Recent content by maczter

I try to stick with 3,000 mile OCI's. Max I'll go is 5,000. Why? Turbo car (Mazdaspeed 3). Texas heat. Office is only 5 miles away. When I'm not just putting back and forth between home and the office, I drive it like it was meant to be driven, so oil changes are cheap insurance to keep the...

http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/s...ge=4#Post916143

I have read the PurolatorOne filter cartridge for the 2.3L Mazda3 frequently collapses inside the cartridge housing.

This explains why I never have a problem with overfills when I take my own oil to the dealership. I let them do it because it's already paid for, but I bring my own oil. They just provide the filter and labor.

I noticed my dealer put the mileage for my next change at 3,000 miles and not the 5,000 spec'd in the manual. However, they still put 5,000 on my wife's naturally aspirated 2.3 L Mazda 3.

I'll have to find the source, but I seem to recall seeing that our MS3's direct injection is injecting fuel at around 1600 PSI compared to non-direct injection systems that are typically well under 300 PSI. This increased pressure at which the fuel is being injected coupled with the fact that it...

Thanks for the reminder link for that thread. I saw it several days back, shortly after it was started, but somehow missed the direct injection aspect/similarities. Going to have to keep an eye on that and will definitely do some UOA's now just to be sure our MZ3's don't have similar issues.

Hmm...going to have to keep this in mind for my Direct Injected Turbo Mazdaspeed 3. ...and the whole getting away from big petroleum companies and supporting 100% American companies things doesn't hurt either (where the products are equal or superior to foreign based and/or foreign sourced...

Perhaps. But with a turbo car, and a brand new one I'll be making payments on for the next several years at that, "probably fine" is not acceptable. Or, as the sign in one of my class rooms in college said: "Good enough is not enough".

...and why 8 quarts, if you don't mind me asking?

Heh. Cool. I'm going to try 5W30 PP once I hit 5,000 miles on dino juice. What mileage are you switching over at and what OCI do you plan to run? Would be interesting to compare after similar OCI's if we are both switching form dino juice around the same mileage. BTW, I had my oil changed this...

That should be fine. Though, according to the more recent manuals, SM is only required for the models made for outside the US & Canada, so you could probably use Amsoil and be fine (assuming it meets the ILSAC spec, which IS required for US & Canada MS3's).

Check your service manual again carefully. My service manual lists 5W20 for the non-turbo Mazda 3's and 5W30 for the Mazdaspeed 3 (listed as "with turbo"). Also, SM spec is only listed under "Other than US & Canada" while ILSAC is the only required certification/spec/whatever required for US &...

True enough probably. Looks like my fluid line-up will be Redline MT-90 for the tranny, Redline Water Wetter added to the coolant, ATE Super Blue brake fluid and Pennzoil Platinum 5W30 with an OEM filter cartridge. Also ordered a K&N drop-in replacement air filter to hold me over til I can...

I always had good luck with PIAA bulbs. Tried Silverstars in two different applications. They didn't last long at all.