Quick Query here:

I just surpassed 1000 miles on my protege. Should I get an oil change now, or wait until I reach 3k or the Mazda service department recommendation of 5k. What did you guys do?
Thanks!

MarkSpark

 

do it if it makes you feel better, nothing wrong with frequent oil changes (to the car at least). Otherwise stick with manual recommendation and change at 5000.......

yeah I didn't really help much, but what the hey, this is a hotly debated subject, and thus far the consensus is neither way is significantly better than the other

do what YOU feel most comfortable doing

 

I changed mine at 3K and have since after break in period...no probs here

 

Our cars don't come with any special break in oil, so it won't hurt to change it early. Do a search and you'll find all sorts of opinions of when is best to initaially change your oil.

 

Yeah... better do a search. I'd say you were beating a dead horse, but in this case the flesh has already been BBQ'd, the hyeina's have cleaned the bones, and the buzzards have picked over everything else. You're lucky you chimed in before the bones decalcified and there was absolutely nothin' left.

 

don't waste your money on synthetic. I used mobil 1 and notice no difference. Doesn't feel any smoother at all. In fact I think it feels slower.

 

wait

 

Synthetic is most definately not a waste. Overkill perhaps in a stock protege, but not a waste.

Having roadraced motorcycles for the past 5 years I can attest to the fine qualities of a good synthetic. Of course our protege's are not 15,000+ rpm 170mph race bikes but the added protection is there regardless!

 

I beg to differ. I've used synthetic in my older vehicles ('87 Dodge Caravan and a 1988 Mazda 323 DX) and I love it. Try starting at -35°C after being in a parking lot all day with no plug in and I think you will appreciate it too. All that other heat transfer stuff is just icing on the cake to me.

 

First oil change at 500 miles. New Mazda oil filter & Castrol GTX. Change out the transaxle at 500 miles with Redline. Second oil change at 3000 miles. New filter and Mobil 1 5W-30 New Car Formulation. Change filter and oil every 3000 miles or 3 months whichever comes first. New air filter once a year. New transaxle Redline changeout every 30,000 miles. New spark plugs every 30,000 miles. New timing belt every 60,000 miles. Drain, flush and fill coolant every 30,000 miles.

You can easily do everything but the timing belt yourself. No telling how long your engine and transmission will last. I'd say at least 250,000 miles.

 

Get it done.

 

I got mine done at 4000Kms and have every 4000kms since then.....well i only waited 2000kms once cause it was in the shop for 3 months so i wanted new oil in there.

I was thinking about getting my oil changed every month. If you think about it it wouldnt hurt and would only be good. Might be a waste of money but meh, you want your car to last right? I have decided just to wait every 4000kms though. Working out so far. Quaker State for me !

 

You guys have short maintenance intervals. Finnish Mazda dealer gives 1 year / 15 000 km (9300 miles) interval and first oil change is also done after 15000km / 1 year. Some other cars have 20 000km.

 

Richard, just give up on them....unless you're trying to be Messiah in oil change teaching. I am afraid that common sense doesn't reach those people.
Only good thing about changing oil every 3000m is that it puts more money into economy...hm, sorry I meant corporate ********' pockets.

Alex

 

Nah, its not that, im just too lazy to buy quarts and fill up the oil. So instead i drive into Great Canadian and get it changed. Its like an extra $15 but i dont have to get out of my car or worry about oil ever....i think it is worth it !