Mazda3 Maintenance & Repair

Replying to: jeffyscott (Mar 05, 2009 8:18 am)

I'm not at all sure what's vague about it; my manual says:
 
Follow Schedule 1 if the vehicle is operated mainly where none of the following conditions apply.
 - Repeated short-distance driving
 - Driving in dusty conditions
 - Driving with extended use of brakes
 - Driving in areas where salt or other corrosive materials are 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
 - Driving in extremely hot conditions
 - Driving in mountainous conditions continually
 
The only two that might even remotely apply to how I operate my car are the ones regarding cold temperatures and salt. In my case, yes, there is some salt used in our area, however, sand is the preferred substance dropped on icy roads. As for the cold temperatures, I interpret that to mean moderate trip lengths in cold weather. Given that my typical trip (currently done between 10 and 14 times per week) is 40 miles in length (and almost always on Cruise Control with virtually zero stop and go), the oil has more than enough of a chance to get up to operating temperature, even when the OAT is well below zero Fahrenheit.
 
So, I am of the opinion that Schedule 1 firmly applies to how I operate my Mazda3. That said, just to be on the safe side, I've kept a sample of the oil and as soon as I find the Blackstone Labs sample bottles I have stashed somewhere in our house, I'll send it in for analysis.
 
FWIW, I am a synthetic oil bigot, and when the factory oil came out, Mobil 1 0W-30 went in, and that should mean that regardless of the driving conditions, 7,500 mile OCIs are very conservative. Used oil analysis will ultimately prove that out as well.
 
Best regards,
Shipo

Replies to this message:
• roadburner (Mar 05, 2009 10:51 am)
  • shipo (Mar 05, 2009 10:58 am)
• jeffyscott (Mar 05, 2009 11:58 am)
  • shipo (Mar 05, 2009 12:55 pm)
    • jeffyscott (Mar 05, 2009 2:04 pm) and 2 more...

Replying to: shipo (Mar 05, 2009 8:39 am)

FWIW, I am a synthetic oil bigot, and when the factory oil came out, Mobil 1 0W-30 went in, and that should mean that regardless of the driving conditions, 7,500 mile OCIs are very conservative. Used oil analysis will ultimately prove that out as well.
 
Blackstone thinks I could easily run a 7,500 mile OCI in my MS3, but since my dealer offers free 5,000 mile oil changes(I do have to supply the M1 ) I go ahead and run a 5,000 mile OCI.

Replies to this message:
• shipo (Mar 05, 2009 10:58 am)

Replying to: roadburner (Mar 05, 2009 10:51 am)

Thanks my friend, that's good to know.
 
Best regards,
Shipo

Replying to: shipo (Mar 05, 2009 8:39 am)

You actually think that is clear...wow! Almost nothing is clear there.
 
What is "short distance", "cold", "hot", humid"?
 
"Salt" is clear, but what is not clear is why that would mean one should change oil more frequently .
 
According to your profile are in NH, that = cold in my book, which means schedule 2 definitely applies, IMO. So it must not be clear, since I come to the opposite conclusion from the same set of facts.
 
What is clear, to me, is that there is almost no where that it is clear that Mazda's schedule 1 applies.
 
Ford, which uses the same engines, is much clearer. The normal schedule applies unless you are operating in one of the following conditions:
 
Towing a trailer or using a camper or car-top carrier
Extensive idling and/or low-speed driving for long distances as in heavy commercial use such as delivery, taxi, patrol car or livery
Operating in dusty conditions such as unpaved or dusty roads
Off-road operation
Use of E85 50% of the time or greater (flex fuel vehicles only)

Replies to this message:
• shipo (Mar 05, 2009 12:55 pm)
  • jeffyscott (Mar 05, 2009 2:04 pm)
    • shipo (Mar 05, 2009 4:14 pm) and 1 more...

Replying to: jeffyscott (Mar 05, 2009 11:58 am)

New Hampshire, cold? Where?
 
The only time "cold" really affects anything is when you're starting and stopping an engine without ever really warming it up. As evidence of this, I turn to a study regarding oil temperatures of light aircraft that routinely flew on a year-round basis with the same oil. It was found that there was only about a ten degree temperature swing from the oil when a plane was flying in warm weather to the oil in that same engine when the plane was at 10,000 feet while flying over Minnesota on a sub-zero day in January.
 
What all of this says to me is that the only thing "cold weather" really means is that in the winter months, you need to drive your car further each time you drive it to make sure the oil gets hot enough to make sure the oil boils off any water that has condensed into it.
 
Best regards,
Shipo

Replies to this message:
• jeffyscott (Mar 05, 2009 2:04 pm)
  • shipo (Mar 05, 2009 4:14 pm)
    • jeffyscott (Mar 06, 2009 5:25 am)

Replying to: shipo (Mar 05, 2009 12:55 pm)

Replies to this message:
• shipo (Mar 05, 2009 4:14 pm)
  • jeffyscott (Mar 06, 2009 5:25 am)

Replying to: jeffyscott (Mar 05, 2009 2:04 pm)

They can list anything they want; there's no way they can refuse any engine related work (and make it stick) unless they can at the same time prove that it was an oil exhaustion related failure. In my case, all I need to do is to walk in with my UOA results showing that the oil was good to go for my driving habits and all of their arguments go out the window.
 
FWIW, I don't do UOAs for that reason; however, it's nice to know that they can be used in case of a disagreement.
 
Best regards,
Shipo

Replies to this message:
• jeffyscott (Mar 06, 2009 5:25 am)

Replying to: shipo (Mar 05, 2009 4:14 pm)