Page 185 of 250
8-9
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Engine Compartment Overview
2.0-liter engineAutomatic transaxle fluid-level
dipstick (only for automatic
transaxle)
Brake/Clutch fluid reservoir
Battery Fuse block
Engine coolant
reservoirAir filter
Cooling system cap Engine oil-filler cap
Power steering fluid
reservoir
Windshield washer
fluid reservoir Engine oil dipstick
2.5-liter engine
Air filter
Cooling system cap
Engine coolant reservoir
Power steering fluid
reservoir
Battery
Fuse block
Automatic transaxle fluid-level
dipstick (only for automatic
transaxle)
Brake/Clutch fluid reservoir
Engine oil-filler cap
Windshield washer
fluid reservoir Engine oil dipstick
J94S.book Page 9 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Page 186 of 250
8-10
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Recommended Oil
Oil container labels provide important
information.
The quality designation SG, SH, SJ, SL,
or ILSAC must be on the label.
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.
But high-temperature weather conditions
require higher-viscosity engine oils for
satisfactory lubrication. When choosing an oil, consider the
temperature range your vehicle will
operate in before the next oil change.
Then select the recommended viscosity
from this chart.
Energy conserving oils are recommended.
A chief contribution they make to fuel
economy is reducing the amount of fuel
necessary to overcome engine friction.
Engine Oil
SAEFORGASOLINEENGINES10W-30
(ILSAC)
–30 –20 –100 1020304050
–20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
5W-30
10W-30
Using oils of viscosity besides those
recommended for specific temperature
ranges could result in engine damage.
CAUTION
J94S.book Page 10 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Page 187 of 250
8-11
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Inspecting Engine Oil Level
1. Be sure the vehicle is on a level
surface.
2. Warm up the engine to normal operating temperature.
3. Turn it off and wait 5 minutes for the oil to return to the oil pan.
4. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and reinsert it fully.
5. Pull it out again and examine the level. It’s OK between L and F.
But if it’ s near at or below L, add
enough oil to bring the level to F. 6. Make sure the O-ring is positioned
properly before reinserting the
dipstick.
The distance between L and F on the
dipstick represents the following:
Changing Engine Oil and Filter
Change engine oil and filter according to
Scheduled Maintenance (page 8-3).
Please act responsibly —protect the
environment and take used oil to a
recycling facility. Ask your dealer or a
service station for information.
Full
Low OK
2.0-liter engine
2.5-liter engine
Full
LowOK
Don
’t add engine oil over F. This may
cause engine damage.
L (US qt, Imp qt) 1.0 (1.06, 0.88)
Handling Used Engine Oil:Continuous contact with used engine
oil is dangerous. It could cause skin
cancer. Always wash with soap and
water immediately after changing oil
and filter.
CAUTION
WARNING
J94S.book Page 11 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Page 188 of 250
8-12
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Changing engine oil
1. Warm up the engine for a few minutes and turn it off. Remove the oil-filler
cap.
2. Remove the drain plug and drain the oil into a suitable container. 3. Replace the plug tightly after the oil
has thoroughly drained.
4. Fill the engine with new oil to the F mark on the dipstick.
5. Securely replace the oil-filler cap.
6. Start the engine and inspect around the drain plug for leaks.
7. Turn it off and wait 5 minutes for the oil to return to the oil pan.
Check the oil level and fill to the F mark if
necessary.
Oil capacity (General reference only,
refer to Specifications section for
capacities.)
Changing oil filter
Because you need a special tool to
retighten the filter, an Authorized Mazda
Dealer should do the work.
Checking or Changing Engine Oil:Hot engine oil is dangerous. If the
engine has been running, the engine
oil becomes very hot. You could be
seriously burned. Don ’t check or
change the engine oil when the
engine is hot.
WARNING
2.0-liter engine
Loosen Tighten
Oil-filler cap
Drain plug
Oil-filler cap
Loosen Tighten
Drain plug
2.5-liter engine
NOTE
•
The indicated engine oil capacities
are for general reference purposes
only. When adding or changing oil,
verify the engine oil level with the
oil dipstick.
• Use only specified engine oil (page
10-4).
J94S.book Page 12 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Page 189 of 250
8-13
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Inspecting Coolant Level
Inspect the antifreeze protection and
coolant level in the coolant reservoir at
least once a year —at the beginning of the
winter season—and before traveling
where temperatures may drop below
freezing.
Inspect the condition and connections of
all cooling system and heater hoses.
Replace any that are swollen or
deteriorated.
The coolant should be at full in the
radiator and between the F and L marks
on the coolant reservoir when the engine
is cool. If it
’s at or near L, add enough coolant to
the coolant reservoir to provide freezing
and corrosion protection and to bring the
level to F.
Do not overfill.
