New and Happy Mazda3S Owner!

[PWR SHFT]

Hello everyone!
My wife just bought me a '05 Mazda3s 4DR for my birthday (5/12)!
Its Titanium with the Sport Package, ABS, and Sunroof/CD Changer. I loved the looks of this car when they first came out but I never thought I would love it as much as I do now that I own one. I already have 300 miles on it after 4 days. You can't get me out of it! Last night, I had an Integra with AEM stickers all over it try and race me. I ran him up to 100 and had him by 4 car lengths. I was impressed! I look forward to being part of this forum. I don't know alot about Mazdas, but I bring about 15 years of hot rodding and vehical mechanics to the table and maybe I can help some people here.

Take Care! (drinks)

[FreeStyLinDrive]

Congrats! Sounds like you got alot of cars to play with there. (cabpatch)

[RHAGEL]

Welcome. Glad to hear of your experience in cars. You will love your car, my Protege is my second Mazda and I will have a new 3 by the end of the year.

[sajack]

Congratulations on your purchase. I have a Titanium Gray MSM as well as a Carbon Gray SP3.
Uh, what about your 600 mile break-in period?

I`m still putting around with less than 400 miles on the SP3, although I did hit the revlimiter once.

[PWR SHFT]

My break-in period consists of the following:
250 miles of easy driving while varying engine speeds,
then a full throttle romp through the gears (hence the race),
then the same easy driving again for another 250 miles.
At 500 miles, dump the oil, and then drive "normally"
I also dump the oil at 1000 miles. After that, I go every 3 to 4000 miles for subsequent oil changes.
Oh, and at 4000 miles I switch to synthetic.

This method has worked well for me for years. My Honda has 170k miles on it and its still going strong.

[Mikey444]

congrats and welcome (headbang)

[FreeStyLinDrive]

3-4000 miles between oil changes???? guess someone doesn't want to read or understand what Mazda, the car maker recommends!

[Solo2Protege]

Welcome!

nice list of rides. Was it the 70 Chevelle that was the *special* one or was it 71? or am i thinking Charger....

[sajack]

My break-in period consists of the following:
250 miles of easy driving while varying engine speeds,
then a full throttle romp through the gears (hence the race),
then the same easy driving again for another 250 miles.
At 500 miles, dump the oil, and then drive "normally"
I also dump the oil at 1000 miles. After that, I go every 3 to 4000 miles for subsequent oil changes.
Oh, and at 4000 miles I switch to synthetic.

This method has worked well for me for years. My Honda has 170k miles on it and its still going strong.

This oil filter cartridge thing really has me concerned. I don`t relish the idea of an oil and filter change becoming an ordeal. Is the "O" ring and cartridge thing really as bad as it seems.

[FreeStyLinDrive]

Lets see if you are still a happy camper a year from now.

[PWR SHFT]

3-4000 miles between oil changes???? guess someone doesn't want to read or understand what Mazda, the car maker recommends!


What does Mazda Recomend?

[PWR SHFT]

Welcome!

nice list of rides. Was it the 70 Chevelle that was the *special* one or was it 71? or am i thinking Charger....

70 was the banner year for Chevelle's. Mine is nothing special. Base trim car that we have been playing around with. Had the body work done and its now black with purple night and day flames. I could post a pic if I knew how.

[goldwing2000]

Lets see if you are still a happy camper a year from now.

What was the point of that and who was it directed to?

[goldwing2000]

What does Mazda Recomend?

7,500 miles for "normal" driving
5,000 miles for "hard" driving

[M_3]

70 was the banner year for Chevelle's. Mine is nothing special. Base trim car that we have been playing around with. Had the body work done and its now black with purple night and day flames. I could post a pic if I knew how.

right here dude im not trying to be rude just helpfull

[M_3]

7,500 miles for "normal" driving
5,000 miles for "hard" driving

mazda recomends oil change every 5,000 miles, but if they give me a sticker to put it every 3,000 or 4,000 so wich one is it im confussed

[goldwing2000]

mazda recomends oil change every 5,000 miles, but if they give me a sticker to put it every 3,000 or 4,000 so wich one is it im confussed

Best advice is to check your owner's manual. (rtfm)

Specifically, section 8.


Follow Schedule 1 if the vehicle is operated mainly where none of the following conditions
apply.
If any do apply, follow Schedule 2 (Canada and Puerto Rico residents follow Schedule 2).
• Repeated short-distance driving
• Driving in dusty conditions
• Driving with extended use of brakes
• Driving in areas where salt or other corrosive materials are being used
• Driving on rough or muddy roads
• Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation
• Driving for long periods in cold temperatures or extremely humid climates

Schedule 1 is every 7,500 miles.
Schedule 2 is every 5,000 miles (3,000 miles for Puerto Rico).

