I'm sure some of you have had the same problem that I have. First time changing the oil from the factory....and you cant get the damn filter off! The thing is way up in behind the engine, which I didnt expect...and there is also no way you can get it off by hand. So...I used some crazy self cranking grabby wrench and just about ripped it in half...but got it out. Does this require some sort of special tool from mazda usually, or did I just get the shaft?

 

lol the filter from factory is known to be tighten on ridiculously tight, glad you got it off

 

Yeah mine was really tight, I had them tow it to the Mazda dealer and they had all they could do to get it off. After that I have been taking it off by hand. Almost should have Mazda replace the oil filter when you buy the car and before you take it home. That would be my advice to all new owners.

 

Use the f size oil socket

EDIT: I should mention you can get these at your local auto parts place like auto zone or advance. They also may be called F-type. These fit purolator, which I recommend.

 

You can try using an oil filter wrench that some of the vendors sell on this forum.

 

I don't think there is enough room to do that.
I bought a wrench from AutoZone that clamps on the top of the filter. The more torque that is required, the tighter it clamps to the filter. It is universal in size.

 

if you want the actual part, rosenthal mazda sells it. i think its around $7.

 

Don't do that. The sheet metal on todays filters is pretty light guage. If this doesn't work you wind up with a torn up filter and un-drivable car.

Some of the F size wrenches don't grip adequately. Some people have added double stick tape or sandpaper to the inside of the tool to tighten the grip.

F size wrench with a socket extension and a flex joint will take care of it every time.

 

I brought mine to mazda for the first time. And now I do it myself and can untighten it by hand.
________
VAPORIZING MIDS

 

Hahahaha - that's what I tried on the first oil change and as was mentioned there's not enough room to get it to turn very well especially as the filter body starts to tear. Unfortunately my wife was out for the day with her car so I ended up walking 40 minutes to the nearest Pep Boys to buy a filter wrench and then 40 minutes back.

 

I have finished my second oil change, and I have a filter cap to take it off. I found that it was slipping a lot, so I just put a thin rag in the cap and it worked perfectly.

dag

 

I just do it by hand, 3/4 turn after the filter makes contact with the base. No leaks and its easy to get off with a cap-snaffler (rubber rag for undoing jar lids, or in this case oil filters)

The first change, and when I change the oil on a friend of famliy member car I use those cap type oil filter wrenches, I put a few drops of oil in the lid of the cap (i use the old oil that came out of the car) and I rub it inside the lid of the filter, and then get a handfull of dirt or sand and put it in the cap...it sticks to the oil and makes the inside of it grip much better to the filter....works everytime for me!

 

thats what i did.. also when removing, if you pop a hole in top of filter while oil is draining there's almost no mess at all when you remove it...