Oil filter Fram or Wix

Whatever is available. Preferably penzoil or Mobil 1. I’ve used castrol, no issues. But all oil is the same ????????‍♂️ I also use the fram filter (the synthetic one that has the steel mesh wrapped around the filter paper)

Wix or the Black Mazda filters.

I dont dont get all the hate for fram. We use them at work on the fleet trucks, ive always used them on my own oil changes and air filters. Like 10ish years of using them and seeing them be used and ive never seen one fail. And same with castrol oil, i use it and we use it at work and have never had any motor issues.

The only time we dont use frams is when we are out of stock and dont have time to order or fram doesnt make it.

The high end Fram Ultra is probably the best filter you can get. It filters very fine particles that other brands simply don't. While not a fan of Fram filters, the high end ultra filter has nothing to do with the cheaper ones and is a very good filter. It does reduce oil pressure a bit, but that won't matter unless your engine is about to die. But as far as actual filtration, you will have a hard time finding another filter that will filter as well as that one.

I would highly recommend Rock auto, there website is simple old school but they are no bs auto parts store and will only show what does fit. They often show the real part your buying (say for tie rod), I've bought thousands of $ of brakes and suspension components over the last 20 yrs and always correct, they often sell OEM parts or the direct suppliers version of OEM which is unique. It will take some time for most of the aftermarket parts for the CX50 but at this point WIX or OEM Mazda are going to be your best bet for oil filters

If you're going to go aftermarket, the Wix/Napa Gold filter is also designed to meet Mazda's specs.

These oils are only as good as the filters you pair them with.

I've seen more aftermarket (fram, stp, etc) filters that are crushed down towards the center of the filter :thumbdown:. They do not seem to flow as well over time.

Never use Fram Oil Filter.

If it has a Fram oil filter on it (filter is located below the coolant expansion tank) then walk away.