[M_3]

ok i'll trust you thanks

[Da 6]

3k is dealer and local car change inerval. synthetic can last longer than 7k but don't go past that under warrenty period ;) As for the oil and o-rings how-to is below. 6i and 3s have same engine and tranny.
http://www.mazda6tech.com/articles/how-to/changing-oil-mazda-6i-.html

if you give in wait a lil bit then heres the spin on conversion.
http://www.mazda6tech.com/articles/how-to/convert-the-6i-cartridge-filter-to-a-spin-on-3.html

the part#s keep changing for the swap. You have to find a member who did it last or grab a vin from a mazda 3i before going to parts dept.

also before it happens 87 is the only thing the car(U.S. and canadian spec.) runs on. 89 is "borderline exceptable" but don't expect to even dyno .00000456 hp from doing it. You will only pay more for less. pumping a tank of 91 octane isn't babying the car.

[M_3]

so doing it every 3k or 4k is not bad

[goldwing2000]

Not bad, just not necessary. There's no such thing as changing your oil too much but to do so is a waste of time and money.

[Da 6]

there is a thread crossbow posted somewhere that showed the oil is just breaking in at 3k. Any full synthetic changed at 3k is a waste unless you been running the dog crap out of the car. I mean coast at 4k for like blocks at a time.

[M_3]

well but i have it free from the dealer

[PWR SHFT]

YOU CANT CHANGE YOUR OIL TOO OFTEN OR TOO SOON. PERIOD!!!

Just because Mazda says that its OK to change your oil every 5K (or 7k miles(shocked) ) miles, doesnt mean that you have to wait that long.

Now for the oil lesson. (rant)

There are two things with oil that you want to protect against.

Oil breakdown and Oil contaminates.

Oil breakdown occurs usually due to three things: hard driving, excessive heat, or excessive mileage. This is where the manufacturers recommendation comes from. Most of us will never dirve there cars hard enough and generate enought heat to break down oil. Mileage is the culperate. With todays oil, 7k miles is usually OK for this.

Now something that the manufacturers don't look at closly enough for me is contamination. How does oil get contaminated? Well there are two things that are the biggest contributers. Condensation and blow-by. Condensation - this happens as your car cools or sits for periods of time. Your crankcase is not completley sealed. Moisture will get inside and condensate. This effectivley causes water in the oil which will cause it to seperate and also cause corosion inside. Today's oil has additives to help with this, but I wouldn't trust it. Dealing with cars that sit around a lot, this is more of a concern. But for people who drive there cars everyday, not so much. Blow-by - your piston rings DO NOT completely seal the air fuel mixture inside the combustion chamber. Some WILL get past the rings and into the oil. When this happens, gasoline gets into the oil. Now you may trust that not much will be getting into your oil over 7K miles, but I won't. Gasoline and oil do not mix! The longer you drive, the more gets in there.
That is why I change my oil every 3-4k miles. CONTAMINIATION.


Thats all I have to say (blah)

[goldwing2000]

All I have to say to that is:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

and

http://www.mazda6tech.com/articles/maintenance/used-oil-analysis.html.

If you're that worried about contamination, then have your used oil analyzed and they will tell you exactly how often you should be waiting to change your oil. Not general data but receommendations specifically for your car.

[M_3]

not being a suck up or nothing but you have been a very big help on evrything, you allways have some facts to say you the man

[PWR SHFT]

All I have to say to that is:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

and

http://www.mazda6tech.com/articles/maintenance/used-oil-analysis.html.

If you're that worried about contamination, then have your used oil analyzed and they will tell you exactly how often you should be waiting to change your oil. Not general data but receommendations specifically for your car.


The first link is very interesting. Good to know we have a good engine.

However, I will not go through the trouble to have my oil analyzed for a Daily Driver. If I just change my oil ever 3 to 4k miles, I won't have anything to worry about. According to www.bobistheoilguy.com, the only thing negative against changing your oil more often was expense and oil disposal. That's it! If anyone is that worried about saving the extra periodic $30 dollars to change your oil a little more often, you shouldn't own a car.

[goldwing2000]

Of course you can do whatever you like but if it's not necessary, it's just wasted effort (in addition to the wasted money).
Personally, I have enough other things to worry about in my life. I don't need to add over-changing my oil to the list. I like changing at 5,000 because it keeps things nice and even and I can rotate my tires at the same time, so there's less things to keep track of.


M_3: Thanks! I do what I can. (thumb)

[M_3]

you welcome men and im going to do it at 5k to men cause its true what you say less things in mind, just doing everything at the same time, less time waste, less money, less visit to dealer, and no higher risk, so 5k it is

[PWR SHFT]

right here dude im not trying to be rude just helpfull

Thanks! Attached is the t-bucket and the chevelle side by side and a couple of other various pics.

[PWR SHFT]

And a few more...

[PWR SHFT]

The T-Bucket is NOT a kit. We built it from scratch starting with some 3"x4" square tubing and a jig. The body is fiberglass (didn't build that from scratch :) ).

[M_3]

the cars are nice, i like the chevelle

[PWR SHFT]

Just hit 1000 miles today. WoooHooo! (thumb)

[M_3]

how long did it took you to get 1k it took me like 3 days or maybe 4

[Antoine]

Always interesting to meet members who are owners in both "camps"...Got the old school and new school in the same garage ;) Nice chevelle...I used to have a 64 2dr...I miss the "beast" :D

[Captain KRM P5]

welcome to the forum

[JOS3]

i wish i got $20K birthday presents

[M_3]

you are kinda late buddy he's been here for a while now