2002 MAZDA MODEL 626 radiator

4-9
Before Driving Your Mazda
Driving Tips
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
•Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag
of sand or salt.
Ask a Mazda dealer to perform the
following precautions:
• Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
• Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold
reduces battery capacity.
• Use only cold-weather engine
oil (page 8-10).
• Inspect the ignition system for damage
and loose connections.
• Use washer fluid made with
antifreeze —but don ’t use engine
coolant antifreeze for washer
fluid (page 8-20).
• Don ’t use the parking brake if it might
freeze. Instead, shift to P with an
automatic transaxle and to 1 or R with
a manual transaxle. Block the rear
wheels.





Snow Tires
Your vehicle is originally equipped with
all season radials designed to be used all
year around. In some extreme climates
you may find it necessary to replace them
with snow tires during the winter months
to further improve traction on snow and
ice covered roads.
Use snow tires on all four wheels
Don ’t go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph).
Inflate snow tires 28 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm 2, 4
psi) more than recommended on the tire
pressure label (driver’ s door), but never
more than the maximum cold-tire
pressure shown on the tires.
Winter Driving
Mixing Tire Types:Using tires different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle ’s handling
could be greatly affected and result in
an accident. Use only the same size
and type tires (snow, radial, or non-
radial) on all four wheels.
Check local regulations before using
studded tires.
WARNING
CAUTION
J94S.book Page 9 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM

7-10
In Case of an Emergency
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Overheating
If the temperature gauge indicates
overheating, you experience power loss,
or you hear a loud knocking or pinging
noise, the engine is probably too hot.
If this happens:
1. Drive safely to the side of the road and park off the right-of-way.
2. Put a vehicle with an automatic transaxle in park (P), a manual
transaxle in neutral.
Apply the parking brake.
3. Turn off the air conditioner. 4. Check whether coolant or steam is
escaping from under the hood or from
the engine compartment.
If steam is coming from the engine
compartment: Don ’t go near the front
of the vehicle. Stop the engine. Then
turn the ignition switch to the ON
position without starting the engine.
The radiator cooling fans will start to
cool the engine.
If neither coolant nor steam is
escaping: Open the hood and idle the
engine until it cools. If this doesn ’t
lower the temperature, stop the engine
and let it cool.
5. Check the coolant level. If it’ s low, look for leaks in the radiator
hoses and connections, heater hoses
and connections, radiator, and water
pump.
If you find a leak or other damage, or if
coolant is still leaking, stop the engine
and call an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Overheating
Steam from Overheated Engine:Steam from an overheated engine is
dangerous. The escaping steam could
seriously burn you. Open the hood
ONLY after steam is no longer
escaping from the engine.
WARNING
Cooling system cap Engine coolant reservoir
2.0-liter engine
J94S.book Page 10 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM

7-11
In Case of an Emergency
Overheating
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
If you find no problems, the engine is
cool, and no leaks are obvious, carefully
add coolant as required (page 8-13).
Cooling System Caps:When the engine and radiator are
hot, scalding coolant and steam may
shoot out under pressure and cause
serious injury. Don’t remove either
cooling system cap when the engine
and radiator are hot.
If the engine continues to overheat or
frequently overheats, have the cooling
system inspected. The engine could be
seriously damaged unless repairs are
made.
Cooling system cap
Engine coolant reservoir2.5-liter engine
WARNING
CAUTION
J94S.book Page 11 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM

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

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

8-15
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

8-20
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Fully insert the dipstick. When adding
fluid, inspect with the dipstick to make
sure it doesn’t pass full.





Inspecting Washer Fluid Level
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.
NOTE
Inspect both sides of the dipstick for
accurate reading.
Wa s h e r F l u i d
Substitute Washer Fluid:Using radiator antifreeze as washer
fluid is dangerous. If sprayed on the
windshield, it will dirty the
windshield, affect your visibility, and
could result in an accident. Use only
windshield washer fluid or plain
water in the reservoir.
WARNING
J94S.book Page 20 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM