Oil Change tip/question

[pip7441622]

Did my first oil change yesterday afternoon/eneving. Quick tip to you guys to avoid a long fustration like I had: get a hair dryer and blow hot air on the oil filter for about 30 seconds...it will then come right off. Now I got some questions...first what oil did everybody use? I used some Quaker State synthetic that my friend used in his s2000. Well not the same weight and everything, but same brand. Also for the people who used Mazda filters, what Mazda part number was your new filter? The two filters I have (old one and new) don't match up in size (old one seems a little bigger overall) or part numbers (the new one is off by 1 number). However the new one fit on just fine.

 

[ELEmental59437]

You dont need a hair dryer.. just drive the car around for a few minutes as it would have been driven before taking it to Mazda or other oil change place.

The Mazda air filter socket did not match the socket for the aftermarket filters. I forget what brand filter I use, but I use Mobil1 Synthetic Motor Oil. Stay away from their transmission fluid though.

 

[SpeedMcheen]

Good stuff, I like that hair dryer trick. I want to change my own oil to save $$, I also want to use synthetic. I've read only good things about switching to syn. I now have 1400 miles on my perfectly broken-in MSP and I want to go ahead and change the oil for the first time. Do you guys think that now is the best time to switch to syn? Or should I wait a few more thousand miles?

 

[MetalSpeed]

Yall don't get lifetime oil changes. Thats what they gave me when I bought my car.(stash)

 

[SpeedMcheen]

Is that a question or a bragging statement?

 

[computerGeek]

yeah lifetime oilchanges and a lifetime of waiting. takes me 1 hour to do an oil change at most takes mazda or any dealer 3 hours. personnally i will spend 30 bux on oil and filter to have the rest of my day!

 

[PHILLY-ORANGE]

Y is everyone using Synthetic y not regular oil I heard if you switch to synthetic after you use regular oil it causes leaks

 

[MetalSpeed]

Is that a question or a bragging statement?

It is a question from what they told me it was they were doing to promote mazda cars.

 

[SpeedMcheen]

It may sometimes cause leaks if the car is old and worn enough, but if your car's new and well broken-in, there's no better long term preventive maintenance than regularly changing your syn oil. Your internals will last longer with syn. And it is particularly benificial for turbo'd cars. Syn's have higher flash points, giving better overall cooling, and don't have as many corrosive radicals as does regular oil therfore less sluge buildup. Try a general web search on benifits of using synthetic oils. I found a lot of good information.

 

[Turbo Matty P]

I'm going to throw this out there since there is so much mis-information going around. I have worked as a mechanic for the past 4 years. The past year I was at the Southeasts largest "quick-lube" chains. I speak from experience.

When you purchase ANY new car....regardless of make or model it comes with synthetic oil in it from the factory. Ever wonder why the owners manual says oil change at 5K miles.... I've never seen a well maintained car leak oil when switching from dino-oil to synthetic. I've seen motors leak oil when switching from 15-40 to 5-30.

Please take this information and pass it on wherever you find mis-information!

 

[SpeedMcheen]

You have a pretty cool dealer MetalSpeed. I really had to fight my sales manager to get one free oil change for the oil that was sitting in the car in their showroom for over 8 mos. They kept saying the oil is fine. It doesn't break down over time. So I told him you don't know spit. I want new oil with my new car or no deal. So he said ok. So we walked 20 paces to the service desk and the service manager said right in front of the sales manager and me, it is a really good idea to change the oil if the car's been sitting for that long without running. That shut the sales manager right up. Everything that comes out of those sales peoples mouths is geared to save them money. Cheap mutha fukas!

 

[Turbo Matty P]

It may sometimes cause leaks if the car is old and worn enough, but if your car's new and well broken-in, there's no better long term preventive maintenance than regularly changing your syn oil. Your internals will last longer with syn. And it is particularly benificial for turbo'd cars. Syn's have higher flash points, giving better overall cooling, and don't have as many corrosive radicals as does regular oil therfore less sluge buildup. Try a general web search on benifits of using synthetic oils. I found a lot of good information.

you forgot that synthetic oil doesn't burn up. It ashes. Once it gets to it's flash point it will turn into ash. Once it mixes with liquid oil it reverts back into oil again. Just a little FYI. I spent 3 months in "oil school".

 

[SpeedMcheen]

Intersesting TurboMatty, I haven't read that ASH fact anywhere but I can accept it if you say you went to school and learned it. Here's another question. Is there any part in our engine or turbo where the oil will ever reach it's flash point? Assuming I've been at full throtle for awhile. I doubt it, but am not sure.

Also, if you're really an oil expert, as I'm trying to be, could you please answer my question in the 3rd post in this thread. I'd appreciate it.

 

[pip7441622]

Anybody remember the part number of the new replacemnt filter they got from mazda?

 

[pip7441622]

You dont need a hair dryer.. just drive the car around for a few minutes as it would have been driven before taking it to Mazda or other oil change place.

The Mazda air filter socket did not match the socket for the aftermarket filters. I forget what brand filter I use, but I use Mobil1 Synthetic Motor Oil. Stay away from their transmission fluid though.

If you drive around the oil will be hot. No since is putting yourself through that.

 

[funnylittlman]

Yah,

That hot oil hurts. Take it from me when I was removing the drain plug on a car... *doh'* You learn to move your hand faster I guess.

 

[mcstark]

You actually want the oil hot...it will drain a lot better. Any technical info to att to this Matty?

 

[mspdfreak]

You want the engine warmed up before you change the oil. You'll be sitting there for an hour watching a thin stream of oil leaving the pan if you drain it cold. Don't let the engine get "hot", but let it run for about five minutes. It will drain faster, and more importantly, get more of the dirty oil out of your crankcase.
On a side note, although changing the oil yourself certainly saves money, I've found that this car is a particular b**** in getting the filter off. I now have it done at Walmart. They will put in the Mobil 1 I like, and use the Mazda filter I brought them. Plus, my garage floor stays clean, my hands stay clean, and I don't have 3.75 quarts of dirty oil and a dirty filter to contend with. Happy motoring!

 

[shinzen]

yah, for $15 it's worth it to me to have someone else do it- less mess for me and no oil to dispose of- I run the mobil one myself, and the car definitely runs smoother and starts easier- it's been claimed that you get a bit more power but for me the jury is out on that one

 

[b00sted]

what do you do with your old oil anyways? we cant just pour it in the sewers or anything right?