Hello all,

After some investigating regarding the oil filters that the dealers here supply as OEM parts, they are NOT what comes on our cars from Japan.
The ORIGINAL OEM filter is a very high quality filter made by Tokyo Roki Filter company in Japan.

The one that Mazda canada supplies as an OEM part is made by FRAM.
So much for "bring you car to the dealership to ensure quality parts".

Before jumping to too many conclusions, I decided to cut open a selection of filters available for the rx8.

The following is what I found in order of obvious quality:

#1 Original OEM Japanese Tokyo Roki Filter - Very high quality construction,
Metal end caps, and integrated metal bypass valve, good anti drainback
valve, 55 pleats on filter media. More holes in center tube strainer = more flow.

#2 Nippon filter - Good quality, Unsure of construction internally as it is currently
installed on car, but looked closest to the original filter upon visual inspection.

#3 Denso filter - Good quality, metal end caps, plastic integrated bypass valve,
anti drainback valve, 46 pleats, similar amount of holes in center tube strainer.

#4 Full filter - pretty close to the Denso Filter, 46 pleats however less holes on
the center strainer tube = less flow, also drainback valve construction is not
as good.

#5 Mazda filter - Poor quality, paper end caps, cheap construction,
pressed on plastic bypass valve, 46 pleats, and about the same number of
holes on center tube strainer as the #4 filter, poor anti drainback valve.

From the above information, it is clear that the Mazda replacement filter is the worst filter that you can put on the car. From what I've seen so far, I would recommend the Original Tokyo Roki filter, and if not available then the Nippon and the Denso filters.
I have heard that the Bosch is also good, but haven't bought one as yet to cut it open.
I will post the pics later of the above filters' internals on post 2 of 2.

I think that with enough pressure from the group, we may be able to get Mazda canada to import the proper filter for our cars as the current replacement is substantially inferior. Some even believe that this may be a cause of premature engine failures, and in the Miata group, they have also been complaining bitterly of oil starvation issues being caused by these inferior quality filters.

 

do u have pix of the filters? Are you to say that the Mazda Canada filters are orange in colour since it's made by FRAM?

 

No they are blue, with a Mazda label, but made fro mazda by FRAM. The original filter is Black with white writing. Yes I do have pics. I just have to upload them, it will be part 2 of 2 of this post.