Mazda dealership idiot alert.... Im ticked

[palerider]

Up until my last oil change, I had gotten all my changes done at the dealership. My last one I got done at JiffyLube, and I switched to synthetic. Well they put in 5w20 and I didnt notice until several days after. In the meantime I put Vibrants exhaust on the downpipe back and I started to have the "white smoke" issue.

It has been coming a couple times a week, since the install. And I DO NOT have a down pipe, like most of the other guys getting the smoking. And I DO NOT have a midpipe. Vibrants exhaust has a high flow cat.

Well anyway. Today I went in for the recall and I was thinking maybe the turbo seal leak was do to the fact that I had switched to the lighter, synthetic oil. I asked them to go back to the 5w30 that they had been using. Well after the recall I look at my receipt and it shows an oil change using the new stuff .....5w20.

Confused I go back to the service rep ...who had earlier informed me that my new exhaust had probably voided most of my warranty. I proceed to query him as to why this oil was used. His response is that all 3s and 6s use 5w20. That it is factory spec. Im like WTF.... !!!!! So I go check my manual and off course thats not right... And hes real quiet and finally says "well today I learned something new". Then he tells me that the dealership doesnt buy that weight oil in bulk, so he cant fix it. Then I check all my receipts from the dealerhip going back to the first one and sure enough... theyve been running 5w20 in my "now smoking beast" from the first change.

Sooooo... I've got about 17000 miles on it with the last 15000.. on 5w20. My car has been run like an assraped ape most days that Ive owned it. Tell me I havent compromised my internals here... at least not anything except maybe my seals.

BTW.... the recall and reflash, with my setup, resulted in a different ride. It feels smoother, and actually more powerful as well.....maybe? Something feels different anyway. Has anybody else noticed this?

 

[Sacrilicious]

wow...that really really blows...+_+; btw, don't let him convince you that the exhaust has voided any of your warranty. it's the dealership's responsibility by law to prove that your aftermarket mod is what did the damage. if need be, get yourself a lawyer over this, because this is most likely their problem.

 

[subparpunk03]

The old mazdaspeed3 manuals say to use 5w-20. If you logon to the mazdausa site and go to the "owners" link and download the online version of the mazdaspeed 3 owners manual, it says 5w-20. I made the mistake of putting that in my car too. I've talked to a few people and they've said that you might get slightly advanced engine wear, but it really shouldn't be too much of a problem. I know you've said you're running your car hard, but unless its been doing severe track duty, I doubt you've done any really bad damage.

I dunno about the white smoke issue, but 5w-20 shouldn't explode your engine. Theres a discussion about the oil type in another section, i think engine trans and driveline section.

 

[palerider]

wow...that really really blows...+_+;

Yeah ....literally
it blows billowing white smoke is what it blows.

Im concerned more about the long term damage to internals. I know my seals have been affected, and I'll be pursuing that. Ive run 5w20 all through a hot NC summer, and Ive run it hard. Not abusively, but definately hard. Ive been fairly good about letting it supposedly "cool down" after running it hard....but it still just runs so hot anyway. Its my first turbo so I dont know how bad this might have been for the rest of the engine.

This dealership also has not fixed a condensation leak from the AC that seems to be coming from behind the dash, down by the floorboard on the passenger side. Their fix is to run the AC in recirc because "it doesnt leak as bad in recirc". Im fed up and Im going to go above their head soon.

I dont want to be a dick though. Am I overreacting about this?

 

[palerider]

The old mazdaspeed3 manuals say to use 5w-20. If you logon to the mazdausa site and go to the "owners" link and download the online version of the mazdaspeed 3 owners manual, it says 5w-20. I made the mistake of putting that in my car too. I've talked to a few people and they've said that you might get slightly advanced engine wear, but it really shouldn't be too much of a problem. I know you've said you're running your car hard, but unless its been doing severe track duty, I doubt you've done any really bad damage.

