Notices
Series I Tech Garage The place to discuss anything technical about the RX-8 that doesn't fit into any of the categories below.

Alternate Brand of 5W/20 vs Mazda brand

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 09-13-2003 | 07:47 AM
  #1  
rx8daniel's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 660
Likes: 0
From: Memphis, TN
Alternate Brand of 5W/20 vs Mazda brand

Does anyone know who makes the oil Mazda sells? Anyone have an opinion on brand recommendations? I've always been a fan of Castrol as it held it's viscosity better in older Consumer Reports testing. Lately it seems the differences are very small. I'll go with that unless someone suggests strongly something else or can tell me the mfgr of Mazda's 5W/20. thanks.
Old 09-13-2003 | 08:46 AM
  #2  
Doctorr's Avatar
Ricer is Nicer.....
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 547
Likes: 1
From: Canada.
Cool 5w-20.....

5w-20 is a new weight being specified for new Fords and Hondas, so it will get real popular, real soon.

In the meantime, it is pretty hard to find, but Quaker State makes one that should be available nationally.

It is expensive, too, about $3+ per quart, but will get cheaper when it is more popular.
.
.
.
doc
Old 09-13-2003 | 08:50 AM
  #3  
rx8daniel's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 660
Likes: 0
From: Memphis, TN
I saw several brands of it a couple weeks ago at my local Wal-Mart. I belive Castrol, Valvoline and perhaps Pennzoil and / or Quaker State. I don't think any were as much as it was from the dealer ($2.50 it seems like from Mazda). I obviously wouldn't mix a different weight - but does the brand mean as little as I suspect it does with SL grade in these modern times?

BTW, I think Mazda has 5W/20 specified for either their MPV or the Mazda 6 now as well.
Old 09-13-2003 | 08:58 AM
  #4  
CERAMICSEAL's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 608
Likes: 0
From: atlanta ga
Hey Daniel,
I was once told it was Mobil1, but I'm not sure that's accurate.
I recently spoke to Rick Engman ( One of the most experienced rotary engine builders in the world-30years) and the concept of running 5w20 was frightening to him. He insists he won't be using it.
Old 09-13-2003 | 10:23 AM
  #5  
RodsterinFL's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 558
Likes: 0
From: Fort Myers, FL
I use catrol and Pennzoil and beleive they are the best. My dad used to race stock cars and has a strong dislike for Quaker state from what he saw years ago it did to engines (probably different now though)

They have sales locally on these two brands - $1.28 quart - just bought a case of Castrol.
Old 09-13-2003 | 10:49 AM
  #6  
Wankeler's Avatar
zoom freaking zoom
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Only 5W-20 I can find locally is Valvoline. Which is fine by me... been using Valvoline in my cars for last 7 years anyways.
I've been to over a dozen autoparts stores and superstores (Super-K, Super Wal-mart, Meijers and Sam's Club). I'm at 1500mi and no noticible oil drop yet... but I keep a couple of quarts in the trunk just in case.

Peace
Old 09-13-2003 | 12:03 PM
  #7  
funksoulbrother's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Ontario
In Canada the 5W20 used by all Mazda shops is made by Petro-Canada and can be bought at ALL service centers.
Old 09-13-2003 | 12:12 PM
  #8  
jtimbck2's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,356
Likes: 2
From: Santa Fe, NM
$2.50-$3.00 per quart? As P.T. Barnum once said, "There's a sucker born every minute." At Advance Auto (that's a local version of Pep Boys or Autozone), I saw no less than 4 brands of 5W-20 weight oil, all for $1.19 - $1.39 per quart.

Old 09-13-2003 | 12:27 PM
  #9  
Elara's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,447
Likes: 0
I bought a quart of Pennzoil last week at WalMart for $1.69, and it was the only one I could find. But then, I was at WalMart .
Old 09-13-2003 | 03:41 PM
  #10  
Racer X-8's Avatar
Coming thru in waves...
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere between Yesterday and Tomorrow.
Originally posted by RodsterinFL
I use catrol and Pennzoil and beleive they are the best. My dad used to race stock cars and has a strong dislike for Quaker state from what he saw years ago it did to engines (probably different now though)

They have sales locally on these two brands - $1.28 quart - just bought a case of Castrol.
Pennsylvania crude oil is parafin-based. Yeah, like a candle. I used Quaker state a long time ago. In doing head jobs & stuff, it's obvious as to where the parafin goes. All over the innards of your engine. In my opinion, Quaker State is sold purely on the merits of its advertising, not on product. I never use Pennzoil cuz I won't give it the chance. Could be good. Don't care.

I use Castrol like I use deodorant. I found the brand that works best for me & I don't care what else is on the shelf.
Old 09-13-2003 | 04:27 PM
  #11  
Mitch Strickler's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Washington, DC
Old ideas die hard

Honda engines hold up beautifully at high revs, and Honda is always in the forefront of using lighter oils. My mechanic wouldn't stock 5-30 for my Integra GS-R; I had to bring it to him. "That stuff is like water," he said. But he didn't have any answer when I told him about using it for two half hour lapping sessions at Watkins Glen under a broiling sun, most of the time over 7,000 revs, with absolutely no ill effects (not even using extra oil). For the wear problem that's most important, startup, lighter grades are better. If Mazda and Honda say 20 is OK, that's what I will use.
Mitch
Old 09-13-2003 | 05:13 PM
  #12  
Lee Chun's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
Re: Old ideas die hard

Originally posted by Mitch Strickler
Honda engines hold up beautifully at high revs, and Honda is always in the forefront of using lighter oils. My mechanic wouldn't stock 5-30 for my Integra GS-R; I had to bring it to him. "That stuff is like water," he said. But he didn't have any answer when I told him about using it for two half hour lapping sessions at Watkins Glen under a broiling sun, most of the time over 7,000 revs, with absolutely no ill effects (not even using extra oil). For the wear problem that's most important, startup, lighter grades are better. If Mazda and Honda say 20 is OK, that's what I will use.
Mitch
When I had an Integra GS-R I used only 5-30 too! Start ups were much smoother than 10-30, and I had absolutely no problems, smooth motor...
Old 09-13-2003 | 05:14 PM
  #13  
rotarymagic's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: minnesota
Re: Alternate Brand of 5W/20 vs Mazda brand

Originally posted by rx8daniel
Does anyone know who makes the oil Mazda sells? Anyone have an opinion on brand recommendations? I've always been a fan of Castrol as it held it's viscosity better in older Consumer Reports testing. Lately it seems the differences are very small. I'll go with that unless someone suggests strongly something else or can tell me the mfgr of Mazda's 5W/20. thanks.

My Mazda dealer said that the oil they get is from Mobil 1.

Mobil 1 and castrol seem to be the best from my research.
Old 09-13-2003 | 07:55 PM
  #14  
mx5-->rx8's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
Mobile 1... isn't that sythetic? Is sythetic recommended for the 8 since it is designed to burn some small % of the oil ??
Old 09-13-2003 | 08:37 PM
  #15  
Evolv's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 394
Likes: 1
From: Canada
Originally posted by funksoulbrother
In Canada the 5W20 used by all Mazda shops is made by Petro-Canada and can be bought at ALL service centers.
Where did you get this info?
Old 09-13-2003 | 11:02 PM
  #16  
Racer X-8's Avatar
Coming thru in waves...
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere between Yesterday and Tomorrow.
Originally posted by mx5-->rx8
Mobile 1... isn't that sythetic? Is sythetic recommended for the 8 since it is designed to burn some small % of the oil ??
Actually, it's the other way around.

If it wasn't exactly midnight & I have a full day ahead fully booked with things to do, I would try to find some evidence to that fact. Do a search here (yeah, sorry). The info abounds elsewhere on a few other threads.
Old 09-14-2003 | 03:45 AM
  #17  
mikeb's Avatar
100% Italian
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,422
Likes: 0
From: orange,ca
when mazda changed my oil the tech said 5-20 is best for car and non-synethic because it will burn
Old 09-14-2003 | 09:46 PM
  #18  
Racer X-8's Avatar
Coming thru in waves...
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere between Yesterday and Tomorrow.
Hey mikeb, could you please expound a little. I'm not sure I got what you said there...thanks
Old 09-15-2003 | 01:01 PM
  #19  
DisneyDestroyer's Avatar
Careful, I bite!
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 287
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, CA
The Rotary engine burns oil. Synthetic is designed not to burn, and burns BADLY - leaves nasty deposits, etc. So never use Synthetic.

As for the 5W-20, I was under the impression that it's heavier, because the engine is hotter so a thinner oil will thin out too much with the heat and won't coat. No?
Old 09-15-2003 | 07:50 PM
  #20  
Racer X-8's Avatar
Coming thru in waves...
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere between Yesterday and Tomorrow.
Originally posted by DisneyDestroyer
...As for the 5W-20, I was under the impression that it's heavier, because the engine is hotter so a thinner oil will thin out too much with the heat and won't coat. No?
No.

5W-20 is about the thinnest oil I know. The higher the number, the thicker it is.

I'm not going to worry about Mazda being wrong on this. This is way too important for them to be wrong. There are a lot of factors that go into determining the correct viscosity. If you play with it (you can only opt for a thicker viscosity here), you are subject to major problems.

Don't play with it. Use 5W-20 non-synthetic. Unless you hear different from someone who knows more than Mazda, that is.
Old 09-16-2003 | 12:56 AM
  #21  
mikeb's Avatar
100% Italian
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,422
Likes: 0
From: orange,ca
good points racer
Old 09-25-2003 | 12:18 PM
  #22  
MSMAMBA's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
I use Mobil1 Syn 10W-30 for my P5 and Pennzoil 5W-20 for my MPV.

I will go with the Pennzoil for the 8.
Old 02-21-2005 | 06:27 AM
  #23  
rXter's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
RacerX8---

I realize that this thread is old, but couldn't hold back. Dude, Pennzoil is a brand name, nothing more. The oil from Pennsylvania fields was depleted in the early 1900s. Ever heard of JD Rockefeller? All of the majors are getting their oil from wherever the stuff is being pumped out of the ground. Most likely the Middle East.
Old 02-24-2005 | 03:12 PM
  #24  
Matt RX8's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
From: Lake Forest, IL
I'm going with Castrol GTX 5W20. It's non-synthetic. They sell it at walmart.
Old 02-24-2005 | 04:19 PM
  #25  
army_rx8's Avatar
X-Sapper
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,392
Likes: 0
From: where angle's fear to tread
royal purple here 5w20 and it's synthetic...do a search synthetic is no tbad for a rotary engine


wow super old thread hahaha


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Alternate Brand of 5W/20 vs Mazda brand



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:18 PM.