Oil changes

[mikethern]

The good news is that Mazda's are super reliable, so we probably won't have any engine problems during the warranty, but better safe than sorry.

 

[graviongr]

Hmm. Just tried the oil change today. I'm starting to have doubts on whether or not these filters listed in that 5 pack link are official Mazda 2010 3 oil filters.

The included wrench bit did not fit the factory installed oil filter. Also, it was black and these 5 pack ones are white.

So I could not finish the oil change because I was unable to remove the factory filter, I tried by hand something fierce but it was on there pretty darn securely, also I was doing this on my back under the car so it was hard to get a good angle and grip in the first place.

Tomorrow I will buy an oil filter wrench / socket set from Harbor Freight and give it another try, but I'm a little uneasy now. And yes I did make sure to select 2010 Mazda 3 2.0L, and I gave them the last 8 digits of my VIN.

Am I just being too paranoid?

P.S. Mikethern: I bought 5 quarts of 5w20 Mobil 1 synthetic oil, it was buy 4 get 5th free so it cost me a shade under $30 for the oil. But I figure that oil will easily last the recommended 5k miles between oil changes.

 

[mikethern]

graviongr, when you take the old filter off, touch the rubber gasket to the rubber gasket of the new filter to make sure it is the same diameter. And make sure you check the dipstick before every drive for a few days to make sure you are not leaking oil. If your engine is ruined from leaking oil, you are sh*t out of luck.

What's the item number on the boxes of the new filters? It should be LF10-14-302

 

[Dubcnea]

the factory one is very tight...i had to almost dent the factory one with an oil wrench before it would budge. they are put on far too tight. color does not always matter in the way of the filter...it's the part number that's most important.

and i'm not sure but i think i read somewhere that putting synthetic in the engine before a certain number of miles (2500?) was not good. but i'm not 100% sure on that accuracy. just to be safe i used conventional for this change since i only had 400 miles on the car...and will do synthetic the next time.

 

[graviongr]

Ok I just got home. The part number on the filter is LF05-14-302A.

So does that mean it's not going to fit and I got the wrong one?

Also, to Dubcnea (any underscores in here?), I think you're right on with that, I've heard the same thing. I have 3800+ miles on my vehicle now and was told it should be safe to go synthetic now.

 

[mikethern]

According to the following website, your filter is okay.....

http://www.mazdastuff.com/product.cfm?ProductID=2172

Here's another discussion about your filter....

http://forum.miata.net/vb/printthread.php?t=295640

 

[graviongr]

Awesome, mikethern, thank you for that link sir.

 

[mikethern]

Here's another website that says that it IS the right filter.....

http://cart.scarboroughmazda.com/index.php?cPath=7_61&osCsid=dsopskiic6ro22276682go9i43

This Fram site says it is the right filter too. Where it says, "Enter Competitor Part Number(s)", go ahead and enter LF10-14-302. Then do it again and enter LF05-14-302A. Both result with the same Fram filter....

http://www.power-21.com/FramPower21i/Competitor.aspx?b=F&pn=LF10-14-302&em=True

Notice that 3 Mazda filters are compatible....
http://www.power-21.com/FramPower21i/PartDetailWindow.aspx?b=F&pn=PH9566

 

[graviongr]

Ok I just finished the oil changes. There were no problems really. I didn't have to take off the under armor thing, there was a hole there to grab the oil filter.

The factory one was on very tight, with my new oil filter wrench bit I was able to finally loosen it. I installed the new one and tightened by hand.

Here are pictures of the old and new filters, incidentally, the old filter was a Ford oil filter. I guess it shouldn't strike anyone as strange since Ford had owned 33% in Mazda until last year. They sold a lot off which is partly how they did so well when the economy bombed and the other big 2 were borrowing money, and Ford didn't... now I think they own like 10% in Mazda or something? I'm no expert, that is just from what I read.

The original filter says "FoMoCo".
Part number of the Ford filter.

You can notice that the factory filter is just a smidgen taller than the new one.

Anyways, I did it all on my back under the car, I didn't need to jack it up, so worrying about that was one less worry I didn't have to deal with.

Used the Mobil 1 synthetic, and I ran the engine for a while and so far so good, no leaks to report. I think everything went well in general, thanks to the advice and encouragement from everyone here.

 

[mikethern]

Did you put a film of oil on the filter gasket?

 

[TheMAN]

the 2010 oil filter (any engine) is the EXACT same as the 04-09 2.0l mazda3
some 09 mazda6s uses the cartridge bulls*** so you don't want to ask for a 09 mazda6 filter and chancing getting a wrong one!

if you got an LF10 filter then good for you... it's as tall as the original LF8J factory filter

the engine in the 2010 is still mostly ford, just like most other parts in the car... the ford's lesser stake at mazda has nothing to do with the use of ford parts or not... fact of the matter is, the 2010 has been in development WAY before the financial crisis hit or ford's sale of mazda... you can't just change designs/suppliers overnight!

 

[Fred]

Ok I just got home. The part number on the filter is LF05-14-302A.

So does that mean it's not going to fit and I got the wrong one?

Also, to Dubcnea (any underscores in here?), I think you're right on with that, I've heard the same thing. I have 3800+ miles on my vehicle now and was told it should be safe to go synthetic now.

Mobil 1 website talks about a number of car manufacturers delivering new vehicles with synthetic.

 

[Dubcnea]

i don't think you're wrong, Fred...but i'm one of those 'better safe than sorry' guys. i'll take my chances and run conventional for one change rotation.