Mazda 3 w/2.0 litre oil change tips
 

If anyone would give advice on accessing oil filter for replacement it would be appreciated. Specifically, does the car need to be placed on jackstands? Does the oil drain plug have a gasket that needs replacement?

Thanks

my advice? (never been said before)....take it to the dealer. You require a special filter and tool to remove the filter. Just let them do it so there are no questions. I know people who tried to buy the filter (only available through the dealer) and after buying oil and filter it cost just as much.

Rod,

My experience with having dealers do basic service is that they put the least talented mechanic on the least complicated jobs. This is usually the kid who smoked his breakfast and is likely to "forget" to change the filter and then overtorque the drain bolt. Besides, real men change their own oil.

Please, anyone with usefull advice indulge this group.

wow, thats a nice big F.U. in my direction. :fight:

Rod,

I didn't mean to sound like a wiseass. I am a liitle anal about trusting dealers when you don't know who's workin on my car. Peace

Matty is pretty knowledgable, although normally he is one of the first to warn against a dealership. Well, I know on the protege it is real easy to change the oil, but I don't know what is up with the cartridge filter on the 3.

comming up on my first oil change and have heard nightmares as to the filter.... should be interesting.... can't wait...

I have actually changed the oil on my 3i sedan. The 2.0L engine uses a reguler canister type oil filter. The 2.3L uses the cartridge type. No special tool is used to change the filter on the 2.0L engine the tool is only needed for the 2.3L engine. Both engines requier the removal of an aerodynamic plate that is mounted to the bottom of the engine compartment. This has a couple of plastic snaps and around 8 or so metric bolts that must be removed to get the plate off. Other than that it is a very easy oil change. I used ramps to get the frront high enough the access everything but some might be able to change the oil without ramps.

Thanks for the info. I'm curious to see the cartridge type oil filter. Also, I read 5-20 oil is required which is hard to find. Do you think 5-30 is compatible?

I use 0W-20 Mobil 1 Supersyn.

Many BMWs and other vehicles use cartridge type filters. The cannister type filters have the filter element(cartridge) in a can. The cartridge filters are just the filter element that you place in a "can" affixed to the vehicle. Usually you screw off a cap, pull the older filter out, replace a couple of gaskets, and put it back in. The special tool is probably used to remove the cover. Sometimes special means you could easily use an existing tool and make it work, I don't know in this case.

here are some pictures for BMW filters.
http://www.bavauto.com/se1.asp?dept_id=7