I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Supra 0W-20 Engine oil
Had my 2016 MX5 ND 1.5 SEL from new.
My better half has a 2017 Mazda 3 Sportnav 2.0 Petrol also bought from new.
Both cars are Skyactive G
At every service we have changed the Engine oil in both cars with Mazda Original Supra 0W-20.
Up to the 2020 services the Supra 0W-20 Part number was 0W20-05-sup03 but for some reason after the 2020 services the Part Number became 0W20-01-sup20.
We recently traded the Mazda 3 Sportnav Skyactive G for a 2022 Mazda3 Sportlux 2.0 Ltr Petrol Skyactive X.
The Maintenance Schedule for the Sportlux gives Mazda Original Supra 0w-20 , but it is described as Supra-X 0W-20 rather than Supra 0W-20
Not sure if the Supra-X 0W-20 is different from Supra 0W-20 or just a rename as appears to be the case when part numbers changed after 2020 services.
Don’t know if my MX5 ND engine oil will now be replaced with Supra-X 0W-20 with a corresponding change in Part Number or Supra 0W-20 is a different spec and plain old Supra 0W-20 be needed
Mx5parts show the Supra X for the ND 2015 on. Methinks just a rebrand, they added the X.
I’ve been using oils long enough to notice that manufacturers like to change their description on the cans regularly and better the specs and properties of the oils.
Surprised that Supra X is advised for the ND 2015.
It’s the Maintenance Schedules in my 2016 ND Owners manual and the 2017 Mazda 3 Owners Manual that recommend the Supra rather than Supra X.
I too am finding the engine oil grade choice somewhat confusion, especially the choice between 0W 20 and 5W 30 fully synthetic oil grades, both of which seem to be recommended in the owners manual. The owners manual shows the choice as below:
From what I have gleaned, the 0W-20 grade is better for cold starting in colder climates than the 5W-30 grade as it has a lower viscosity at lower temperatures and is easier to get moving around the engine. However in the UK we rarely get anywhere the low temperature limits of -30deg C shown for the 5W-30 grade so this oil grade should be fine in the UK.
Regarding the viscosity rating for high temperatures i.e. when the engine is at operating temperature both grades are rated up to approximately 120deg C this probably being the upper temp limit for the oils before they break down. However the 5W-30grade will have a higher viscosity at higher temperatures than the 0W-20grade therefore protecting the engine more at these temperatures and possibly providing a quieter running engine but at the expense of creating more pumping losses, reducing power/fuel consumption.
What is also interesting, is that the table shown for “Except Europe” seems to show a plethora of recommended grades. Maybe, there is more to it than just operating temperature ranges such as different testing and specification regimes or even emission standards. If anybody can provide any sort of illumination on this point please do so?
This suggests that the correct oil grade for non USA, Canada and Puerto Rico cars i.e. the UK (and rest of the world) is the 5W-30 grade. The reasons for this are unclear as surely Scandinavia and other parts of the world get as cold as the USA and Canada. I don’t know where Puerto Rico comes into it as I wouldn’t have thought that it would get particularly cold there!
This does look to be suggesting that in the choice between 0W-20 and 5W-30, than the latter may be the slightly more preferential choice here in the UK but if anybody has evidence to the contrary please let it be known.
If it complies with the manual (A3 or A5) and the grade, then it’s OK. I usually take my own oil for services, recently that has been Shell Helix Ultra Professional AF 5W-30 which is A5.
I have decided in future to use the AG (C3 spec) which is mid SAPS rather than high SAPS or an equivalent, in the hope that it might be better for direct injection. I’d rather use the slightly higher weight grade.
I use EMG Cambridge for servicing (ND, 1.5). I haven’t actually asked them what oil they use but it’s a multi franchise workshop so it could well be a 5W-30 anyway.
I’m not concerned that the MX-5 manual doesn’t specifically mention C3 compatibility. The Millers ‘oil finder’ recommends Trident Professional 5W-30 C3 (5999) and other C3 oils. I have some of the Millers so I’ll use that. If you want the bees knees then there is Millers EE Performance C3 5w30 (7877) for about £20 more that claims to be “track day ready”!
Totally agree with your choice, especially regarding the mid SAPS C3 specification which may reduce the carbon build caused by direct fuel injection which the Skyactiv-G engine suffers from. I too would rather use the more viscous 5W-30 grade from what I have gleaned. I am more concerned with durability than lots of cold weather starts (including stop/start traffic with i-Stop operating) and fuel economy.
Same here Ralph. It’s a summer car and I can get 50mpg out of it anyway, so I doubt whether the economy benefit of 0W-20 is material - but of course the manufacturers do this sort of thing to cover all eventualities and to get the lowest official emissions figures, amongst whatever technical considerations there are.
Appreciate the replies regarding different oil providers and their Specs.
I would like to go back to my original problem with Mazda Engine oil recommendation for my e-SkyActive X Mazda 3 for which Mazda recommend only 0-20W oil or alternatively API SN (or higher) 0-20W oil.
