Is 0w-20 synthetic?

zmyride · 03-26-2011, 03:28 PM

My friend recently bought a new mazda3. the oil cap says 0w-20. time for an oil change.

so we went around and looked for this oil. all 0-20 that we saw are synthetic. i didn't see any conventional 0-20 oil.

the manual specifically indicates only 0w-20 can be used. 5w-20 cannot be used as a substitute.

so reading the oil forum on this website, most people recommend to go synthetic after at least 3-4K miles. my question is if mazda put synthetic oil from the get-go, wouldn't it be bad for the engine? i thought we're supposed to let the engine break in until at least 3-4K miles before we can go synthetic.

SPOHN · 03-26-2011, 03:40 PM

This needs to be in the other cars section.

davidyan · 03-27-2011, 03:57 AM

I'll bet its because they have to use synthetic base to achieve the 0W weight.

I wouldn't worry about using the synthetic- if there is no conventional available chances are it is already synthetic as a factory fill.

Red__Zed · 03-27-2011, 09:02 AM

You're fine to use synthetic right away.

03-26-2011, 03:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
zmyride Track Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 631 Drives: 10 Black Sports 7AT Rep Power: 16	Is 0w-20 synthetic? My friend recently bought a new mazda3. the oil cap says 0w-20. time for an oil change. so we went around and looked for this oil. all 0-20 that we saw are synthetic. i didn't see any conventional 0-20 oil. the manual specifically indicates only 0w-20 can be used. 5w-20 cannot be used as a substitute. so reading the oil forum on this website, most people recommend to go synthetic after at least 3-4K miles. my question is if mazda put synthetic oil from the get-go, wouldn't it be bad for the engine? i thought we're supposed to let the engine break in until at least 3-4K miles before we can go synthetic.

03-26-2011, 03:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	This needs to be in the other cars section. __________________

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03-27-2011, 03:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
davidyan Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: CA Posts: 244 Drives: PG 370Z Sport 6MT Rep Power: 15	I'll bet its because they have to use synthetic base to achieve the 0W weight. I wouldn't worry about using the synthetic- if there is no conventional available chances are it is already synthetic as a factory fill.

03-27-2011, 09:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 119	You're fine to use synthetic right away.