I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Type of engine oils__
Hello from a newbie. I’ve read about how different oils can make such a difference on the MX5 engines.
My car is going in for service on Monday and I’m buying the oils in preparation. I’ve already got the gear and diff oils (Transmax) I found on the threads, but many of the links I found for engine oils are out of date or superceded. What is the latest advice on engine oils or is it not so critical as long as the spec is right? Many thanks for answering what must be a most tiresome question.
I would advise 5w 30 fully synthetic to the spec in your handbook.
My personal flavor was Mobil super 3000 FE, any brand to those specs is ok.
You’ll get loads of recommendations on which brand grade etc. Depending on what’s available, easy to obtain or how much you want to pay etc. As important regular changes and keep it to the upper mark on the dipstick.
Thank you . So I’m assuming the engine oil just needs to be decent quality, not so critical as the gear oils. It’s a learning curve, I appreciate the response.
Hi, I had a similar issue of wondering which oil would be best, when I purchased my 2010 Mk3.5 Powershift, with only 18,560 genuine miles on the clock, in October 2023.
A Solent Area friend on the IOW has a contact at MJB Motor Factors, who is very knowledgeable on oils and once provided with the car reg and details, he comes up with the correct grade of Grenville Oil for your car.
The difference with the Grenville Oils, is that they have evolved, as have engines over the years, and now include additional constituents to take into account the advances in engine oils.
I use Grenville Oils to these latest specs in both my 1993 Mk1 and 2010 Mk3.5 and I am very pleased with their performance to date.
Additionally, I always use an engine flushing agent, such as Wynns or Forte in the engine before draining the old oil to remove and debris from the smaller oil galleries and hydraulic tappets etc and leave the engine to drain overnight. Then in the morning, fit a genuine Mazda Oil Filter and replace the sump plug before refilling with Grenville Oil.
Finally, I agree with MickAP in that these 2.0L engines are sensitive to oil level, so it is imperative that the oil level is not left to get low and is checked regularly and is kept topped up to the higher level marker for trouble free running.
Thanks (to you and everyone) for such helpful replies. I did indeed settle for a 5/30 fully synthetic Castrol, as time was short and I needed to pick it up locally.
The workshop reported back that all the oils they removed were very clean and like new so likely had been changed recently but I still think it was a sensible thing to do. Glad to report everything is running like a dream, including the gear change.
Thanks again all!
Im not sure why but ive always stayed away from Mobil One oils, i kept reading they were rubbish.
I try to stick to brands i do know are good in stuff i care about ie Fuchs, Millers etc.
In all reality if it meets the specs it will be fine, regular changing is the key and not sticking to silly long intervals.
