What brand oil do you use?
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I can see teh wear mark through the oil fill port, there's one cam lobe directly at the port.
the wear mark is at the tip of the cam lobe. The manual resommends 5w-20, but accepts 5w-30. so I'd like to switch 5w-30 for better wear protection.......gas mileage be damed. will try castrol syntec 5w-30.
the wear mark is at the tip of the cam lobe. The manual resommends 5w-20, but accepts 5w-30. so I'd like to switch 5w-30 for better wear protection.......gas mileage be damed. will try castrol syntec 5w-30.
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Keep in mind that the only grade of Castrol Syntec that is truly "synthetic" is 0W-30 (and it is also the only one made in Germany), every other grade is simply hydrocracked Group III wannabe synthetic oil. FWIW, a 0W-30 would most be better in our cars compared to a 5W-30, regardless of what the base oil is.
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Last edited by wineye; Sep 15, 2011 at 05:40 PM.
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Regarding the 0W-30 being thicker, maybe it's just me, but I see that as a good thing. FWIW, I'm running Mobil 1 0W-30 (not quite as thick as Castrol 0W-30) in my 2009 Mazda3 i, and so far at least, my fuel economy is pretty much bang on where it was with the factory oil.
Regarding the Valvoline SynPower, yes, as I understand it, it's also a Group III based oil.
Last edited by shipo; Mar 15, 2009 at 09:48 PM.
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Shipo, how long have you been using M1 0w-30? It's ACEA A1 certified, not A5 though.
On the German Castrol 0w-30, have you tried it in your Mazda3i? I see the wear mark at the nose of the cam lobe (only at the nose, other part of the lobe surface is good). The reason I worried about the viscosity is pumpability, and thicker oil also adds burden to the oil pump.
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On the German Castrol 0w-30, have you tried it in your Mazda3i? I see the wear mark at the nose of the cam lobe (only at the nose, other part of the lobe surface is good). The reason I worried about the viscosity is pumpability, and thicker oil also adds burden to the oil pump.
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Last edited by wineye; Sep 15, 2011 at 05:40 PM.
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I'm not at all sure why you're worried about pumpability. Considering the following points:
- The 2.0 liter engine in my Mazda is supposedly the same as used in the Ford Focus.
- Both Mazda and Ford recommend 5W-20 for those engines in the U.S. and Canada.
- Mazda and Ford also sell their 2.0 liter engines in Europe, and those engines are mechanically identical to the ones sold on this side of the pond.
- In Europe, both Mazda and Ford recommend 5W-30 for their engines.
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I'm not at all sure why you're worried about pumpability. Considering the following points:
- The 2.0 liter engine in my Mazda is supposedly the same as used in the Ford Focus.
- Both Mazda and Ford recommend 5W-20 for those engines in the U.S. and Canada.
- Mazda and Ford also sell their 2.0 liter engines in Europe, and those engines are mechanically identical to the ones sold on this side of the pond.
- In Europe, both Mazda and Ford recommend 5W-30 for their engines.
The US cars need to pass CARB Specs and I would imagine the Canadian cars using it makes it easier on Mazda at the other end.
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