Oil filter Castrol or OEM Mazda

His initial experience with the Mazda has been pleasant, but it's definitely not as refined as the Corolla. Definitely sportier and looks great, but it has some areas where it's rougher around the edges than the Corolla. Things like having a different size oil filter from the factory than what is sold as the replacement part... Quality of Life stuff like that.

Buy an OEM filter and the top spec Castrol/your chosen top tier brand.

Mazda recommends their oem filters on skyactive motors. Its because they dont have the flaps that keeps oil pressurized. Any wisdom says you dont need it but go ahead and buy them online as I paid $5 per.

In terms of filter and oil, I have an NA and I personally like to buy the OE filters from Mazda and for oil I just use the oil recommended in the owners manual, id assume the ND uses different oil so I’d say just check that.

Buy Castrol Edge and the long-life filter from Walmart for best engine protection.

I did Castrol Edge Euro Car 5W-40 with a Hengst oil filter, but if you want to spend a little extra most people recommend LiquidMoly

YES! My 2012 Skyactiv is at 233K miles, and has always had the Mazda Moly 0W-20 (with the exception where I was able to get the Idemitsu version, which is the same stuff, but without Mazda's markup. Sucks that it isn't available anymore. ) and I'm not about to chance running a different oil.

Always run a Mazda filter too. The quality seems better than most.

I use OEM Mazda filter. Synthetic oil, Kirkland brand or Castrol since i think thats who makes the Mazda oil.

I used the Castrol once, and have been buying the assembled kit from ECS ever since. At 73K miles, now, and change it every 7-8K.

FZ is expensive, but not as expensive as a new transmission. Get the FZ.