I changed my oil and filter out 2 days ago. I replaced the filter with a Purlator PL14612, the same as I've used before, and the oil, Castrol 0W-20. Everything went smoothly during the process, I torqued my drain plug after cleaning it, but I didn't know there's a washer that needs to be replaced. My oil filter was hand tightened and I ran my car, crawled back under it, and checked both the plug and the filter for leaks by running my finger around both edges where they're snug up against the body. With no signs of leaks, I got my car off the ramps, parked, and let him sit for a couple hours before running errands.
An amber oil can popped on shortly before getting home, I called my dad and had him check where I was parked (he has the garage I use since I live in an apartment) and he didn't find any oil or wet spots where I was parked or anywhere on the driveway. I got home, shut off my car and checked the dipstick 30 minutes later, engine was still hot so I didn’t trust the reading but saw there was plenty of oil on the dipstick. I drove down to my parents yesterday, the light popped on again about 10 minutes into the drive, I pulled over, shut off my car and waited 5 minutes. I turned the car back on, the light stayed off until about 20 minutes later when I was about 10 minutes from my parents. There’s no noise, chugging, clanking (that would be a massive issue), so I finished driving to where I was going, parked, and let him sit.
About 4 hours later, I checked the dipstick, the engine was cool but with some residual heat left, the dipstick showed about half between the max and minimum dots, again, didn’t trust the reading because of the heat but was happy to see there’s oil. Left for home, light popped on about 8 minutes down to road, stopped at a gas station to top off the tank and when I turned the car back on, the light was gone. Drove home, light stayed off for the entire drive.
I pulled the dipstick this morning and the level’s low, like right above the minimum dot. I’m not seeing wet spots or oil where I’m parked and I know I tightened both the seal (to torque spec) and the filter, and had my dad check both and tighten the filter more since he has better grip strength.
Do you know what I could’ve missed that is making my Mazda decide that oil is it’s favorite thing to purge? I didn't drive to work today just to stay on the safe side.
Monday, August 25th, 2025 AT 6:41 AM
