my 1st msp

[acroadam]

I just bought a 2003 MSP... so i have a few questions, being new to mazda. What oil filter is most recommended? Spark plugs? and i was reading the maneul, and i was a little confused on the oil. Does it really take 3.4qts? im used to 5qts!.. also, 5-30 or 10-30 is recommended? the mods on this car is a Injn cold air intake, hks blow off valve, hard piping to the intercooler, air to fuel ratio, and boost gage, and greddy boost controller(havent touched it) boost is set at 10psi.. Anyways.. let me know on those questions.. so far awesome car!

[zuku26]

I'm rather new here myself only having my MSP for a couple months, but I have a ton of info on this board by searching.

With that said:
It seems that the K&N / Mobil 1 (the same filter) seems to be the majority choice.
How many miles on the car and do you know what type of oil was used by the previous owner?
Synthetic mobil 1 or redline or royal purple seems to be the majority.
If your not sure if the prevoius owner ran synthetic do a synthetic blend for the next 3 changes then go full synthetic if you like.
3.5 quarts is correct.
Where are you located. 5W30 is a great winter weight if you live in the cold belt like I do. If not 10w30 all year.

I'm actually looking into the spark plugs myself right now, so I'll post that later, unless you search and find it first.

[acroadam]

it has 93,000 miles on it.. Yeah i just got the prevoious owner number, so im gonna give him a call to see what he has done with it.. like the maintence... Its almost 100,000miles.. maybe a timing belt?? .. i live in missouri.. so ya, its cold.. i have always used castrol 5-30, high milage..

[zuku26]

Like I said, Use the search option, there is a ton of info. More then I can post here!

[acroadam]

also, how do i figure out if the air to fuel ratio is what the car should be running?

[cmahlig]

if it is a narrowband a/f guage, it is basically worthless, you need a wideband to tell accurately

[Rush]

Turn the boost down to 7psi or so. 10psi without EMS is NOT safe.

I use a K&N filter and 10W30 Mobile 1 oil. Yes, it really does take a little less than 4 quarts of oil.

I use NGK ZFR7F-11 spark plugs, but they're generally used for higher boost applications. Right now, you should be keeping your boost levels pretty close to stock until you have the right supporting mods.

I can pretty much guarantee that your car is running pig-rich, like all MSPs do until they get some EMS. But yeah, you'll want to get a wideband (AEM is the most popular) in order to keep an eye on the air/fuel ratio.

Welcome to the forums! :)

[acroadam]

thanks a lot.....ya, the a/f guage that i have is aem..

[evilmonkeyMSP]

if you paid $60 for it then for the most part its just a $60 light show... sorry :(
thanks a lot.....ya, the a/f guage that i have is aem..

[dannyboy17]

it might be a wideband then
check under the car and see if there is 2 connectors after the cat.

[peajay]

good A/F ratios are generally speaking 14.7 at idle, down around 9-12 in boost. You want to be richer (lower numbers) in boost, as long as you arent hovering in the 14 or higher range you should be ok.
as for the oils, you can play around with it. i cant run synthetic or syn blends i get cold-start knock, but alot of other people can, i use mazda oem oil filters as well.

[orlandomsp]

Congrats on the purchase, and welcome aboard. :)

I use mobil 1 10w30 and the mazda 626 oil filter, it's bigger and allows me to put in an even 4 quarts.

[acroadam]

ya im gonna do an oil change this weekend.. i'll probably use mobile 1... Question.....10psi to much u think?

[mikeski]

yeah, 10psi is pushing it on stock internals. the rods on the msp are like pensils and sometimes break even on stock boost.

[mazdaspeedwerx]

I have run 15 psi for a very long time now.. years. I have peaked 20 alot at the track also. I have an ems now but I was doing the same before I had it. but I use mobile1 also. but I think at 10 psi you are safe. there have been people that have blown their engines at stock boost. but n/a cars blow their engines also.

[dannyboy17]

I have run 15 psi for a very long time now.. years. I have peaked 20 alot at the track also. I have an ems now but I was doing the same before I had it. but I use mobile1 also. but I think at 10 psi you are safe. there have been people that have blown their engines at stock boost. but n/a cars blow their engines also.

daymn
I run 9-10psi with an afc and Im still scared of blowing the engine...imagine 15psi untunned lol.

[solo.]

Well it really depends on the type of gas you use too.
The higher the octane, the safer it is, or should I say it is more stable as it is less prone to pre-ignite.

[acroadam]

hey could one of u post a pic of a AEM wideband guage so i can see if i got it.. thanks a lot.....also too, i was reading about transmission fluid. and ppl were putting 1qt lucas, and 2qts penzoil snycromesh, now, can jiffy lube do that? or do u have to do it youeself, cuz ur using two different brands...let me know thanks a lot

[AtenzaNY62]

whats the part number for the k&n oil filter?

[peajay]

hey could one of u post a pic of a AEM wideband guage so i can see if i got it.. thanks a lot.....also too, i was reading about transmission fluid. and ppl were putting 1qt lucas, and 2qts penzoil snycromesh, now, can jiffy lube do that? or do u have to do it youeself, cuz ur using two different brands...let me know thanks a lot

please dont go to jiffy lube.....ever. If you arent comfortable doing the repair yourself see if there are any owners local that can help you or find a dealership and talk it over with them and see if they will be kind enough to do it for you. most will should you bring your own fluids and explaing exactly what you want done. it's really not hard.
+1 for the lucas, i've been running it and have yet to have any issues.

[acroadam]

thanks a lot... do u just run lucas, or do u mix it with penzoil?

[peajay]

I'm running the lucas/synchromesh mix.

[Meydron]

I'm pretty sure its my old MSP that you bought. The A/F gauge is a wideband. The boost should not be hitting 10 psi cause i never had it set at that so i don't know what the dealership did to the boost controller before they sold it to you. Your pretty much mentioned all the mods on the car cept it is a Hiboost FMIC on the car and you have a corksport downpipe/muffler on the car. Had to put the cats back on the car when i traded it in. So turn down the boost in a hurry. Oil was changed every 3K miles. You have an awr rear motor mount on the car and i replaced the differential at 60K miles with a welded one. Also the car has synchromesh tranny fluid in it. Send me a PM if you have any other questions.