2023 Mazda CX-50 2.5S 36.3k mi; Pennzoil Platinum 0W-20 9.8k mi

[OneLonelyBurrito]

Just received the latest UOA for my Mazda CX-50 2.5S, the naturally aspirated 2.5L Skyactiv engine. The oil used was Pennzoil Platinum 0W-20 with a Mazda 1WPE-14-302 filter. It was replaced with the same.

This oil was in use from July 24th, 2024 to April 23rd, 2025. During that time it was driven 9831 miles, which this time, only included ~1400 miles in road trips. This is my commuter and the family run around vehicle. My commute when I decide/need to go into the office is ~60miles one way, so it gets a good mix of driving between the day-to-day short trips running errands and a longer commute.

The Oil Life Monitor tripped at 9320 miles and said 600 miles remaining until oil change due and was like that when I changed the oil at the 9831 miles. So I don’t know what comes after that for the oil life monitor and the owner manual isn’t real specific either.

Here are some stats I was able to compile for this OCI. Previous OCI stats are located in the previous UOA.
OCI Miles: 9831 miles
OCI Hours: (Total/Idle): 312/41
Total Engine output (Hp*hr): 4774
Average Engine output over the OCI (hp/hr): 15.3
Number of Engine Starts: 1277
Average Trip Distance (miles): 7.7
Average Trip Run Time (mins): 14.7
Fuel Consumed (gal): 378
Ave Fuel Economy/Max/Min(mi/gal): 25.6/32.3/20.7

The oil level didn’t seem to move much until right before I changed it. Then it seemed to drop by about a 1/3 of a qt according to the dipstick. When I went under to change the oil, I noticed the underbody panel was discolored and when I pulled the access panel for the oil filter and drain plug I saw it was leaking oil from what appear to be the oil pan gasket. So now, I don’t know if it burned any or if it just leaked some. The morning before I changed the oil the oil level sensor was reading 76mm which is higher than I would have anticipated given the reading of the dipstick. Per my notes, the oil level started at 75mm for this OCI.

When I parked the car on the ramps for the oil change, the oil temp sensor was reading 201f and I had driven into the office that day, so an hour commute in the morning and an hour back in the afternoon.

On to the UOA, it is quite boring, thankfully. Wear metals are trending down nicely. Oil dilution appears minimal, viscosity appears to have held up. TBN is still at an acceptable level. Oxidation and Nitration both appear to have increased a little but well below the threshold to condemn the oil. I did post a thread about the winter time oil temps of this engine as they appear to be quite low. But the low oil temps don't seem to be a problem in regards to fuel dilution.

The next run is probably gonna be quite short with the oil leak that appears to be coming from the oil pan. So I will be taking it to the dealer to get that fixed. But after the dealer oil is run for a little while, I will probably switch it back to Pennzoil Platinum and given these results I will be sticking with 0W-20, I see no reason to increase the viscosity to a 5W-30 or 0W-30 at this point.

 

[JavierH19]

Not bad but I'd cut back to 6k even if the olm allows for more.

 

[fantastic]

Here are some stats I was able to compile for this OCI. Previous OCI stats are located in the previous UOA.
OCI Miles: 9831 miles
OCI Hours: (Total/Idle): 312/41
Total Engine output (Hp*hr): 4774
Average Engine output over the OCI (hp/hr): 15.3
Number of Engine Starts: 1277
Average Trip Distance (miles): 7.7

I will probably switch it back to Pennzoil Platinum and given these results I will be sticking with 0W-20, I see no reason to increase the viscosity to a 5W-30 or 0W-30 at this point.

Very good presentation! Kudo's to that. I find your 1277 engine starts quite interesting. Can I assume this has start/stop technology on this CX-50? Seems 0w-20 is working just fine for your style of driving. Also noted your 7.7 mile average distance. That is short in my neck of the woods & you must be in quite an urban area.

 

[OneLonelyBurrito]

Very good presentation! Kudo's to that. I find your 1277 engine starts quite interesting. Can I assume this has start/stop technology on this CX-50? Seems 0w-20 is working just fine for your style of driving. Also noted your 7.7 mile average distance. That is short in my neck of the woods & you must be in quite an urban area.

