# Mazda MX-5 Oil Change Interval

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-oil-change-interval/75477>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mazda\
**Created:** [November 12, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-oil-change-interval/75477 "2012-11-12T00:59:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![LBR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@LBR](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LBR)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-oil-change-interval/75477/1 "2012-11-12T00:59:38Z")

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I have a 2008 Mazda MX-5 which I drive very little. (It has 3,500 miles on the odometer.) I use synthetic oil. Since mileage is added very slowly, at what time interval should the oil be changed?

LBR

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**Author:** ![JosephEMeehan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@JosephEMeehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JosephEMeehan)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-oil-change-interval/75477/2 "2012-11-12T01:24:53Z")

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_what time interval should the oil be changed_

```
Look in your own's manual, do what it says there.
```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![LBR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@LBR](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LBR)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-oil-change-interval/75477/3 "2012-11-12T01:54:42Z")

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The manual says every 6 months but it makes no reference to the use of synthetic oil. Shouldn’t that make a difference?

LBR

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**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-oil-change-interval/75477/4 "2012-11-12T03:57:50Z")

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No, it doesn’t. If the owner’s manual says every 6 months or XX miles, you do whichever comes first. OTOH, you don’t have to use synthetic oil if the owner’s manual doesn’t say you have to. One more thing: if the dealer says something different from the owner’s manual, ignore the dealer. They just think of you as a profit center.

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**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-mx-5-oil-change-interval/75477/5 "2012-11-12T04:31:28Z")

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If the low miles are because you only drive it occasionally, you can extend the time interval to a year with no problems, but if the low miles are because you make short trips only but drive it every day, then follow the time interval.