Bosch filters are made by Champion Labs and are an average filter for a decent price. Not a high-end product like many of their others.

For those that are interested, here is a list of the major oil filter manufacturers and the brands they make (almost all of them):

Fram

Fram Extra Guard (std)
Fram Tough Guard (different media?)
Fram X2 (Silicone ADBV, Fuzzy media)
Fram Extended Guard(same as the X2)
Mileguard (Jiffy)
Honda (although some are alleged to be made by Filtech)
Chrysler line up except for the Cummins
Pennzoil
Deffense
Canadian Tire

Champion Labs

Bosch
Car and Driver
Deutsch
Mobil 1
STP
SuperTech
K&N
Valvoline filters
Mighty
Service Champ
Lee
AutoZone Value Craft
Some AC Delco
VW (some)
Warner
Luberfiner
Trust

Wix

Carquest blue
Carquest red
Napa Gold
Napa Silver (lower quality with nitrile ADBV)
Kralinator (in Canada)
ALLIANCE (Freightliner aftermarket)

Purolator (Arvin Meritor)

Purolator premium plus (nitrile adbv)
Purolator Pure One (silicone adbv, different media)
Havoline
Maxlife Valvoline (some)
Group7
Promotive
Powerflow
Quaker State (less media)
Advanced Auto Total Grip. (less media)
Pep Boys Pro Line
MotorCraft
Superflo

Denso

Toyota

Mann+Hummel

Mann
Volvo

Clarcor

Baldwin
Hastings
Amsoil
Casite

I always found this picture interesting...


http://homepage.mac.com/jkosi/oil_filter_003.jpg

For backgound, this is one of the more popular oversized filters used by VW Passat enthusiasts to try to cope with the 4qt oil sumps in the longitudinal 1.8L turbo engines. I think it was originally spec'd for the diesel Eurovan engines.

And who mades the Mazda filter?

I use fram. It's cheap, plus Racing Beat uses Fram on their 20B race engine. :wiggle:

-Cody

Is there a bigger filter that can be used on the 8? By bigger, I mean more capacity.

After the oil filter study, I dont think Racing Beat use FRAM anymore.

Bigger Size, I don't think so.

Bigger capacity - AMSOIL EaO has the largest capacity and is recommended for very long oil life, but would not do long OCI's on an 8. K&N also has more capacity than most and is part of the reason it is the best flowing.

Mahle, a parts supplier for Mazda Europe

apparently they make OEM filters for BMW/MB/VW as well

Interesting, I didn't know Champion labs made all those different filters. I once looked at bosch, M1, STP and they all looked completely different in design/material/quality for the RX8. I use the Mobil 1 M110 model, the car is listed as using M108 but the thread/hole pattern count is the same, the M110 is just a bit taller for better capacity.

Technically, the PL14612 is an over-sized filter. That is what I use.
Also, the K&N 1010 will fit and it is over-sized as well.
I use that when I can find it.

Don't confuse the maker with the effectiveness of the filter.

All filters are made to the "Brand" companies specifications and designs, so all Champion Labs (or other manufacturers for that matter) made filters are not the same design or materials!

That being said, the "production quality" of Champion Labs made filters are known to be very good.

Here is a good analysis of oil filters.

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy.html

It does depend on where each market sources it's filters though.

I read that Mazda Canada uses FRAM. Horrible! But Mazda USA does not.

For those who are having trouble finding the K&N filters, you can order online via http://www.partsamerica.com/default.aspx

-OR-

if you have a Schucks store locally, go there and order it if it isn't in stock. What is great is that the internet store is more cheaper by $5-10 and if you print that out and take it to the store, they will match the price!!

Or order at Summitracing.com

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

ITs not the cheapest (cheapest I've seen I think is 8.97 per filter) but hey, summitracing has good customer support so .... go for it ! (Im not part of summitracing.com)

Another good source of oil filter info. Written for bikes but shows cutaways of just about every filter you can think of.

http://www.tobycreek.org/oil_filters/index.shtml

Amazon offers the PL14612 in a 2-pack http://www.amazon.com/Purolator-PL14.../dp/B000H81CDO here if the single filter is OOS.

- Kabong

Purolator is a poor choice:

http://www.teammiata.com/libs/oil-filters.htm

and Most Mazda filters are made by Tennex for North America. Not Fram (Honeywell) or Mahle as some has suggested months ago in this thread.

Mazda oil filters can also be made by Tokyo Roki, Ltd and Nippondenso.

Worthless page. They are looking at the filters surface area in order to decide which is best. There's no scientific facts or tests.

Which reminds me, I need to write up a document that details why Silver is the best RX-8 color. Afterall, I own one, thus it's best.

I guess that is why you like Purolator best, and use them... because you use them they must be the best; right??

Despite the lack of a check valve and 1/3 rd less filtering area...

I've seen far more detailed reviews that show the pure one filters being good, than not. The page you listed doesn't even count though, since as I said, it has nothing besides speculation.

Can you even tell me how much surface area the recommended filter had? From one of the prior linked oil filter studies, they show the Pure One PL30001 as having 400 square inches of filter. Also keep in mind more isn't always better, it can slow down the oil flow.

So you think the mazda filter has 900 - 1200 sq inches of filter? I doubt it.

Blah, Blah, Blah!!! Most of those reviews are crap and outdated. That last one has not been updated in over four years.

You should always only hand tighten an oil filter genious.

The Fram TG sure grip makes for easy removal so I use it and change it every 3k.