My Mazda 3 is under warranty and calls for 0w20 synthetic oil. While I understand that a high viscosity index is beneficial for 0w20 oil to guard against shearing, is it a significant consideration when the oil has to be changed every 8000kms or 5000mi?
0w20 Oil Viscosity Index & Short Change Interval
- Thread starter Spudislander
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Mazda recommends 0w20 not for its shear rating, but for boosting the company's corporate average fuel economy (CAFE).
5,000 OCI is short for any synthetic. If you are looking to follow the warranty however, it would appear that you are locked into that OCI cycle for the time being.
5,000 OCI is short for any synthetic. If you are looking to follow the warranty however, it would appear that you are locked into that OCI cycle for the time being.
is that the severe interval or reg?
my subaru spec's 0w20
and 3750/7500 intervals severe/reg
I have 4000miles on this oci it but only a .9mile drive to work
not so much a problem in summer but in winter thats definitely severe service in ohio.
my subaru spec's 0w20
and 3750/7500 intervals severe/reg
I have 4000miles on this oci it but only a .9mile drive to work
not so much a problem in summer but in winter thats definitely severe service in ohio.
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That is the severe interval and short trips put the car in that category.
Originally Posted By: Hyde244
Mazda recommends 0w20 not for its shear rating, but for boosting the company's corporate average fuel economy (CAFE).
5,000 OCI is short for any synthetic. If you are looking to follow the warranty however, it would appear that you are locked into that OCI cycle for the time being.
What I'm really questioning is the benefit of these high viscosity index oils like Toyota's 0w20 synthetic over a more normal (lower) viscosity index rating like Pennzoil Platinum. Is the extra viscosity index rating all that beneficial considering a short change interval?
Mazda recommends 0w20 not for its shear rating, but for boosting the company's corporate average fuel economy (CAFE).
5,000 OCI is short for any synthetic. If you are looking to follow the warranty however, it would appear that you are locked into that OCI cycle for the time being.
What I'm really questioning is the benefit of these high viscosity index oils like Toyota's 0w20 synthetic over a more normal (lower) viscosity index rating like Pennzoil Platinum. Is the extra viscosity index rating all that beneficial considering a short change interval?
Apart from long term shear of viscosity modifiers, the OCI length and the VI have very little to do with each other. So short change or long change has basically no impact on the benefits (real or perceived) from using a higher VI oil.
We have had many discussions about the benefits of high viscosity index oil over the normal(ish) ones.
Here's a good thread we just had going a couple of weeks ago.
Link
We have had many discussions about the benefits of high viscosity index oil over the normal(ish) ones.
Here's a good thread we just had going a couple of weeks ago.
Link
Spudislander, the benefit of high VI oils is all about an oil's operational viscosity has nothing to do with the oil change interval.
TGMO is very much lighter at typical start-up temp's vs all other available 0W-20s in Canada (next to the more expensive Sustina).
Since a high VI 0W-20 is spec'd for your car that is the preferred oil to use for it's advantageous viscosity characteristics. TGMO is the no-brainer oil choice since it's almost half the price of other 0W-20s like PP.
TGMO is very much lighter at typical start-up temp's vs all other available 0W-20s in Canada (next to the more expensive Sustina).
Since a high VI 0W-20 is spec'd for your car that is the preferred oil to use for it's advantageous viscosity characteristics. TGMO is the no-brainer oil choice since it's almost half the price of other 0W-20s like PP.
Originally Posted By: CATERHAM
Spudislander, the benefit of high VI oils is all about an oil's operational viscosity has nothing to do with the oil change interval.
TGMO is very much lighter at typical start-up temp's vs all other available 0W-20s in Canada (next to the more expensive Sustina).
Since a high VI 0W-20 is spec'd for your car that is the preferred oil to use for it's advantageous viscosity characteristics. TGMO is the no-brainer oil choice since it's almost half the price of other 0W-20s like PP.