Luckily the ECU documents the number of engine starts, so I just note it down at each oil change. The CX-50 does not have stop-start so that won't affect that number, but it does have cylinder deactivation. I do live in the suburbs of around Pittsburgh, so it's definitely a mix of driving, some are quite far but others like my gym and grocery store are pretty close. Looks like I forgot to include the ave mph which is 31.5mph for this OCI, which I believe is pretty middle of the road for average speed.

Not bad but I'd cut back to 6k even if the olm allows for more.

I see no reason to cut it back at this point as long as I use a quality synthetic oil.

 

[fantastic]

Luckily the ECU documents the number of engine starts, so I just note it down at each oil change. The CX-50 does not have stop-start so that won't affect that number, but it does have cylinder deactivation. I do live in the suburbs of around Pittsburgh, so it's definitely a mix of driving, some are quite far but others like my gym and grocery store are pretty close. Looks like I forgot to include the ave mph which is 31.5mph for this OCI, which I believe is pretty middle of the road for average speed.


I see no reason to cut it back at this point as long as I use a quality synthetic oil.

When I multiply 9,831/7.7 = 1276.75 starts. Theoretically, starting it twice a trip would double that number. Interesting, & I wouldn't think we start the engine that many times but it adds up depending on the average trip distance.

 

[Urshurak776]

2023 and the oil pan gasket is leaking? Still under warranty?

 

[OneLonelyBurrito]

When I multiply 9,831/7.7 = 1276.75 starts. Theoretically, starting it twice a trip would double that number. Interesting, & I wouldn't think we start the engine that many times but it adds up depending on the average trip distance.

When I say trip in this context, it means for each engine start it drove 7.7mi on average. To get my average trip distance I divided the OCI mileage by the number of engine starts. Which is the math you are showing.

2023 and the oil pan gasket is leaking? Still under warranty?

The leak should be fixed under the powertrain warranty. My appt at the dealer isnt for another 2 weeks. The warranty manual specifies all gaskets under the powertrain warranty.

 

[fantastic]

When I say trip in this context, it means for each engine start it drove 7.7mi on average. To get my average trip distance I divided the OCI mileage by the number of engine starts. Which is the math you are showing.

Ah, thanks for the clarification. That makes more sense. 7.7 mi represents one start then.

The leak should be fixed under the powertrain warranty. My appt at the dealer isnt for another 2 weeks. The warranty manual specifies all gaskets under the powertrain warranty.

Is the warranty 5 year/50k? Good thing it will be fixed.

 

[OneLonelyBurrito]

Is the warranty 5 year/50k? Good thing it will be fixed.

The powertrain warranty is 5yr/60k. My dealership has treated me pretty well so far, so I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be covered. But the dealership and Mazda would have an upset customer if it isn't covered.

 

[fantastic]

The powertrain warranty is 5yr/60k. My dealership has treated me pretty well so far, so I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be covered. But the dealership and Mazda would have an upset customer if it isn't covered.

Good deal, I just looked at a brochure I saved for my old XC90 for giggles and it said 4 years/50k. Did they offer you an "extended" warranty beyond 60k or is one available that you know of?

 

[OneLonelyBurrito]

Good deal, I just looked at a brochure I saved for my old XC90 for giggles and it said 4 years/50k. Did they offer you an "extended" warranty beyond 60k or is one available that you know of?

They definitely offered me all sorts of stuff in the finance office when I was buying the car. But I turned it all down. I figured I most likely wouldn’t need it and if I wanted one later I could just buy it outright instead of adding it into the financing of the vehicle.

 

[fantastic]

They definitely offered me all sorts of stuff in the finance office when I was buying the car. But I turned it all down. I figured I most likely wouldn’t need it and if I wanted one later I could just buy it outright instead of adding it into the financing of the vehicle.

