Changing oil on the Mazda 3

When I first got my Mzda 3 5 door it took me a while to find the oil filter. I eventually found it but noticed it wasn't your conventional oil filter mount. Is it still possible for the owner/driver to still change the oil? The manual suggests I take it to the dealer, but we all know thats a scam. Is there a special tool or can I use an allen head to change the oil?

You would still need to get the filter from the dealer unless someone is making an after market now.
The filter consists of two O-rings and a filter cartridge insert. That filter looking thing you see is actualy the housing that the insert sits in. I know people have changed them on their own but all have said the dealer was the only place they could find the filter components.

Good luck. :)

Getting your filters from the dealer might not be the worst idea (Depending on cost anyway), because it would be a record of how often the oil got changed, which can be a biggie come warranty time.

My brother does the oil on his new Stratus R/T himself sometimes, and even keeps the receipts for the oil he bought just to have some proof if anything goes wrong.

I was a little concerned about this myself when it got time for an oil change on my 3. Mazda right now is the ONLY place you can by the replacement filter. Don't be scared of it though. They will sell you the O ring which goes on the cartridge. You only replace one and not two. I talked to the service guy at mazda about all this so I knew the whole scoop on it before I did anything. The filter and ring are a little pricey, I think they run about $16 for both parts, however it is cheaper than taking in in to have them do it. I found it is a lot cleaner job and easier if you pull off the shield down there. No big deal, it is about 6 or 7 self tapping bolts but it comes on and off real easy. That way you don't get oil on the plastic shield and you don't have to work through the little access hole. Doing the job yourself also allows you to put in a higher grade motor oil. If you take it in then they will just put in plain factory grade oil which I'm sure is O.K. as well. I just prefer Castrol GTX, My preference. As for getting the filter out... Just go to Wal-Mart or somewhere and get one of those 6 in 1 wrenches to go over the whole casing which is the same size as a regular oil filter. It will screw right out and the replacement cartrige comes out. It just all looks a little scary cause it's different from what we are used to. No big deal though.

I asked the dealer about warranty ramifications on changing the oil myself and they said it did not make a difference because it is a routine maintenance type of deal. As long as you put the plug back in and put oil back in to the correct level, you'll be fine. If the motor blows up which it won't you can tell pretty easy if oil was the problem or not. I think everyone should keep a record of anything they do to a car anyway. Don't rely on the dealer to do that for you. It also says something about the car when it comes time to sell it if they see that you cared enough to right things down.

FRAM does make a filter for the 3. its a CH9641. go to www.fram.com and look it up. its on there. it should come complete with everything needed to change the filter. cant tell you how much the filter is though.

I like the idea of having the shield under the vehicle, but wished they would have devised a better set up for removal. Maybe some hinges and quick releases or something. Not to mention the cut out for the oil filter being about 2 inches off center. What gives?

FRAM does make a filter for the 3. its a CH9641. go to www.fram.com and look it up. its on there. it should come complete with everything needed to change the filter. cant tell you how much the filter is though.


Yeah, that's why I take the shield off of mine when I change the oil. Like you said.. I just seems like they misplaced the access hole. The design team dropped the ball on that one. I'd like to see how the dealer gets around it. They have to take the shield of or they just let the oil fall on the shield and wipe it off when they're done. If you take out the filter through the access hole then you end up getting oil all over the shield, which just seems retarded. It's kind of a pain to take out the handfull of bolts to remove the shield, but I just didn't want to get oil all over my new car, plus it just gives you a lot more room to work. With a good socket set though it only takes about five minutes to remove and reinstall.

You can get a oil filter from just about any auto parts store. They may not have one in stock, but they could get one for you in a day or two.I work a auto parts store and alot of people have asked us for that filter so now we keep then i stock.They are only like 4 or 5 bucks for a filter

I like to change my own oil because I know the work was done right. I got my filter cartridge at a local O'Reilly auto parts store. I like the Wix filters but was surprised that it was not the conventional spin on filter. Needless to say, I called the dealer after reading that I need "special" tools to change it in the owners manual. Now that I have read some on what I really need to do I think that I can tackle it myself. I would like to use synthetic oil and have used Mobil One in the past but wonder if any other brands are better.

I like to change my own oil because I know the work was done right. I got my filter cartridge at a local O'Reilly auto parts store. I like the Wix filters but was surprised that it was not the conventional spin on filter. Needless to say, I called the dealer after reading that I need "special" tools to change it in the owners manual. Now that I have read some on what I really need to do I think that I can tackle it myself. I would like to use synthetic oil and have used Mobil One in the past but wonder if any other brands are better.
I also went through this and found the dealer to be the best price, $8.99 including "O" ring. jiffy lube wanted $16.00 for theres so I bought a few to hold me over.

Well everyone, its my first time changing oil on Mazda3, filter is not the one i used to change on my old corolla, but i bought it from PepBoys for 6$ including the O-Ring, not 2 but one which is enough i guess, i am very certain with mileage on my new mazda so i will use synthetic 5W-20 even though i wanted 5W-30 which will keep life of your engine much longer, but slightly will reduce mileage, so i will try synthetic 5W-20 and I think removing the shield takes little than 5 min, but first i need to go now and do an oil change on it for the first time.

mazda put the hole in the splash shield for inspection of oil leaks while on the assembly line... it's not for removal of the filter.

maybe in the future they'll move it... or not.

compaired to the splash shield on the 2.3 mazda6, the mazda3s are much more practical. and, atleast it's not metal like some other makes use.

Do you have to put the car on ramps or can you change it on flat ground??

