Mazda Speed 3

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blackdiamond

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I need some advice for engine oil on my new 2007 Mazda Speed 3. I am planning to have the oil changed today (about 700 miles) at the dealer with conventional 5w-30 Castrol GTX. Castrol is the oil they offer, but will use anything I want to bring in. My plan is to run the conventional GTX until the 5,000 mile mark and then switch to synthetic. I know Castrol Syntec is a Group III and am leaning towards Mobil 1 due to its cost and availability. For reference, the Speed 3 is a 15.6 psi boost turbo 2.3 liter engine.

As a side note, I am currently having a 22RE engine completely rebuilt and supplied Mobil Clean 5000 for the break in and plan to run Mobil 1 starting around 5,000 miles.

It would be easier to use the same oil in both auto's. Any advice would be appreciated.

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Castrol GTX 5w30 will be just fine for breaking in your Mazda. Very nice car by the way!

Lots of Turbo's run hundreds of thousands of miles on plain dino, but a semi-synthetic or full synthetic is certainly a good idea since you are dealing with heat and wear issues not seen by the average non turbo motor.

Mobil1 is a favorite among Miata users, so I dont see any reason not to use it in your Mazdaspeed since you have access to it.

I would suggest to stick with genuine mazda oem type filters though.
 
From all that has gone around here, I think just about anything will work being that it's of the latest API spec. (SM). However, If wanting what might amount to "Ideal" (compromise inevitable though), I would be as honest as one can to identifying what extremes and just how often and duration these are likely to be in real world use. These extremes will help guide one in making lubricant selection in theory based on lube AND additive composition. Without any monitoring infor of say oil temps, sustained loads, etc., well one is just yet to know.

Hopefully others will chime in that have some hands-on, have similarities in operating conditions/perameters, etc., though it will likely come down to trial and oil analysis to determin what oil the engine likes fo endured conditions AND for duration of oil change interval.

Welcome to the forum!

Enjoy your ride!
 
I'd use whatever brand API SM 5W-30 weight dino oil and change it again at 3k to 4k miles, then go to synthetic. These Mazdaspeed 3 engines seem to create a lot of soot judging by their tailpipes. Of course, some will end up in the oil, especially during break-in when ring sealing isn't peaked yet.

For the synthetic, I wouldn't use Mobil 1 unless it's the 0W-40, but that may be thicker than ideal. The recent XW-30 Mobil 1 grades have not impressed me judging many UOAs in many engines while Pennzoil Platinum 10W-30 has. Other good options are Syntec 0W-30 (great oil but thick similar to M1 0W-40) or Syntec 10W-30 (thinner).
 
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Do you know what oil/grade is the factory fill for the Speed3?

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I believe the speed3 and 6 are using 5w30.

While the motorcraft oil is what Mazda sells at the dealership at the parts counter, there have been conflicting reports that either Motrocraft or possibly even Shell is the factory fill.

OEM suppliers for Ford/Mazda/Volvo/Jag are Conoco-Phillips, Shell, and Castrol.

While most Mazda/Ford dealers sell and use motorcraft for their oil changes at the dealer, independant mazda dealers can of course use whatever they want as long as it meets certain specs, as appears to be the case of the OP.
 
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A new turbo car...I'd spring for Redline and change it at "normal" intervals per the manual.

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The parts department at the dealership acutally stocks redline, but considering the price and the fact that the car requires 6 quarts of oil I can't justify the price.

I plan for OCI of 5,000 per the factory warranty requirements. I know synthetics can go longer, but I don't give the dealers any excuse when it comes to the warranty.

The manual recommends 5w-30 and the dealer uses Castrol products. I am not a fan of Castrol simply because of the Group III vs. Group IV mess with Mobil 1. Obviously, it will cost me more to bring in my own oil at the dealership than to use what they offer in house. How much difference would there be between Syntec and a Groupu IV oil.

Ironically, I never used the dealer Castrol Syntec in the Tundra that I traded and I was wishing that this dealer used a different product.
 
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The manual recommends 5w-30 and the dealer uses Castrol products. I am not a fan of Castrol simply because of the Group III vs. Group IV mess with Mobil 1. Obviously, it will cost me more to bring in my own oil at the dealership than to use what they offer in house. How much difference would there be between Syntec and a Groupu IV oil.


