Proper oil for 2021 turbo CX-5
I just purchased a Reserve model and the salesman went on and on about not using full synthetic oil with a turbo engine. I reviewed the owner’s manual and it specifies synthetic oil!
Can anyone offer some technical advice on this, one way or the other? If not, I plan to follow the manual.
I also own a 2014 Cadillac XTS VSport twin turbo and although it came new with semi-synthetic, I have always used Castrol full synthetic for 85k miles without an issue. I guess at the time I assumed full synthetic was better the semi- synthetic!
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFO:
The CX-5 is an off-lease purchase, here in the USA and is a Grand Touring Reserve trim that includes the 2.5 liter turbocharged engine. I did not ask the salesperson who was giving us the final send off what type oil is best or required for the car. He just made a bid issue that whatever you do, don’t use full synthetic oil in this turbo engine. Unfortunately, he wasn’t talking to me at the time or I was have questioned him further. He was going over the car with my daughter and granddaughter, for whom the car was being purchased.
Can anyone offer some technical advice on this, one way or the other? If not, I plan to follow the manual.
I also own a 2014 Cadillac XTS VSport twin turbo and although it came new with semi-synthetic, I have always used Castrol full synthetic for 85k miles without an issue. I guess at the time I assumed full synthetic was better the semi- synthetic!
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFO:
The CX-5 is an off-lease purchase, here in the USA and is a Grand Touring Reserve trim that includes the 2.5 liter turbocharged engine. I did not ask the salesperson who was giving us the final send off what type oil is best or required for the car. He just made a bid issue that whatever you do, don’t use full synthetic oil in this turbo engine. Unfortunately, he wasn’t talking to me at the time or I was have questioned him further. He was going over the car with my daughter and granddaughter, for whom the car was being purchased.
Last edited by Prowler6B; Oct 30, 2024 at 09:52 AM.
I just purchased a Reserve model and the salesman went on and on about not using full synthetic oil with a turbo engine. I reviewed the owner’s manual and it specifies synthetic oil!
Can anyone offer some technical advice on this, one way or the other? If not, I plan to follow the manual.
I also own a 2014 Cadillac XTS VSport twin turbo and although it came new with semi-synthetic, I have always used Castrol full synthetic for 85k miles without an issue. I guess at the time I assumed full synthetic was better the semi- synthetic!
Can anyone offer some technical advice on this, one way or the other? If not, I plan to follow the manual.
I also own a 2014 Cadillac XTS VSport twin turbo and although it came new with semi-synthetic, I have always used Castrol full synthetic for 85k miles without an issue. I guess at the time I assumed full synthetic was better the semi- synthetic!
You will be fine with Castrol!
The engine inductive system on forum is often TOTALLY misunderstood when it comes to what oil to use. lots of MYTH and conjecture. Unless the auto manufacture states the exact wording REQUIRED under he oil recommendation (and that is what it really is) all any oil need be is to meet the specification set by the auto manufacture. Most of the oil now used is to gain the lowest emission and highest MPG all other consideration are really to make people "think" that a Supercharged or Turbocharged engine needs something different that a normally aspirated engine.
In the US the Federal Government requires all oil sold list their exact ingredient (not proprietary additives) so you can see how an oil performers and what the basic formulas are.
ASE
In the world not all countries have available full synthetic motor oil and the auto manufactures also realizes this and only uses the wording recommends and not REQUIRED for oil viscosity and type.i.e. Nonsynthetic, - synthetic and full synthetic.
See last response from me
I expect my daughter/granddaughter will likely bring the car to the nearby Mazda dealer, at least initially, so they will install whatever oil they usually use. The car was purchased in another state and wanted some feedback, here on the forum, where owner knowledge may be better or more up to date than what is specified (Synthetic) in the owners manual.
It just seemed weird to me that the salesman seemed to really go out of his way to try to impress us not to use Synthetic oil. He again I am assuming he meant Full Synthetic. Thus, telling us not to follow the owners manual.
BUT THEN AGAIN, as I don’t have the manual in front of me, I believe it just said synthetic oil so perhaps that could include both full and blend Synthetic even though to me it meant full synthetic!
MY APOLOGIES IF I AM VERY STATING THIS ISSUE !
It just seemed weird to me that the salesman seemed to really go out of his way to try to impress us not to use Synthetic oil. He again I am assuming he meant Full Synthetic. Thus, telling us not to follow the owners manual.
BUT THEN AGAIN, as I don’t have the manual in front of me, I believe it just said synthetic oil so perhaps that could include both full and blend Synthetic even though to me it meant full synthetic!
MY APOLOGIES IF I AM VERY STATING THIS ISSUE !
Last edited by Prowler6B; Oct 30, 2024 at 09:49 AM.
Welcome to the forum
You will be fine with Castrol!
The engine inductive system on forum is often TOTALLY misunderstood when it comes to what oil to use. lots of MYTH and conjecture. Unless the auto manufacture states the exact wording REQUIRED under he oil recommendation (and that is what it really is) all any oil need be is to meet the specification set by the auto manufacture. Most of the oil now used is to gain the lowest emission and highest MPG all other consideration are really to make people "think" that a Supercharged or Turbocharged engine needs something different that a normally aspirated engine.
In the US the Federal Government requires all oil sold list their exact ingredient (not proprietary additives) so you can see how an oil performers and what the basic formulas are.
ASE
You will be fine with Castrol!
The engine inductive system on forum is often TOTALLY misunderstood when it comes to what oil to use. lots of MYTH and conjecture. Unless the auto manufacture states the exact wording REQUIRED under he oil recommendation (and that is what it really is) all any oil need be is to meet the specification set by the auto manufacture. Most of the oil now used is to gain the lowest emission and highest MPG all other consideration are really to make people "think" that a Supercharged or Turbocharged engine needs something different that a normally aspirated engine.
In the US the Federal Government requires all oil sold list their exact ingredient (not proprietary additives) so you can see how an oil performers and what the basic formulas are.
ASE
I should add that the wording is ALL IMPORTANT and not to replace and words in the owners or service recommendation with your own descriptive words to suit your thoughts., it does not work that way
As for your 60 years well you should be supporting my responses in that back in the day you choose the oil for where you lived and how you drove or more so what the operating environment of the engine would be.
And on forums getting a vote of something just because other or a majority of owners and DIY think something is so does not make it so even if 99% state it so?
I should add that most all engine can use semi or synthetic blend and most places that do oil and filter fast service shops use exactly that.
You are also covered for WARRANTY under the
The Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act (P.L. 93-637) is a United States federal law (15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq.). Enacted in 1975, the federal statute governs warranties on consumer products.
On forums I participate on it is for the most part to better inform members of empirical fact and information so if I end with ASE (in bold blue) it is not my name initials..

