How to Replace the Oil Filter in a Mazda 5

The Mazda 5 minivan features a cartridge oil filter. This filter sits inside the oil filter housing which acts as the permanent outer shell for the filter. More and more automobile manufacturers are switching over to cartridge filters because of environmental issues. All that's left of the spent filter is the paper-like filter and the plastic housing. This makes much less weight and easier disposal than the older, more conventional metal-cased filters.

Things You'll Need

  • Car ramps
  • Oil drain pan
  • Oil filter socket (75.6 mm)
  • Ratchet
  • 6 mm hex head wrench
  • Replacement oil filter cartridge
  • Latex gloves
  • Safety glasses
  • Drive the Mazda 5 up onto car ramps and then apply the parking brake. Before exiting the vehicle, release the hood latch.

  • Open the hood and then remove the oil fill cap.

  • Put on safety glasses and latex gloves and grab the remaining tools before crawling under the front of the minivan.

  • Drain the oil from the oil pan before removing the oil filter housing. The oil filter housing is just forward (towards the front of the van) of the oil pan. Once the oil has drained sufficiently from the oil pan, replace the oil pan plug and tighten it.

  • Align the oil drain pan beneath the oil filter housing and use the 6 mm hex head wrench to turn the oil filter housing drain plug counterclockwise. This will drain most of the oil in the oil filter housing. While the oil is draining, open the replacement oil filter box and retrieve the small gasket for the housing drain plug. Remove the old one and install the new one. Lightly coat a little oil on the new gasket. When the oil has drained sufficiently from the oil filter housing, replace the oil filter housing drain plug and tighten it.

  • Place the oil filter socket onto the ratchet and turn the bottom of the oil filter housing counterclockwise. There will still be some oil left in the housing so be careful not to tip it until it's aimed over the oil drain pan.

  • Remove the cartridge filter. It should come down in the housing, but sometimes it will stick up in the chamber. It pulls out easily either way.

  • Remove the old housing gasket and replace it with the new one supplied in the replacement oil filter box. Rub a light coating of oil along the new gasket.

  • Insert the new gasket into the housing and then reinsert the housing into the chamber. Screw it in by hand at first to be sure you're not cross-threading it. Tighten sufficiently with the ratchet and oil filter socket.