hello everyone I would like to ask mk3 owners what oil they put in their engines.My car is 10 year old mk3 I have looked on differant forums some people say 5w-30 which mazda recommends others say 0w40which is a thicker oil both are fully synthetic some have suggested other oils like semi synthetic.On the mobil site they say fuel economy 0w-30 of which some say is thin oil not good for older cars.Mobil also say super 3000 XE 5W-30 and super 3000 X1 formula FE 5-30.What would everyone out there say thanks.Paul
Since 13,000 miles in Nov 2010 (when I bought the car at 4 years old!) I have used Mobil Super 3000 X1 Formula FE 5W-30 Oil, usually bought from Halfords when they have a 20% sale on oil. http://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-fluids/engine-oil/mobil-super-3000-x1-formula-fe-5w-30-oil-5l - the oil is to a Ford approved Spec and seeing as the mk3 engine is a Ford engine you’d think it would be okay!
It now has 93k miles on, and runs very well not using any oil between 12000 mile services. I also have been using K & N Gold High Flow oil filters on each change. http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/filter-performance-gold-high-flow-mk3-35-p-1679.html
5-30 with genuine Mazda filter, changed every 4-5 K.
I am also using Mobil Super 3000. Engine at 78,000, last change 5000m ago and not burnt a drop, so i will stick with it. Certainly not changing the grade.
I’ve always used the Mobil oil as Nick1970 in my 2ltr sport.
I’ve just bought a 2007 2.0 and getting the oil and filter changed. Car is on 91000 and full service history but receipts just show oil and quantity apart from Mazda early services when it was semi synthetic. Can i go fully synthetic 5w30 or should i stick to semi synthetic ?
I’d definitely stick with semi-synthetic oil bearing in mind the high mileage of the engine.
Fully synth oil is very good at washing out carbon deposits due to its high detergency, which sounds like a good thing, but it can actually cause big problems.
A couple of years ago I fitted a used Suzuki Swift 1.0 engine to my trials car and decided to use fully synthetic oil because I had fitted a supercharger to it.
The oil upgrade was not my best idea. After a couple of thousand miles the pressure relief valve piston in the oil pump became badly scuffed and suddenly jammed shut. The resulting massive over pressure during a cold start pumped the oil filter canister up until the base distorted and the sealing o ring blew out. The engine oil was pumped all over the engine bay in about twenty seconds, the time it took for me to reverse from the garage door to the end of our driveway. My block paving will never be the same!
Thats what i thought but unsure on what oil was used at the same place on the last five services all it says is 4.5 ltrs oil at a cost of £60 with vat for oil alone which seems dear if it was semi. Even Mx5parts say only use and recommend Mobil 3000 fully synthetic. Might give the place where it was serviced a ring to see what they used.
Stop making things up, the statment you made below is false check you source.
“Even Mx5parts say only use and recommend Mobil 3000 fully synthetic”
Want i meant was they only seem to supply the synthetic stuff so assumed that was the way they recommended to go.
Rich, rather than going over old ground its rather simple. Your car has a Ford derived engine, thats right, not a Mazda engine. recommend oil is Ford compatable synthetic . As above many people use Mobil Super 3000 5-30 Ford spec. As for high mileage my car has 88,000 miles with no oil burn .
If you are paranoid about what is in your engine drain and change to Super 3000. If you are mega paranoid do an engine flush but this isn’t really necessary. Mobile Super available from any Halfrauds. Being a BH weekend i assume they will have their usual discounts on and it will be bit cheaper.
This is where to buy the Mobil oil, when I checked last week it was £8 cheaper than Halfords (before your 10% OC discount) best if you’re not sure whether they carry it in your local store (not all do) buy online and click n collect.
Thanks for replies, Mobil 3000 it is then, nearest Wilko is a 40 mile round trip so it’s Halfords or will order some online.
Your engine is not old. That stuff is about old design not mileage. 91K equally is not old, particularly these days.
Just put engine oil in it and maintain it to the recommended service schedule.
It’s basically the same as a Ford Focus engine, so Ford-spec Mobil 3000 Formula FE is best. The level when stone cold is quite a bit lower than when hot, so be prepared to top up the day after. Also, the filter is located in a really unhelpful position!
Sorted now , Eurocarparts have a Bank holiday sale, Mobile oil, air filter and oil filter for about £40 delivered.