Mazda3 maintenance schedule + Air filter question

[JEDI]

American 2005 3i automatic

This what the manufacturer has for the 3i:
Oil change 7.5k miles, Air filter 37.5k, coolant flush 60k

Ignore the 15k, 30k, 45k recommendations from the dealer?

As for the air filter (dealer charges $45 to change air filter):
i think 37.5k is a bit tooooo long to go w/o an air filter change. i looked at my air filter. It's pretty dirty. black Soot covering 2/3's of it.

How do i know if it's dirty to the point where i need to replace it b4 the recommended 37.5k miles? (I live in DC area and have 25k miles.)

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: JEDI
American 2005 3i automatic

Thats what the manufacturer has for the 3i.

Ignore the 15k, 30k, 45k recommendations from the dealer?

Also, what air filter do i need? (Dealer wants $45 for air filter change.) And walmart doesnt sell air filters for the Mazda3 or Mazda6.

What exacctly are you asking?

The air filter isn't exactly a critical part if it's not replaced. Dirty filters actually tend to work better than new.

What you can do if you are super cheep azz, is just take the original, vaccuum and lightly beat it out.

On a side note, this is why I like common brands (honda, toyo, etc.), parts are everywhere.

 

[hoorah]

Follow the manufacturer schedule.

Dealer schedule is just to make more money.

I'd bet an auto parts store would carry your air filter, though you may have to special order it.

You may or may not feel like doing your own work on your car, but air filters are one of the highest profit margin add-on's at most oil change places, so I would at least consider popping that one in yourself. It'll take you all of about 5 minutes including washing your hands afterwards. And you don't need a new air filter after every oil change, contrary to what most dealers/jiffy lube would like you to believe.

Que 30 posts about saving money by doing work yourself and how people hate jiffy lube.

 

[brtspears2]

I got cabin and engine air filter for my Mazda6 at a local auto parts store. They just had to special order them for me. About 40 bucks for both.

Though, the OEM Mazda air filters have the look of a much better built filter. The paper in it is thick and the filter isn't flimsy. The cabin air filter, there is little difference in OEM and aftermarket. Both are flimsy.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: hoorah
Follow the manufacturer schedule.

Dealer schedule is just to make more money.

I'd bet an auto parts store would carry your air filter, though you may have to special order it.

You may or may not feel like doing your own work on your car, but air filters are one of the highest profit margin add-on's at most oil change places, so I would at least consider popping that one in yourself. It'll take you all of about 5 minutes including washing your hands afterwards. And you don't need a new air filter after every oil change, contrary to what most dealers/jiffy lube would like you to believe.

Que 30 posts about saving money by doing work yourself and how people hate jiffy lube.

yup, spark plugs + air filters for my Chevy Prizm i got at Wlamart.

But they dont have air filters for the mazda3

guess i'll find an advanced auto parts, or pep boys to get the air filter.

 

[Heisenberg]

$45 to change the air filter? Damn, that crazy. Go to a real auto parts store and get one. It will take all of 10 minutes to change it yourself unless you can't tell one end of a screwdriver from the other.

 

[JEDI]

bump

 

[bctbct]

if it looks pretty dirty just go buy one and put it in. the amount of dirt is related to your driving habits.

 

[compuwiz1]

When you went upscale to the Mazda, you gave up any rights you had previois to that, to shop at cheap parts stores, who don't carry your stuff. :shocked:

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
$45 to change the air filter? Damn, that crazy. Go to a real auto parts store and get one. It will take all of 10 minutes to change it yourself unless you can't tell one end of a screwdriver from the other.

10 min? Isn't it more like 30 seconds?

 

[doze]

$45 for an air filter is robbery and 37.5K seems to be a lot of miles before changing an air filter. I have always used cheaper filters and changed every 12~15K miles.

Edmunds says the same thing http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/howto/articles/43786/article.html

 

[deadlyapp]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: JEDI
American 2005 3i automatic

Thats what the manufacturer has for the 3i.

Ignore the 15k, 30k, 45k recommendations from the dealer?

Also, what air filter do i need? (Dealer wants $45 for air filter change.) And walmart doesnt sell air filters for the Mazda3 or Mazda6.

What exacctly are you asking?

The air filter isn't exactly a critical part if it's not replaced. Dirty filters actually tend to work better than new.

What you can do if you are super cheep azz, is just take the original, vaccuum and lightly beat it out.

On a side note, this is why I like common brands (honda, toyo, etc.), parts are everywhere.

tool. Airfilter is very critical and if it's dirty it will rob the car of power.

You might as well just go with a washable K&N and be done with it.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
$45 to change the air filter? Damn, that crazy. Go to a real auto parts store and get one. It will take all of 10 minutes to change it yourself unless you can't tell one end of a screwdriver from the other.

10 min? Isn't it more like 30 seconds?

mazda3's air filter is under some plastic ducting. So it adds a little time

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: deadlyapp

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: JEDI
American 2005 3i automatic

Thats what the manufacturer has for the 3i.

Ignore the 15k, 30k, 45k recommendations from the dealer?

Also, what air filter do i need? (Dealer wants $45 for air filter change.) And walmart doesnt sell air filters for the Mazda3 or Mazda6.

What exacctly are you asking?

The air filter isn't exactly a critical part if it's not replaced. Dirty filters actually tend to work better than new.

What you can do if you are super cheep azz, is just take the original, vaccuum and lightly beat it out.

On a side note, this is why I like common brands (honda, toyo, etc.), parts are everywhere.

tool. Airfilter is very critical and if it's dirty it will rob the car of power.

You might as well just go with a washable K&N and be done with it.

I'm a tool?

like he's going to notice the 1,2 or 3 HP from a dirty filter on a low power econobox.

And when I say the filter is not critical, I mean it doesn't cause damage if it's not replaced.