Mazdaspeed 3

[maczter]

I have a Mazdaspeed 3 (2.3L 4 Cylinder Turbocharged).

Owner's manual calls for SM 5W30 for all climates. The car will most likely never leave Texas during the winter time, so sub-freezing temp performance doesn't matter much to me.

I have a 5 mile commute that is a straight shot down the highway with the only stopping occuring at the intersections getting on and off the highway.

I'm generally easy on the car on my commute, but when I go for weekend drives in the hill country, I generally give her a good workout. I have done autocrosses in the past in my Miatas and may possibly do so in the MS3. I will almost certainly be doing track events in it.

Cost is not a huge object, though I am certainly a "bang for the buck" guy (as may be obvious to some by my choice of vehicle

). I drive my cars like they were intended to be driven, so, to me, good lubricants have always been cheap insurance to make sure my cars last as long as possible. For similar reasons, I stick with old school OCI's and usually stick with every 3000 miles, especially on my turbo cars.

I have run M1 in my previous vehicles, but let's just say I don't want to use M1. Looking at the other options, so far, I'm thinking Pennzoil Platinum sounds like a good way to go with the MS3, but I'm open to suggestions. I'll also be sticking with Mazda filters.

To keep things simple, we'll say I'm a total oil newbie.

 

[Gilitar]

How are you liking the Mazdaspeed 3? I'm thinking about one for my next car.

If it were me I would stock up on PP 10w30 next time Advance Auto runs the BOGO sale. You are correct in thinking that you don't need a 5w30 in Texas and a 10w30 will be a little more shear resistant.

 

[K-Man]

You have a Mazdaspeed 3? You lucky stiff!

 

[maczter]

That I do.

Traded in my Mazdaspeed MX-5 for it. After four Miatas, I finally gave in to having a practical car and I love it. Still adjusting to the whole concept of being pulled down the road instead of pushed, but it handles great and the DSC does it's job (when I decide to leave it on), so I've no complaints. (Search youtube for "Mazdaspeed 3 Motor Week" for great overview)

As for the 10W30, I was actually considering going with OW30, depending on availability of the oil I decide on in that weight so that I could be sure the turbo was getting oil ASAP after start-up, but I suppose the greater shear resistance would probably probably pay off moreso than lower cold temp viscosity...or would it?

 

[K-Man]

Just my opinion, but I don't think a 0W-30 would be of any particular benefit to you in Texas. A colder climate might be a different story. You can assume that Mazda specified 5W-30 for a reason. However, with "parent" Ford pushing Mazda to use 5W-20 even in the US-spec RX-8 (which uses higher viscosities in other markets), I'm greatly surprised the Mazdaspeed 3 does not spec that viscosity.

 

[maczter]

Yeah. I seem to recall my trusted former Mazda Master Technician friend/mechanic mentioning something about some oil viscosity factory specification issues on the naturally aspirated 2.3L Mazda 3's. I should give him a call and see what the deal was with that again.

 

[Max_Wander]

I'd say 5w30 was recomended because the engine churns out 276ft.lbs of torque at just 2000rpm across 4 rod journals, not 6 or 8.

 

[Greggy_D]

Stay with the 5w-30 and use PP (especially if you get it BOGO at AAP). Amsoil or M1 would be a great choice also but rather cost prohibitive if you're dumping at 3000.

Nice car.....I have the neutered version (the 3i).

 

[CBDFrontier06]

I concur with the PP 5W-30, but since Pep Boys seems to have turned off the "coupon spigot", there's not much cost difference for me between PP and M1, so my Mazdaspeed 6 was converted to a diet of M1 right after I bought it. If the PP deals re-appear, I won't hesitate to use it. It's produced some very good used-oil-analyses from what I've read on this site.

Congrats on the car! 2.3DISI rocks!

 

[maczter]

Thanks.

I've got just over 2,000 miles on it right now. I think I'll get it changed with dino juice once next week and switch to the PP at 3k (dino juice is free for me), then stick with 3k OCI's from that point on.

I've had a couple of folks IM me asking why I don't want to use M1. Two reasons. One, I've used nothing but for nearly ten years and seven cars and I'm bored. I know that's silly, but I like to try new stuff every once in a while. Second, I'm annoyed at Exxon for continuing to make up excuses on the news why oil and gas prices are so ridiculous only to turn around and put out a press release for investors announcing that they've just made the most profit for a corporation anywhere in the world ever...just like they did the quarter before and the quarter before that...

...and my dad has been in the oil industry all his professional life, so I've heard all the justifications for raping consumers ("we had so many lean years in the past", etc.) so don't bother trying to convince me that gas prices are truly the way they are purely because of supply and demand.

For this reason, I may just pay a little extra and go with Redline or Amsoil S2000 and vote with my dollars by not buying oil from any major oil company at all.

 

[mshu7]

maczter,

Have you visited Mazda3Forums.com yet? If not, be sure to. It's a good site with a lot of info.

I have an '05 SP23 (2.3 NA, 5spd.) but I test drove an MS3 a couple months ago. I'm so jealous of your MS3. It's like a little rocket ship. The torque was out of this world. I absolutely fell in love with the car when I drove it. In non-turbo 2.3L, I've had very good luck with Platinum. The only UOA I had after a 7500K mile run on Platinum came back flawless.

Anyway, I just wanted to encourage you to check out the Mazda3Forums and say CONGRATS on the car!

 

[maczter]

Yep. Visited, joined and posted there, and mazdas247 as well.

I almost bought an SP23 myself. Glad I waited. The MS3 is definitely a blast, especially if you're already used to driving an FWD car.

Good news on your flawless 7500 mile PP UOA. Was it also 5W30, by chance?

 

[maczter]

Never mind. I see from your past post that you were using 5W20.

 

[AndyH]

With a 3,000 OCI, ANY synthetic will be just fine. I run 5,000 mile OCI's in my Stage 1 STi with "German Castrol" Syntec 0W-30 with excellent UOA results. PP 5W-30 would be a good choice, especially if you can grab some on sale (I snagged 6-quarts of it recently at Checker's for $0.99/quart after rebate). Cheers, and enjoy your Mazda!

 

[maczter]

True enough probably.

Looks like my fluid line-up will be Redline MT-90 for the tranny, Redline Water Wetter added to the coolant, ATE Super Blue brake fluid and Pennzoil Platinum 5W30 with an OEM filter cartridge. Also ordered a K&N drop-in replacement air filter to hold me over til I can decide on a CAI (and give the K&N to my wife who has an NA Mazda 3 2.3L).

Should take care of the occasional track days and my "spirited" daily driving.