Probably need to buy it before warranty ends I'd imagine. Yeah, I don't blame you wanting to focus on the main purchase instead of the fast talking finance dept. To me it does seem that OEM's are just giving you these warranty timelines that would represent early production quality issues & not long term wear. That's where they try to up sell the "extended" warranties.

 

[OneLonelyBurrito]

Probably need to buy it before warranty ends I'd imagine. Yeah, I don't blame you wanting to focus on the main purchase instead of the fast talking finance dept. To me it does seem that OEM's are just giving you these warranty timelines that would represent early production quality issues & not long term wear. That's where they try to up sell the "extended" warranties.

I wasn't overly concern with the issues that might crop up at higher mileages with Mazda's typically good overall reliability. I always figured, with the power of the internet, I could figure out most issues that might crop up and if needed take it to a local shop to be fixed.

 

[facility1]

I would take it over to Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0w-20 and around 5k with a Fram ultra filter.

 

[JAG]

I see no reason to cut it back at this point as long as I use a quality synthetic oil.

That oil and other similar synthetic oils have allowed significant deposits to form in other people’s engines. I think they didn’t stress the oil as much as your long OCI did. If you do continue long OCIs, at least keep on eye on deposits everywhere you can see inside the engine. You still won’t be able to see piston deposits. For that, watch for oil consumption increases.

 

[OneLonelyBurrito]

That oil and other similar synthetic oils have allowed significant deposits to form in other people’s engines. I think they didn’t stress the oil as much as your long OCI did. If you do continue long OCIs, at least keep on eye on deposits everywhere you can see inside the engine. You still won’t be able to see piston deposits. For that, watch for oil consumption increases.

The engine still looks spotless currently on the inside. Haven’t had any noticeable oil consumption, except for what I’m assuming is leaking currently ie the oil level didn’t move until . The Skyactiv N/A engines aren’t know for having oil consumption issues and are generally easy on oil.

 

[ltslimjim]

L

Thread 'Mazda TSB: 2.5L with CD & 6AT… 3, 6, CX-5, CX-30 owners get in here'

Jun 1, 2024

So, I’m in the market for a newer vehicle and came across this TSB while looking at Mazda recommendations:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10244672-0001.pdf

From this thread:

https://mazdas247.com/forum/t/cx-5-...-on-3-4-upshift-bulletin-05-005-23.123880149/

APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS

NOTE: Vehicles with cylinder deaction have a "M" as the 8th digit in the VIN for the 2.5L with cylinder deactivation.
2017-2024 CX-5 (2.5L with cylinder deactivation and 6AT)
2018-2021 Mazda6 (2.5L with cylinder deactivation and 6AT)
2019-2024 Mazda3...

• ltslimjim
• Replies: 37
• Forum: Automotive General Topics

• 

CD you say? It apparently has caused early failures related to the Transmission. Not to go OT, but might be an important read for the OP.

 

[ltslimjim]

Oil report itself seems superb, but long term use of OTS synthetic for extended drains can lead to oil consumption. I agree with @JAG even in engines that seem spotless to there has been several users converting to VRP have cleaning occurring at oil control rings. Just something to be aware of if consumption develops. @JavierH19 advice to cut back to 6k is sound.

 

[OneLonelyBurrito]

Oil report itself seems superb, but long term use of OTS synthetic for extended drains can lead to oil consumption. I agree with @JAG even in engines that seem spotless to there has been several users converting to VRP have cleaning occurring at oil control rings. Just something to be aware of if consumption develops. @JavierH19 advice to cut back to 6k is sound.

I don’t think the OEM recommended oil change interval is extended. If I was going further than the 10k Mazda specifies for the standard drain interval I would lean more towards agreeing with you. But I would not consider following the standard drain interval an extended interval.

 

[cammyfive79]

Mazda employee here....
The Mazda maintenance minder in the car is just a countdown and does not have any sort of programing or algorithm behind the scenes. You can actually go in and change the interval you want it to show as "next service due" by date or overall mileage. The "distance until next oil change" is fixed at 10K miles and, again, is just a countdown. The owners manual on the non-turbo CX-50 says 12 months / 10K miles for "normal service" and 6 months / 5K miles for "severe service".