can anyone shed some light on the 3 month oil change interval? if i don't reach 3000 or 5000 miles in 3 months do I still need to change the oil?

also is there a 15000mile service for the protege? i haven't checked the manual yet but the dealer said I should get it serviced ??

 

There is no need to change your oil every three months if you donīt reach 3000 miles under normal driving conditions... But you shouldnīt wait too long either (ie: donīt wait a year). Heck... acording to my manual (and the Mazda mechanic I spoke to yesterday) you are just fine with waiting until 6,250 miles for each oil change, unless you punish your car too much.

I spoke with one of the mechanics at the dealership, and he told me, off the record, that there is no need for 15,000 mile service, and there is no need for 3,000 mile interval service. But the dealership tells them that they should try to talk you into it.

He told me that a car will be just fine with service every 10,000km (about 6,250miles) and with oil changes every 10,000km as well if you are an average driver. The 30,000 mile and 60,000 mile services on the other hand, are very important.

 

I'm a mechanic. Have been for more than 15yrs. The concept of changeing my oil even close or over 5000 miles makes me cringe. Have any of you fools ever opened an engine? Seen the amount of goop that collects here & there from un underserveced engine?

STICK WITH CHANGING OIL AT 3500 MILES!!!! I employ you!

Haven't you ever noticed how your engine starts to sound kinda crappy when you forget to change your oil for too long? Thend when it's changed it runs soooo much smoother?

This is all I plan to say,.. then I'm leaving this thread.... wait & change your oil at 5k miles at your own engines peril.

Jeesh,.. you could make a blood donation to get the $$$ needed for a stupid oil change. IF money is such a problem.

 

My PR5 Has less than 6k in mileage and today is her 2nd oil change? Why? Because there is no myth about lengthening your oil change. Granted, the engine doesn't run shitty just because it's 3001 miles between changes, but over time that builds up.

I equate oil changes to brushing your teeth: sure, you can get away with brushing 3 times a week instead of twice daily, but over time your teeth will rot or stain because you're "getting away" with the absolute minimum to keep them from falling out. The same for oil in an engine.

Another good point is that the oil in these cars isn't the sludge from days past, it's like crisco. Couple that with with the fact the redline BEGINS at 6500rpm and you're asking for excessive wear. Where I live there's a signal at every intersection. My car trips are 20 minutes TOPS from start to finish. The weather is humid. I'm surrounded by stop-and-go senior citizens. So combine all those things, and an oil change at 3k is prolly ideal for my driving habits.

As far as tires go, I have a major bone to pick with Mazda in general. For the 2002.5 PR5 they offer the sunroof and ABS as a single package, so unless I get a leaky glass over my head I can't have the security of ABS, so what did I do? I stopped short to avoid a collision and skinned my tires in the process. Hopefully the dealership can handle that while they'll change my oil, but that's unnecessary.

 

You EMPLOY me? How much are you gonna pay me?

Just kidding - not to be a dick - but I think you mean EMPLORE.

Now, about that job.......

~HH

 

Hmm....sorry to split hairs here but it's Implore with an I. So since both of you failed spelling class neither of you are worthy of a job involving the use of your brains. Stick to turning ratchets and asking "would you like to supersize your order for only 39 cents more sir?".

Peace out.

EDIT: Got my tires rotated and balanced at the time of the oil change for all your tire-rotation pundits.

 

8000kms as per 2001 manual! I'll stick with the PRO's! (The manufacturer)