Oil Change, Synthetic? or Conventional?

[JohnyGT]

Time for my first oil change is coming up...

Just wondering what kind of oil do you folks use for ur 3s.

And can you guys recommend a place with nice price, that have

OEM Mazda filters other than dealers?

[Malcolm991]

A Mazda dealer is the least expensive I have found! $40

[alhope34]

If you waited till 8000kms to do an oil change, then get synthetic and stick with it through the life of your car. You should have changed the oil around 1800-2000kms, though. Just the factory oil. There are so many chemicals, solvents, degreasers and sometimes tiny metal shavings that are left on the internals of your engine during production. They all get stuck in the oil and these can potentially hurt your engine if not removed soon after initial break in (1600kms in most cases).

[Harbour Rat]

I am sure any name brand conventional 5W20 will work just fine as long as you change the oil and filter at appropriate intervals. A synthetic oil will reduce wear a bit at extremely low and high temperatures. But over the life of the vehicle I doubt the total difference would ever be noticeable unless you disassembled the engine and started measuring parts with a micrometer.

That said, I prefer synthetics, especially with the new-fangled low viscosity oils these days. I understand better than most why a low SAE viscosity number does not reflect the same film strength as it did say 10 or 20 years ago, what with greatly improved refining and additive technology. Even so, numbers like 5W20, 0W20 and even 0W30 make me nervous and I feel a bit better with synthetic oil in that viscosity range.

What really converted me to synthetics, even before low viscosity oils became fashionable, is the cold weather performance. Even after sitting outside for a week at a time in Thunder bay at -30 to -45 with 15W50 synthetic my old Datsun would fire up. With 10W30 conventional I either had to get a boost or wait for a warm (-20) day to go grocery shopping.

I have had a couple of oil changes done at the dealer and the price was fair, around $48 out the door. This is less than I paid for Castrol Syntec and a Fram filter from Wal-Mart for the first (DIY) oil change. The dealer service dept obviously uses Mazda filters and Mazda branded/supplied semi-synthetic oil, if you are curious.

[1flycdnM3]

due to my current idling issues, I am considering changing to synthetic oil as well (from Mazda for now) to help my engine run smoother/better.

[Nick]

i'm coming up to 31,000km and am switching over to synthetic. i just wanted to get some input about the oil i just bought - motomaster formula 1 synthetic at $29.99 reg price for 4.4l. i was looking at castrol syntec at costco but couldn't find 5w20, 5w30 was $39.99 for 6l. at walmart i found castrol syntec in 5w20 for $38 and change for 5 l. so after looking a bit i ended up with formula 1, since it's in the market i was wondering if it's an ok oil or how bad can it be?

[Ogata]

My 2nd change is due and RP is out of stock everywhere I went to! Speedtech, Parts Source all ran out...I tried Pming Krisecka for some Amsoil but no response yet.

[laksman91]

My 2nd change is due and RP is out of stock everywhere I went to! Speedtech, Parts Source all ran out...I tried Pming Krisecka for some Amsoil but no response yet.

I'd say no rush, you can use the Mazda stuff until you stock up on RP.

[S.F.W.]

My 2nd change is due and RP is out of stock everywhere I went to! Speedtech, Parts Source all ran out...I tried Pming Krisecka for some Amsoil but no response yet.

I use redline, and I know CTA carries it.

[Donutz]

My 2nd change is due and RP is out of stock everywhere I went to! Speedtech, Parts Source all ran out...I tried Pming Krisecka for some Amsoil but no response yet.

Speedtech on Bullock or Silverstar?

[Ogata]

Speedtech on Bullock or Silverstar?

I went and they said it was out of stock...

I went to both...

[CoolColombian]

I just got my first oil change done at Oakville mazda with Mobil One synthetic and paid $99, the oil itself was $55 or so.

[Flagrum_3]

I just got my first oil change done at Oakville mazda with Mobil One synthetic and paid $99, the oil itself was $55 or so.

WHAT?? ....You can purchase Mobil1 5w-20 in the 5 litre jugs at Walmart for $41....Make sure you get the one marked SuperSyn
as it's a Group 4 oil.

Dealer installs it with an OEM filter for $32.....for a total of $73....with oil left over


_3

[CoolColombian]

WHAT?? ....You can purchase Mobil1 5w-20 in the 5 litre jugs at Walmart for $41....Make sure you get the one marked SuperSyn
as it's a Group 4 oil.

Dealer installs it with an OEM filter for $32.....for a total of $73....with oil left over


_3

yup! It surprised me when I went to pay, the oil was too expensive and I saw it at walmart few days ago, well, next time I'll bring the oil and save a few bucks.

[Ogata]

Has anyone used Motul on their 3's? I ended up finding some Royal Purple today and my car is at the dealer right now.

[theurgy]

I run Royal Purple... I get mine done at my dealership and bring my own oil, however my dealership is now carrying Royal Purple as well.

[Ogata]

I run Royal Purple... I get mine done at my dealership and bring my own oil, however my dealership is now carrying Royal Purple as well.

Running on Royal Purple now...going to see if it made a slight difference and hoping my Engine says thank you.

[aris]

I run Royal Purple... I get mine done at my dealership and bring my own oil, however my dealership is now carrying Royal Purple as well.

My dealer has royal purple too..buy they sell it for $14.56 a litter. When i went for a oil change 2 weeks ago i asked the servise guy how much it would cost to put RP in and he said it would cost me around $80 to change oil....well i assumed it was tax in....nope...when i got my bill i almost shit my self $111 tax in. I will be bringing my own oil next time..lol

[theurgy]

The dealer I go to.. the service manager is a member of OMC and the dealership has decided to sponsor our club. So we get mad discounts on stuff like RP oil changes and a reduced service rate for club members.
However at the price I get RP for.. I prefer to always just bring in my own.

[STeeLy]

The dealer I go to.. the service manager is a member of OMC and the dealership has decided to sponsor our club. So we get mad discounts on stuff like RP oil changes and a reduced service rate for club members.
However at the price I get RP for.. I prefer to always just bring in my own.

Where do u get yours? No Limit, Part Source or your personal Supplier?

[condor888000]

Don't go to Part Source, more expensive. Was ~$13/L last I checked. Elite or No Limits had a lot better prices. I'd just go to Elite and have them do it, $69/hr shop rate makes it all worthwhile. Just be sure to have your OMC card on you.

My dealer has royal purple too..buy they sell it for $14.56 a litter. When i went for a oil change 2 weeks ago i asked the servise guy how much it would cost to put RP in and he said it would cost me around $80 to change oil....well i assumed it was tax in....nope...when i got my bill i almost shit my self $111 tax in. I will be bringing my own oil next time..lol

That's crazy, last I checked our dealer was giving it to club members at $8.99/L here. And $9.99/L at a local speed shop.

[STeeLy]

Don't go to Part Source, more expensive. Was ~$13/L last I checked. Elite or No Limits had a lot better prices. I'd just go to Elite and have them do it, $69/hr shop rate makes it all worthwhile. Just be sure to have your OMC card on you.

Well, more often than not, I will go to Elite, but in the event that I'm far (Such as the summer) I gotta stock up on RP so I can go to other dealers for Oil Changes and still be able to use RP

[condor888000]

Mike at No Limits does sell by the case if you ask. Might get a /L price down below Elite's that way.

[theurgy]

My last case was bought at NoLimits.

[STeeLy]

Thanks guys.. I'll definitely look into it before the summer.