Correct Weight Oil For 2.3 disi Turbo

[Colombia28]

As stated in the title, this is not a discussion of synthetic blends v. conventional and which is better, but it is a heads up for all you who own an MS3 or MS6.

This may seems very obvious, but i have seen many threads on the 3 forums about dealers putting in the wrong weight of oil when MS3 owners went for an oil change.

Many have reported that their local service departments have in numerous cases put in 5W20 motor oil instead of the required 5W30 motor oil. The owners manual states that 5W20 is required for the "2.3 mzr (Without turbocharger)" and that 5W30 is required for the "2.3 mzr (With turbocharger)"

Now before you ask why i would post such common knowledge, it is because today when i went to get my oil change, the receipt said that the oil put into my car was 5W20. I looked in my owners manual before leaving to confirm what i had read on the 3 forums and sure enough, the owners manual says 5W30 is required for the MS3.

So i went back to the service department and informed them that according to the receipt they had put 5W20 in my car and the owners manual states that 5W30 is required for the MS3. Long story short, the new service manager (didn't catch his name) came back and informed me that 5W30 was put in my car, and that the tech had just written 5W20 on the receipt. I inquired as how he found that out and he told me that he checked the inventory on what was used or something and the correct oil was used.

Just a heads up for those with an MS6 or MS3.

[MazdaTom]

Reason #14,345 why I change my own oil.

[turbo99jetta]

andy is a good guy, they have a system in the back where they track all the oil thats put into cars. Its a small computer that they have to get the parts guys to dispence the oil. They go back tell them the car and then its despenced. They have records of all of the cars that come threw and on what line its on so they can tell pretty easily. Andrew i wouldn't be worried.

[Colombia28]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Freezing Cx7 @ Apr 11 2008, 08:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=40209)</div>andy is a good guy, they have a system in the back where they track all the oil thats put into cars. Its a small computer that they have to get the parts guys to dispence the oil. They go back tell them the car and then its despenced. They have records of all of the cars that come threw and on what line its on so they can tell pretty easily. Andrew i wouldn't be worried.[/b]
Glad to hear that! Thanks very much for the reassurance Josh!

[turbo99jetta]

yup not a problem!

[arctic_blue83]

This is why I ALWAYS at least bring my own oil and watch them fill it up (if possible). Now, there is plenty of online debate about what oil to use for what conditions, and I'm not going to even open up that Pandora's Box lol, but the STI, like the Speed3/6 is also recommended for 5w30... to anyone who isn't familiar with oil markings, a rough explanation of oil numbers is, the first number is the "weight" of the oil upon cold start, and the second number is the "weight" when heated. Here's a pretty simple, yet short explanation:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question164.htm

And, here's a fairly short thread over on IWSTI about different oil options, as well as a few opinions, as well as what oils are better for what conditions, i.e. cold weather startup, racing, normal operation ect:
http://www.iwsti.com/forums/engine-power-p...il-options.html (http://www.iwsti.com/forums/engine-power-performance/118201-synthetic-oil-options.html)

Anyway, I always supply my own oil, as sometimes people make mistakes, but I like knowing what's going into my car. Honestly, if I had an oil disposal center closer to me, I would probably just change it myself, but don't feel like driving out of my way with almost 5 quarts worth of dirty oil in my trunk lol. Yeah, I'm lazy... and I also just like to make sure a dealer has all my oil changes on record in case I ever need warranty work. That and honestly, after buying my own oil, most of the time, I don't end up paying the dealer more than about $15 to change it, and like $7 of that is just for the filter... I really don't mind paying $8 for the convenience of not having to find a place to dispose of oil lol, but I have been known to walk into the bays and watch them change it :)

[Colombia28]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (arctic_blue83 @ Apr 11 2008, 10:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=40233)</div>This is why I ALWAYS at least bring my own oil and watch them fill it up (if possible). Now, there is plenty of online debate about what oil to use for what conditions, and I'm not going to even open up that Pandora's Box lol, but the STI, like the Speed3/6 is also recommended for 5w30... to anyone who isn't familiar with oil markings, a rough explanation of oil numbers is, the first number is the "weight" of the oil upon cold start, and the second number is the "weight" when heated. Here's a pretty simple, yet short explanation:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question164.htm[/b]
Before the service manager told me that the correct oil (5W30) was put into my car, the tech told me that 5W20 would be fine in the car as its better in colder weather, but i still requested that 5W30 was put in if 5W20 was what they added since it wont be cold for much longer. But lucky for me 5W30 was actually put in.

[Chris Barnett]

You would be fine with either in reality. I personally like 10W30 over 5W30, but I'll run the 5 because the owners manual specs it.


Here are the best links on the net for reading about viscosity:

http://www.sae.org/news/rightoil.htm

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/genericarti...ntentId=7017076 (http://www.castrol.com/castrol/genericarticle.do?categoryId=9014428&contentId=7017076)

http://www.valvoline.com/carcare/articlevi...g=ccr20040601ov (http://www.valvoline.com/carcare/articleviewer.asp?pg=ccr20040601ov)

Hard to beat the websites of the society who invented the standard and those who make the product.

[MazdaTom]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chris Barnett @ Apr 12 2008, 06:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=40378)</div>I personally like 10W30 over 5W30,[/b]

Out of curiousity, why?

[Chris Barnett]

Typically the chemicals added to the oil that facilitate that far of a viscosity range usually compromise longevity of the oil. There is some believe that the additives can lead to quicker coking of the oil, which definitely effects turbo cars that aren't idled after being run hard. I'm more concerned with ability to lubricate after a set amount of miles.

I typically change oil at 5000 miles in my 10w30 cars, and I stick to 3500-4000 miles in turbo 5w30 cars.

[S4poor]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MazdaTom @ Apr 11 2008, 08:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=40206)</div>Reason #14,345 why I change my own oil.[/b]

Huge 2nd. I try to take care of all maintenance (I suggest the rest of you do also). Not only does it save you money, but saves you the headaches of the mistakes they'll make and never correct, or even tell you about. If I make a mistake I know it is my fault, and I can correct it. I have zero faith in Stealerships, and don't even mention places like Jiffy-Lube etc. What a joke those "business's" are.

[RX-7 Chris]

I also do all my own oil changes. I only use Olive Oil in my cars, I am italian. J/K

I like going with 10w30 on my car, I sometimes go heavier than that in the summer.

[arctic_blue83]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RX-7 Chris @ Apr 14 2008, 10:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=40534)</div>I also do all my own oil changes. I only use Olive Oil in my cars, I am italian. J/K

I like going with 10w30 on my car, I sometimes go heavier than that in the summer.[/b]

Olive oil, that makes sense... being Irish myself, next time I go to change the oil, maybe I'll mix in my own blend of potato extract and whiskey :lol:

[RedRoadster]

Interesting.. owing to the higher thermal quantities to deal with in F/I cars, I would imagine that having the lower 'weight' oil would be preferred to the higher weight..

[RX-7 Chris]

higher weight makes sence to me. Because an FI car runs hotter, the oil gets thiner as it gets hotter. As oil gets hotter it looses its lubing properties.

[RedRoadster]

Yeah, i had to take a quick refresher on oil weights.. I had it backwards...