Let me put or place it another way, in my time we or I would break-in news engines using none detergent oils and that was in the mid 70's .

Just and off topic thought and often used by members on various vehcle forums..... what does how many miles a person has driven in their life have anything to do with a technical thread to support any information? No need for anyone to answer and please don't because it will start a long off topic bombardment of self-qualifying responses from members. Me personally I would never use that as any reference to qualify anything except how long I have simply added to miles on the road.
The oil in even new Mazda can be full or semi synthetic as I explained why.
I should add that the wording is ALL IMPORTANT and not to replace and words in the owners or service recommendation with your own descriptive words to suit your thoughts., it does not work that way
As for your 60 years well you should be supporting my responses in that back in the day you choose the oil for where you lived and how you drove or more so what the operating environment of the engine would be.
And on forums getting a vote of something just because other or a majority of owners and DIY think something is so does not make it so even if 99% state it so?
I should add that most all engine can use semi or synthetic blend and most places that do oil and filter fast service shops use exactly that.
You are also covered for WARRANTY under the
The Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act (P.L. 93-637) is a United States federal law (15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq.). Enacted in 1975, the federal statute governs warranties on consumer products.
On forums I participate on it is for the most part to better inform members of empirical fact and information so if I end with ASE (in bold blue) it is not my name initials..
Let me put or place it another way, in my time we or I would break-in news engines using none detergent oils and that was in the mid 70's .
Just and off topic thought and often used by members on various vehcle forums..... what does how many miles a person has driven in their life have anything to do with a technical thread to support any information? No need for anyone to answer and please don't because it will start a long off topic bombardment of self-qualifying responses from members. Me personally I would never use that as any reference to qualify anything except how long I have simply added to miles on the road.
I should add that the wording is ALL IMPORTANT and not to replace and words in the owners or service recommendation with your own descriptive words to suit your thoughts., it does not work that way
As for your 60 years well you should be supporting my responses in that back in the day you choose the oil for where you lived and how you drove or more so what the operating environment of the engine would be.
And on forums getting a vote of something just because other or a majority of owners and DIY think something is so does not make it so even if 99% state it so?
I should add that most all engine can use semi or synthetic blend and most places that do oil and filter fast service shops use exactly that.
You are also covered for WARRANTY under the
The Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act (P.L. 93-637) is a United States federal law (15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq.). Enacted in 1975, the federal statute governs warranties on consumer products.
On forums I participate on it is for the most part to better inform members of empirical fact and information so if I end with ASE (in bold blue) it is not my name initials..

