Jeremey

Hey, well I bought my Pro ES July 9th, and it just turned 3000 miles over the weekend (yeah, I don't drive too much).

So it's about time for my first oil change! wooo! Unfortunately I live in an apartment complex so changing my own oil is out of the question (they don't want people spilling oil all over the driveways).

My last car (a 1991 Corolla) I always just took to the Quick Lube or whatever, I never really had a problem, but recent threads have got me a little worried about taking my nice new car to a Jiffy Lube or whatever.

Do you suggest I just take it to the Mazda dealer? I get my first oil change free, and every fifth one after that (I think) is free, so they will average out to about $20-$25 a piece, which isn't too bad considering its a dealer and I can't do it myself right now. I would trust the Mazda dealer more than a Quick Lube place....also does Mazda use special Mazda filters compared to what a Jiffy Lube place would use? Any comments are appreciated.....

DebaryJoe

Yes, they use the correct Mazda filter with the baffle in it. I had my first one done at the dealer and, yes, I would trust them over a quick lube. It will give you a good opportunity to see what the dealers service is like, how much time they take, how they treat you. My dealer has evening appointments (convenient to go after work) and they had me out in less than 30 minutes. I am due for my 2nd oil change and a tire rotation and the dealer sent me some discount coupons ($14.95 for an oil change and 10% off for other services).

Good luck with your new Pro.

ZoomZoomH

let the dealer do the oil change for you is always a better choice than any quick lube joints.

yes Mazda dealers use OEM Mazda filters.

so unless they charge you an incredible amount of $$, take it to the dealer

jas9297

I also had my first one done (free at the dealer). I just turned 3500 miles and I bought my car in late May! (I kept asking them if I should take it in earlier, but they said it was OK to go to 3500 miles). I routinely get coupons for about $22 for oil changes. Anyway, I have heard others buying a case of OEM filters and bringing it to Jiffy lube. So that's another option if dealer prices get out of hand.

silver_p5_owner

I've had great luck with the dealer doing oil changes. As a matter fact when I bought my car I opted for their life time oil change plan. For $100.00 paid at the time of purchase I can take it to them anywhere between 3000 and 5000 mile intervals and get it done at no charge for as long as I own the car. I still have to make an appointment but it's never taken any longer than 30 minutes to be in and out. BTW the Mazda filters seem very good. I compared one to a Fram equivalent and the Madza seemed to weigh about 2-3 times heavier. I assume that's from more filtering material and higher quality materials in the bypass valve.

biggyshake

a small dirty rag will do a better job of filtering than anything made by fram.

Sir Nuke

I wish MY dealer was a lot closer...its 50 miles away....part of my deal was free oil changes for both p-5's for as long as I own the car....but its NEVER EVER going to happen as its just to far out of the way....so.....I just buy the OEM filters and do it myself....

but for you Jeremey.....if you end up NOT having a dealer change your oil for the inbetween changes...at a MINIMUM, go to the dealer...buy a few filters....and when you do take the car to jiffylube or where ever...just give them YOUR filter and have them install it insted of the one that they would supply...and have them knock the price of the filter off your oil change...and if they won't? take it elsewhere.

EZ as 123

atleast try getting the filters for free, because my dealer charges $6.75 for each oil filter

Dermen

My dealer is also 50 miles away. I am still going to take it there to get oil changes though. I usually go there anyway a few times a month so its not a big deal but it would still be nice if they were closer. Where I live has nothing at all for teenagers to do. There is a pool hall and thats it. Mostly full of drugies so I don't go there. If I want to see a movie, go bowling, or to a mall I have to drive 100 miles.

Jeremey

Are there Mazda OEM Air Filters as well? I looked in the service schedule and they recommend replacing the air filter every 15,000 miles (reasonable) but the dealer charges $49.95 to replace it, hahahaha.

That is something I CAN do myself (not messy) so when I get my oil changed at the dealer, can I purchase some air filters?

DebaryJoe

You can get a K & N drop in filter for around $50 and it will list 50,000 miles before it needs changing. And it can be washed out, re-oiled and be reinstalled. It also has better airflow (slight performance improvement) than a stock one.

ZoomZoomH

nah, more like $31 dollars for the Protege

do a search on K & N filter on this site, tons of discussions on this

Sir Nuke

they said they MIGHT...but they would only give me one at a time....MY TIME is more valuable than that.....I am married, have three kids....my time off I spend with my family....I have enough to do without having to dick around with some bozo at a service department....SO, when I do find the time to drive up there...I buy a half a dozen at a time...as I have two P-5's...one for me and one for my wife. AND I have also mailordered them from the dealer in Austin Texas since they are a LOT cheaper there even with the shipping.