First Oil Change

[Mazda3Rookie]

Hello guys,

a question for you more seasoned Mazda3 owners: Yesterday a lady from the dealer where I got my M3 called to set up an appointment for the first oil change. When I replied saying that I still got only 2800 miles on the car she said "The first oil change should be done earlier than the usual recommended maintenance interval".

Is there any thruth in this or the dealer is just trying to milk more money out of me? The fact that even the salesman told me (when I got the car) that the oil should be changed every 3500 miles makes me suspicious....

If I recall correctly, on the owner manual Mazda recommends oil changes every 5,000 or 7,500 miles, depending on driving conditions. I was planning to go for the 5,000 miles interval, although for my driving pattern I'm sure even 7,500 would be fine.

My car is a 2006 5-door S Touring Manual 2.3L and I got it early November in 2005.

Thanks.

 

[RonH]

It's unusual for a dealer to recommend an early oil change, but I always do the first oil/filter change around 1,000 miles on my new cars. But it's up to you if you want to wait until the manual states the first one at certain miles.


I had my oil/filter changed today at the dealer. It was my 6th service on my mz3 since new back in 2/04. Yes I over do it but I also consider time vs mileage since I don't drive much.

 

[cbc]

Any thoughts on using synthetic versus regular oil? I've always used synthetics
in my cars, & noticing that it's now down to 5-20W on the Mazda. Sheesh. almost sewing machine oil. I've read that synthetics tend to break down later than with petroleum based.

 

[Mazda3Rookie]

It's unusual for a dealer to recommend an early oil change, but I always do the first oil/filter change around 1,000 miles on my new cars. But it's up to you if you want to wait until the manual states the first one at certain miles...

RonH,

thanks for sharing your opinion. I read elsewhere on this board that it is a good idea to have the first oil change done early to eliminate all the crap that supposedely comes out of a new engine initially. However, I found strange that no car makers (as far as I know) makes of it a recommendation. In the end is not a big expense anyway, if it really helps.

As far as the regular oli changes, I drive about 1,000 a month, so I have always done it every 5,000 miles or 7,500 miles on the cars I have owned and own.

 

[Protege52003]

every mazda i have purchased comes with a free 1000 mile oil change! then i take over after that......

i changed my jetta's at 1500, 5k and 10K........

 

[JCell]

i did my first oil change at 3500 miles

 

[cbc]

My dealer also offers the first oil change "on the house" (& every other one thereafter)
plus if you come in on a Saturday, they feed you! Never got that at a Ford dealer!! =)

 

[tsunami]

wow i think my dealer just sucks then... no free nothin, and the "coupons" they send me are a joke... its like 50$ for an oil change and "inspection" wtf.... thats why i do it myself, i use redline and couldn't be happier stuff has great viscosity (from what i can tell) after my 5000 miles and i don't drive like granny either....

 

[BLAM]

i did mine at 6000kms...I will be doing my regular changes @ 8000kms
I am currently using synthetic

our engines arae broken in at the factory and do NOT have break in oil in them. there is no need to do it early.

 

[cbc]

Yow - $50 for an *oil change*???? Do they use liquid gold? That is nutso. I am still debating whether to hassle with going to them for oil, as I have a local guy who's been my mechanic for years & is right up the street from me. Hey as long as you have a receipt for the work, the warranty conditions are met.

 

[trees]

under $20 for my oil change at the mazda shop

 

[Mazda3Rookie]

under $20 for my oil change at the mazda shop

Yep, I can get the oil changed at around $19 with a coupon at the dealer or $29 even without coupon.

That's why the early oil change is not really about the money. It is more the hassle of driving the car to the dealer and the wait.....

 

[salguod]

I read elsewhere on this board that it is a good idea to have the first oil change done early to eliminate all the crap that supposedly comes out of a new engine initially. However, I found strange that no car makers (as far as I know) makes of it a recommendation.

I didn't buy my 1999 Odyssey new, but from what I've read at odyclub.com, Honda specifically recommends NOT changing the oil the first time early. In fact, as I recall, it's actually a longer interval. Something about special additives in the oil from the factory.

 

[wannazoomina3]

My dealer not only is giving me my first oil change for free, they scheduled my appontment the day I bought the car.

I really liked the fact that they scheduled it for me. And I was told they would call about a week in advance to remind me and make sure I could make the appointment.

Kudos for Anaheim Mazda in CA...

 

[ZoomVT]

i just saw this thread and you guys haveit pretty nice.
There is only one dealer in my area (there is a MS dealer about 80 miles away) and it charges $65 for an oil change. No freebies. If i go to other shops, they also charge around $40 along with their "17 point inspection" whoop dee ******* do.

 

[salguod]

My dealer not only is giving me my first oil change for free, they scheduled my appontment the day I bought the car.

I really liked the fact that they scheduled it for me. And I was told they would call about a week in advance to remind me and make sure I could make the appointment.

Kudos for Anaheim Mazda in CA...

My dealer (Ricart we-sell-just-about-everything-except-Honda) did the same thing. Free first service (oil change) 90 days from purchase. I bet it's a dictate from Mazda (or maybe papa Ford?) on high.

 

[Mazda3Rookie]

My dealer (Ricart we-sell-just-about-everything-except-Honda) did the same thing. Free first service (oil change) 90 days from purchase. I bet it's a dictate from Mazda (or maybe papa Ford?) on high.

I don't know.... They did schedule my first appointment when I got the car and told me they had to do at 3500 miles. But the guy didn't use the word "free" said also that 3500 miles was the recommended oil change interval even after (which is not true, according to the owner manual)

Well, I'm now at ~4,500 miles, so I'm taking the car for a change in a couple of weeks. I should be able to get it done at $19.

ZoomVT,

I don't mean to sound sarcastic, but isn't cost of living supposed to be lower in places like Vermont??????

 

[ZoomVT]

ZoomVT,

I don't mean to sound sarcastic, but isn't cost of living supposed to be lower in places like Vermont??????

Place like Vermonj? what are you trying to insinuate? haha
i guess that is true anywhere in the state except for the Burlington area. You would be surprised how expensive this place is, not like Boston, or NYC but very expensive compared to other places. It is more expensive than almost any place upstate NY, or Mass, or NH (except southern NH).

 

[salguod]

I meant the scheduling part more so than the free part.

Dealers routinely will say either that the interval for maintenance is shorter than the factory says or that more stuff needs to be done than the factory says. They'll tell you something like "In our experience, this is better." Yea, you guys know better that the Mazda engineers who actually designed the car.

Truth be told, as NPR's Car Talk guys say, the real reason for the shorter intervals is that they've got boat payments due.