When to change the oil and take it in for service

[dawei]

My Dealer says to change the oil after the first 3000 miles. This seems a bit low for me. any suggestions as to when i should change it.

[zmepro]

i changed mine at 250 1000 and 2500

[Jpasta]

i changed mine at 250 1000 and 2500


at 250miles?

how come so early

and 1000?

I have like 1200 KM on mine and havent gone yet

[dawei]

why are you changing it so often?

[Da 6]

you should sent it off for a used oil analasys and if your drivng habits are the same you may be able to squeeze a lil bit more miles/kilometers out of it...safely(spin) .

[uclap5]

he changed it so often for the break in period.

[RonH]

I'll be doing my first oil change around 1,000 miles.

[Hoeboe2k]

Whatever your manual says the breakin period is?

[RonH]

600 miles.

[M6M3]

My Dealer says to change the oil after the first 3000 miles. This seems a bit low for me. any suggestions as to when i should change it.
I'm pretty sure the user manual says 6,000 and 7,500, depending on your driving habits. I'm about to do my first, but nobody but the dealer has the filter. Can I really do one with the filter and the o-ring from the 6i?

[goldwing2000]

I'm pretty sure the user manual says 6,000 and 7,500, depending on your driving habits. I'm about to do my first, but nobody but the dealer has the filter. Can I really do one with the filter and the o-ring from the 6i?

Yes, 6i and 3s have the same engine, therefore same oil filter.

[M6M3]

Yes, 6i and 3s have the same engine, therefore same oil filter.
Yeah, but I'm told even this isn't a guarantee, that sometimes companies alter things for same engines in different makes even if almost all of the rest is the same. So, if you or anyone else has actually DONE this, no prob, and it's not just a best-guess theory, I'll shut up and go away now. I just wanted to be sure since there seems to be a surprising amount of confusion over this,,, down to Mazda initially putting out the wrong part number for the filter (so the woman at NAPA said).

[dulog]

I've heard mixed things about this from the dealer and also from within this thread. Seems to depend on who you ask. I'm at about 620 miles now and am going on a trip 550 miles away this weekend and am thinking about getting it changed there before I come back since some people said as low as 250 or 600 and some people said 1000 and 3000 this is in between. For a 3 with low mileage like this what kind of oil should be used?

[goldwing2000]

Yeah, but I'm told even this isn't a guarantee, that sometimes companies alter things for same engines in different makes even if almost all of the rest is the same. So, if you or anyone else has actually DONE this, no prob, and it's not just a best-guess theory, I'll shut up and go away now. I just wanted to be sure since there seems to be a surprising amount of confusion over this,,, down to Mazda initially putting out the wrong part number for the filter (so the woman at NAPA said).

The woman at NAPA is talking out her ass. No aftermarket company even makes the 6i/3s (2.3L) filter yet, so how would she know anything about the numbers for it? The 3i (2.0L) filter is available but not from everybody.

I can't even believe I'm arguing this with you.

Here: The frickin part number for the Mazda 3s oil filter is L32114302 and the o-ring is LF0114312. Compare it for yourself!

If you're still not convinced, just call the damn dealer!

Sheesh!

[frenzy2223]

Change it every 25,000 miles!!!

[frenzy2223]

Change it every 25,000 miles!!!..lol

[PeteyBoy3K]

The manual suggests every 5K for severe, and every 10K for "normal"
The oil cap and manual suggest 5w-20 oil


I'm planning on just replacing the oil and filter every 5K, don't see a reason for doing it more often than that.

[Brian MP5T]

The warranty may require you to follow your dealers suggestions...

[M6M3]

The woman at NAPA is talking out her ass. No aftermarket company even makes the 6i/3s (2.3L) filter yet, so how would she know anything about the numbers for it? The 3i (2.0L) filter is available but not from everybody.

I can't even believe I'm arguing this with you.

Here: The frickin part number for the Mazda 3s oil filter is L32114302 and the o-ring is LF0114312. Compare it for yourself!


Well, those are the numbers I had. I just wanted to make for real sure, not just in theory sure. Wasn't even trying to argue. Thanks, and BTW, I think the Napa people were saying that the FIRST set of numbers for the Mazda filter from Mazda was wrong, and the next book just had it as N/A. No mention of an aftermarket. They had a bulletin to that effect tacked up, but I didn't get close enough to read it close.

As an Irish granpappy I knew once said, "May all the cops you pass be sleeping."

[Da 6]

geesh i leave for a week and everyone is choking the snot out of each other anyhoo yes 2.3 has the same make up.....not filter but filter cartrige making it inposible to swap withouth the mazda conversion part....people take it to places like napa and walmart and blow their nice new engines cause they somehow hilbilly rigged a fram spin on and like 2 blocks you dumped the entire pan at the light. stay away from places and people like that.......unless you like breaking in engines every oil change inerval. and change the oil before 250,000 miles is IDEAL and Highly Recomended



also 0W 20 is a better oil (naughty)

[RonH]

I had my first oil and filter change today at the dealer. I used to service cars and trucks as a part time job back in the 80's and was intersested on how this cartridge was done in person. The guy didn't much care for this type of filter, and I don't either doing a few on Acura's. It's a pretty cut and dry procedure.
I'd been reading prices from people on MZ3 forums and thought it was going to cost a lot. I believe just the filter kit was almost $13.00. They had sent me a letter with a $18.95 coupon so I gave it to him, thinking he was going to say it's more for that engine (the small print said so). He said if I come back to get it done he'd give me a good price. He handed me a bill for $21.08 and I was happy. They also ran it through their car wash and since it was dirty I got happier.

BTW, I've also read that the oil was extremely dirty the first change. Well, my oil was so clean at 1,050 miles I could see right through it in the light.

[goldwing2000]

Just did my second oil change yesterday at 4,970 miles. Oil was dirty but not unexpectedly so.
First one at 1,016 miles.
Next one at 10,000 miles and every 5,000 after that, as per the N. America "severe use" schedule.

Also, next time I'll be converting over to the spin-on 2.0L filter. I would have done it this time (I have the parts) but I still had one cartridge filter left so I figured I may as well use it.

[dannyboy]

i have about 700 mi so far, planning on getting it done at 1000.

[JohnGalt]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows of a seroius and competent establishment, within 20 km of Montreal (QC) where they can extract a sample of my engine's oil and conduct a thorough analysis (USED OIL ANALYSIS). I would also appreciate an idea of the cost and wether or not you would recommend such an undertaking.

My purpose is to use this diagnostic tool for preventive maintenance. For instance to detect otherwise undectectable engine abnormalities such as excessive contaminants or engine wear, that can become major headaches if they remain undetected. I intend to do this once every 6000 km or 6 months.

Thus far I've only found this place on the NET: http://www.pmaint.com/index.html, but I doubt that they service individual requests. Thank you in advance.

[Da 6]

I wanna say Bobistheoilguy.com is the place for individuals...Nobody that changes oil in a shop could tell you where to send it off (boom07)? Yeah as stated before in a few posts Used oil analysis for 6i(2.3 engine) did better with 0W-20 over the stock 5W-20. yes the break in oil contains all the stuff that happened to the engine durring the break in period...for those who are DIY oil changers or want to get it serviced places "Other Than" dealership there is the spin on filter conversion....and the 3i filter is the part you use

[carperformance3]

I work at a Valvoline Insant Oil Change, and we have an oil filter for the 2.3 Mazda3 motor. I installed one in my car on Thursday, the filter number is VO80, thats V as in Victor, O as in Oxygen, 8 as in eight, and 0 as in zero. The filter also comes with two new gaskets, one for the shaft that goes through the filter, about about 1/3" in diameter, and the second gasket to go around the canister, about 4 inches in diameter. To change the oil on the canister is not any harder if you spend the extra money up front to buy the proper canister filter tool from someone such as service champ, and use a 6mm allen wrench to drain the filter housing first.

[RonH]

I'll stick with the factory cartridge filter as long as my dealer changes mine for the $18.95 price I was charged the first oil/filter change.

[M6M3]

I'll stick with the factory canister filter as long as my dealer changes mine for the $18.95 price I was charged the first oil/filter change.

Yeah, well my dealer charged $31 so I'm gonna dump him as soon as I can. Valvoline, you say?

[carperformance3]

i have had an absolutely horrible experience with my dealer, but if you prefer your dealer, thats cool. just ask whoever works on your car lots of questions, make sure they aren't stupid or lazy. but yes, it is valvoline. and we will tell you when something is wrong, not hide leaks, like the dealers.

[Da 6]

$31!....guess I did save alot by buying oil, filter, o-rings, and lift time. Good ole mobil 1 0W-20. I like the cartrige cause it baffled everyone in the shop and gives me a reason to change it myself cause nobody has a clue how to do it.

oh canister tool is 76MM.....I recomend that over the wrench since it only gives you a small area to grab onto and you want it to last cause it's going right back on the car....

[El Ropo]

I just had my first oil change yesterday at 1,100 miles. The first thing the service manager at the Dealer asked me is "how many miles on it?". I said "around 1100, but I want to get the break in junk out of the engine". His response was very positive, and he snuck me in and out in 45 minutes on a friday afternoon with no appointment. FYI the service was free as part of the dealer 'gifts'.

[Da 6]

I just had my first oil change yesterday at 1,100 miles. The first thing the service manager at the Dealer asked me is "how many miles on it?". I said "around 1100, but I want to get the break in junk out of the engine". His response was very positive, and he snuck me in and out in 45 minutes on a friday afternoon with no appointment. FYI the service was free as part of the dealer 'gifts'....free!?....(chair) must be nice!

[styles_t]

when you buy the car, do you service for your car automatically for a certain amount of years or do you have to buy it or something. Because i'm not even sure if i have service on my car and i bought it in March 2004

[Da 6]

when you buy the car, do you service for your car automatically for a certain amount of years or do you have to buy it or something. Because i'm not even sure if i have service on my car and i bought it in March 2004depends on the dealership sometimes...sounds like El Ropo made friends or something(first) I did my own oil change to 0W-20 and didn't do the spin on conversion thats popular with the 2.3 croud. I have a diy shop near and it baffled every one and it was real simple and clean. I was wearing by best gear(Moron (blowup) ) when changng and not 1 drop got on me. Just remember to LET THE CAR COOL DOWN! I was stuck on stupid that day for some odd reason but luckily I wore dishwasing gloves so the heat didn't penetrate to the skin as bad as it would have. What I find fun doing, others find a hassle or a chore so if you don't like changig oil and don't know a fellow member who is willing to do it (at a price that dealer(other than El Ropo's) would charge take it in for oil change if you own a 2.3! few companys have cartage filters but many have complained in their fit quality.