If new coolant is required frequently,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Changing Coolant
Change coolant according to Scheduled
Maintenance (page 8-3).
Engine Coolant
Hot Engine:A hot engine is dangerous. If the
engine has been running, parts of the
engine compartment can become very
hot. You could be burned. Don ’t
inspect the coolant system or add
coolant when the engine is hot.
WARNING
2.0-liter engine
2.5-liter engine
Radiator coolant will damage paint.
Rinse it off quickly.
• Use only soft (demineralized) water
in the coolant mixture. Water that
contains minerals will cut down on
the coolant ’s effectiveness.
• Don ’t add only water. Always add a
proper coolant mixture.
• The engine has aluminum parts and
must be protected by an ethylene-
glycol-based coolant to prevent
corrosion and freezing.
• DO NOT USE alcohol or methanol
antifreeze. DO NOT MIX alcohol
or methanol with the coolant. This
could damage the cooling system.
• Don ’t use a solution that contains
more than 60 % antifreeze.
This would reduce effectiveness.
CAUTION
CAUTION
J94S.book Page 13 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
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8-14
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
For mixture percentage:
To change coolant1. Remove the cooling system cap.
2. Only when the engine is cool, loosen the radiator drain plug and drain the
coolant into a suitable container.
3. With the drain plug loose but not fully removed, flush out the system with
running water.
4. Drain the system completely and retighten the plug.
Protection Volume
Antifreeze solution Wa t e r
Above −16 °C
(3 °F) 35% 65%
Above −26 °C
( − 15 °F) 45 55
Above −40 °C
( − 40 °F) 55 45
Removing the Cooling System Cap:Removing the cooling system cap or
drain plug while the engine is
running or hot is dangerous. This
might lead to cooling system and
engine damage and could result in
serious injury from escaping hot
coolant or steam. Turn off the engine
and wait until it
’s cool. Even then, be
very careful when removing the cap
or drain plug. Wrap a thick cloth
around it and slowly turn it
counterclockwise to the first stop.
Step back while the pressure escapes.
When you ’re sure all the pressure is
gone, press down on the cap — still
using a cloth — turn the cap, and
remove it.
WARNING
2.0-liter engine Cooling system cap
Loosen
Tighten
Drain plug
Loosen
Tighten
LoosenTighten
Cooling system cap
Drain plug
2.5-
liter engine
Loosen Tighten
J94S.book Page 14 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
5. Fill the radiator (to the top of the filler neck) and then the coolant reservoir (to
F) with as much ethylene-glycol-based
coolant and water as necessary to
provide protection from freezing and
corrosion.
In extremely cold climates, add the
amount recommended by the coolant
manufacturer.
6. Reinstall the cooling system cap.
7. Run the engine at idle for about 10 minutes.
8. Then do this: •Run the engine at 2,500 rpm for
about 5 minutes.
• Increase the engine speed to 3,000
rpm for about 5 seconds and then
release the accelerator.
• Do this 4 or 5 times.
• Make sure the engine temperature
gauge does not reach the HOT zone.
After turning off the engine, inspect the
drain plug and the water hoses for leaks.
9. After the engine has cooled, remove the cooling system cap and inspect the
coolant level. If it ’s low, repeat steps 5
to 8.
Because this procedure requires technical
expertise, we recommend that it be done
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Inspecting Brake/Clutch Fluid
Level
The brakes and clutch draw fluid from the
same reservoir.
Inspect the fluid level in the reservoir
regularly. It should be kept at MAX.
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
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
NOTE
Mixing green coolant with orange
coolant could decrease the service life
expectancy of the coolant. Use only
genuine Mazda orange colored or
equivalent coolant.
Brake/Clutch Fluid
J94S.book Page 15 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
Page 192 of 250
8-16
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Adding Brake/Clutch Fluid
If the fluid level is low, add fluid until it
reaches MAX.
Before adding fluid, thoroughly clean the
area around the cap.
Spilled Brake Fluid:Spilled brake fluid is dangerous. If it
gets in your eyes, they could be
seriously injured. If this happens,
immediately flush your eyes with
water and get medical attention.
Brake fluid spilled on a hot engine
could cause a fire. Be careful not to
spill brake fluid on yourself or on the
engine.
Low Brake/Clutch Fluid Levels:
Low brake/clutch fluid levels are
dangerous. Low levels could signal
brake lining wear or a brake system
leak. Your brakes could fail and cause
an accident. If you find a low fluid
level, have the brakes and clutch
inspected.
WARNING• Brake and clutch fluid will damage
painted surfaces. If brake or clutch
fluid does get on a painted surface,
wipe it off immediately.
• Using nonspecified brake and clutch
fluids (page 10-4) will damage the
systems. Mixing different fluids
will also damage them.
If the brake/clutch system
frequently requires new fluid,
consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
CAUTION
J94S.book Page 16 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
