Routine Service
We highly recommend that these items be inspected daily, or at least every week.
Engine Oil Level (Search)
Engine Coolant Level (Search)
Brake and clutch Fluid Level (Search)
Washer Fluid Level (Search)
Battery Maintenance (Search)
Tyre Inflation Pressure (Search)
Improper or incomplete service may result in problems. This section gives instructions only for items that are easy to perform.
As explained in the Introduction (Search), several procedures can be done only by a qualified service technician with special tools.
Improper do-it yourself maintenance during the warranty period may affect warranty coverage. For details, read the separate Mazda Warranty statement provided with the vehicle. If you are unsure about any servicing or maintenance procedure, have it done by an expert repairer, we recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer.
There are strict environmental laws regarding the disposal of waste oil and fluids. Please dispose of your waste properly and with due regard to the environment.
We recommend that you entrust the oil and fluid changes of your vehicle to an Authorised Mazda Repairer.
Do not perform maintenance work if you lack sufficient knowledge and experience or the proper tools and equipment to do the work. Have maintenance work done by a qualified technician:
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle is dangerous if not done properly. You can be seriously injured while performing some maintenance procedures.
If you must run the engine while working under the bonnet, make certain that you remove all jewellery (especially rings, bracelets, watches, and necklaces) and all neckties, scarves, and similar loose clothing before getting near the engine or cooling fan which may turn on unexpectedly:
Working under the bonnet with the engine running is dangerous. It becomes even more dangerous when you wear jewellery or loose clothing.
Either can become entangled in moving parts and result in injury.
Pull over to a safe location, then switch the ignition off and make sure the fan is not running before attempting to work near the cooling fan:
Working near the cooling fan when it is running is dangerous. The fan could continue running indefinitely even if the engine has stopped and the engine compartment temperature is high. You could be hit by the fan and seriously injured.
Do not leave items in the engine compartment:
After you have finished checking or doing servicing in the engine compartment, do not forget and leave items such as tools or rags in the engine compartment.
Tools or other items left in the engine compartment could cause engine damage or a fire leading to an unexpected accident.
Always check that the bonnet is closed and securely locked:
A bonnet that is not closed and securely locked is dangerous as it could fly open while the vehicle is moving and block the driver's vision which could result in a serious accident.
With the vehicle parked, pull the release handle to unlock the bonnet.
Insert your hand into the bonnet opening, slide the latch lever to the right, and lift up the bonnet.
Grasp the support rod in the padded area and secure it in the support rod hole indicated by the arrow to hold the bonnet open.
Check under the bonnet area to make certain all filler caps are in place and all loose items (e.g. tools, oil containers, etc.) have been removed.
Lift the bonnet, grasp the padded area on the support rod, and secure the support rod in the clip. Verify that the support rod is secured in the clip before closing the bonnet.
Lower the bonnet slowly to a height of about 20 cm (7.9 in) above its closed position and then let it drop.
When closing the bonnet, do not push it excessively such as by applying your weight. Otherwise, the bonnet could be deformed.
Changing the engine oil should be done by an expert repairer, we recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer.
In order to follow the maintenance interval (Search) and to protect the engine from damage caused by poor lubrication, it is vitally important to make use of engine oil with the correct specification. Do not use oils which do not meet the specification and requirements listed. Use of unsuitable oil may lead to engine damage which is not covered by the Mazda Warranty.
Engine oil viscosity, or thickness, has an effect on fuel economy and cold-weather operation (starting and oil flow).
Low-viscosity engine oils can provide improved fuel economy and cold-weather performance.
Use ILSAC GF-III/GF-IV/GF-V, or API service SL or higher.
When choosing an oil, consider the temperature range your vehicle will operate in before the next oil change.
Then select the recommended viscosity from the chart.
Using oils of viscosity besides those recommended for specific temperature ranges could result in engine damage.
New Zealand
Mazda recommends using Mazda Motor Oil which has been specifically designed and tested to meet the stringent Mazda Engineering Standards (MES) for your Mazda. To ensure engine longevity is not compromised particularly under the harsh climatic conditions existing in New Zealand, we only recommend using genuine Mazda engine oil which is available throughout the Mazda Repairer network.
