Mazda Engine Oil Change DIY
Learn how to change the engine oil and oil filter on a Mazda 4-cylinder with a variable valve timing (VVT) engine.
Changing the engine oil and filter on Mazda vehicles such as Mazda 3, Mazda 6, CX-5, CX-7, and CX-9 equipped with the four-cylinder engine is easy and can be completed in about one hour.
What you will need
- Engine Oil Filter
- Jack Stands
- Jack or Car Ramps
- Synthetic Engine Oil: 5 quarts
- Metric Socket Set
- Oil drain bolt: 17mm
- Engine splash shield: 10mm
- Oil filter pliers
Procedure
Jack up the vehicle. Drive your Mazda up carefully on ramps if you are using ramps. Put the car in park and set the parking brake.
- Secure the vehicle with jack stands. Don’t rely just on the ramps. The vehicle must be secured with jack stands.
- Remove the engine splash shield. Remove the plastic shield under your Mazda’s engine. It is held in place with several 10 mm bolts. Carefully lower the splash shield and move it away. Locate the oil drain plug. Here is a close-up picture of the oil drain plug on a Mazda 2.5-liter engine. You will need a 17 mm wrench to remove it.
Remove the oil drain plug. Allow the old oil to drain for at least five minutes.
- Replace the drain plug washer.
- Reinstall the drain plug and torque it to the specified specifications.
- Find the engine oil filter on your Mazda. Use a filter wrench to remove the oil filter.
- Remove the old engine oil filter. Install the new filter on your Mazda. Tighten it by hand.
- Locate the oil fill hole on top of the engine.

- Add the recommended engine oil. Check the oil level after you add 80% of the capacity. Don’t overfill the engine with oil.
This guide applies to Mazda with the L-series engine, and it is found on several models, including Mazda 3, 5, 6, CX-5, CX-7, CX-9, etc.
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Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your Mazda.


