Mazda 3 oil filter...
 

Where the heck is it, where can i get one, and how much are they and what do i need to change it?!?! I just picked mine up last night and after giving it a good going over today, i couldnt find the darned thing. First oil change will be at the dealer recomended 1000 mile mark, but i want to do it myself as ive ALWAYS done with every car ive ever owned...so please dont tell me to take it to the dealer! :D Im not letting some punk 17 year old with a bad attitude work on my car!! :mach:

Which 3 do you have? The 2.3 litre uses a non standard oil filter. I believe it is a cartridge type. With the 2.0 litre, the oil filter is on the bottom of the engine, to get to it you have to remove the skid plate.

Its the 2.3...i called the dealer today and he said it would be 6 bucks, or 20 somethin for the entire assembly...which do i need?? Why do they feel the need to change something(standard oil filters) when the work so well already?!?! :squint:

they are not the only ones to do that. My 95 BMW 318ti uses a cartridge type filter. Many other cars do as well. I am not sure why Mazda decided to use one, maybe cost, maybe it is a better design. I don't know any specifics for the 2.3, sorry :(

you must reomove the plastic plate under the car. it is held in by 5 metric screws and some phillips as well. you will see the holder staring at you. all you need to change it is the filter and TWO O' rings. not to bad. i did it myself and went to red line oil. loving the lil extra mpg...... with the cruise set at 80 i got 400 miles on a tank.... SWEET!!

Does anyone know what size cap style oil filter wrench I need to take the bottom of the canister off on the 2.3L? I had found a DIY that listed it as 76mm but I found that is just too large... so I'm guessing 74mm but if you know for sure, please reply. Thanks

I followed this DIY Page and everything on it is accurate and correct. If you have available to you the type of oil filter wrench that kinda adjusts and sorta locks when you turn it that works best. http://www.aitchison.org/robert/Mazd...YOilChange.htm this is the link I followed. Good Luck.

I was able to get the oil filter for my 2.3l for $5 at the dealer. The o-rings were an extra $8. I found you don't need to replace the o-rings IF ... the rings are not damaged when you take the assembly apart. The o-rings do tend to stick the first time you try to break the seals. I was able to just run a finger tips worth of oil around each ring before reassembly. I've had no problems and have the now spare set of o-rings in the event i need to replace them. Total time took about an hour but it was my first time under the car.

I used a standard oil-Strap wrench to break the main cap and a Standard Allen Wrench for the small plug. The bolts for the skid plate were 10mm and drain plug was i think 14mm.

Should have the next time down to 30min or less.

Other than just getting the oil filter from the dealer the car is a blast to drive.