If Mazda Motor Oil is not selected for use, always use an engine oil meeting the specifications.
It is normal for all engines to consume engine oil under normal driving conditions.
Engine oil consumption may be as high as 0.8 L/1,000 km (1 L/800 miles). This may be as a result of evaporation, internal ventilation or burning of the lubricating oil in the working engine. Oil consumption may be higher when the engine is new due to the running-in process. Oil consumption is also dependant on engine speed and engine load. Under extreme driving conditions, oil consumption may be higher.
Be sure the vehicle is on a level surface.
Warm up the engine to normal operating temperature.
Turn it off and wait at least 5 minutes for the oil to return to the sump.
Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and reinsert it fully.
Pull it out again and examine the level.
The level is normal if it is between the MIN and MAX marks.
If it is near or below MIN, add enough oil to bring the level to MAX.
Do not overfill the engine oil. This may cause engine damage.
Make sure the O-ring on the dipstick is positioned properly before reinserting the dipstick.
Reinsert the dipstick fully.
If the brake/clutch fluid level is low, have the brakes inspected:
A low brake/clutch fluid level is dangerous.
A low level could indicate brake lining wear or a brake system leak which could cause the brakes to fail and lead to an accident.
The brakes and clutch draw fluid from the same reservoir.
Inspect the fluid level in the reservoir regularly. It should be kept between the MAX and MIN lines.
The level normally drops with accumulated distance, a condition associated with wear of brake and clutch linings. If it is excessively low, have the brake/clutch system inspected by an expert repairer, we recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer.
Use only windscreen washer fluid or plain water in the reservoir:
Using radiator antifreeze as washer fluid is dangerous. If sprayed on the windscreen, it will dirty the windscreen, affect your visibility, and could result in an accident.
Inspect fluid level in the washer fluid reservoir; add fluid if necessary.
Use plain water if washer fluid is unavailable.
But use only washer fluid in cold weather to prevent it from freezing.
Front and rear washer fluid is supplied from the same reservoir.
When the wipers no longer clean well, the blades are probably worn or cracked.
Replace them.
To prevent damage to the wiper arms and other components, do not try to sweep the wiper arm by hand.
When raising both windscreen wiper arms, raise the driver's side wiper arm first. When lowering the wiper arms, slowly lower the wiper arm from the passenger's side first while supporting it with your hand. Forcefully lowering the wiper arms could damage the wiper arm and blade, and may scratch or crack the windscreen.
Raise the wiper arm and turn the blade assembly to expose the plastic locking clip.
Compress the clip and slide the assembly downward; then lift it off the arm.
To prevent damage to the windscreen let the wiper arm down easily, do not let it slap down on the windscreen.
Hold the end of the rubber and pull until the tabs are free of the metal support.
Remove the metal stiffeners from each blade rubber and install them in the new blade.
Do not bend or discard the stiffeners. You need to use them again.
If the metal stiffeners are switched, the blade's wiping efficiency could be reduced.
So do not use the driver's side metal stiffeners on the passenger's side, or vice versa.
Be sure to reinstall the metal stiffeners in the new blade rubber so that the curve is the same as it was in the old blade rubber.
Carefully insert the new blade rubber.
Then install the blade assembly in the reverse order of removal.
Install the blade so that the tabs are toward the bottom of the wiper arm.
When the wiper no longer cleans well, the blade is probably worn or cracked.
Replace it.
To prevent damage to the wiper arm and other components, do not move the wiper by hand.
Raise the wiper arm and rotate the wiper blade to the right until it unlocks, then remove the blade.
To prevent damage to the rear window, do not let the wiper arm fall on it.
Pull down the blade rubber and slide it out of the blade holder.
Remove the metal stiffeners from the blade rubber and install them in the new blade.
Do not bend or discard the stiffeners. You need to use them again.
Carefully insert the new blade rubber.
Then install the blade assembly in the reverse order of removal.
