Mazda Oil Filter Buyer's Guide

A responsible car owner replaces the oil filter at every oil change. So it’s natural for a car owner to be familiar with oil filters. If you’re a Mazda owner who wants to learn more about oil filters, this guide has all the answers you need.

What’s An Oil Filter And Why Is It Important?

You can find the oil filter mounted to the engine. The oil filter is a small canister that’s the same size as a soup can. Inside the oil filter is a pleated filter. The oil filter’s job is to keep the motor oil clean at all times. Clean motor oil is very important to the engine’s health.

Without a functioning oil filter, your engine will run on dirty oil. In that case, the engine won’t last long. This post explains the oil filter in more detail.

When To Replace A Mazda Oil Filter

Under normal conditions, you should replace the oil filter at every oil change. There are some situations, however, that cause an oil filter to fail early. If you suspect that your oil filter has run its course, this tutorial will help you confirm it.

It would make sense to take the oil filter apart and check the filter media, right? Well, you could do that but it would be very messy and impractical. There’s a much easier way to confirm the state of the oil filter. Just look at the dipstick. The state of the oil will tell you a lot about the state of the oil filter.

Are OEM Mazda Oil Filters Better Than Aftermarket?

oil colors

Many Mazda owners wonder if it’s a good idea to save a few bucks on an aftermarket oil filter. If you ask us, it’s a pretty bad idea. It’s because aftermarket oil filters can fail early. When that happens, your engine gets dirty oil. You may end up having to pay a lot of money for engine repairs.

OEM oil filters are the much safer choice because:

  • OEM Mazda oil filters have high quality components
  • OEM Mazda oil filters are built with exactly the right dimensions

This comparison guide covers each point in more detail.

Don't Forget Your Drain Plug

It’s important to know how to remove and reinstall your drain plug the right way. A common (and easy) mistake is to over tighten the drain plug causing the threads on the drain plug and the oil pan can get stripped - which means you'll have to buy a new drain plug and oil pan.

In a nutshell, an improperly installed drain plug can result in very expensive repairs - so be sure you're familiar with how to remove and install yours.

Do you still have questions about oil filters? Feel free to contact us!