I have a 2006 Mazda3 2.3L hatch back. I did the spin-on filter conversion and have never looked back. While the cartridge filter was cool in the respect of being able to inspect the filter media at each oil change, but I hated the mess that the filter created. Yes it had a drain plug, but no matter how fast I was at removing that sucker, oil would run down my arm and all over my floor as well.
But the big reason I did the spin-on conversion was the fact that the cartridge filter's cap was made of plastic. I just couldn't get the thought out of my head that after thousands and thousands of heat/cool cycles, that black plastic filter cap would fail, and do so catastrophically!
If the cap was made out of aluminum, I would probably still have my cartridge filter. But with the spin-on, I don't even spill a drop of oil any more, and that's a pretty big statement regarding the Mazda 2.3L.
But the big reason I did the spin-on conversion was the fact that the cartridge filter's cap was made of plastic. I just couldn't get the thought out of my head that after thousands and thousands of heat/cool cycles, that black plastic filter cap would fail, and do so catastrophically!
If the cap was made out of aluminum, I would probably still have my cartridge filter. But with the spin-on, I don't even spill a drop of oil any more, and that's a pretty big statement regarding the Mazda 2.3L.
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