For reasons of proper performance, safety, and better fuel economy, always maintain recommended tyre inflation pressures and stay within the recommended load limits and weight distribution.
Using Different Tyre Types:
Driving your vehicle with different types of tyres is dangerous. It could cause poor handling and poor braking; leading to loss of control.
Except for the limited use of the temporary spare tyre, use only the same type tyres (radial, bias-belted, bias-type) on all four wheels.
Using Wrong-Sized Tyres:
Using any other tyre size than what is specified for the vehicle (Search) is dangerous. It could seriously affect ride, handling, ground clearance, tyre clearance, and speedometer calibration. This could cause you to have an accident. Use only tyres that are the correct size specified for the vehicle.
Always inflate the tyres to the correct pressure:
Overinflation or underinflation of tyres is dangerous. Adverse handling or unexpected tyre failure could result in a serious accident.
Refer to Tyres (Search).
Use only a Mazda-genuine tyre valve cap:
Use of a non-genuine part is dangerous as the correct tyre air pressure cannot be maintained if the tyre valve becomes damaged. If the vehicle is driven under this condition, the tyre air pressure will decrease which could result in a serious accident. Do not use any part for the tyre valve cap that is not a Mazda-genuine part.
Inspect all tyre pressures monthly (including the spare) when the tyres are cold. Maintain recommended pressures for the best ride, handling, and minimum tyre wear.
Refer to the specification charts (Search).
Always check tyre pressure when tyres are cold.
Warm tyres normally exceed recommended pressures. Do not release air from warm tyres to adjust the pressure.
Underinflation can cause reduced fuel economy, uneven and accelerated tyre wear, and poor sealing of the tyre bead, which will deform the wheel and cause separation of tyre from rim.
Overinflation can produce a harsh ride, uneven and accelerated tyre wear, and a greater possibility of damage from road hazards.
Keep your tyre pressure at the correct levels. If one frequently needs inflating, have it inspected.
Rotate tyres periodically:
Irregular tyre wear is dangerous. To equalize tread wear for maintaining good performance in handling and braking, rotate the tyres every 10,000 km (6,250 miles), or sooner if irregular wear develops.
During rotation, inspect them for correct balance.
Also, inspect them for uneven wear and damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused by one or a combination of the following:
Incorrect tyre pressure
Improper wheel alignment
Out-of-balance wheel
Severe braking
After rotation, inflate all tyre pressures to specification (Search) and inspect the wheel nuts for tightness.
Rotate unidirectional tyres and radial tyres that have an asymmetrical tread pattern or studs only from front to rear, not from side to side. Tyre performance will be reduced if rotated from side to side.
Always use tyres that are in good condition:
Driving with worn tyres is dangerous. Reduced braking, steering, and traction could result in an accident.
Replace all four tyres at the same time:
Replacing just one tyre is dangerous. It could cause poor handling and poor braking resulting in loss of vehicle control. Mazda strongly recommends that you replace all four tyres at the same time.
If a tyre wears evenly, a wear indicator will appear as a solid band across the tread.
Replace the tyre when this happens.
You should replace the tyre before the band crosses the entire tread.
Inspect the temporary spare tyre at least monthly to make sure it is properly inflated and stored.
The temporary spare tyre condition gradually deteriorates even if it has not been used.
The temporary spare tyre is easier to handle because of its construction which is lighter and smaller than a conventional tyre. This tyre should be used only for an emergency and only for a short distance.
Use the temporary spare tyre only until the conventional tyre is repaired, which should be as soon as possible.
Refer to Tyre (Search).
Do not use your temporary spare tyre rim with a snow tyre or a conventional tyre. Neither will properly fit and could damage both tyre and rim.
The temporary spare tyre has a tread life of less than 5,000 km (3,000 miles). The tread life may be shorter depending on driving conditions.
The temporary spare tyre is for limited use, however, if the tread wear solid-band indicator appears, replace the tyre with the same type of temporary spare (Search).
Always use wheels of the correct size on your vehicle:
Using a wrong-sized wheel is dangerous. Braking and handling could be affected, leading to loss of control and an accident.