8k Oil changes

[Z00MZ00M]

I noticed on the mazda service manual that oil changes are required every 8k intervals. I know most omestic and imports require 5 to 6k...can someone educate me on why mazda requires 8k.....not that im complanning but 8k seems to be alot.....does mazda use synthetic??

[Xerox]

Mazda oil (atleast the one used in the 3 that I know of) is semi-synthetic.

Most cars these days (and some even older cars) both domestic and imports can go longer than 5k before an oil change.
And maybe even longer depending on the driving conditions.

I think BMW is like 15k per oil change?

[sp3GT]

I did it according to the manual at 8k. But I haven't changed it since and I'm at 20k right now. I think i'm due for service.

[Skarbro]

My Corolla is 8K oil changes as well.

[cereal83]

BMW is like every 20000 or 1 year. It costs like $200 though on a 02 530i and like $500 for a 02 745Li

[Z00MZ00M]

wow 18 to 20k for the bemers .....hmmm

[mEtH]

Mazda uses Semi-synthetic which helps. I still do mine based off of 6-7k. It all depends on how you drive and where you drive. Check your oil after 5k, 6k, 7k and you will see the difference each time. I like keeping it clean...

[Jeff-TheBiz]

I switched to synthetic at my first oil change and I still do it at 8k or 4 months... actually 8k, which takes me about 3 months.. *sigh*

[EvilEric]

I'm on synthetic as well and it's about 5-6K for me. It's just easier for me to remember when to go in instead of have to say calculate 8K all the time.

[Kevin@nextmod]

I got a question. Should i go for my oil change ? cause i'm at 4 months but only at 5k. The thign is i'm going to switch to a more thicker oil when it warms up and if i get a normal oil change then i'll have to do it again in a month. So should i still go for it? Or can my oil right now last another month? I'm using Mobil 1 5W30

[Skarbro]

I got a question. Should i go for my oil change ? cause i'm at 4 months but only at 5k. The thign is i'm going to switch to a more thicker oil when it warms up and if i get a normal oil change then i'll have to do it again in a month. So should i still go for it? Or can my oil right now last another month? I'm using Mobil 1 5W30

I personally stick to the OEM spec 5w20 all year round.

(Edited my dumb question)

[Kevin@nextmod]

Thicker oil in the winter will take longer to warm up the car. I'm going to run 5W40 in the summer as thats the best one to run in for Motul 8100 or 300V

[Skarbro]

You're going to put in a thicker oil than 5w30 when it warms up? Why?

Most people use the thicker oil in the winter and I don't recall anyone going thicker than 5w30.

I personally stick to the OEM spec 5w20 all year round.

Actually I can't believe I typed that. I had thicker and thinner backwards in my head for some reason. :loco

[Kevin@nextmod]

lol....its all good....

[cereal83]

Why 10w40? I mean isn't 10w30 ok for warm weather?

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Why 10w40? I mean isn't 10w30 ok for warm weather?

okay so WD40 isnt enough?

Should I RSVP on my K790a ASAP?

[cereal83]

lol I just caught onto that. I was thinking WTF is 10w-40 :chuckle

[smokeeater]

I have to say I'll be doing it every 5K - easier to remember.

Has anyone put something like a Slick 50 in the new car? Mazda doesn't recommend it, but what are your thoughts on it?

S.

[cwp_sedan]

I have to say I'll be doing it every 5K - easier to remember.

Has anyone put something like a Slick 50 in the new car? Mazda doesn't recommend it, but what are your thoughts on it?

S.

I wouldn't add anything to the motor that doesn't come in there stock. Just use the oil required. No additives.

[Elder_MMHS]

I got a question. Should i go for my oil change ? cause i'm at 4 months but only at 5k. The thign is i'm going to switch to a more thicker oil when it warms up and if i get a normal oil change then i'll have to do it again in a month. So should i still go for it? Or can my oil right now last another month? I'm using Mobil 1 5W30

Oil change every 4 months or 8000km, whichever comes first. If you are putting low mileage, chances are you're driving around the city doing more stop/go and thus more accelerating which works the engine oil a bit more than say, highway cruising.

I've had two oil changes since I got my car and I'm only at ~6400km total mileage (I live close to work). I've also had my tires rotated twice but that's for another reason...

[MicroDude]

i was tlaking to my mechanic at mazda he suggested every 6k for the best results 8k is to much.. and at 8k it's really dark!

[Wild Weasel]

If Mazda says 8k, then 8k it is for me. Do you think your mechanic is privy to some info that the Mazda engineers overlooked?

I figure he just wants you in for oil changes more often... ;)

[Skarbro]

Just do whatever makes you sleep better at night. It never hurts to change oil earlier (except in your wallet). I won't slam anyone for changing their oil early. For the first couple of oil changes I changed it VERY early. But now that my car is broken in nicely, I'm sticking to 8,000 kms. Changing the oil myself with Mobil-1 5w20 full synthetic now.

[Garu]

I already did oil change on mine, the mileage was about ~600km. There so many different opinions on the first oil change but the reason why I did mine early is because I hate the thought of leaving metal deposits for first 8000km.
I'll go full synthetic on the next oil change.
What does MoT use for full synthetic oil?

[zeroburn]

where can u buy motul oil???

[BLKOUT]

i am going to switch to full synthetic later this month when i do my oil change. what is a good synthetic oil for a good price? i am looking for something that can be bought a ct.

