Hi. Great forum. I've been a lurker forever it seems, and only recently decided to sign up as a member. I've got some pressing questions that I need to get some answers to, and therefore any advice fellow BITOG members might have will be invaluable:
First of all, a bit of background:
I'm from Vancouver, Canada and I own a 2004 Mazda6. The car's been serviced and had all oil changes done by the dealer for the past 70K kms. The dealer fill is 5w-20 semi-synthetic. I'm now finally ready to cut the umbilical and start doing my own oil changes.
Yes, I plan on using fully synthetic.
However, two things really block my path at the moment:
1. Limited availability of good synthetic oils in Canada.
2. Price. Good oils cost WAY too much.
Just to explain something for any US readers:
We don't have Pep Boys or Autozone in Canada. We have Canadian Tire (a combined automotive, household goods and sporting good superstore of sorts), Walmart, and small independent shops. That's it.
I'd love to run GC. Problem is that GC is so uncommon in Canada its not funny. I found out from someone that GC can be found at Canadian Tire (CT). Well, I've searched all the CT's in the immediate area (about 4 stores so far) and I haven't found any that carry the stuff. When I lived in Toronto, I never found GC on the shelves there either so obviously GC is only available at select stores throughout the country.
So, lets say I give up on the GC dream and instead go with regular USA-made Castrol Syntec. Regular Syntec goes for $8.99 for a 1 liter bottle of 5w-20 at CT. I have yet to find a CT store that sell regular 5w-20 Syntec in the 4.4 liter format. They do, however, sell 5w-30 in the 4.4 liter format but that's not the recommended weight for my engine.
So, if I were to buy 5 x 1 liter bottles of 5w-20 Syntec, I'd be looking at $50 for the oil alone (with taxes) and I'd still need to pay for the oil filter.
Same story for M1. M1, however, isn't fully synthetic anymore... but lets say that its my third choice of oil after GC and regular Syntec. M1 5w-20 in a 4.4 bottle has always had a price tag of $39 at CT since time immemorial. They never put 5w-20 on sale... its always 5w-30 that on sale for $31. Even Walmart and other stores in the area have M1 5w-30 on sale for $32-ish for the 4.4 liter bottle... but never 5w-20.
Redline? Too expensive! If I'm complaining about $8.99 a bottle, then I certainly am not in the market for $12.99 a bottle. Same goes for Royal Purple.
The only thing left is Quaker State Advanced Fully Synthetic and Canadian Tire's own brand: Motomaster Formula-1 Gold Fully Synthetic. Quaker State costs about $34 for a 4.4 liter jug.
But all this is based on the assumption that I've GOT to run 5w-20. If I ran 5w-30 from now, then I'd be saving a bit of money. Besides, if I ever find GC, it only comes on 0w-30 anyways...
So... ideas/opinions?
Should I start using Xw-30 oils that tend to cost less or should I go with a cheaper brand of synthetic like Quaker State Advanced?
Also, what's the effect of running 5w-30 in an engine that the manufacturer states should only take 5w-20? Since the oil is thicker, will that have an effect on the oil seals? I've heard from some that the engine can potentially feel more sluggish with the heavier oil.
Any advice will be much appreciated.
First of all, a bit of background:
I'm from Vancouver, Canada and I own a 2004 Mazda6. The car's been serviced and had all oil changes done by the dealer for the past 70K kms. The dealer fill is 5w-20 semi-synthetic. I'm now finally ready to cut the umbilical and start doing my own oil changes.
Yes, I plan on using fully synthetic.
However, two things really block my path at the moment:
1. Limited availability of good synthetic oils in Canada.
2. Price. Good oils cost WAY too much.
Just to explain something for any US readers:
We don't have Pep Boys or Autozone in Canada. We have Canadian Tire (a combined automotive, household goods and sporting good superstore of sorts), Walmart, and small independent shops. That's it.
I'd love to run GC. Problem is that GC is so uncommon in Canada its not funny. I found out from someone that GC can be found at Canadian Tire (CT). Well, I've searched all the CT's in the immediate area (about 4 stores so far) and I haven't found any that carry the stuff. When I lived in Toronto, I never found GC on the shelves there either so obviously GC is only available at select stores throughout the country.
So, lets say I give up on the GC dream and instead go with regular USA-made Castrol Syntec. Regular Syntec goes for $8.99 for a 1 liter bottle of 5w-20 at CT. I have yet to find a CT store that sell regular 5w-20 Syntec in the 4.4 liter format. They do, however, sell 5w-30 in the 4.4 liter format but that's not the recommended weight for my engine.
So, if I were to buy 5 x 1 liter bottles of 5w-20 Syntec, I'd be looking at $50 for the oil alone (with taxes) and I'd still need to pay for the oil filter.
Same story for M1. M1, however, isn't fully synthetic anymore... but lets say that its my third choice of oil after GC and regular Syntec. M1 5w-20 in a 4.4 bottle has always had a price tag of $39 at CT since time immemorial. They never put 5w-20 on sale... its always 5w-30 that on sale for $31. Even Walmart and other stores in the area have M1 5w-30 on sale for $32-ish for the 4.4 liter bottle... but never 5w-20.
Redline? Too expensive! If I'm complaining about $8.99 a bottle, then I certainly am not in the market for $12.99 a bottle. Same goes for Royal Purple.
The only thing left is Quaker State Advanced Fully Synthetic and Canadian Tire's own brand: Motomaster Formula-1 Gold Fully Synthetic. Quaker State costs about $34 for a 4.4 liter jug.
But all this is based on the assumption that I've GOT to run 5w-20. If I ran 5w-30 from now, then I'd be saving a bit of money. Besides, if I ever find GC, it only comes on 0w-30 anyways...
So... ideas/opinions?
Should I start using Xw-30 oils that tend to cost less or should I go with a cheaper brand of synthetic like Quaker State Advanced?
Also, what's the effect of running 5w-30 in an engine that the manufacturer states should only take 5w-20? Since the oil is thicker, will that have an effect on the oil seals? I've heard from some that the engine can potentially feel more sluggish with the heavier oil.
Any advice will be much appreciated.