Service intervals / rattling
Discussion
I've been reliably informed that official Mk.1 service interval is 9k miles, although my mechanic strongly recommends 6k miles.
My car has started getting a bit rattly in the top end on occasion recently - it has been as quiet as a mouse since the HLAs were changed last July. I thought that it might need a service, but I see it's only done about 6000km since last July, which is only just over 4k miles!
Having said that, the oil on the dipstick looks pretty dark. Bearing in mind that earlier in its life it seemed to do without too many oil changes, and when I drive it it's either on a short local run or on a "balls out" thrash (and in both cases I exercise my right foot in the correct manner when warmed up) does it seem like it might be time for a service?
Strangely it was rattly as hell today when I was running on vapours looking for a petrol station. After refilling it was quiet again! I assume it must have been a coincidence as I'm not sure how the engine would know it was nearly running out of fuel!
As an aside, how optimistic are the fuel guages? Two tanks in a row I have had the needle below the "E" mark without running out. Oh for a fuel light!
My car has started getting a bit rattly in the top end on occasion recently - it has been as quiet as a mouse since the HLAs were changed last July. I thought that it might need a service, but I see it's only done about 6000km since last July, which is only just over 4k miles!
Having said that, the oil on the dipstick looks pretty dark. Bearing in mind that earlier in its life it seemed to do without too many oil changes, and when I drive it it's either on a short local run or on a "balls out" thrash (and in both cases I exercise my right foot in the correct manner when warmed up) does it seem like it might be time for a service?
Strangely it was rattly as hell today when I was running on vapours looking for a petrol station. After refilling it was quiet again! I assume it must have been a coincidence as I'm not sure how the engine would know it was nearly running out of fuel!
As an aside, how optimistic are the fuel guages? Two tanks in a row I have had the needle below the "E" mark without running out. Oh for a fuel light!
I think it's Halfords 0w40 fully synth.
Whilst I would agree that there's no point in changing the oil when it is still fresh, given that my car works hard (either short journeys round town or a proper thrashing) and the oil looks pretty dark, I would rather change the oil too often than be thrashing the engine with old oil in it.
I tried the various Wynns hydraulic lifter stuff when I had really bad HLA rattle and TBH it didn't seem to make any difference
6k mile changes on my Saab turbo as manufacturer recommended (Mobil 1) and it is still going strong after 165k miles!
Whilst I would agree that there's no point in changing the oil when it is still fresh, given that my car works hard (either short journeys round town or a proper thrashing) and the oil looks pretty dark, I would rather change the oil too often than be thrashing the engine with old oil in it.
I tried the various Wynns hydraulic lifter stuff when I had really bad HLA rattle and TBH it didn't seem to make any difference
6k mile changes on my Saab turbo as manufacturer recommended (Mobil 1) and it is still going strong after 165k miles!
Well nobody ever killed an engine by changing the oil too often 
I'll stick to 6k mile changes on my Saab turbo, it's an old engine and it's in the service schedule - plus it worked for that American chap who did 1 million miles in a c900
Didn't think there was much to choose between the fully synths - when I was trying to find an oil/grade/type that was "good" for MX5 HLA rattle everybody had a different recommendation - different grades, different brands, some swore semi synth was better than fully synth. I was lead to believe the Halfords stuff was OK, but maybe I'll try Mobil 1 on the next change.
I'll stick to 6k mile changes on my Saab turbo, it's an old engine and it's in the service schedule - plus it worked for that American chap who did 1 million miles in a c900 Didn't think there was much to choose between the fully synths - when I was trying to find an oil/grade/type that was "good" for MX5 HLA rattle everybody had a different recommendation - different grades, different brands, some swore semi synth was better than fully synth. I was lead to believe the Halfords stuff was OK, but maybe I'll try Mobil 1 on the next change.
Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff