[ahmedfloyd]

Got an '07 mazda 3 GT, it's got 2900 miles on it now.

thing is the dealer gave me a maintenance schedule for every 3000 miles
He wants me to go change oil and filter when i hit 3000 miles, as opposed to mazda's official schedule in the printed manual and on their website to get first maintenance on 7500 miles.

Which one do you think i should go with ? should i ignore the dealer ?

Does mazda's schedule imply that the car is running on synthetic oil ? i don't actually know what type of oil is in the car now.

Could it be synthetic oil and the dealer is just trying to shake off some cash out of my pocket ??

I need your help here guys.

 

[maudi3]

Search is your friend. Or you can try this link: http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=60813.0

 

[dread]

Unless you have synthetic in your car you should do it at 3500. Since this is your first oil change you definately don't have sinth in the car. I had my first oil change at 800miles to get all the metal shaving from the break in out of the engine. Where did you read that the first maintenance is at 7500 that must be a misprint, follow what your manual or dealer says.

 

[drinkduff77]

Mazda's service interval for normal driving is 7500 miles and 5000 for "severe". Most people fall into the severe category of driving so I would follow the 5000 schedule if I were you. Follow the manual. The dealer is trying to get more money out of you. If you do switch to a quality synthetic, you could follow the 7500 schedule with no problems depending on your driving conditions. Bottom line is that a 3000 mile oil change interval in this car not required or needed.

-'duff

 

[rpn453]

Let your driving style determine which schedule you follow, and don't follow the dealer's advice. If you drive the car every day, keep the 4/6 month intervals in mind too. In cold weather, I go 4 months or 7500 miles, whichever comes first. In warm weather, I go 6 months or 7500 miles.

Synthetic oil isn't necessarily anything special. It passes the same tests and may have the same rate of additive depletion as any dino. 7500 highway miles on any SM/GF-4 5W-20 will be no problem. Just do what your manual says to keep your warranty happy.

 

[maudi3]

[quote author=rpn453 link=topic=68383.msg1183182#msg1183182 date=1170443860]
Synthetic oil isn't necessarily anything special. It passes the same tests and may have the same rate of additive depletion as any dino. 7500 highway miles on any SM/GF-4 5W-20 will be no problem. Just do what your manual says to keep your warranty happy.
[/quote]

Worst advice and dumbest statements EVER.

 

[rpn453]

[quote author=maudi3 link=topic=68383.msg1183296#msg1183296 date=1170446837]Worst advice and dumbest statements EVER.
[/quote]

You're probably right, since I've only been looking at UOAs on a regular basis since 2002. The engineers at Mazda obviously know nothing about tribology either, since 7500 miles is their recommendation.

 

[maudi3]

[quote author=rpn453 link=topic=68383.msg1183611#msg1183611 date=1170454238]
[quote author=maudi3 link=topic=68383.msg1183296#msg1183296 date=1170446837]Worst advice and dumbest statements EVER.
[/quote]

You're probably right, since I've only been looking at UOAs on a regular basis since 2002. The engineers at Mazda obviously know nothing about tribology either, since 7500 miles is their recommendation.
[/quote]

"Looking at UOAs" makes you an expert?? Well , hell! We must have about 20 "experts" here too! 7500 miles is for "normal" service which less than 2% of all cars driven qualify for. Severe service interval is 5k.

 

[rpn453]

[quote author=maudi3 link=topic=68383.msg1186221#msg1186221 date=1170614840]"Looking at UOAs" makes you an expert?? Well , hell! We must have about 20 "experts" here too! 7500 miles is for "normal" service which less than 2% of all cars driven qualify for. Severe service interval is 5k.
[/quote]

That's why I said "highway miles", genius.

 

[maudi3]

[quote author=rpn453 link=topic=68383.msg1187850#msg1187850 date=1170701289]
[quote author=maudi3 link=topic=68383.msg1186221#msg1186221 date=1170614840]"Looking at UOAs" makes you an expert?? Well , hell! We must have about 20 "experts" here too! 7500 miles is for "normal" service which less than 2% of all cars driven qualify for. Severe service interval is 5k.
[/quote]

That's why I said "highway miles", genius.
[/quote]

Highway miles in Alaska are different from Arizona or Canada or Southern Florida, brainiac.

 

[rpn453]

[quote author=maudi3 link=topic=68383.msg1188050#msg1188050 date=1170708352]Highway miles in Alaska are different from Arizona or Canada or Southern Florida, brainiac.
[/quote]

Barring any unusual circumstances, if I can get 7500 miles in under 4 months on SM/GF-4 oil, I'm confident that the UOA will show that the oil is still capable of adequate protection, no matter where I live in North America. We disagree on that. Fine with me.

I see you also bolded my statement: "Synthetic oil isn't necessarily anything special". Can you please provide your expert opinion on this point too?