To make your changes simplier on the 2.3 do a oil filter housing conversion. The 2.0 uses the spin on filter so buy the oil filter housing that is on the 2.0 and install it on your 2.3 That's what I have done.
Now you can do the oil change using a spin on filter. If you do not want to do the conversion cut the hole on the splash guard a little bigger so you can get to the filter, now no need to remove the splash guard. In fact with the spin on filter I can do an oil change without having to remove the splash guard or making the hole bigger.

How much is the spin on housing???

How much is the spin on housing???

Here's some relevant information from another board: (their not mentioning price here)
This is a 6i conversion, same deal (http://www.mazda6tech.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=35)

Here: (http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=30450.0)There's mention of ALL the parts for $55.49 at a Mazda dealer.

"SteveK2003
03-31-2005, 09:27 PM
Getting your oil filters from the dealer might not be the worst idea (Depending on cost anyway), because it would be a record of how often the oil got changed, which can be a biggie come warranty time.

My brother does the oil on his new Stratus R/T himself sometimes, and even keeps the receipts for the oil he bought just to have some proof if anything goes wrong."


Sorry dude, but receipts won't help. The oil has to be changed by the dealer while under warranty, or else it is void. They don't care if you have receipts, they'll ask if you are a mechanic, and when you say no, they'll void yur warranty.

Heres a good rule. Untill the warranty runs out....DON"T TOUCH IT!

Cheers!

[quote=smithdavidal;6034257]"SteveK2003
03-31-2005, 09:27 PM
Getting your oil filters from the dealer might not be the worst idea (Depending on cost anyway), because it would be a record of how often the oil got changed, which can be a biggie come warranty time.

My brother does the oil on his new Stratus R/T himself sometimes, and even keeps the receipts for the oil he bought just to have some proof if anything goes wrong."


Sorry dude, but receipts won't help. The oil has to be changed by the dealer while under warranty, or else it is void. They don't care if you have receipts, they'll ask if you are a mechanic, and when you say no, they'll void yur warranty.
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what happens when you have the oil changed at a oil changing place, Jiffy Lub etc. Dealers tell you that the oil should be changed by them for the business. Where does it say in the warranty the oil has to be changed by them during the warranty period? Just a thought for those who chnge our own oil

good advice anyways

There are federal LAWS in the US on the books that protect the consumer on the original warrenty. The dealer can't MAKE you service the car there, if you have documentation that the car was serviced at the intervals outlined in the owners manual (not what the dealer has in there little service book) you shoudl be OK. If the service manager at a dealer is playing the "you didn't service it here" bit just get the regional manufacture rep involved and they will change the tune FAST, the manufacture does not want to go to arbitration or court!

what happens when you have the oil changed at a oil changing place, Jiffy Lub etc. Dealers tell you that the oil should be changed by them for the business. Where does it say in the warranty the oil has to be changed by them during the warranty period? Just a thought for those who chnge our own oil

good advice anyways


Even though it couldn't be simpler, they don't know that you're doing it right, or even have the slightest idea of what you are doing. Somewhere in that jumble of words called a warranty, there is a clause that goes somthing like this...."by a qualified technician". So unless you are one.....

Nuff said.

F.Y.I. I change my own oil too. Allways have, probly allways will. However I have family members that have been screwed on this very topic. So beware.

what happens when you have the oil changed at a oil changing place, Jiffy Lub etc. Dealers tell you that the oil should be changed by them for the business. Where does it say in the warranty the oil has to be changed by them during the warranty period? Just a thought for those who chnge our own oil

good advice anyways


Even though it couldn't be simpler, they don't know that you're doing it right, or even have the slightest idea of what you are doing. Somewhere in that jumble of words called a warranty, there is a clause that goes somthing like this...."by a qualified technician". So unless you are one.....

Nuff said.

F.Y.I. I change my own oil too. Allways have, probly allways will. However I have family members that have been screwed on this very topic. So beware.

What is a "qualified technician" ? I am a technician but not in the automotive field. I might be a chemical, electronic and the list goes on.
Does it mean a mechanic? do they specify what kind of a technician.

[quote=rdrr;6036378]What is a "qualified technician" ? I am a technician but not in the automotive field. I might be a chemical, electronic and the list goes on.
Does it mean a mechanic? do they specify what kind of a technician.

Ok, now your just being stupid. Of course they specify.
Would you expect a automotive tech, to perform work on a nuclear reactor? NO you'd expect a nuclear tech to do that.

Do you have a point? Or are you just being difficult?

I suggest you read the fine print of your warranty before making such ridiculous comment. If you CAN find a hole in words that have been put together by a team high priced lawers...then exploit it, by all means.
Good luck with that ;)

Wow, ok so here is the deal. Dealerships USUALLY do not care as long as you can prove that the oil was changed with receipts. As for being a qualified mechanic, if they want to be a dick about it maybe they should test you on how to change the oil. If you can do it competently then there should be no problem. I've worked at 3 dealerships, I have friends that work in other dealerships. I've never experienced or heard any of them say anything about a warranty claim being rejected because the customer performed their own work if the failure was due to defect. Now, that being said, they could get you on the type of oil filter you use as I see a LOT of TSB/Tech Tips/ETC about using the wrong type of oil filter restricting oil flow causing engine failure. But, with the economy the way it is most dealerships don't turn away decent warranty work unless they know it will get rejected due to negligence. So the bottom line is, 9/10 if you can prove the maintenance they probably won't push the issue much further. Not to mention the fact that you can call the consumer affairs division of the manufacturer and bitch bitch bitch if you can prove the maintenance and the dealership hassles you.