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Hi all,
Being the noob that I am, had a few questions regarding a minor service;
• What engine oil? I have searched this topic and there are some conflicting answers. The car will not be tracked (not yet anyway), but will be dríven hard through the twisties on occasion. It will mostly be a cruiser though. And we’re going into the colder months. I was going to go with Castrol Edge 5w-30, but this is only recommended for subzero temperatures per the manual?
• What size/type oil filter? Should I stick with OEM at $19 (bit pricey at the local dealer….)
• I plan on buying two jacking stands…what is the safest/best way to jack it up with two?
• What type of spark plugs are required? Cant find anything in the manual.

• What engine oil? I have searched this topic and there are some conflicting answers.
You'll get a million different answers for this, I personally use 10w40, according to the manual it's good for pretty much all temperatuire ranges we see in Aust.

• What size/type oil filter? Should I stick with OEM at $19 (bit pricey at the local dealer….)
Any Supercheap/Autobarn/etc should have a range, Ryco are a good option at about $12 each I think, or there's "Drift" from autobarn that have a nut on the end to make removing it easier next time, I think they're about $5 more

• I plan on buying two jacking stands…what is the safest/best way to jack it up with two?
Should be in the manual, but I simply jack the car up and put them on the normal jacking points on the sills.
but, make sure the car is in gear, handbrake on firmly, and both rear wheels are chocked both ways.

• What type of spark plugs are required? Cant find anything in the manual.
What model do you have? NA and NB use different kinds of plug (I think it's something like BK5RE vs BK4RE or something)
I simply ask at the local shop, they search the parts book for the right ones (I use NGK) I think they're about $4 per plug.

edit:
http://www.ngkspark.com.au/sparkplug_vehicle_type.php

Thanks for that Kansei, very helpful.
Is Supercheap Auto the best place to buy parts? Or are there more competitive options?
What brand/type of 10w-40 do you use?

5w-30 Castrol Edge is not cheap! ($70 at Supercheap)

Most of the chains are about the same (Supercheap/Repco/Autobarn) when it comes to oils and filters.
I tend to shop at an independent guy down the road from me, but that's more convenience than anything (since it's just down the road)


I use Castrol Magnatec normally, it's about $35 a bottle I think?
But I've also used Elf Competition and Motul (generally when they've been on sale and the price difference has been about $2 a bottle)


Have a read of the oil threads, there is a wealth of information there regarding oil choice. Much of it from people more knowledgable than me (I'm not a mechanic or anything)

I do however have a rather cynical view that a lot of the carry on about only using X brand and only using expensive oil is more about bragging rights and placebo effects than the oil actually being better.
But that's just me

dont read the manual about what oils to use. the manual was written in the 80s if you have a NA. so the information is very out of date.

as said above, have a read through some of the recent oil threads. I know i posted up some good info about oils that is relevent in todays world.

wiztek wrote:My NB8A...

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=52025

Spark plug type should be in the owners handbook if you have one.

I found the spark plugs to use on the NGK website - thanks.
Cant decide on an oil choice. Went to Repco and the sales bloke was pretty staunch that i shouldn't use edge 5w-30 - told me it was too thin. Told me i should just use Magnatec. I always thought fully synthetics were much better?
Very confused here as i dont have any real car knowledge to make a intelligent decision here...need your help?!

It is not too thin for the engine. I just had a look at the Product Data Sheet for Edge 5W30:-

Density 854.8 kg/m3 (0.855 g/cm3) at 15°C
Viscosity Kinematic: 70.66 mm2/s (70.66 cSt) at 40°C
Kinematic: 12.02 mm2/s (12.02 cSt) at 100°C

Without going into too much detail and boring science mumbo jumbo, the oil ranges specified for you car when new was:-

Density = 0.850 to 0.860g/cm3 @ at 15°C
Viscosity Kinematic = 65 to 75 cSt at 40°C
Kinematic = 11.5 to 12.5 cSt at 100°C

So edge is bang on the spec required when the car when new. If it is showing some signs of wear, and using a little oil, I'd jump to 5W40.

Thanks, i read through your posts in other oil threads and have decided on 5w-40 Penrite. $24 cheaper than Edge so ill go with that for now. Cheers

Good decision.

I have come into some issues

Getting under the car for the first time, i’ve realised the oil sump drain bolt has been stripped, and is missing a washer. An old adjustable spanner/wrench won’t cut it so I will be buying a properly fitted 19mm spanner on the weekend.

Few issues; do I just brute force the bolt off with the new spanner? Its stripped, but not badly so should be able to come off…but it does feel like it’s been fitted very tight. Any tips around this?

Secondly, Mazda have quoted me $13 for a replacement sump plug which is a bit pricey imo. The service guy recommended I buy an aftermarket one. Do Supercheap stock these parts? Do I just ask for a 19mm bolt?

ebay has those cheap magnetic ones for less than $13.

with my bolt, i just put a close spanner on it and hit it with a hammer.

There's a few tricks you might want to try with stripped nuts.

Probably a good one would be if it is SERIOUSLY stripped, but a slightly smaller socket on there (you might have to go imperial) so it's TIGHT. Then bash it around with a hammer.

You can get stripped nut sockets, which are sockets designed with grooves that actually cut into the metal to get some grip. I have a set but it only goes up to 17mm... made by Irwin. You might want to ask at your Total Tools or equivalent for some suggestions.

If it still won't come off... the easiest way might actually be to drive the car down to any mechanic and get them to remove it, then replace with a new one so you can do it next time. :-) That's if you seriously can't get it off and really run out of patience!

Where are you located? If in Sydney ill pop by and help get it off.

Go with a magnetic plug, helps collect metal shavings the engine sump collects over time.

Stripped sump plug...

Use an angle grinder to cut 2 opposite sides straight..carefully. Now use a shifter on it.

Dann