Let me put or place it another way, in my time we or I would break-in news engines using none detergent oils and that was in the mid 70's .

Just and off topic thought and often used by members on various vehcle forums..... what does how many miles a person has driven in their life have anything to do with a technical thread to support any information? No need for anyone to answer and please don't because it will start a long off topic bombardment of self-qualifying responses from members. Me personally I would never use that as any reference to qualify anything except how long I have simply added to miles on the road.
My question was simply to see if anyone might have a thought as to why a representative of Mazda would be adamant about not using full synthetic oil in a car the seems to specify it’s use at least at the time the owner’s manual was published?
Keep in mind that I have never owned a Mazda and was paying for the car when this statement was made and did not know about issue until days later. I would never accept technical advice from car sales persons! It just seems odd to me that the subject was even discussed!
You seem to be missing my point. Perhaps I wrote way too much and as a result my question is hidden in all my dialogue. I happen to be Technical Specialist Aeronautical Engineer and as such, pay close attention to specific details such as oil weight for expected ambient temperature operating conditions.
My question was simply to see if anyone might have a thought as to why a representative of Mazda would be adamant about not using full synthetic oil in a car the seems to specify it’s use at least at the time the owner’s manual was published?
Keep in mind that I have never owned a Mazda and was paying for the car when this statement was made and did not know about issue until days later. I would never accept technical advice from car sales persons! It just seems odd to me that the subject was even discussed!
My question was simply to see if anyone might have a thought as to why a representative of Mazda would be adamant about not using full synthetic oil in a car the seems to specify it’s use at least at the time the owner’s manual was published?
Keep in mind that I have never owned a Mazda and was paying for the car when this statement was made and did not know about issue until days later. I would never accept technical advice from car sales persons! It just seems odd to me that the subject was even discussed!
2021-mazda-cx-5-crossover-suv-owners-manual-v3.pdf
if this is correct it looks like it comes with synthetic from the factory...i would be curious where the oil part number can be found...online parts fiche websites don't typically show that
https://a.co/d/6i9YSaG
https://welcomepresents.com/mazda-genuine-0w-20-oil/
Last edited by Point37; Oct 30, 2024 at 02:07 PM.
The reference page actually has so much supportive information I have been posting I appreciate the member that posted it! 6-22 
Some that members that have or are by trade a marketer or advertising agency will recognize clever wording mixed in with actual empirical information. .
More clever wording to make you assume things about the choice of oil to use.
U.S.A. and CANADA
Use SAE 0W-20 engine oil.
Mazda Genuine Oil is used in your Mazda
vehicle. Mazda Genuine 0W-20 Oil is
required to achieve optimum fuel
economy.
For maintenance service, Mazda
recommends Mazda Genuine Parts and
Castrol® (U.S.A. only).
There is no information posted or available in writing by Word or International Mazda or Mazda USA what specific oil type for each model sent to different countries has factory filled in the engines. The assumption is full synthetic.
I don't normally post this but hey might as well i like the BS that continues on some threads with DIY members. FACT: Mazda oil is made from several different suppliers and those suppliers used by Mazda depends directly on the type and region.
NO dealer or for that matter independent service shop should be telling or suggesting a Mazda owner that they are required to use Mazda engine oil or a specific brand or viscosity unless there are specific specialized engine that in fact "requires is stated in a service manual advisory, TSB or any Mazda supplement REQUIRES a specific type (brand) and viscosity.

Some that members that have or are by trade a marketer or advertising agency will recognize clever wording mixed in with actual empirical information. .
More clever wording to make you assume things about the choice of oil to use.
U.S.A. and CANADA
Use SAE 0W-20 engine oil.
Mazda Genuine Oil is used in your Mazda
vehicle. Mazda Genuine 0W-20 Oil is
required to achieve optimum fuel
economy.
For maintenance service, Mazda
recommends Mazda Genuine Parts and
Castrol® (U.S.A. only).
There is no information posted or available in writing by Word or International Mazda or Mazda USA what specific oil type for each model sent to different countries has factory filled in the engines. The assumption is full synthetic.
I don't normally post this but hey might as well i like the BS that continues on some threads with DIY members. FACT: Mazda oil is made from several different suppliers and those suppliers used by Mazda depends directly on the type and region.
NO dealer or for that matter independent service shop should be telling or suggesting a Mazda owner that they are required to use Mazda engine oil or a specific brand or viscosity unless there are specific specialized engine that in fact "requires is stated in a service manual advisory, TSB or any Mazda supplement REQUIRES a specific type (brand) and viscosity.
Last edited by Callisto; Oct 30, 2024 at 03:07 PM.