I dunno about the white smoke issue, but 5w-20 shouldn't explode your engine. Theres a discussion about the oil type in another section, i think engine trans and driveline section.

I feel a little better. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Sacrilicious]

I dont want to be a dick though. Am I overreacting about this?

oh HELL no! this is your baby, and it's NOT running like it should be, so it's their responsibility to make good on their own warranty! if going to the service manager at the dealership doesn't work, try another dealership...or call up mazda. regardless, there's laws that protect you against this kind of BS, so if they don't fix things properly after a set number of attempts, there will likely be a lemon law that requires them to give you a whole new car (depends on state). the most important thing right now is to get it taken care of ASAP. i believe the lemon laws in most states only protect you for the first year or so?

 

[iknospd3]

dam dude that sucks !!!!

 

[BOOSTR]

This dealership also has not fixed a condensation leak from the AC that seems to be coming from behind the dash, down by the floorboard on the passenger side. Their fix is to run the AC in recirc because "it doesnt leak as bad in recirc". Im fed up and Im going to go above their head soon.

Your drain is clogged with something when this happens. Could be anything causing it. Needs to be taken apart and cleared/cleaned. That's BS to tell you to run it in the other mode. If you have to email Mazda NA and they will contact the dealer and make them fix it properly for you.

 

[BluMicaR]

Yeah ....literally
it blows billowing white smoke is what it blows.

Im concerned more about the long term damage to internals. I know my seals have been affected, and I'll be pursuing that. Ive run 5w20 all through a hot NC summer, and Ive run it hard. Not abusively, but definately hard. Ive been fairly good about letting it supposedly "cool down" after running it hard....but it still just runs so hot anyway. Its my first turbo so I dont know how bad this might have been for the rest of the engine.

This dealership also has not fixed a condensation leak from the AC that seems to be coming from behind the dash, down by the floorboard on the passenger side. Their fix is to run the AC in recirc because "it doesnt leak as bad in recirc". Im fed up and Im going to go above their head soon.

I dont want to be a dick though. Am I overreacting about this?

Dude, seriously, put the tact hat on and be a polite dick, because you paid $20k and whatever kind of interest to the bank for the opportunity for your service mgr to f*ck you. It's your money they are pissing away for you. There is no WAY the exhaust f*ed that car up, you have him on the oil issue from day one. Listen to everyone about the dealer's responsibility to prove the mods caused this, don't lay down for this m/fer. Call a lawyer if need be, and go from there - but you should be able to look up the dealer responsibility stuff and read it a few times and then take it to the service ass. Have him explain specifically how decreasing back pressure and letting the engine push out exhaust gases have caused whatever issue you're having - right after he figures out whatever issue you're having. LOL, the jerk is expecting you to be a-sceered.

 

[Sacrilicious]

oh, and contact Vibrant to see if they have any material to assist you with this case. i'm sure that they're used to this kind of garbage and can toss some useful information your way on how to fight this kind of nonsense.

 

[MSelo]

I've read and reread the initial post, I guess I'm just having a "slow" day but what oil does the MS3 take if not 5w-20? Actually today would be my first oil change after work here in about an hour and you have me crazy worried bro. I haven't checked my manual (which I really should) what does it say in there?

 

[-pixy-]

I would suggest swapping your exhaust back to stock just to eliminate that as the issue. It is possible that the car naturally creates the white smoke and the high flow cat is just letting it pass through the system. If it still smokes take it to the dealership in stock form and it will be thier problem to fix.

 

[Sacrilicious]

it SHOULD say 5w-30, but it might not depending on how old your manual is. the bottom line is that all cars with turbos should be using 5w-30. in the end, though, it's likely not the end of the world if you used the 5w-20. it's obviously NOT how you would like to treat your baby, but it's by no means the end of the world.

 

[subparpunk03]

use 5w-30 synthetic.

I reccomend Amsoil, it is GREAT stuff, worth the extra price.

