Just picked up Mazdaspeed 3...little advice needed

[DaleNixon]

I bought a Mazdaspeed3 on July 31 of this year. It is approaching 2500 miles. I think I'm going to go with Pennzoil Platinum for my first oil change @ 3000 miles and continue to use it every 3000 for the life of the car.

I've never changed my own oil before, but I feel I'll do a better job and take better care of it in the long run than some tech who is trying to squeeze in a smoke break before lunch. I've already switched out the transmission fluid for Redline MT-90 and done a few other things to the car to improve drivability (motor mount inserts, shifter bushings, etc.).

I feel 3000 miles might be a "belt and suspenders" approach (especially with synthetic oil), but I drive in 90% stop and go traffic and really only put about 7500 miles a year on a car.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: DaleNixon
I bought a Mazdaspeed3 on July 31 of this year. It is approaching 2500 miles. I think I'm going to go with Pennzoil Platinum for my first oil change @ 3000 miles and continue to use it every 3000 for the life of the car.



I've run a 5000 mile OCI using Mobil 1 5w30 since the first oil change at 5000 miles. My used oil analysis don't look significantly better or worse than those who use Pennzoil Platinum. Having said all that, I'm almost certainly unloading my MS3 and returning to the Munich fold. In less than 27000 miles-and only ONE track weekend-my dead stock car has needed a new LF strut as well as a new turbocharger. And as you probably know, more than a few MS3s have needed a new turbo...

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: DaleNixon
I bought a Mazdaspeed3 on July 31 of this year. It is approaching 2500 miles. I think I'm going to go with Pennzoil Platinum for my first oil change @ 3000 miles and continue to use it every 3000 for the life of the car.

I've never changed my own oil before, but I feel I'll do a better job and take better care of it in the long run than some tech who is trying to squeeze in a smoke break before lunch. I've already switched out the transmission fluid for Redline MT-90 and done a few other things to the car to improve drivability (motor mount inserts, shifter bushings, etc.).

I feel 3000 miles might be a "belt and suspenders" approach (especially with synthetic oil), but I drive in 90% stop and go traffic and really only put about 7500 miles a year on a car.

to BITOG

 

[firemachine69]

Why would a turbo die so soon? I could only think of oil starvation as a cause...

 

[Solo2driver]

Had a BLAST autocrossing one this weekend, only 6500 miles on it. Big nasty Hoosier race tires, but still spinning the wheels like crazy (it was a very dusty and dirty lot).

Video here, for those not familiar with the MS3's big turbo power-- http://vimeo.com/2136599

I'd go with any of your oil choices above, they probably won't do you wrong. Have fun with your MS3, and welcome to BITOG!

EDIT--- the Mazda3 and MS3 are both known for destroying their struts (stock or aftermarket) in very short order, just FYI.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: firemachine69
Why would a turbo die so soon? I could only think of oil starvation as a cause...


The seals go south. After idling for 2-3 minutes the car starts pumping out tons of blue smoke....

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: Solo2driver
the Mazda3 and MS3 are both known for destroying their struts (stock or aftermarket) in very short order, just FYI.


Well, that's certainly reassuring...

 

[Acroy]

I bought a Mazdaspeed3 on July 31 of this year. It is approaching 2500 miles. I think I'm going to go with Pennzoil Platinum for my first oil change @ 3000 miles and continue to use it every 3000 for the life of the car.

Sounds like a good plan - though I'd suggest sending a bit of the 3k oil in for analysis, for your own information & to see if maybe it can go an extra few thousand miles (i bet it can...)
Cheers

 

[DaleNixon]

Thanks for the welcomes everyone. Acroy, what good would extending the oil change interval do me aside from saving a few bucks?

MCompact, it sucks to hear about your smoking turbo. I hope my car has a good K04.