This section of the book will help the car enthusiast to keep the car in good condition, reduce fuel and oil consumption and extend the life of the car. This subsection provides a general plan for preventive maintenance of the vehicle, followed by subsections that describe maintenance operations in more detail. The drawings of the engine compartment and the bottom of the car body contained in the book allow you to get an idea of the location of the main elements. Carrying out maintenance in strict accordance with the plan given in the book will ensure a long and reliable service of the car.
When servicing a car, you will notice that some operations can be combined. For example, if you raised the car for any operation, you can check the elements of the exhaust system at the same time. Prepare carefully for maintenance. Read the description of the operation you are about to perform and purchase the necessary tools and spare parts. If you encounter a problem that you are unable to resolve on your own, contact the experts.
Regular maintenance will provide:
- good fuel efficiency;
- long service life of the car;
- enjoyment of driving;
- traffic safety;
- reliability;
- the possibility of using all the benefits of the guarantee;
- compliance with the requirements of the current legislation in terms of environmental protection.
Performing maintenance
If the instructions and appropriate safety precautions are not followed, vehicle maintenance is dangerous. Some operations carry a risk of serious injury. If you do not have sufficient knowledge and practical experience, or you do not have the necessary tools or equipment to carry out the work, have your car serviced by an authorized Mazda dealer.
Running engine
It is dangerous to work in the engine compartment if the engine is not turned off. The risk of injury is even higher if you wear jewelry or loose-fitting clothing. Jewelery, bulky or long pieces of clothing can get caught in rotating parts and cause injury. Therefore, if it is necessary to carry out work in the engine compartment with the engine running, be sure to remove all decorations (especially rings, bracelets, watches, chains), and a tie, scarf, or similar loose item of clothing, before approaching the engine or cooling fan directly, which may suddenly start and spin.
Engine oil viscosity affects fuel economy and engine performance at low temperatures (e.g. to start a cold engine). The use of a low-viscosity engine oil improves fuel economy and makes it easier to start the engine at low ambient temperatures. However, at high ambient temperatures, a more viscous engine oil is required to provide better lubrication conditions for engine parts.
When selecting engine oil viscosity, consider the prevailing ambient temperature range until the next oil change. Then determine the recommended engine oil viscosity using the charts above.
Note. Engine oil consumption is mainly due to the burning of the oil film on the cylinder walls, the combustion of oil that has entered the engine cylinders through the crankcase ventilation system, and evaporation losses. The natural consumption of engine oil for a serviceable engine is up to 0.8 liters per 1000 km of a car run. At the beginning of the operation of the car, when the engine parts are running in, the consumption of engine oil may exceed the specified value. Engine oil consumption depends on engine operating conditions (speed of rotation of the crankshaft and load), as well as driving style. With a dynamic high-speed driving style, when the engine is running in forced modes, engine oil consumption increases and may exceed the above value.