[Malcolm991]

I took mine in at 5k and mazda showed me the door and told me to come back at 8k so they must believe in the 8 k oil change

[doughboyr6]

q advance? i can't claim to know much about oils...but i've read some good stuff about the q advance stuff

[bb1999jan17]

i do it every 3 months regardless of km

[Jetmech]

I go to Westowne Mazda for my oil changes on my two vehicles that use 5w20 and according to the service reps there the oil is bulk 5w20 dino oil that is not a semi syn. As for mobil 1 its not considered a full syn anymore because it comes from a group III Dino base stock with additives. Motul, royal purple and amsoil are group IV synthetic base stock and are true full syn to name a few.



Mazda oil (atleast the one used in the 3 that I know of) is semi-synthetic.

Most cars these days (and some even older cars) both domestic and imports can go longer than 5k before an oil change.
And maybe even longer depending on the driving conditions.

I think BMW is like 15k per oil change?

[Skarbro]

I go to Westowne Mazda for my oil changes on my two vehicles that use 5w20 and according to the service reps there the oil is bulk 5w20 dino oil that is not a semi syn. As for mobil 1 its not considered a full syn anymore because it comes from a group III Dino base stock with additives. Motul, royal purple and amsoil are group IV synthetic base stock and are true full syn to name a few.

From the Amsoil site:




Q: Are Group III basestocks synthetic?

A: Yes, they are synthetic. Group III base oils are highly processed oils and were classified as synthetic in 1999.That year, the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus ruled in a complaint by Mobil Oil Corp. against Castrol North America Inc. Castrol claimed its product, Syntec, was a synthetic oil even though it had used Group III base oils since 1997. The ruling by NAD said Castrol presented evidence that constitutes a reasonable basis for the claim that Syntec, a Group III based formulation, is synthetic motor oil.

[cyberscorpi0]

I use Mobil1 5w-20 and Change Oil and Filter every 3 months or 3500K.

Most members on M3F uses 0w-20. What is the advantage of using 0w-20 vs 5w-20?

[Flagrum_3]

Mobil1 bashers, they kill me...Mobil 1 is good enough for Porsche and many other manufacturers and most racing teams in the world, ...I think its good enough for our 3's.And cyber all due respect mang, but don't you think that's a waste of money? Even the lowest grade of Mobil 1 is good for 8k/6 months.I can understand you want to baby your engine but think not just of the money wasted but of the environment too....IMHO.


_3


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[cyberscorpi0]

Mobil1 bashers, they kill me...Mobil 1 is good enough for Porsche and many other manufacturers and most racing teams in the world, ...I think its good enough for our 3's.And cyber all due respect mang, but don't you think that's a waste of money? Even the lowest grade of Mobil 1 is good for 8k/6 months.I can understand you want to baby your engine but think not just of the money wasted but of the environment too....IMHO.


_3


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Sorry Bro, I meant 3500 Miles or 5500 KM.

[Jetmech]

CASTROL AND MOBIL GO TO COURT TO BATTLE IT OUT:

Recently, Mobil accused Castrol of reformulating its synthetic by substituting other basestocks in place of its synthetic polyaphaolefins (PAO's). Castrol Syntec is a hydrocracked oil. That's right, Castrol has replaced the PAO synthetic base stock with hydroisomerized petroleum base stock. Hydrocracking, as it's called, is the highest level of petroleum refining. Castrol isn't even a true synthetic yet Castrol ended up winning the battle when the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus ruled that Castrol could still market its oil as "synthetic" despite their new formulation. Basically, they expanded the definition of synthetics to include Group III hydroprocessed petroleum oil. This high profile case took place because synthetics are recognized as the market's best hope for growth. Synthetic oil sales have outpaced petroleum oil sales by a wide margin and the gap continues to widen every year. Consumers are getting smarter and demand the best for their vehicles! Read the full story on the Castrol debacle in our informative articles section. Additionally, just as soon as Castrol won this battle, several other major oil companies jumped in and came up with hydroprocessed motor oils of their own and labeled these products to be "100% synthetic", when they still are primarily Group III hydroprocessed petroleum oils!


So Group III is petroleum based product was my point.

[Jetmech]

Mobil1 bashers, they kill me...Mobil 1 is good enough for Porsche and many other manufacturers and most racing teams in the world, ...I think its good enough for our 3's.And cyber all due respect mang, but don't you think that's a waste of money? Even the lowest grade of Mobil 1 is good for 8k/6 months.I can understand you want to baby your engine but think not just of the money wasted but of the environment too....IMHO.


_3


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I not a basher. I used Mobil 1 for years in my honda and had great results and do believe they are a great oil but I like to call things as they are. Seems funny that mobil 1 quietly switched over to a group III base stock after they expanded the criteria and lost the case. Still think they are a great oil but paying a premium.

Cheers

[Flagrum_3]

You pay a premium with any quality synthetic oil imo, as far as I've seen some are more expensive than Mobil1....Personally, I'll stick with Mobil 1 basically because that's all I've used for a very long time and I've never been dissapointed.


_3


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[Jetmech]

You can get an esso XD3 synthetic (comes with a gold label) that sells for around $25 at walmart but unfortunately it doesn't come in a 20 weight. Guys in the states say its better than if not equal too Mobil 1 seeing as they are one and the same here.

[jaguar]

I took mine in at 5k and mazda showed me the door and told me to come back at 8k so they must believe in the 8 k oil change

lol how nice of them! Everytime I go to my dealership, the sticker they put on my windshield always says next oil change is 5K from now.