I use the plastic ramps sold at most auto parts stores, walmart etc for about $25 a pair. That is on an NA with the factory air dam. You can certainly find low profile ramps that I'll lift you enough, but prepare to pay significantly more. Ian considering getting the FM relo kit so that I don't have as much trouble with the splash, I currently use a standard catch can and a huge "cookie sheet" designed for catching auto tranny spills.
I actually just used jack stands and the factory jack to get my Miatas up to a better working height...
On an NA you're wasting time lifting the car for an oil change. The drain plug can be reached on the ground and the filter comes out through the passenger wheel well. It does make a mess but wrapping the filter in a plastic bag helps. That's how I did it for the 3 years I owns mine. I don't know if the same is true for an NB.
A standard oil drain pan for the oil sump and I just put a good rag under the oil filter to catch the excess. Bring the oil filter out with the exposed end on top to prevent more drainage.
Any reason you couldn't just use a floor jack?
You'll need a big enough pan for 4 quarts of oil, and a couple of rags to lay under the filter to catch the drippings.
Here's how this Spec Miata racer changes Miata filters:
David
drive to jiffy lube. cheaper cleaner and you don't get dirty. unless you're using syntho.
when I changed the oil on my Miata on a 4 post alignment lift at the auto shop at the tech center I go to, it was a total pain, and I know that at first opportunity I'm getting that oil filter relocation kit from FM. the human arm was just not intended to bend that way, especially when you're getting at the filter from under the car when it's 4 feet off the ground and you have the drive-on lift to work around.
When I first got my 99 Miata, I thought changing the filter was easy, didn't understand what the complaints were. Then I found out the car was missing a panel under the car. When I installed that panel changing the filter did get more difficult and is probably one of the hardest oil filters I've done but definetly very doable. There are harder things to do. Still don't complain about it myself. I've been a helicopter mech for too many years and there are a lot harder things on them than this. I use a filter socket with a cheap ratchet that doesn't have the retainer ball (makes it easier to get on/off) from the top behind. Takes about 10 minutes once you get used to it and learn whatever trick works for you.
pitbull113 wrote: drive to jiffy lube. cheaper cleaner and you don't get dirty. unless you're using syntho.
Friends don't let friends use Jiffy lube.
So why not use a floor jack and jack stands?
I always just took the wheel off and reached in through the wheel well, the hardest part is taking the wheel off and from there it is about 30 seconds to get the filter off.
I'm really not sure that I understand what you guys are saying regarding changing the oil filter. I've had my '90 for over six years and I've always just reached down from above on the passenger's side of the car and unscrewed and pulled the fiilter out. None of this removing wheels or getting it up really high or anything.
Also, I just ordered my Race Ramps using the GRM $500 gift cert that I won, so I'll let you know how their low profile ramp offerings work out.
Powar has it.
I reach in below the intake mani and wrench the filter off, bare handed. Like a real man. I let the motor's life blood drip down into the car so it knows who's the boss in this relationship.
I then crawl under the car with a drain pan and let the rest of it's oil out.
You know to reverse these steps to completion. Takes 10 minutes at most.
Whassup with jacks, ramps, taking the wheel off, wiping it's butt, patting it's back until it spits up on it's little gucci puke pad!
1.6s, I can do from above. For some reason, I have trouble doing it this way on the 1.8s.
I do it all on the ground. I've also got 10in forearms and they fit under the manifold to get to the filter. Being in NY, any oil spilled on to the car is just free rust proofing.
mistanfo wrote: 1.6s, I can do from above. For some reason, I have trouble doing it this way on the 1.8s.
Miata's were made with different sized engines? 
I'm kidding. Only owned 1.6's so can't comment on the 1.8's. I r ignor-rant!
I also have arms like pipe cleaners. Same size from the wrist to the shoulder. Great for delivering kids, getting to Miata oil filters, and getting stuff out of drains. Bad for opening jars and winning arm wrestling matches.
Powar wrote: I'm really not sure that I understand what you guys are saying regarding changing the oil filter. I've had my '90 for over six years and I've always just reached down from above on the passenger's side of the car and unscrewed and pulled the fiilter out. None of this removing wheels or getting it up really high or anything. Also, I just ordered my Race Ramps using the GRM $500 gift cert that I won, so I'll let you know how their low profile ramp offerings work out.
I can do it from above. there's just a bunch of stuff in the way to require some interesting arm contortions. A lot less painful than a clutch slave bleed, though- on an NB.
Bababooey wrote: I do it all on the ground. I've also got 10in forearms and they fit under the manifold to get to the filter. Being in NY, any oil spilled on to the car is just free rust proofing.
I am not sure this matters, but your forearms are 10 inches in length, width or circumference? And how do you know this? I know my dress shirt size, but that is about it. I wear a sleeve length of 35 inches. Will I be able to change the filter in my '99 from above? Am I missing the point here?
This is one of those treads where a pictures would be worth many hours worth of words describing what we are all talking about. It seems like this oil and filter change is be way over thought.
Type Q wrote: This is one of those treads where a pictures would be worth many hours worth of words describing what we are all talking about. It seems like this oil and filter change is be way over thought.
Well...yeah.
I haven't changed the oil in the Miata I recently bought, and you guys have me half convinced that I need to have it shipped out to Keith just for an oil change. From a quick glance, it looks like it would be simple.
Miata owners generally have the tendency to over-think simple tasks 
I usually get the filter out from underneath, although I can get to it from above on a few of my cars. Through the wheel well is also pretty easy.
You don't need a big drain pan. Mine's one of the ones with a built-in funnel on top, it's maybe 18" in diameter. Works fine.
Here's a writeup I did years ago on changing the oil in a Miata. Trivia - this article caught the attention of an acquisitions editor at Motorbooks who owned a Miata, he contacted me about writing a book...
http://www.miata.net/garage/oil_for_novices.html
You'll need to log in to post.
