Oil Change Mechanic Questions 0W-20 (2014 CX-5)

[brado913]

Hi All,

Just joined the forum, my wife needed a new vehicle in June so we purchased a 2014 CX-5 Grand Touring. It's time for the first service (~7k miles), there's no Mazda dealer anywhere near us, but we have a certified mechanic that we've been going to for years

Long story short, I called today to get it in tomorrow morning for an oil change-told him I need 0W-20 full synthetic. He was flabergasted. He responded "that'd be like pouring water into your engine." He recommended 10W-30 full synthetic instead. We live in Minnesota, so winters are pretty brutal.

Is there a reason Mazda recommends (requires?) 0W-20? I'm going to purchase a 5qt jug and have him use it anyway, but what reasoning should I give him for why?

Thanks!
Brad

 

[Nodnerb]

I would find a new mechanic plain and simple. I went to a tire shop once for an oil change and they had to order the filter and oil from Mazda anyway. I would only use 0w20 full synthetic.

 

[CodyZoom]

^ What he said.

I'd find a new mechanic. If he needs justification, point to your owners manual. May I ask how old he is? Is he used to working on much older engines?

 

[brado913]

He's a bit older, I'd guess in his mid-50's. I think I'll ask him if he's comfortable working on the car before I actually let him...

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Nodnerb]

Here's what the manual says. Use your own judgement I guess. I'd insist on mazdas recommendation myself though.

U.S.A. and CANADA
0W-20 full synthetic recommended:
Mazda genuine oil is used in your Mazda
vehicle and 0W-20 lubricant is
recommended. Mazda genuine 0W-20 oil
is required to achieve optimum fuel
economy. If 0W-20 is not available, 5W-
20 may be used for oil level maintenance
and oil changes however, it must be
replaced with 0W-20 at the next oil
change to maintain optimum performance.
Recommended viscosity: SAE 0W-20

 

[tibimakai]

Last time, when I have changed my oil in my 08' VW Rabbit, I have purchased German 0W20 Catrol Syntec from Autozone.

 

[CX-SV]

Agreed, time for a new mechanic. Let him continue to work on the locals' Novas, Cutlasses, Gremlins, Pacers and Pintos.

 

[kcdirtbro54]

He's a bit older, I'd guess in his mid-50's. I think I'll ask him if he's comfortable working on the car before I actually let him...

Thanks for the advice.

Want to make an old mechanic angry real quick, ask him that. You got to love to old guys stuck in the old school mentality. I'd probably take it elsewhere too.

 

[craigo]

Cars are like computers... gotta keep up to date with the trends and way things are done. 0W20 isn't a rare or weird oil these days.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

I am planning to change the oil myself next time around. It will be the first time I ever changed my own oil. I'm figure I would need the oil, a filter, and a crush washer(is this a generic item or specific? I guess I can just get it at the stealership)?

 

[Joe Las Vegas]

Why is 0W20 only for the US and Canada while it's 5W30 everywhere else. I live In Las Vegas and I would be more comfortable with 5W30 oil.

From owners manual:

Recommended Oil
U.S.A. and CANADA
Use SAE 0W-20 engine oil.
Mazda Genuine Oil is used in your Mazda
vehicle. Mazda Genuine 0W-20 Oil is
required to achieve optimum fuel
economy.

Except U.S.A. and CANADA
Use SAE 5W-30 engine oil.
Oil container labels provide important
information.

(Mexico)
Use SAE 5W-30 engine oil. If SAE 5W-
30 engine oil is not available, use SAE
5W-20 engine oil.

What's the deal with the US and Canada being the only 2 countries in the world requiring 0w20 oil? is it because that's the only way the advertised fuel economy will be achieved at the expense of protecting the engine better with 5W30 oil?

 

[erhayes]

If he is a good machanic otherwise, just say you don't want to mess up your warranty by using a non approved oil weight. Bring him a jug of 0w20 oil and OEM filter and let him do the change. No need to prove you have superior knowledge. . Ed

 

[Gareth45]

I am going to use mobil1 5w 30w ESP fully synthetic
ACE3 approved bought 20 litres

 

[erhayes]

5W30 for your CX5 Diesel?

 

[tatsu]

Anyone use Royal Purple on CX-5??

 

[Joe Las Vegas]

I wonder if owners manual in Asia specify 5W30, since 0W20 seems to apply only to north America.

My wife's 2012 Kia Forte recommends 5W20 oil for better fuel economy, but also shows a temp chart that shows 5W30 is ok to use, What I do is use 5W20 in winter and 5W30 in summer. For the CX5, I would use 0W20 in winter and 5W30 in summer, and if warranty comes into play later, they can look at the owners manual and explain to me why 0W20 is only used in North America, while 5W30 is the recommended viscosity everywhere else, does anyone feel like contacting Mazda HQ to ask why that is?

 

[Joe Las Vegas]

RP is a waste of money for a street car, a 5qt jug of Mobil 1 full synthetic oil at walmart is $25, that's where I always buy my oil and I use a KNN oil filters and I change the oil every 5,000 miles on all my cars, great protection without costing a lot of money. 5,000 mile intervals is a great number, easy to remember, only thing needed is to keep an eye on the odometer, no need for stickers, reminders...

 

[Bladecutter]

Long story short, I called today to get it in tomorrow morning for an oil change-told him I need 0W-20 full synthetic. He was flabergasted. He responded "that'd be like pouring water into your engine." He recommended 10W-30 full synthetic instead. We live in Minnesota, so winters are pretty brutal.

Is there a reason Mazda recommends (requires?) 0W-20? I'm going to purchase a 5qt jug and have him use it anyway, but what reasoning should I give him for why?

Mazda requires 0W-20 engine oil because they are the ones warrantying the engine in case of failure in the first 60k miles of it's usage.

If you want Mazda to replace the engine on their dime if it fails during the first 60k miles, then you need to use the 0W-20 oil.
If you are willing to pay thousands of dollars for the engine repair out of your own pocket if it fails, then feel free to use whatever oil weight you feel like.
If your mechanic is going to pay thousands of dollars if the engine fails while it's using the oil weight he recommends, then feel free to have him pour in whatever oil he feels like using.

I doubt your mechanic will pay for the replacement out of his pocket if your engine fails, and I doubt you want to pay out of your pocket if the engine fails, so I would just recommend that you use the oil that Mazda recommends.

BC.

 

[Joe Las Vegas]

Mazda requires 0W-20 engine oil because they are the ones warrantying the engine in case of failure in the first 60k miles of it's usage.

QUOTE]

I called BS on that, so what if you're in Europe and you don't use 5W30, then what? warranty won't apply if something breaks?, Like I said in my previously ignored posts, it's only in North America that 0W20 is recommended, why? who knows, all that says is that if 5W30 is ok everywhere else, then I don't see why it would be an issue, it's not like 5W30 is going to kill your engine.

 

[zober]

In North America different compression ratio(North America-13:1, all other 14:1) and horsepower.