Yesterday, I was at my Mazda dealer buying wiper blades for my wife's 3. Just behind the parts counter were 3-boxes of engine oil branded for Mazda. One box was labeled SAE 5W-20, a second SAE 5W-30, and the third was labeled Full Synthetic SAE 0W-20. The boxes were a bit too far from me to read any other data printed on them. I was surprised on two counts: Mazda never specified a 0W-20 oil for any vehicle that I knew of nor did they ever recommend a synthetic oil.
Now according to the FSM specification, the 3 requires 5W-20 and the Mazdaspeed3 uses 5W-30, both non-synthetic (or at least synthetic not recommended or mentioned). So where does the synthetic 0W-20 fit in?
After returning home I went online to a couple of Mazda3 forums where I discovered that for the 2011 MY, Mazda specifies synthetic 0W-20 for the 3 in place of the previously recommended non-synthetic 5W-20. No definitive reason was given but there was speculation on the part of some forum members that the switch resulted in a cleaner engine emission-wise. As the 2010 and 2011 engines are identical, it was believed that the synthetic 0W-20 oil could also be used in the 2010 engine, and some forum members with the earlier model claimed that their dealers said that this was permissable. Since the 2010 MY 3 specifies 5W-20, it was also pointed out however that even if the engines are the same, using an oil other than the OEM mandated product could result in warranty problems in case of engine damage.
Keep in mind that the 2010-2011 Mazda3s are 2nd Gen 3s with the BL chassis code and the foregoing remarks do not apply to the 2004-2009 1st Gen 3s with the BK chassis code, all of which are specified to use 5W-20 oil.
Extended viscosity range mineral oils tend to be somewhat unstable and Mazda may have decided that extending the viscosity range downward from 5 to 0 may have required a switch to a synthetic type to ensure longevity along with all its other superior attributes compared with mineral oils. For more information, go to:
I don't know if Mazda plans any changes in oil specs for the Mazdaspeed3 nor do I know if the 6 will also be using synthetic. This remains to be discovered.
I don't know who manufactures the Mazda branded oil but one forum member I came across claims that the Canadian Mazda synthetic oil is made by Petro-Canada although I can't confirm that on my own. However, Petro-Canada does manufacture a 0W-20 synthetic oil and provides the following information on their TechData website:
"Supreme Synthetic Motor Oils start with 100% synthetic PURITY VHVI base oils derived from the patented HT purity process which produces 99.9% pure base oils."
http://lubricants.petro-canada.ca/re...22&language=en
VHVI (very high viscosity index oil) is produced from crude oil through the hydrocracking process and therefore constitutes an API hydrocracked Group III oil rather than one derived from Group IV (PAO) or Group V (Polyol ester) base stocks. Props to Petro-Canada for being up front about the constituents of their oils (although in a somewhat indirect way; one still has to know, or look up, the meaning of VHVI), a rarity in today's world. Assuming this is the oil sold by Mazda, which I'm sure is a very fine lubricant, nevertheless those wanting a Group IV or Group V based product should look elsewhere.
FWIW, There is a Petro-Oil America based in IL but I don't know its connection with the Canadian company. Regardless, whomever makes American Mazda synthetic oil it will almost certainly be a hydrocracked Group III product due to cost considerations alone.
More research is needed to take hold of this slippery subject.
Happy Motoring!
Now according to the FSM specification, the 3 requires 5W-20 and the Mazdaspeed3 uses 5W-30, both non-synthetic (or at least synthetic not recommended or mentioned). So where does the synthetic 0W-20 fit in?
After returning home I went online to a couple of Mazda3 forums where I discovered that for the 2011 MY, Mazda specifies synthetic 0W-20 for the 3 in place of the previously recommended non-synthetic 5W-20. No definitive reason was given but there was speculation on the part of some forum members that the switch resulted in a cleaner engine emission-wise. As the 2010 and 2011 engines are identical, it was believed that the synthetic 0W-20 oil could also be used in the 2010 engine, and some forum members with the earlier model claimed that their dealers said that this was permissable. Since the 2010 MY 3 specifies 5W-20, it was also pointed out however that even if the engines are the same, using an oil other than the OEM mandated product could result in warranty problems in case of engine damage.
Keep in mind that the 2010-2011 Mazda3s are 2nd Gen 3s with the BL chassis code and the foregoing remarks do not apply to the 2004-2009 1st Gen 3s with the BK chassis code, all of which are specified to use 5W-20 oil.
Extended viscosity range mineral oils tend to be somewhat unstable and Mazda may have decided that extending the viscosity range downward from 5 to 0 may have required a switch to a synthetic type to ensure longevity along with all its other superior attributes compared with mineral oils. For more information, go to:
I don't know if Mazda plans any changes in oil specs for the Mazdaspeed3 nor do I know if the 6 will also be using synthetic. This remains to be discovered.
I don't know who manufactures the Mazda branded oil but one forum member I came across claims that the Canadian Mazda synthetic oil is made by Petro-Canada although I can't confirm that on my own. However, Petro-Canada does manufacture a 0W-20 synthetic oil and provides the following information on their TechData website:
"Supreme Synthetic Motor Oils start with 100% synthetic PURITY VHVI base oils derived from the patented HT purity process which produces 99.9% pure base oils."
http://lubricants.petro-canada.ca/re...22&language=en
VHVI (very high viscosity index oil) is produced from crude oil through the hydrocracking process and therefore constitutes an API hydrocracked Group III oil rather than one derived from Group IV (PAO) or Group V (Polyol ester) base stocks. Props to Petro-Canada for being up front about the constituents of their oils (although in a somewhat indirect way; one still has to know, or look up, the meaning of VHVI), a rarity in today's world. Assuming this is the oil sold by Mazda, which I'm sure is a very fine lubricant, nevertheless those wanting a Group IV or Group V based product should look elsewhere.
FWIW, There is a Petro-Oil America based in IL but I don't know its connection with the Canadian company. Regardless, whomever makes American Mazda synthetic oil it will almost certainly be a hydrocracked Group III product due to cost considerations alone.
More research is needed to take hold of this slippery subject.
Happy Motoring!
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