Are there any Mazda3 owners on PPOT?

[2porscheguy]

I just bought my son his first car. It's a 2005 Mazda3 with just over 77,000 Km. It runs quite well but I'll admit that we bought it without having a PPI done. It was a private sale. The previous owners had just had a baby and felt that the car was no longer large enough for their growing family.

The only issue I have with the car is the oil consumption. We've put on around 1500 Km and we've had to add almost 1L of oil. We are using a synthetic SAE 5W20 oil as recommended by Mazda Canada. I've logged on to some Mazda forums and this seems to be a common issue.

What has been your experience?

Cheers!

Alex

[Hugh R]

Wife has a 2011 Mazda 3, with about 30K on the clock, no oil issues.

[aigel]

Brad (Vipergruen) on the board and PPOT has one. With a spun bearing ...

Mazda3 - think I spun a bearing...

I had an MS3. No complaints aside from the torque steer.

G

[Vipergrün]

yeah, I had a 2005 Mazda 3 with 75,000 miles and sold it after getting the engine rebuilt after I spun a bearing.

I had switched to 5w20 synthetic on the prior oil change. I drove the car pretty hard. I was low on oil when I spun the bearing. Probably at least a quart low after 2500 miles and I had not checked. My fault. However, while researching the issue and hearing from other members here, it appears these engines are sensitive to oil level. i have also read about others changing grades of oil and not using synthetic.

What does this mean to you? Dunno..but I would consider a different weight and check the oil frequently. Being in a cold climate, I am not sure what your options are. Be diligent.

I purchased a new Mazdaspeed3 and love it.

[LeeH]

My wife put 130K on her 2004 Mazda3 S 5 speed before trading it. She drove it hard. I did all of the oil changes and it never used a drop.

[kaisen]

Synthetic is fantastic
5W is okay in winter, migrate to a 10W in Summer
Go to a -W30 in either, year round

That will slow your oil consumption and protect the bearings better

Also consider a high-detergent additive a hundred miles before an oil change

The oil consumption is a oil-vapor/condensation issue due to very tight PCV/EGR
The rings can gum up as well, typically from the EGR passing that oil vapor back into the combustion chamber

[Nostril Cheese]

I'd maybe consider using Rotella. I've have great results in the past using that oil on cars with EGR/oil consumption problems.

[Oracle]

My gf has a Mazda3 2007/2007 and the recommendations around the oil changes are brutal for any modern car..
I mean she has to bring the car in every 6000 kms or 6 months or Mazda will not honour the extended warranty.. Is pretty stupid IMO but I guess Mazda are nervous about the oil thing in their cars..

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by aigel

I had an MS3. No complaints aside from the torque steer.

G

I've seen several comments like this... Given I've never driven an MS3, but my corrado had pretty wicked torque steer, and I felt like it added to driving sensation of a FWD boosted car. Helped give it that raw feeling when you really gave it the beans. I never had it cause me any issue in ice/snow driving or when on the autocross track...

[Tobra]

I like my brother's car, despite the 2 pedal manumatic thing it has for a transmission. He has the hatchback one, 5 doors, plenty of pep with two sub-200lb guys in it. I think he burned up the brakes, but that is more on him than anything else. I tried to get him to come to one of Trek's auto cross things

no turbo

turbo

[aigel]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I've seen several comments like this... Given I've never driven an MS3, but my corrado had pretty wicked torque steer, and I felt like it added to driving sensation of a FWD boosted car. Helped give it that raw feeling when you really gave it the beans. I never had it cause me any issue in ice/snow driving or when on the autocross track...

263 hp / 280 ft-lb torque on my MS3. What did the Corrado have?
Quite the turbo lag on the MS3 too. I found it to be dangerous in canyons / uneven roads, accelerating out of turns. Sure, you can handle it, but it would have been so much better with AWD or RWD.

I liked the car for being a sleeper - grocery getter looking thing that was pretty darn potent when you stepped on it. Reported 0-60 was just over 5s.

G

[TGTIW]

Great handling cars, not too much power in the standard 3. If you're using oil and you can't find a leak, I would check the PCV valve. They are known for going and sucking a lot of oil through. If left long enough usually the #4 bearing goes first. The problem is that the valve is located under the intake manifold, so it's not easy to get to, but if you're handy with a wrench it's not difficult.

[2porscheguy]

Thanks to all who posted!

.....though it's been said....many times, many ways.....Merry Chr.....
Oh, yeah, Christmas is over!

Thanks guys....Pelicans are the best!

Alex