Grade of oil for MX-5

joanie · Post by **joanie** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 10:19 pm

Greetings all,

Another maintenance query from me, if the group can advise please. Have to
do our first oil-change on our MX-5, and wonder what grade of engine oil
people have found to be satisfactory in these cars. From the chart in the
Owners' Manual, 10W-50 seems to be the most recommended, with 20W-40 and
20W-50 as other possibilities.
Any opinions and experience please?

(In terms of usage-type, the car does some amount of short and easy running
but is more often used on reasonably long trips with spirited revving where
possible.)

Regards & thanks,
Graham H

johnw11 · Post by **johnw11** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:56 pm

Graham

I have just had my MX5 serviced by Mazda in Wellington and they used Shell
Helix 10W 40. No time yet to experience how well this works.

Cheers

John

poison · Post by **poison** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:00 am

I just changed to Magnatec (sp?) a few weeks ago as it was recommended by
someone on this listing a while back, it's a semi synthetic, probably a 10-40
if I recall correctly. Anyway the 'old' oil had done less than 1000k in six
months of winter (and as a strict top-downer I doubt I'll be squeezing in many
K's this summer either). But the Magnatec got rid of a noisy tappet/lifter
that seemed to be getting worse. So I'm sold on it.

Gazza
"PO1SON"

EricW · Post by **EricW** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 8:14 am

My experience too!

Eric

Graeme H · Post by **Graeme H** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 8:56 am

Shell Helix Fully synthetic with a mazda oil filter. No tappet rattle for me :0)

Graeme H

http://miata.cardomain.com/id/britracinggreen
I just changed to Magnatec (sp?) a few weeks ago as it was recommended by
someone on this listing a while back, it's a semi synthetic, probably a
10-40 if I recall correctly. Anyway the 'old' oil had done less than
1000k in six months of winter (and as a strict top-downer I doubt I'll
be squeezing in many K's this summer either). But the Magnatec got rid of
a noisy tappet/lifter that seemed to be getting worse. So I'm sold on it.
Gazza"PO1SON"

Perry perry · Post by **Perry perry** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:04 am

I thought (from my readings) the use of a synthetic oil would cause
leaks as
the 'esters' (my organic chemistry is a little rusty now) have the ability
to break down the rubber seals. Especially if synthetic oil was not used
from new.

Perry

From: Graeme H <graeme.hakin@xtra.co.nz>
Reply-To: MX5List<mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
To: MX5List<mx5list@mx5club.org.nz>
Subject: Re: Re: Grade of oil for MX-5
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 8:56:41 +1300

Shell Helix Fully synthetic with a mazda oil filter. No tappet

rattle for

me :0)

Graeme H

http://miata.cardomain.com/id/britracinggreen