Reply from Mazda regarding 0w20 Requirements

Pennzoil motor oil
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

bourne

Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
1,403
Location
Beaverton, OR
What I asked :
Quote:
We just purchased a brand new 2012 Mazda 3i Grand Touring 6 speed auto with Skyactiv. Love the vehicle. I did have a question on maintenance. In the manual, it states that Mazda recommends using 0w20 weight oil, it also recommends that the owner use 5w20 in Mexico. I understand that 0w20 recommendation helps meet emissions requirements and so forth. It is hard to find quality oil in 0w20 weight in our area. I have plenty of 5w20 Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic motor oil in my stash. Would using this oil for 5000 mile oil changes void our warranty ?


What they replied :
Quote:
Thank you for contacting Mazda regarding your 2012 MAZDA3. We are happy to hear that you love your Mazda. Mazda does recommend 0w-20 oil in your vehicle and using 5w-20 does not necessarily void any warranties but if there is any need for repairs and Mazda deems that it was caused by improper oil then the warranty may be voided. There is no definite answer unfortunately. Let me know if you have any questions.


DISCUSS !
 
Typical corporate email response. They won't give you a straight answer because if you do put [censored] oil that is 5w20 and messes your car up, the email implies that was well within the warranty limits.

Just use common sense and quality oil.

My car loves synthetics.
 
My thoughts exactly. What irks me is that there are plenty of quality 5w20 Full Synthetic out there which will perform just as good if not better than mediocre 0w20 ( Peak/Synpower etc ). Mazda's own bulk oil has a piddling VI ( for a 0w20 ) and is made by Castrol, so good luck finding MRV specs and such.

I almost wanna run Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 just to prove that it wont blow up because of it.
 
Originally Posted By: bourne
What I asked :
Quote:
We just purchased a brand new 2012 Mazda 3i Grand Touring 6 speed auto with Skyactiv. Love the vehicle. I did have a question on maintenance. In the manual, it states that Mazda recommends using 0w20 weight oil, it also recommends that the owner use 5w20 in Mexico. I understand that 0w20 recommendation helps meet emissions requirements and so forth. It is hard to find quality oil in 0w20 weight in our area. I have plenty of 5w20 Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic motor oil in my stash. Would using this oil for 5000 mile oil changes void our warranty ?


What they replied :
Quote:
Thank you for contacting Mazda regarding your 2012 MAZDA3. We are happy to hear that you love your Mazda. Mazda does recommend 0w-20 oil in your vehicle and using 5w-20 does not necessarily void any warranties but if there is any need for repairs and Mazda deems that it was caused by improper oil then the warranty may be voided. There is no definite answer unfortunately. Let me know if you have any questions.


DISCUSS !

Interesting, very interesting. So using a non-approved oil could cause a royal PITA if you have a problem. Is it worth it? Will the oil company take your back? LOL
 
A typical bullsh*t response from customer service.
There is of course a definitive answer since Mazda does allow any API 0W-20 not just their 0W-20 and there are 0W-20's that are actually heavier than Pennzoil Platinum 5W-20 so what's the problem?

If you want to use up the Pennzoil Platinum 5W-20 you already have then go ahead. The real key in the event of a warranty engine claim is proving that you made the oil changes when required.
 
The other solution is to return the Pennzoil Platinum 5W-20 if not refund then a credit without receipt (I did that with a boat load of GC I returned to Walmart that I no longer wanted, I actually made money on the credit I got). Then buy a high VI 0W-20 of your choice like TGMO.
 
It shouldn't be difficult to find 0w20 anywhere in North America, as Mobil 1 0w20 is sold in so many locations.
 
Will Mazda be the next to follow Suzuki and Isuzu into American auto obkivion?? Stay tuned... along with Mitsubishi, they may be next.
 
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Sounds like Zoom Zoom to me...


LOL !

@Caterham : Yes sir, like Synpower is heavier than Pennzoil Platinum 5w20. So is Edge if I am not wrong. I can return PP to Walmart and get Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w20, but I want to avoid using an XOM product as much as I can ( personal preference ) , although it is touted to be an excellent oil.
 
Originally Posted By: Boomer
Will Mazda be the next to follow Suzuki and Isuzu into American auto obkivion?? Stay tuned... along with Mitsubishi, they may be next.


Not sure what this has to do with ANYTHING being talked about in this thread.
spankme2.gif


What do you think the chances of having an oil-related failure in that engine are, and it being due to you using a quality oil like PP?
 
Not sure where I can quote from but for the OEM to spec a specific oil they have to provide it so you are free to use an oil that meets the OEMs specs.

Having had a couple of Mazda's now including one presently as long as you arent using anything whack and its in or close to spec you wont have an issue. Obviously keep your docs. If they say 0w20 for US and make no other spec for the US you are best served by using that. Then again if you use a conventional 5w20 and get a warranty denial you can eventually take it to a jury trial and will easily win. But, as already said thats a bit of a PITA.
 
Originally Posted By: gathermewool


What do you think the chances of having an oil-related failure in that engine are, and it being due to you using a quality oil like PP?



Honestly, none. Which is why I am itching to use some just to get a used oil analysis. Sadly its my gf's car and I do not want to be responsible for warranty denial over anything. So I might wait till the factory warranty is up, then in goes the lightest 5w20 of the time.
 
I think MazdaUSA would have to fight pretty hard to prove(fabricate reasons) that Pennzoil Platinum 5W-20 caused any sort of issues at the Mazda-recommended intervals.
 
Originally Posted By: tig1
It's hard to find a quality 0-20 in your area?? I don't get that.


That's exactly the point I was trying to make in my post above too. Maybe 5 years ago it might have been difficult to find 0w20 but certainly not today. Even up here in Canada, where it was difficult to find 5w20 oils when they first came out, it's not difficult to find 0w20 at all. And pretty soon every single Mazda dealer in North America will stock their 0w20, so how much easier can that be? Everyone who bought a new Mazda obviously had access to a Mazda dealer, so therefore they also have access to a good source for 0w20. So there is absolutely no reason to use 5w20 in a new Mazda and take the risk that it might not be covered under warranty if a problem arises.
 
ok, let me rephrase this. Its hard to find economical choices in 0w20 that I like lol. Anyways just got back from Walmart, exchanged 9 qts of Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 SN for 2 x 5.1 qt jugs of Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w20 and 2 x L14612 and $6.79 in credit lol.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

G
  • Locked
Mazda6 spec 0w20
2
Replies
30
Views
33K
JeepRubicon2k3
M
  • Locked
Dealer going against Mazda
2 3
Replies
59
Views
26K
mazz3
cammyfive79
Transcript of a conversation with Mazda regarding "recommended" vs "required" oil viscosity
2 3 4
Replies
67
Views
13K
ZeeOSix
G
Change from 0w20 to 5w30
2 3
Replies
59
Views
20K
Bojo
B
  • Locked
0W-20 oil required?
4 5 6
Replies
113
Views
69K
Garak
Back
Top Bottom