How often to replace engine oil and where?

[ds2chan]

I was thinking of doing my 3 yr / 72,000 km check up sometime this year (probably in the summer) but after going through the list more thoroughly, it looks like all I need is an oil change, get my caliper slide rails lubricated, and check/top up all the fluids.

Does anybody know a shop in the Steeles & Warden area (or in another area somewhat close by) that can do this type of stuff for me?? MoT charges $230 + tax for the 3 yr check up but I don't think I need everything done. I just want to see what my options are. Since I don't know of any shops (more importantly, no other shops that I trust) I wouldn't know where to go.

Thanks guys & girls!!

EDIT: I don't have time at the moment to call but does anybody know if http://www.speedtechauto.com/ do these kind of things?? I think Andy is the name of the person that Joe mentioned before. Thanks.

[Gizzmo_jr]

your "engine oil" has been changed every 8,000Km's. People phrase it differently like just saying "oil".

[ds2chan]

lol.. I never knew that.. boy do I feel slow this morning.. I was going through the list thinking what the hell is engine oil..

ok.. never mind that then.. can anybody recommend any shops to do the lubrication of the caliper slide rails and that will top up my fluid levels??

[Donutz]

I'm changing every 5000 - 6000 km and I use RP. I get my filters from MOT, my oil from Speedtech, and Jimmy does my oil changes.

[vladimir]

I am planning on doing it every 3 months/5k km whichever comes first.
The manual says 4 months/8k but that seems a little on the long side.
Remember folks, oil is the life blood of the car, it is the most important (as well as one of the easiest and cheapest) maintence to do on your car.
My friends dad keeps on top of his oil changes, and does it a lot more often then what most would, but he has used many cars past 300k without any major problems.
On his current vehicle (Nissan sentra I believe) he is currently at 250k km. He also lugs a boat to their trailer (2 hour trip) EVERY weekend from April to October, and he is still on his original clutch. The shop he took it to couldn't believe it.

[misbhavr]

costco does the synthetic oil change cheaper than you can do it for yourself ($41).

[Hives]

costco does the synthetic oil change cheaper than you can do it for yourself ($41).

What brand of oil and filter do they use?

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

If you use synthetic oil, or even semi-synthetic, there really is no need to get it changed more regularly than the 3 month/8,000km service that Mazda recommends. If using conventional oil, I personally wouldn't go past 5,000km, but I know of people that do.

If you want a good mechanic that knows the Mazda3 better than most dealer techs and also cares about his work and is cheap to boot, I really can't recommend Jimmy at Street Performance enough. He is located on Woodbine, north of Steeles and south of 7. Call him at 905-946-0990 or on his cell at 416-450-6161.

[ds2chan]

If you use synthetic oil, or even semi-synthetic, there really is no need to get it changed more regularly than the 3 month/8,000km service that Mazda recommends. If using conventional oil, I personally wouldn't go past 5,000km, but I know of people that do.

If you want a good mechanic that knows the Mazda3 better than most dealer techs and also cares about his work and is cheap to boot, I really can't recommend Jimmy at Street Performance enough. He is located on Woodbine, north of Steeles and south of 7. Call him at 905-946-0990 or on his cell at 416-450-6161.

Thanks!! I'll give Jimmy a call and see what his rates are for what I'm asking for.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Thanks!! I'll give Jimmy a call and see what his rates are for what I'm asking for.

Actually, I was just there today having the wife's MZ3 in for a regular 8K service and to install some aluminium Mazda 3 pedals in her car. Jimmy also installed a custom tri-gauge pod with boost, Oil Pressure and EGT gauges in my Speed3 a few months back. Installing the sensors, running all the cabling and mounting this gauge pod is almost an entire day's worth of labour. He did a nice, clean and professional install and I won't even tell you the silly price he charged me for all of this work. Let's just say the guy will get free coffee every time I come to see him. He takes it Tim Horton's only, large double-double by the way. If you see him, tell him Tim told you that. :)

Lots of people on this forum go to Jimmy's and especially the Speed3 owners for mod installs.