 

[palerider]

Your drain is clogged with something when this happens. Could be anything causing it. Needs to be taken apart and cleared/cleaned. That's BS to tell you to run it in the other mode. If you have to email Mazda NA and they will contact the dealer and make them fix it properly for you.

Whats funny is that they have pulled the thing apart twice and blown the drains out twice. I watched them the second time. It didnt work. Then they were stumped and just sort of looked at me like...."were kind of stumped"(doh)

Im thinking... well....what should we do here and like three guys including the service rep all agreed that the problem could be alleviated in recirc or if I didnt run the AC. They also agreed that I should bring it back if it gets WORSE. I didnt want to get on their bad side because of the modding I was about to start, so I just left and was like.... if the carpets start rotting or I notice a smell, then I'll put my foot down. But after this..... screw that.

Now, I wouldnt trust them to replace my goddam windshield wipers. Id blast them by name except I have been wicked civil so far, in there, and I dont want to burn any bridges before I decide what Im going to do.

Incidently... the thing hasnt smoked for like three days now and I just changed the oil, AGAIN today, to 5w30 conventional. Im going to watch it and see what happens. The car was running friggin GOOD today. They did the flash and replaced the actuator, and Im telling you something definately feels different. At least they seemed to get THAT right.

I need a recommendation from somebody in the triad on where they got their car and how their service has been.

 

[redspeed]

If the stealership don't fix it, call Mazda N/A:
Monday - Friday, 6:00am - 4:45pm Pacific Time

1-800-222-5500

 

[Hikaru9]

My car has been run like an assraped ape most days that Ive owned it. Tell me I havent compromised my internals here... at least not anything except maybe my seals.

I noticed that Jiffylube put 5w20 this one time I took the car over there. From what I read, 5w20 will slightly improve the mpg with some protection trade-off for high performance engines. For the last oil change, I bought some 5w30 in bulk and took it over to the dealership.

I doubt you've done any real damage to your car, but perhaps it will help if you stopped running your MS3 like "an ass-***** ape." =p

 

[palerider]

I noticed that Jiffylube put 5w20 this one time I took the car over there. From what I read, 5w20 will slightly improve the mpg with some protection trade-off for high performance engines. For the last oil change, I bought some 5w30 in bulk and took it over to the dealership.

I doubt you've done any real damage to your car, but perhaps it will help if you stopped running your MS3 like "an ass-***** ape." =p

I think the general consensus is that my cars OK. That makes me feel better. With the right oil in now and no smoke today, Im optimistic that maybe it will correct itself. I'll update later if I find out more.

But I am going to give another dealer, or Mazda NA a call. There is NO WAY a dealer should not even have the right oil on hand, for there most finicky turbo models. No way. And with the AC issue... it is no longer one that I am going to just "see if it gets worse", before I do something about it. They have pissed me off a little.

BTW... the "assraped ape" comment was as much of a joke as anything. I had a typeS and loved to run it, but Ive NEVER redlined my MS3. I live in WOT 3000-5500RPM territory at least 5-10 times a day though.

Who doesnt?

 

[designflaw]

The old mazdaspeed3 manuals say to use 5w-20. If you logon to the mazdausa site and go to the "owners" link and download the online version of the mazdaspeed 3 owners manual, it says 5w-20. I made the mistake of putting that in my car too. I've talked to a few people and they've said that you might get slightly advanced engine wear, but it really shouldn't be too much of a problem. I know you've said you're running your car hard, but unless its been doing severe track duty, I doubt you've done any really bad damage.

I dunno about the white smoke issue, but 5w-20 shouldn't explode your engine. Theres a discussion about the oil type in another section, i think engine trans and driveline section.

The 2008 Mazda3 manual says to use 5w-30 if your car has a turbocharger.. or in otherwords - if you have the Mazdaspeed3.

 

[Killer]

5-30syn in my MS6