Regular Maintenence After 24,000 Miles?

[gizzard]

I just got my 24,000 oil change (I wish dealers would stop using 5W20) and I was wondering about other types of maintenence I should perform. I had the tires rotated at 15,000 miles and oil changes every 3,000 miles. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

[blynzoo]

Change your plugs, and (if you feel like it), do your air filter. All this is outlined in the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual.
Also, since it's been 10K, rotate your tires again. If the first rotation was an X rotation, this one will just be front-to-back on each side. You can do it yourself.

Brakes will go sometime between 20-34K miles, depending on your driving. If you feel like it, do that, too.

[gizzard]

Hmm, I don't recall how my tires were rotated the first time. I assumed it was front to back, but it wasn't noted on my receipt and I bet the dealer kept no record of it. Is there any other way to find out?

I'll probably need to have the dealer perform the maintenence since I don't have the necessary tools (or skill). I'd like to learn someday, but I don't have the time.

[Protege52003]

Check front pads out, do a tranny fluid change around 30K, plugs at 30K, check wires, clean filter and do oil again at 30K. Are you using synthetic now?

[gizzard]

I've been using whatever the Mazda dealer has been filling me up with (probably not synthetic). Ideally, I'd like to change oil myself and use 10W30 (dealer uses 5W20), but I don't have the time at the moment.

[mogi]

you sure the dealer isn't using 5w30? if it is 5w20, I'd raise hell!

[gizzard]

Yup, it says 5W20 on the service form. Maybe this is a good time for you guys to explain to me the effects oil viscocity can have on an engine? I know that it's better to have thinner oil in cold weather and thicker oil in warm weather. What else should I know?

[JCell]

i always rotate my tired when i do an oil change, front to back

[rednecks_r_us]

Change your plugs, and (if you feel like it), do your air filter. All this is outlined in the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual.
Also, since it's been 10K, rotate your tires again. If the first rotation was an X rotation, this one will just be front-to-back on each side. You can do it yourself.

Brakes will go sometime between 20-34K miles, depending on your driving. If you feel like it, do that, too.


I'm still on my factory stock rear brakes at 75K. I had to replace the front ones just before MAZFEST.

[Aloger]

Mogi what is wrong with 5W-20 oil because I have that oil in my P5 from the dealership too.

[mogi]

hmm, I retract my previous statement, did some looking around, looks like Ford (and probably mazda) updated their recommended oil to 5w20 for emissions reasons...

I'll stick with 10w30 :)

"5w20 oil is a lighter viscosity than a 5w30 oil and therefore has less internal engine frictional losses, or less drag on the crankshaft, pistons and valve-train. This decrease in frictional power loss promotes increased fuel economy. This increased fuel economy is virtually undetectable to the average consumer without the use of specialized engine monitoring and testing equipment when compared to a 5w30, 10w30 or a 0w30 viscosity motor oil."

"Question: What are the negative aspects of using a 5w20 oil?

Answer: 5w20 oil has less film and shear strength than a 5w30, 10w30 or a 0w30 motor oil. This can lead to increased engine wear under today's demanding heat and high-stress engine performance conditions."

see: http://www.bestsyntheticoil.com/dealers/amsoil/5w20-cafe.shtml

[gizzard]

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll probably wait until 30K miles to have my tires rotated, air filter changed, spark plugs changed, and brakes changed. Hopefully the dealer won't rape me.

[mogi]

tires, air filter, and sparks you can do yourself in no time!
brakes aren't that bad, there is a howto on the forums here for it

[gizzard]

Another question semi-related to maintenence:

The owner's manual recommends the tire pressure should be kept at 34 PSI. My dad claimed that he checked my tire pressure the other day (in the morning, before it was driven) and found it at 38 PSI. He said it was "dangerous". Is there any truth to this? Why or why not?

[DE31]

i dont think so. i know that subaru always puts about 3-5 more psi than recommended
Another question semi-related to maintenence:

The owner's manual recommends the tire pressure should be kept at 34 PSI. My dad claimed that he checked my tire pressure the other day (in the morning, before it was driven) and found it at 38 PSI. He said it was "dangerous". Is there any truth to this? Why or why not?

[Sveivo]

Another question semi-related to maintenence:

The owner's manual recommends the tire pressure should be kept at 34 PSI. My dad claimed that he checked my tire pressure the other day (in the morning, before it was driven) and found it at 38 PSI. He said it was "dangerous". Is there any truth to this? Why or why not?
I believe the manual says 32 psi if it's a protege5. 38 is not dangerous because the max is like 50 (not sure, but it says on the tire). The bad thing about over inflating is that you'll have abnormal tire wear-basically a strip down the middle will wear.

[gizzard]

I understand that an underinflated tire can be dangerous because the sidewalls will weaken and "roll over". Is there a point when a tire can be overinflated? What are the dangers?

[Sveivo]

I understand that an underinflated tire can be dangerous because the sidewalls will weaken and "roll over". Is there a point when a tire can be overinflated? What are the dangers?
When I overinflate my tires, I tend to have less traction -- wheels break loose when trying to accelerate, vehicle slides in cornering.

[Sveivo]

Basically anything above factory spec is overinflated.