New and Happy Mazda3S Owner!

[PWR SHFT]

Hello everyone!
My wife just bought me a '05 Mazda3s 4DR for my birthday (5/12)!
Its Titanium with the Sport Package, ABS, and Sunroof/CD Changer. I loved the looks of this car when they first came out but I never thought I would love it as much as I do now that I own one. I already have 300 miles on it after 4 days. You can't get me out of it! Last night, I had an Integra with AEM stickers all over it try and race me. I ran him up to 100 and had him by 4 car lengths. I was impressed! I look forward to being part of this forum. I don't know alot about Mazdas, but I bring about 15 years of hot rodding and vehical mechanics to the table and maybe I can help some people here.

Take Care! (drinks)

 

[FreeStyLinDrive]

Congrats! Sounds like you got alot of cars to play with there. (cabpatch)

 

[RHAGEL]

Welcome. Glad to hear of your experience in cars. You will love your car, my Protege is my second Mazda and I will have a new 3 by the end of the year.

 

[sajack]

Gray

Congratulations on your purchase. I have a Titanium Gray MSM as well as a Carbon Gray SP3.
Uh, what about your 600 mile break-in period?

I`m still putting around with less than 400 miles on the SP3, although I did hit the revlimiter once.

 

[PWR SHFT]

My break-in period consists of the following:
250 miles of easy driving while varying engine speeds,
then a full throttle romp through the gears (hence the race),
then the same easy driving again for another 250 miles.
At 500 miles, dump the oil, and then drive "normally"
I also dump the oil at 1000 miles. After that, I go every 3 to 4000 miles for subsequent oil changes.
Oh, and at 4000 miles I switch to synthetic.

This method has worked well for me for years. My Honda has 170k miles on it and its still going strong.

 

[Mikey444]

congrats and welcome (headbang)

 

[FreeStyLinDrive]

3-4000 miles between oil changes???? guess someone doesn't want to read or understand what Mazda, the car maker recommends!

 

[Solo2Protege]

Welcome!

nice list of rides. Was it the 70 Chevelle that was the *special* one or was it 71? or am i thinking Charger....

 

[sajack]

Oil filter cartridge

My break-in period consists of the following:
250 miles of easy driving while varying engine speeds,
then a full throttle romp through the gears (hence the race),
then the same easy driving again for another 250 miles.
At 500 miles, dump the oil, and then drive "normally"
I also dump the oil at 1000 miles. After that, I go every 3 to 4000 miles for subsequent oil changes.
Oh, and at 4000 miles I switch to synthetic.

This method has worked well for me for years. My Honda has 170k miles on it and its still going strong.

This oil filter cartridge thing really has me concerned. I don`t relish the idea of an oil and filter change becoming an ordeal. Is the "O" ring and cartridge thing really as bad as it seems.

 

[FreeStyLinDrive]

Lets see if you are still a happy camper a year from now.

 

[PWR SHFT]

3-4000 miles between oil changes???? guess someone doesn't want to read or understand what Mazda, the car maker recommends!

What does Mazda Recomend?

 

[PWR SHFT]

Welcome!

nice list of rides. Was it the 70 Chevelle that was the *special* one or was it 71? or am i thinking Charger....

70 was the banner year for Chevelle's. Mine is nothing special. Base trim car that we have been playing around with. Had the body work done and its now black with purple night and day flames. I could post a pic if I knew how.

 

[goldwing2000]

Lets see if you are still a happy camper a year from now.

What was the point of that and who was it directed to?

 

[goldwing2000]

What does Mazda Recomend?

7,500 miles for "normal" driving
5,000 miles for "hard" driving

 

[M_3]

70 was the banner year for Chevelle's. Mine is nothing special. Base trim car that we have been playing around with. Had the body work done and its now black with purple night and day flames. I could post a pic if I knew how.

right here dude im not trying to be rude just helpfull

 

[M_3]

7,500 miles for "normal" driving
5,000 miles for "hard" driving

mazda recomends oil change every 5,000 miles, but if they give me a sticker to put it every 3,000 or 4,000 so wich one is it im confussed

 

[goldwing2000]

mazda recomends oil change every 5,000 miles, but if they give me a sticker to put it every 3,000 or 4,000 so wich one is it im confussed

Best advice is to check your owner's manual. (RTM)

Specifically, section 8.

Follow Schedule 1 if the vehicle is operated mainly where none of the following conditions
apply.
If any do apply, follow Schedule 2 (Canada and Puerto Rico residents follow Schedule 2).
Repeated short-distance driving
Driving in dusty conditions
Driving with extended use of brakes
Driving in areas where salt or other corrosive materials are being used
Driving on rough or muddy roads
Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation
Driving for long periods in cold temperatures or extremely humid climates

Schedule 1 is every 7,500 miles.
Schedule 2 is every 5,000 miles (3,000 miles for Puerto Rico).

 

[M_3]

ok i'll trust you thanks

 

[Da 6]

3k is dealer and local car change inerval. synthetic can last longer than 7k but don't go past that under warrenty period As for the oil and o-rings how-to is below. 6i and 3s have same engine and tranny.
http://www.mazda6tech.com/articles/how-to/changing-oil-mazda-6i-.html

if you give in wait a lil bit then heres the spin on conversion.
http://www.mazda6tech.com/articles/how-to/convert-the-6i-cartridge-filter-to-a-spin-on-3.html

the part#s keep changing for the swap. You have to find a member who did it last or grab a vin from a mazda 3i before going to parts dept.

also before it happens 87 is the only thing the car(U.S. and canadian spec.) runs on. 89 is "borderline exceptable" but don't expect to even dyno .00000456 hp from doing it. You will only pay more for less. pumping a tank of 91 octane isn't babying the car.

 

[M_3]

so doing it every 3k or 4k is not bad