I always do my own oil changes in my Mazda3 (every 3K miles) which is very often because of my commute, but I'm getting tired of removing those 7 bolts and the 2 plastic pins holding the cowling in placeand then putting it back together over and over just to remove the oil filter element and change oil.
This might be a dumb question but....do I really need this cover/cowling under the car? I'm sure is OK to drive without it? I alsounderstand is to protect the engine from debrisbut after all, lots of cars don't have this covers under the engine and they seems to be running fine.

 

Trim the Plastic under the Filter.

 

Or Leave the Push pins out

 

The 7 bolts are nothing (air Tools) [8D]

 

Please fix the site LOL

 

Hey!!!..that's a good idea triming the plastic around the filter but the question is.......do I need the cover? will the car stop running without it? LOL

 

Fix what site?

 

AIR TOOLS???... I hardly havea set of socket wrenches. LOL

 

Yeah I don't have it under my car. i took it off and had been running without it for 2 years and even running a CAI. No Problems. I drive through sleet, rain, hell, and snow.

 

I Left mine on because of all the stuff that it bolts to, they all are loose when it is gone and I hate rattles.