looking for advice on oil change for 2011 Mazda 3

[Urshurak776]

2011 Mazda 3 2.5L

Hi everyone. A good friend of ours is coming down next weekend. Her husband lost his job, so she asked me if I could change her oil for hrer. She said her car REQUIRES synthetic and she has been paying $89 PR oil change at her dealer. They just can't afford it right now. Anyway, do you guys think synthetic is required ? I don't have the manual to look. In any case, I planned to just grab a jug of O'reilly's synthetic 0W-20 (that's the weight on her receipts she said.). Grabbing a Wix 51348 also. About $23 out the door. I have a stash of 5W-20 Napa synthetic. I just don't know if I can use that in her car. I think it would be fine realistically, but don't want her to have a problem with warranty if needed. What do you guys think?

 

[Boatowner]

I decided a long time ago, synthetic just makes more sense, so that is all I use. You are talking one quarter the price she is used to paying, so it should not be a big deal. You could always check the oil fill cap to see what oil Mazda recommends. I prefer 0w-20 over 5w-20. Based on solid, anecdotal evidence, I think the 0w-20 is much better oil.

Another factor to consider is that all too many people change their oil "every 3,000 miles." For one woman I know, that usually came to between 8,000 and 9,000 miles, sometimes more.

 

[Recalculating]

Nice of you to do the oil change.

I use a 5W20 in my 2010 Mazda 3.

Sounds like your friends will go as far as they can between oil changes so a synthetic oil having an extended life and a Wix 51348 is the way to go. That NAPA Syn. is an excellent choice.

 

[pbm]

I'd use the Napa syn 5w20....unless "she's coming down"...from the north pole.

 

[Dave Hess]

Jug of conventional oil will be fine.

 

[Urshurak776]

Thanks all. I should say she is actually "coming up." She is in South Carolina and I am in Charlotte. I m going to use the Napa. I will look in her manual to make sure there are no warranty issues. Her oil cap says 0W-20, she just texted it to me. She does 7500 mile OCI and she will be close to 8000 when she gets here, so not sure what we can do about that.....she has 57,000 miles on car.

I am just trying to save her money, so I can donate the Napa

 

[simple_gifts]

Warranty is basically up so no worries on 5w-20 or 'whatever'

 

[Urshurak776]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Warranty is basically up so no worries on 5w-20 or 'whatever'


True. I think she said there is a 60,000 mile warranty. Plus, it gets hot here in summer, so cold is not an issue as this OCI will take her into July.

 

[JamesBond]

You asked, and she answered TWICE, that the car gets 0w-20...just sayin

 

[CrawfishTails]

5w-20 synthetic, any name-brand, will be perfect in that car. Valvoline makes the NAPA synthetic, so good there. Seriously, it will only be slightly thicker cold, but ALL oil is thick cold. Then the car warms up and both the 0w-20 and the 5w-20 will be about the same viscosity.

 

[Urshurak776]

Bond, James Bond. You're missing my goal. I am trying to avoid buying the oil, if I can give her what I have (5W-20). If her manual says she can user something other than 0W-20 than mission accomplished. I understand OW-20 is recommended.

 

[147_Grain]

Using the NAPA 5W-20 synthetic oil you have in stock is better than her leaving the existing oil in with increased contamination. Perhaps you can tactfully ask if she can share some of the cost to replace the synthetic oil you have in stock. A true friend should understand the request and express gratitude for the extra care you're giving her vehicle that most shops don't always do.

 

[JustinH]

Any name brand synthetic is fine.

Mobil 1 is cheap enough.

My new Rav4 takes 0w20 also, not because it has a special engine or anything, it just has 10k drain intervals.

 

[JamesBond]

Of course 5w-20 would be fine, I might prefer it in my own car and wouldn't hesitate to use it in my, parents, brothers, girlfriends car, but for a "stranger" I'd use exactly what the car asks for and what's been used in the past.

Just trying to CYA if something goes wrong.

 

[WankelRotorHead]

The Mazda recommended oil is 5w-20 conventional. If you want to put synthetic then just use the Napa stuff. It's made by Ashland Oil (Valvoline, though it has a different additive pack) and it a quality group III oil.

 

[Urshurak776]

Thanks guys.

 

[CrawfishTails]

Originally Posted By: BikeWhisperer
The Mazda recommended oil is 5w-20 conventional. If you want to put synthetic then just use the Napa stuff. It's made by Ashland Oil (Valvoline, though it has a different additive pack) and it a quality group III oil.


For that make and model, Mazda recommends 0w-20. The Mazda Genuine 0w-20 would work fine here. Still, use 5w-20 Full Synthetic without hesitation, any name brand will do.

 

[Timo325]

Any name brand 0-20!

What the other guy said, CYA.

Ask her to cost share if you'd like. Save the 5-20 for you..

 

[sicko]

Find Mobil 1 0w-20 on sale or at least at a good price, then use the rebate that's currently available. Should bring it down to being the cheapest synthetic available (somewhere in the $3-$4/qt range). She gets a quality oil change at a very reasonable cost.

The rebate is good for two five-quart purchases, so you might as well get 10 quarts and submit the rebate since I assume you're probably going to be using the second jug of oil at some point.

 

[aa1986]

Mobil 1 Extended Performance 0w20 and Fram Ultra or Mobil 1 filter.

Tell her she can extend her oci to save more money.

Put in for the rebate.