards vary.

Yeah and if I follow your wacko-jacko method of changing your atf fluid, I would still have contaminated fluid in my pan and TC instead of doing the correct thing and doing a full mechanical exchange. Now that I think of it, you are the ONLY person here who does this wacko-jacko method. Some people perfer p0rn to real sex...I guess you are the guy sitting in a dark room with lotion by your side because its "feel almost like the real thing" Oh, am I the only one with xray vision...sheesh I thought everyone had that capability????

Qship, I'll let you continue with this pissing match but I'm headed out the office to enjoy my weekend. Now that I think of it, I better walk to Dallas since the Q gods have cursed me for life for doing the unthinkable...changing the oil filter frooommm ttthhhhhheee toooppppp. OH NO!!!!!!

[Infinitiguy19]

I will admit I had no idea the FGY33 had a oil catch can so maybe it was meant to be done from the top. But I do admit it is very beneficial to see the undercarriage of the car like Qship has said.

But I do agree with Qship that the drain and refill method if done right is about the same if not completely the same as the BG flush.

Your lucky Nightrider, We have had rain here for about a month now.

That said I am sorry.

[qship96]

Filter is meant to be removed from underneath, even on the 97-01 Q41......any owner worth his salt can easily determine that from the owners manual. The "cup" he is referring to is just a shield beneath the filter designed to catch the oil dripping on components as filter is removed.

As far as ATF exchange methods.......as an engineer, he should understand dilution calculation better than he obviously does. Maybe it would just be easier for him to understand my methods have resulted in the original factory installed transmission operating as designed still at 230,000 miles......bet there is not even 5 other G50 Q owners here that have that longevity record?????

[jarred15801]

Looks like nightrider and jarred share a brain.

No we just have a fgy33 and know from experience it's easier changing filter from top not bottom...you would know if you had but you don't...so you can stop talking anytime now

Filter is meant to be removed from underneath, even on the 97-01 Q41......any owner worth his salt can easily determine that from the owners manual. The "cup" he is referring to is just a shield beneath the filter designed to catch the oil dripping on components as filter is removed.

As far as ATF exchange methods.......as an engineer, he should understand dilution calculation better than he obviously does. Maybe it would just be easier for him to understand my methods have resulted in the original factory installed transmission operating as designed still at 230,000 miles......bet there is not even 5 other G50 Q owners here that have that longevity record?????

and again you do not have an fgy33...you do not know from experience which way is easier to change the oil filter...since you do not know from experience your input in worthless...talking out your a**...again the orignal poster asked about fgy33 not g50...so you should have stopped talking a longgg time ago

[qship96]

It has nothing to do with being "easy", as you will learn.

[jarred15801]

Oh so i wanna find the hard way to do it, makes sense.