MX-3.com

I need to change the oil in my fiance's MX3. She just got it a couple of weeks ago. It didn't come with a manual or anything and I can't find what type of oil it takes. I'm guessing 5w-30. It has 77K miles, and I'm wondering if I should put 10w-30 in instead. Need some advice on this. <P>Also, how many quarts does it take? This is my first time doing any maintenence work to an MX3.<P>Thanks.

Hey man, if you're in the US, go with Mobil-1 synthetic 5w30. There's two main types, trysinthetic and drive clean blend. I really dunno the difference other than price and the color of the bottle. Mobil-1 synthetic is sposed to be the best all around oil you can put in the MX, (in the US anyways). I recently got a new MX3 and wanted to switch to Mobil-1 but really couldn't afford the trysynthetic, (what I've been using for the past 3 years in MX3's), and I noticed the drive clean blend sitting next to it for like 3 bux less a quart. So that's what I'm running now, seems to be great and almost as cheap as non-synthetics in price. About how much an MX holds, that depends on your engine, (4cyl or 6?). I really dunno about the 4 but the 6 holds between 4-5, 4.5 by the book. It can be different when using different oil filters. What I do is I'll put about 4.5 in and then check it to see if it's on the F or if it still needs any. Good luck and happy MX'ing!<BR><P>------------------<BR>mason<BR>MX3SE<BR>ICQ#44771740<BR>masonholmes@hotmail.com

The '92 & '93 MX B6E (1.6L) uses 3.4 Quarts with filter.<BR>The '94 & '95 B6ZE (1.6L) uses 3.6 Qts with filter.<BR>The '92 thru '95 K8D (1.8L) uses 4.2 Qts with filter.<BR>Note- The B6ZE engine is the DOHC 4 banger.

Thanks for the info guys. The one I'm talking about is the 1.6L V6. <P>So, 5w-30 and 4 to 5 quarts. Thanks!

Whats wrong with using 10w-30 for the oil change? (Thats what i've been using...but my car is sitting at 125k miles...)

10W-30 is recomended for the MX-3 for -10* and up and 5W-30 is recomended for temps of 30* and below. I would suggest 10W-30 for the summer and 5W-30 for the winter if you live in extremely cold areas. I use straight 30W Castrol GTX in the summer here in Texas since it is HOT here and my car has 217K miles on it, but use 10W-30 in the winter. If you can afford synthetic oil, it is the best to use unless your car is going to be sitting for a long time. Synthetic oil is so slick that it doesn't stay coated on the metal parts if it has been sitting for an extended amount of time. A good blended synthetic would probably be your best bet. Just my 2 cents. C-ya, Robert

Not a thing wrong with 10w30, I've just been told by quite a few mechanics that if running synthetic, you can run 5w30 where non sythetically you'd tend to run 10w30. I've been using 5w30 Mobil-1 for the last three years in KY/WV. Relatively warm summers and cool to cold winters. (70-95 summer, 0-50 winter averages)<BR><P>------------------<BR>mason<BR>MX3SE<BR>ICQ#44771740<BR>masonholmes@hotmail.com

Hey mxcess, what are you calling an extended amount of time? Like last week, I let my MX sit for I think 4 days. When I went out and started it, it blew a puff of black smoke, (I know, fuel), shook and rattled for a second or two and then started running fine. Could this be from the synthetic stuff running off the cylindar walls etc.? Just a thought.<P><P>------------------<BR>mason<BR>MX3SE<BR>ICQ#44771740<BR>masonholmes@hotmail.com

There's notta darn thing wrong with 10W oil.<BR>I've been using it for years without ever changing, but I live in Vegas and it's never really that cold here.

I've been using 0w30 Mobil 1 for a while now. No problems with HLA tick or anything, though my leaky front main seal is worse than it was. I get good milage and good ET's with the 0 weight though <P>------------------<BR>David Coleman- <B><I>Moderator</B></I><BR><A HREF="http://www.PinkMX-3.com" TARGET=_blank>1993 Mazda MX-3 GS Special Edition</A><BR><A HREF="http://www.wuname.com/cgi-bin/wuname/wuname.pl" TARGET=_blank><B><I>Wu Name</I></B></A>