I contacted Mazda Customer Services and they referred to their technical department who advised that Mazda Original Supra 0-20W is different from Mazda Original Supra X 0-20W, since Supra 0-20W is for SkyActiveG Engines whereas Supra X is for SkyActiveX Engines.
Referring to Owner manuals for my past 2017 Mazda 3 SkyActiveG and current 2022 Mazda 3 SkyActive X, the Engine oil viscosity and temperature specs for Supra and Supra X show no difference whatsoever between the two. Must be other special ingredients?
Apologies for joining in the drift. I’m not surprised at Mazda’s response. It might have been helpful had they told you whether the ‘X’ is backwards compatible for Skyactiv-G, but at least you know what to buy for your new 3 if you want to comply with their recommendation. Does the manual include an AECA spec?
Mazda 3 SkyActiv-G and e-SkyActive G have ACEA A5/B5 in addition to API SN or higher. I note that for these Mazda Original Oil Supra-X 0W-20 (& Mazda Original Ultra 5W-30) are also the Mazda oil recommended.
Perhaps this suggests backward compatible for MX5 ND1 SkyActiv G. Who knows.
However for the 2022 Mazda 3 e-SkyActiv X only Mazda original Supra-X 0W-20 recommended with no ACEA 0W-20 alternative (API SN 0W-20 or higher only)
Thing is will Mazda Dealership parts dept & Technicians know since “X” is the only difference on the tin. After all we are all fallable.
Why didn’t they call Supra X something entirely different like "Superduper Supra X Rated " or something?
To add to the confusion MX-5parts are selling Mazda Skyactive 0W-20 Supra-X as “the only Mazda recommended oil for use in the Mk4”. So MX-5parts either know 0W-20 Supra-X is backwards compatible for the Skyactiv-G engine or they are just assuming it is!
I did contact Mazda Customer Services and they referred to their technical department who advised that Mazda Original Supra 0-20W is different from Mazda Original Supra X 0-20W, since Supra 0-20W is for SkyActiveG Engines whereas Supra X is for SkyActiveX Engines.
Had to visit my nearest Mazda dealership on another matter a couple of days ago and raised my oil query.
Although I didn’t get to speak to any technicians, and there was no definitive advice, it was thought different Supra oils may be down to the dissimilar SkyActive-G and SkyActiv- X Engines.
Still non the wiser really!
Well, I think you have your answer there. I don’t think that MX-5parts should be selling 0W-20 Supra-X as “the only Mazda recommended oil for use in the Mk4”.
Agree with that and disappointed that I couldn’t get clarification from mx5parts.
I assume that Supra-X is an upgrade of Supra, and if that is the case then there probably isn’t any problem with putting Supra-X into all Mark 4 MX5’s.
Thing is I’m not a professional Lubrication Analyst and you know the old saying “Assume makes an A** out of U & ME”
I am more “concerned” that Mazda Original Supra 0W-20 may be used when Mazda Original Supra-X 0W-20 is the Engine oil recommended for our SkyActiv-X engine.
I think you are chasing your tail on this one. As far as I can see both Supra oils are API SN so are exactly the same standard and in Europe are made by Total. The original factory fill is Idemitsu Zepro SN 0w/20 Advanced Molybdenum Formula. It looks to me as it’s just a marketing name change perhaps to coincide with X series engines. The reality is any make oil can be used that conforms to the SN standard be it 0w/20, 5w/30.
There are some other points worth mentioning. Most of the engine wear occurs on start-up so the use of a 0w will be more beneficial, a 0w/30would be better than 5w/30 for instance.
Another consideration is what base stock is used. The base stock really defines the quality and performance of the oil. For synthetic oils the base stocks are divided into 3 groups.
Group 3 base stocks are derived from petroleum and are highly refined or hydrocracked and are used in a high percentage of semi and synthetic oils.
Group 4 base stocks are polyalphaolefins or PAO are chemically manufactured and have excellent stability in both hot and cold temperatures and give superior protection due to their uniform molecules.
Group 5 base stocks are also chemically manufactured using esters and have the same superior qualities as Group 4 stocks. Esters are also electro statically attracted to metal surfaces which is very beneficial. They are usually blended with Group 4 to produce the best overall performance.
Engine oils which use Group 4/5 base stocks give the best performance and are more expensive than oils using Group 3 base stocks.
Unfortunately we don’t know what base stock is used for the Supra/Supra X oil but it’s price puts it in ompetition with oils which use PAO/esters eg Fuchs, Amsoil, Motul and Miller’s to name a few.
And lastly as mentioned above a C3 oil would be beneficial because as the Skyactiv engines use direct injection it’s use will reduce inlet valve carbon fouling due to it low SAPS content.
Agree with this especially for a car driven in stop/start traffic with the iStop feature functioning. If you don’t drive in such conditions I think it is a bit less important.
Perhaps I should have added ‘cold’ starts as when most of the wear will occur because most of the oil will have drained back to the sump. Stop/start won’t have the same effect as there will be enough hot oil to prevent any appreciable wear.
