mx5cartalk.com

Just ran a few searches in this forum and couldn't find anything like this one, if there is please direct me to it, and I am sorry.

Which engine oil does everyone use, and which viscosity? Also what kind of use does the car get

Was just interested to know

Castrol Edge 5W30 here.

This threads been done to the death already but there don't seem to be any posts recently...

Try viewtopic.php?f=29&t=31490&hilit=engine+oil for starters.

How bout using Penrite, Gulf Western or Nulon? Australian made (not sure if Penrite is actually fully Aussie made or just an Aussie brand that imports the base ingredients like I've read before) so you can help someone keep their jobs in Australia.

I use Gulf Western Premium Gold 15w40 personally.

It is true this subject really gets a bashing. I reckon that any good quality oil of the right spec changed regularly with filter will be fully adequate for long engine life. Buying an expensive oil which may not have the same volume of sales quite conceivably is not doing anything extra for a car used under normal circumstances. The help lines for oil co's is quite useful - for example should you use a full synthetic oil for an earlier model MX5?

I agree with Morlock here, it's all just dead dinosaur juice.

I tend to still go for larger companys, my reasoning is that they can afford higher QC and therefore provide a more standard oil.


I use Castrol Magnatec in mine, it's notexpensive, easy to get, and it's the same as the Mondeo uses so I don't need to buy multiple bottles.

Magnatec here in Malibu. It loves it!

Jules

Mobil 1 or Motul. Both fully synthetic.

for example should you use a full synthetic oil for an earlier model MX5?

No because the engine isn't designed for it.
I use Penrite, Great stuff

Ive heard the opposite, that fully synthetic is teh way to go, especially if you hit the track regularly

I think from memory older engines do not like changing over types of oils.
Look, at the end of the day it's really a 323 engine with a dirty great cast iron block. In fact (also from memory) it was built for the Turbo 323, so running a good quality non-synthetic oil shouldn't stress the engine any more than what it was originally built to handle.

Turbo and race applications could be something different however. This is just my mind you, so I'm happy for a Guru to jump in and say differently.

Jules

Castrol Magnatec 10/40 here, but I'm a fan of Castrol Edge too. Just can't afford the latter for every oil change.

As said above, regular oil and filter changes will prolong engine life far more than changing every so often with super duper oil.

engine oils , in our camp[ 15/ mx5's mostly race cars ] would be one of the most hotly debated subjects on the agenda and still we all agree to disagree.
Myself [ a mechanic all my life] have one maxium - buy the best and change it regulary.
My mx5 222000 k on the clock and the motor has never been touched internally, still as Mr Mazda screwed it together.
Its dríven daily and raced regulary [ caned unmercifully to be truthfull , the redline is not the dead line ] supercharged and intercooled 2 years ago and what oil Mobil 1 0W-40 full synthetic the diff and gearbox the same ,full syn.
I have become intrigued to see how long the engine lasts and am happy to keep pushing it to the limits and will add more and more external goodies to increase hp but will not rebuild the engine till it crys enough

forget the older oil for older cars the mx5 engine is a relatively modern design, and will preform much better and live longer on a full synthetic light weight engine oil
Agent Orange

Is it true, Mr. Orange, in your experience that oil seals and gaskets do not like going from regular to synthetic and visa versa?

Jules

i mostly use castrol edge 5w-30. at $50+ a bottle, they don't come cheap.

otherwise castrol magnatec 10w-40 will work fine.

The last few oil changes I've used Elf 5w40 fully synthetic. http://www.elfoil.com.au/products/produ ... m_GP_5W-40

When I changed over to the Elf from the Casrol Magnatec 10w40 semi synthetic the car felt a little more responsive and a bit happier in general. It seems to last better too, I used to change the magnatec every 5000-7500kms as it started to go off, you could feel and smell it. The Elf I just changed out after almost 10,000 kms still felt and smelt like it was pretty good, only just starting to get near its used by.

No i'll effects either, I did 3000kms in a week on a trip up to NSW and my then 230,000kms young na6 didn't use a drop of oil.