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Well guess what? Mobil1 has pulled the group III switch, too. Castrol Syntec is a great oil, even if it is group III. It should also be available for slightly less than Mobil1 if you look around. Don't hesitate to use Syntec. It is no worse than Mobil1. If you must have a deciding factor, just use whatever you can find cheapest.
 
hey blackdiamond, im breaking in a speed3 too. right now i have about 500 miles on the odo and plan to change with chevron 5/30 at 1000 and again at 4000 them im going synthetic at 7000. i loaded up on penzoil platinum and havoline synthetic both are in 10w-30 though, i have about 40,000 miles worth right now. i live in california and rarely see any temps below 35 so i think i will be ok. i was at pep boys today just poking around and took a quart of Q with the clear bottle in 5/20 and gave it a shake, the oil pretty much instantly sheeted off the top of the bottle. i did the same with the 5/30 and it coated it substantially more. what color and how much btw, i got a silver gt for $23,850 before tax/licensing.
 
Quote:

hey blackdiamond, im breaking in a speed3 too. right now i have about 500 miles on the odo and plan to change with chevron 5/30 at 1000 and again at 4000 them im going synthetic at 7000. i loaded up on penzoil platinum and havoline synthetic both are in 10w-30 though, i have about 40,000 miles worth right now. i live in california and rarely see any temps below 35 so i think i will be ok. i was at pep boys today just poking around and took a quart of Q with the clear bottle in 5/20 and gave it a shake, the oil pretty much instantly sheeted off the top of the bottle. i did the same with the 5/30 and it coated it substantially more. what color and how much btw, i got a silver gt for $23,850 before tax/licensing.

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Mine is also a Silver GT. Mine was an MSRP deal, sounds like yours was a little under.

My wife gets and "A" for today as the authorized Speed 3 dealer put 5w-20 oil in it rather than 5w-30 per the owners manual. She caught it in the paperwork and made the swap it out. The normal Mazda 3 (non-turbo) is listed as 5w-20 in the owners manual. It seems she listened to me rambling about oil.
 
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My wife gets and "A" for today as the authorized Speed 3 dealer put 5w-20 oil in it rather than 5w-30 per the owners manual. She caught it in the paperwork and made the swap it out. The normal Mazda 3 (non-turbo) is listed as 5w-20 in the owners manual. It seems she listened to me rambling about oil.

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Sounds like she's a keeper. The wife, I mean.
 
I also found out that the dealer is actually using Quaker State oil rather than Castrol. When I purchased the car the Parts Manager thought it was Quaker State, but the Service Advisor said Castrol when I called. So what's the story on Quaker State Synthetic?

The moron mechanic showed my wife the print out from the dealer site that showed 5w-20 as the correct oil, only problem is it was for a Mazda 3 which is different than a Speed 3.
 
Any synthetic 5w30 will work well. Don't worry about the brand if OCI is reasonable. 0w30 and 10w30 are also options depending on weather conditions.

You can switch to synthetic whenver you want. IMO, sooner is better.
 
blackdiamond,

i'm curious to know what you decided to go with and why? i tried tracking through your previous posts, but seems like you jumped around quite a bit and i couldn't find for sure what you decided on.

i also have an MS3 and am about to get my first oil change (~2k miles).

thanks!
 
Well,

I have an appointment at the dealer for the 5,000 mile service on Friday. I am 99% sure I will be going with 5w-30 Mobil 1.

My reasons for running Mobil 1 are that very few people have anything bad to say about the quality of the oil. There are complaints about cost and Group 3 vs. 4 but not so much on it's actual performance. I read a test against Amsoil and it last 18,000 miles and the Amsoil was still going strong at 14,000 except it was way out of grade and was killing mpg. I'm all about API certified SM oils to meet the warranty.

I probably would go with the dealer synthetic bulk oil to keep it simple, but I know the service manual is wrong and I don't want to worry about the 5w-20 that it lists getting put in my car, plus they can't seem to figure out what they use between Castrol and Quaker State so it's just easier to take my oil in and let them do the rest.
 
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