Just wondering if anyone has changed the oil on their 3 yet?
Did you do it yourself? Where did you find the filter? No autoparts stores seem to have the 3 filter yet. Looks like maybe the Mazda 6 2.3l filter is the same. Not sure though.

Spencer

So, Spencer, you bought a Mazda3 huh? I seen your wifes picture on a billboard coming back from our last event. Sorry, I don't know anything about the 3. Next event is June 6th. C-ya
James B

Yeah, got a 3. Some stupid teenager ran an stop sign and crashed my Jetta. So my new driver is a 3. Still saving up for a Z06 or Viper.

The best site for learning how to change the oil in your 3:

http://www.aitchison.org/robert/Mazda3/Mazda3DIYOilChange.htm

The 2003 Mazda 6 2.3l oil filter is the same as the 2004 Mazda 3 2.3l. It's a short canister type filter with (2) o-rings. From the site above it looks like it is a PITA to get the bottom pan off. I'm going to see if I can get to the filter without taking the pan off. I've got a Pela oil extractor that works very well at getting the oil out of the dipstick tube that I'll be using. Takes longer, but it's not nearly as messy as removing the drain plug.

I just found out that mine uses the spin-on filter. If your 3 was manufactured after a certain date, you may need the spin-on rather than the cartridge.

Great. Two different filter types huh? That isn't even funny. What's the date where they switched over?

Not sure. Call the dealer and let them know there was a change and give them your VIN. My dealer didn't even know until they looked it up. I just read it on a forum somewhere and called them up.

I got conflicting infomation on when they switched from a cartridge type filter to a spin on filter. One dealership gave me an exact date but I forgot when, something like January/February. Another dealership said that was false but based on a previous post on this thread, they are incorrect.

Has anyone changed the oil filter housing from the cartridge type to the spin on type? It looks like a straightforward swap.

My 3 has a February build date.
It's a cartridge style.
Piece of cake, back out the allen nut, let the oil drain,spin off the housing, swap cartridges, add the two o rings.
You're done.

Less messy than a regular spin on because the oil is already out.
BMW and Acura use the same style.

If you want, go to Mazda6 tech forum, and they have a how-to for swapping out the housings and changing to the 3i filter setup.

I'm still debating....haven't found it to be a problem. But only 1 oil change so far...some argument that the cartridge flows better and maintains better oil pressure from startup to shutdown..don't know...