Mazdaspeed Miata oil recommendations

[JWolfe]

So I have an 05 Mazdaspeed Miata with about 7500 miles on it. It differs from the standard Miata (of that era, the current ones are completely different) in that it's turbocharged, does not have variable valve timing and it's compression is a half point lower.
Up to this point, my oil changes look like this:
600 miles with Castrol GTX 5W30
3139 miles with (German) Castrol GTX 0w30
6308 miles with Pennzoil Platinum 5W30

I switched to the Pennzoil Platinum because I couldn't find GC anywhere and I'm pretty happy with the way the engine runs on the PP. It starts a little more smoothly and there's no valvetrain noise at all.
I don't race on the track, but between the car's short gearing and my driving, the engine is almost never below 3K rpm and sees 6K+ very frequently. So I'm concerned that the PP might be insufficient or there might be a better choice out there.
Does anyone have any experience with turbo Miatas and what oils they like?

 

[JWolfe]

I should add that the car doesn't see many (if any at all) short trips. It's not a daily driver and when I take it out, it always for at least 30 minutes at highway speeds.

 

[blackdiamond]

I have a Mazdaspeed 3 and am making similar choices. I am about 4,000 miles still running conventional and planning to switch to synthetic at 5,000 miles.

I doubt you will notice any difference by switching from PP to another brand. If it has be satisfactory stay with it. Personally, I am planning to run Mobil 1 because I am comfortable with it and I can pick it up easily at Walmart.

I would consider Redline, Amsoil or Royal Purple if I didn't have warranty issues, but the more I read about them I am less and less convinced that they are really an improvement.

 

[blackdiamond]

If you don't have warranty issues, the base oils in Redline technically should be the best in extremely high temperatures (used in jet engines), but the main complaint is that it isn't as good for long OCIs

 

[JWolfe]

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I have a Mazdaspeed 3

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Nice car. If I were going to buy a "practical" car, the MS3 would be at the top of my list.

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I doubt you will notice any difference by switching from PP to another brand. If it has be satisfactory stay with it.

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I'm thinking that's probably what I'll end up doing. If the engine starts having problems, well, I guess that's just the car's way of telling me it's time to build a stroker with forged internals.

 

[TR3-2001SE]

While I think the PP will do just fine, if it where mine I would use a A3 rated oil probably Mobil 1 0w-40. That is what is in my Miata and I am doing 10,000 mile changes Which UOS's tell me is fine. Again I don't have the turbocharger so with turbo I would do 6000 mile changes and used oil analysis to varify how it is doing.

 

[mechtech2]

I am not a fan of thick oils, but you may want to mix some PP in X-40 with your Pennzoil Platinum 5w30.

 

[JWolfe]

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While I think the PP will do just fine, if it where mine I would use a A3 rated oil probably Mobil 1 0w-40.

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Can you elaborate on the A3 bit? I'm still a bit fuzzy on all the acronyms.

 

[Big Dave]

If you can find it try Pennzoil Platinum 5W-40 Euro. I'm going to switch from Mobil 1 0W-40 to the Pennzoil Platinum in my '06 GTI. No real reason but just want to try it.

David

 

[JGmazda]

I have a 94' Miata that loves Maxlife Synthetic 5w30. Great specs on this oil. 2nd choice would be the PP.