A better oil filter location would be really helpful. Hopefully someone at Honda will see this post and find a better location for their oil filters instead of having it next to a hot exhaust pipe and directly above and axel or subframe.

Mabye they can learn something from Mitsubishi and have the oil filter at a more accessible location.

Amen on that suggestion.

I wonder if one of the aftermarket suppliers to the sport compact market doesn't already have a remote filter kit available that would fit the E?
Bob

Someone said in another thread that Summit Racing has a relocation kit. But I have never seen it nor a part number.

My second concern would be warranty. Can't you just hear it now? "Your engine fried because the circulation flow path of oil was altered. Thus not enough oil flowed to the primary engine parts....."

I have owned a bunch of Toyotas, and now own a couple of hondas.
ALL The toyotas I have ever owned, I can walk up to the car, pop the hood and virtually shake hands with the oil filter. Toyota seems to have no problem making this happen.

I knew, without even looking, that the Element would have the same bloody awful location for a filter as my 2000 Accord... And indeed it did....sigh.....

An oil change is one of the few things an old amateur grease monkey can do for basic maintenance on a car anymore. Its too bad that Honda sets up the filters ONLY for accessibility on a full size lift rack, or somewhere you can stand up underneath the car.

I haven't changed the oil in the element yet, but the accord requires jacking the ENTIRE car up in the air onto jackstands, and reaching deep into its guts, after it has cooled, from underneath...a WHOLE LOT more work than a 20 minute Toyota oil change. The only up side is that once I have a Honda up there, I figure I might as well rotate the tires anyway. :)

But I STILL prefer the way the Hondas handle compared to the Toyotas, enough to overlook the generally more difficult maintenance access in a Honda.

It sure would be NICE if Honda could EVENTUALLY come up with "handshake" filter placement.

See my post in Underhood/Performance thread titled Clean oil change.
Basically, you can change the filter from the top.
For reference, I am 6 ft tall, getting closer to 5'11" as I get older, and I need a small foot stool to reach the filter from passenger side.

You have to be rubberman to get to the oil filter.

I finally changed my oil, and with a step ladder and the right wrench it is possible to access the filter from on top. Its a LOT easier to change than my 4-banger 2000 Accord, with no need to jack up the Element, but would it REALLY be all that hard to make it a handshake filter access like EVERY Toyota my family has owned?
PLEEEEEEEZ Honda?!?!?! :roll: