2025 Skyactive engine 2.5 NON turbo 0w20 vs 5w30

[Bojo]

Hi all, new here to this forum. I know this has been talked about before, Ive searched for the answer here and found some older posts, but i wanted to ask this because I have a brand new 2025 CX5 (perhaps the skyactive has changed from the older ones? ) , live in Texas, and have the skyactive 2.5 NON turbo engine. The manual recommends 0w-20 in the U.S but other countries 5w30 ok for the non turbo engines. Unless, Im reading that wrong.

For my first oil change i went ahead and put in 5w30 Pennzoil ultra platinum, due to what Ive read in some of these forums, (quieter engines, etc) and the fact they say you can use it in other countries with relatively the same climate here. Plus others have done the same.

Curious if you all think that was a mistake, if it could cause damage, if i should just stick with the 5w30, or is it better put the 0w20 Mazda moly oil on the next oil change?

It doesn't get that cold here so Im not worried about which one is better for "winter" as our winters are not that bad, just wondering which one you think is better for this new , non turbo skyactive engine.

Opinions appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Propflux01]

The 0/5w-30 is fine for these engines. Use with confidence. 0w-20 is for CAFE standards.

From your owners manual:
"
Except U.S.A., Canada and Israel

SKYACTIV-G 2.5

Use SAE 5W-30 engine oil.

Oil container labels provide important information.
A chief contribution this type of oil makes to fuel economy is reducing the amount of fuel necessary to overcome engine friction.
For maintenance service, Mazda recommends Mazda Genuine Parts.

(Mexico)
SKYACTIV-G 2.5
Use API SM or higher, SAE 5W-30 engine oil. If SAE 5W-30 engine oil is not available, use SAE 5W-20, SAE 0W-30 or SAE 10W-30 engine oil.
The quality designation SM, SN or SP must be on the label.

 

[NibbanaBanana]

0w-20 is for the regulators, 5w-30 is for your engine.

 

[facility1]

PUP is a excellent oil in either viscosity, use 0w-20 in winter and 5w-30 in summer. Its one of the best oils on the market.

 

[spasm3]

I run 5w30 in mine. I have also used 0w40 without issue.

 

[OneLonelyBurrito]

The N/A Skyactiv engine will be fine with either 5W-30 or 0W-20. It’s a proven good wearing engine.

 

[BISCUT]

That engine should be fine with 20wt, but if me, 5-30 it would be!

 

[Cujet]

It might take you some time to be confident in your choice. But you'll find lower wear rates, and zero oil related engine problems with the use of a quality, synthetic 5W-30.

 

[Bojo]

The 0/5w-30 is fine for these engines. Use with confidence. 0w-20 is for CAFE standards.

From your owners manual:
"
Except U.S.A., Canada and Israel

SKYACTIV-G 2.5

Use SAE 5W-30 engine oil.

Oil container labels provide important information.
A chief contribution this type of oil makes to fuel economy is reducing the amount of fuel necessary to overcome engine friction.
For maintenance service, Mazda recommends Mazda Genuine Parts.

(Mexico)
SKYACTIV-G 2.5
Use API SM or higher, SAE 5W-30 engine oil. If SAE 5W-30 engine oil is not available, use SAE 5W-20, SAE 0W-30 or SAE 10W-30 engine oil.
The quality designation SM, SN or SP must be on the label.

Wow! Thank you all for these responses!

 

[Tdog02]

5w30 should be the standard for most if not all gas engines. Higher if forced induction or towing. I use 5w30 and 5w40 without hesitation here in Texas.

 

[Titan]

I don't understand the binary recommendations for 0w-20 vs 5w-30, when Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30 is thicker at operating temps and at HTHS temps than MOST of the 5w-30's. If you want thicker than 0w-20, why not consider ESP 0w-30 instead of one of the average 5w-30's? Actually, from the VOA samples on this site, I see a Honda 0w-20 virgin oil sample that came back higher than the 20 weight limit, whereas some Pennzoil 30 weights are sitting right on the border of 20/30 limit. Yep, that Honda 0w-20 was reported to be thicker than some Pennzoil 30 weights! If you are going to take the hobby seriously, these details matter. If you aren't going to take it seriously, ignore everything I typed and move on with your life!

 

[Propflux01]

I use mobil one ESP 0w-30 in my turbo cx5. The UOA I posted last week is available in that section.

 

[Bojo]

It might take you some time to be confident in your choice. But you'll find lower wear rates, and zero oil related engine problems with the use of a quality, synthetic 5W-30.

This is good to know!!!

Pennzoil Ultra Platinum is a excellent oil in either viscosity, use 0w-20 in winter and 5w-30 in summer. Its one of the best oils on the market.

I appreciate all these answers very much, and definitely more comfortable now about putting the 5w30 in.

Some non-scientific observations comparing having 0w20 in the car when new for the first 1000 miles or so, and now Pennzoil Ultra Platinum for a week now.

Car Seems to be quieter driving , and at lights, stops etc. This is quite noticeable.

Car seems a bit LOUDER at Startup than it did with the Mazda 0w20 . HOWEVER, it has gotten COLDER here in Texas, so not sure if that is the reason? I also know these Skyactives are known to be louder at startup, but there was a noticeable difference.

Thoughts on that? I know most wear occurs at startup but is the tradeoff for quieter running and idling worth it?

OR
Maybe a different 5w30 would be quieter? Or maybe it really is because of the "tighter clearances" when the weather is getting colder? Its only about 38 degrees, so not unbearably cold.

Maybe Im overthinking it? . Nevertheless, I find it interesting.

 

[2015Corolla]

You have ruined it. Mazdas need HPL!

 

[HemiBenny]

I have a 2015 Chrysler 200 with a 2.4l MultiAir that sits at 169k. It was purchased new in December of 2014 and she’s had nothing but 0w20 that entire time. 5-7k / 6months, whichever comes first. (Pennzoil Platinum 0w20, Rotella Gas Truck 0w20, Valvoline Extended Protection 0w20, and Mobil 1 Extended Performance 0w20.)

She’s still in the driveway, and she still starts everytime without question. No strange noises, no rattling on startup, nothing.

Don’t worry about the 0w20, just focus on your OCI and driving style.

0w20, 0w30, or 5w30, you won’t go wrong with proper OCI’s if it’s based on your driving style.

Just my opinion.

 

[Jay73]

I have a brand new 2025 CX5 (perhaps the skyactive has changed from the older ones? ) , live in Texas, and have the skyactive 2.5 NON turbo engine. The manual recommends 0w-20 in the U.S but other countries 5w30 ok for the non turbo engines. Unless, Im reading that wrong.

Mazda recommends the 0w-20 in the non-turbo and the 5w-30 in the turbo version for U.S.A., Canada. Mazda recommends the 5w-30 in the non-turbo and turbo version outside of the U.S.A., Canada. I use 5w-30 but I have the turbo version. (I feel that the 0w-20 recommendation is fueled strictly by fuel economy.) So you're reading it right and just a debate of do you follow the owners manual while under warranty and run 0w-20 or say I don't care about MPG give me that thicker stuff 5w-30 and if the motor blows up (unlikely since a Mazda) and Mazda tries to deny a warranty claim due to the thicker oil who cares I'm loaded I'll pay cash for a new motor.

 

[Rmay635703]

I don't understand the binary recommendations for 0w-20 vs 5w-30, when Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30 is thicker at operating temps and at HTHS temps than MOST of the 5w-30's. If you want thicker than 0w-20, why not consider ESP 0w-30 instead of one of the average 5w-30's? Actually, from the VOA samples on this site, I see a Honda 0w-20 virgin oil sample that came back higher than the 20 weight limit, whereas some Pennzoil 30 weights are sitting right on the border of 20/30 limit. Yep, that Honda 0w-20 was reported to be thicker than some Pennzoil 30 weights! If you are going to take the hobby seriously, these details matter. If you aren't going to take it seriously, ignore everything I typed and move on with your life!

In my car esp 0w30 seems to shear down relatively rapidly, so it starts like a 30 but doesn’t stay there long

 

[Urshurak776]

Mazda recommends the 0w-20 in the non-turbo and the 5w-30 in the turbo version for U.S.A., Canada. Mazda recommends the 5w-30 in the non-turbo and turbo version outside of the U.S.A., Canada. I use 5w-30 but I have the turbo version. (I feel that the 0w-20 recommendation is fueled strictly by fuel economy.) So you're reading it right and just a debate of do you follow the owners manual while under warranty and run 0w-20 or say I don't care about MPG give me that thicker stuff 5w-30 and if the motor blows up (unlikely since a Mazda) and Mazda tries to deny a warranty claim due to the thicker oil who cares I'm loaded I'll pay cash for a new motor.

Using 5W-30 will not void your warranty.

 

[Titan]

In my car esp 0w30 seems to shear down relatively rapidly, so it starts like a 30 but doesn’t stay there long

I'd love to see that UOA. Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30 is nearly a 40-weight according to the VOA's posted here. From all the used oil analysis I see posted, I don't see any where the viscosity dropped below 10.xx. Perhaps you had dilution? These used oil analysis are not indicating severe shearing.

 

[RedSpider]

Car seems a bit LOUDER at Startup than it did with the Mazda 0w20 . HOWEVER, it has gotten COLDER here in Texas, so not sure if that is the reason? I also know these Skyactives are known to be louder at startup, but there was a noticeable difference.

Thoughts on that?

Skyactiv's are very loud at cold start, as a result of valve and ignition timing being manipulated to increase exhaust gas temperature to warm up the catalytic convertor as quickly as possible.