I watched a video on YTube and maybe it's just me, but I must ask a silly question as why people take off the plastic engine cover to change motor oil. I have done every oil change yet on my M3 2.0 without taking this cover off. Now be reminded in this video he has a 2.3L engine. Not sure if that matters. In the end of the video he never explains why he took the cover off.

 

On the 2.0 and 2.3 mazda 3 before 2010 the skid plate had a hole cut out but it wasn't under the oil filter it was a flaw in the design but they had already made them so they used it. People take off the skid plate so that they don't make a mess all over the skid plate.

 

I assume you mean the cover on top of the engine? I have no idea, maybe their just odd?

I've done hundreds of services on these cars and only remove that cover if I'm replacing spark plugs.

 

+1, you must be talking about the top cover. Not sure why they remove that.

As to the bottom cover it does need to be removed to access the oil filter. The hole not aligning with the filter is not however a design flaw that they didn't both to correct. That hole is actually for an assembly line inspection point.

 

I dont HAVE a top cover on my engine, never had one, my car is not worthy of the plastic cover.......*cry*

 

Exactly! I take the skid plate off, but never the engine cover unless I'm doing plugs.