[ShortBus]

I am planning on doing it every 3 months/5k km whichever comes first.
The manual says 4 months/8k but that seems a little on the long side.
Remember folks, oil is the life blood of the car, it is the most important (as well as one of the easiest and cheapest) maintence to do on your car.
My friends dad keeps on top of his oil changes, and does it a lot more often then what most would, but he has used many cars past 300k without any major problems.
On his current vehicle (Nissan sentra I believe) he is currently at 250k km. He also lugs a boat to their trailer (2 hour trip) EVERY weekend from April to October, and he is still on his original clutch. The shop he took it to couldn't believe it.

the reason why your friend's dad does and should is because he is putting a massive load on his engine but for just everyday use (a to b with little to no load) doing it early is wasting money. if you look at the same car in europe the recommended oil change is about double the length as recommended here.

[Donutz]

EDIT: I don't have time at the moment to call but does anybody know if http://www.speedtechauto.com/ do these kind of things?? I think Andy is the name of the person that Joe mentioned before. Thanks.

Yes, Andy can also change your oil. When I have problems, and I don't feel comfortable taking the drive up to street performance, I go to Andy instead. He does great work.

[kevcol74]

What brand of oil and filter do they use?


They use Castrol Syntec and Champion oil filters (highly rated, very similar to Purolator) I looked it up after this was mentioned, its a great price and I have a membership! :chuckle I know where I'll be changing the oil on my Escape from now on! The 3 will go to Mazda until the warranty is up...

[Krakor]

Do you think I should be changing my oil sooner?
I have 2008.5 M3 GT Sport Hatch.
I do a fair amount of highway driving.

I am at about 12,000km now. Did my first oil change at about 7,500km.

Should I start doing them every 5 to 6000km?

Opinions?

[kevcol74]

If you are using Mazda semi-synthetic, every 8K as the book says. If you drop to regular conventional, 5K or less. Full synthetic.... that could cause controversy, but I'd say no more than 10K if you know you have a good filter, but I'd probably stick to 8K.
My opinion on the matter... :chuckle

[Gizzmo_jr]

I run synthetic and I change every 8,000km. For a NA engine, I think 8k is fine. But for the turbo guys, I probably wouldn't go past 5,000 since the oil goes through a lot more heat cycles. I suppose if your using dino oil that 5-6,000 km would be alright too.

[Flagrum_3]

If you are using Mazda semi-synthetic, every 8K as the book says. If you drop to regular conventional, 5K or less. Full synthetic.... that could cause controversy, but I'd say no more than 10K if you know you have a good filter, but I'd probably stick to 8K.
My opinion on the matter... :chuckle

I agree, stick to the 8k if your using semi-syn or syn! With dyno oil 5k tops; the stuff is garbage!.....Main thing is your still under warranty, so you have to stick to 8k or sooner intervals.
The mostly highway driving you do is easier on an oil so you should be fine.But it's always a good choice to switch to 100% synthetic, just for the cold starts & occasional high temp occasions.

I've switched to 0w-30 100% synthetic, also my warranty is up, so I'll be pushing it to 10k intervals...oil still should be fine though.According to alot of oil samples taken, its keeps good for 16k+.


_3

[LovemyMazda]

I use Pennzoil Platinum and a Wix filter I buy in Buffalo. 7000km intervals work very well for me. I do used oil analysis and my wear levels are excellent. I take the oil and filter to my own mechanic whom I trust. Right now at 6000km into the oil change its still very clean on the dipstick!

[TheMAN]

I agree, stick to the 8k if your using semi-syn or syn! With dyno oil 5k tops; the stuff is garbage!.....Main thing is your still under warranty, so you have to stick to 8k or sooner intervals.
The mostly highway driving you do is easier on an oil so you should be fine.But it's always a good choice to switch to 100% synthetic, just for the cold starts & occasional high temp occasions.

I've switched to 0w-30 100% synthetic, also my warranty is up, so I'll be pushing it to 10k intervals...oil still should be fine though.According to alot of oil samples taken, its keeps good for 16k+.


_3
yeah... I agree it's a bad idea to go past 5k since the "recommended" 5W20 oil *may* shear easily after that point... when the oil shears down, it no longer has the ability to lubricate/protect

I run my german castrol at 16k intervals... never had a problem... quite safe to do so since it is approved for european cars, and crazy high intervals have been recommended for those cars with no issues... I have an even better peace of mind now that I have an oil cooler :)