That's how I understand it....the high VI oils are thinner at start-up and all through the OCI...If I lived in Canada I'd use TGMO for it's quality and cost advantage. Since I live in America, I'd use Napa synthetic (when on sale) for it's quality and cost advantage. Either will keep your Mazda running longer than you'll probably want to keep it.
Spudislander, the benefit of high VI oils is all about an oil's operational viscosity has nothing to do with the oil change interval.
TGMO is very much lighter at typical start-up temp's vs all other available 0W-20s in Canada (next to the more expensive Sustina).
Since a high VI 0W-20 is spec'd for your car that is the preferred oil to use for it's advantageous viscosity characteristics. TGMO is the no-brainer oil choice since it's almost half the price of other 0W-20s like PP.
That's how I understand it....the high VI oils are thinner at start-up and all through the OCI...If I lived in Canada I'd use TGMO for it's quality and cost advantage. Since I live in America, I'd use Napa synthetic (when on sale) for it's quality and cost advantage. Either will keep your Mazda running longer than you'll probably want to keep it.
Thanks for the replies. Based on what I have read on this site, for my first oil change I did use the Toyota 0w20. And now, I will continue to use it!
My son's 2010 Mazda 3 calls for oil changes every 4 months or 6,000 kms - whichever comes first. Just did the OC on the Mazda and my son put on 2,500 kms on the past 6 months.
What does it say on time for the newer Mazda?
What does it say on time for the newer Mazda?
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I'm curious how the VI properties stay over the course of an OCI? Do we have anything showing that they pretty much stay the same or change, if so how much?
Originally Posted By: DBMaster
My 2012 owner's manual specifies six months or 12,000km.
Thanks for the info.
Canada OCI can be more stringent than US intervals.
Example - My 2013 Hyundai requires OCI every 3,750 miles while the US requirement is 7,500 miles.
My 2012 owner's manual specifies six months or 12,000km.
Thanks for the info.
Canada OCI can be more stringent than US intervals.
Example - My 2013 Hyundai requires OCI every 3,750 miles while the US requirement is 7,500 miles.
Originally Posted By: Danno
My son's 2010 Mazda 3 calls for oil changes every 4 months or 6,000 kms - whichever comes first. Just did the OC on the Mazda and my son put on 2,500 kms on the past 6 months.
What does it say on time for the newer Mazda?
It is still 4 months.
My son's 2010 Mazda 3 calls for oil changes every 4 months or 6,000 kms - whichever comes first. Just did the OC on the Mazda and my son put on 2,500 kms on the past 6 months.
What does it say on time for the newer Mazda?
It is still 4 months.
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
I'm curious how the VI properties stay over the course of an OCI? Do we have anything showing that they pretty much stay the same or change, if so how much?
As the oil is used, there are many factors which can affect the viscosity performance - fuel dilution, oxidation, shear etc. While the natural viscosity performance of the base oil will stay close to the same, the actual VI of the formula will change and will perform differently based on the engine type, driving habits and operating conditions.
I'm curious how the VI properties stay over the course of an OCI? Do we have anything showing that they pretty much stay the same or change, if so how much?
As the oil is used, there are many factors which can affect the viscosity performance - fuel dilution, oxidation, shear etc. While the natural viscosity performance of the base oil will stay close to the same, the actual VI of the formula will change and will perform differently based on the engine type, driving habits and operating conditions.
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
I'm curious how the VI properties stay over the course of an OCI? Do we have anything showing that they pretty much stay the same or change, if so how much?
Generally speaking if an oil shears that usually results in a reduction in the VI since the KV40 tends to show less viscosity loss than the KV100.
The ultra high VI 0W-20s such as TGMO have above average shear stability.
I'm curious how the VI properties stay over the course of an OCI? Do we have anything showing that they pretty much stay the same or change, if so how much?
Generally speaking if an oil shears that usually results in a reduction in the VI since the KV40 tends to show less viscosity loss than the KV100.
The ultra high VI 0W-20s such as TGMO have above average shear stability.
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