2002 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA engine

8-8
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
I: Inspect: Inspect and clean, repair, adjust, or replace if necessary.
(Oil-permeated air filter cannot be cleaned using the air-blow method.)
R : Replace
T: Tighten
L : Lubricate
*1: Also inspect and adjust the power steering and air conditioner drive belts, if installed.
*2: Replacement of the timing belt is required at every 100,000 km {60,000 miles}. Failure to replace the timing belt may result in damage to the engine.
*3: If the vehicle is operated under any of the following conditions, change the engine oil and oil filter more often than recommended intervals.
a) Driving in dusty conditions.
b) Extended periods of idling or low speed operation.
c) Driving for long period in cold temperatures or driving regularly at short distance only.
*4: If the vehicle is operated in very dusty or sandy areas, inspect and if necessary, clean or replace the air filter more often than the recommended intervals.
*5: If the brakes are used extensively (for example, continuous hard driving or mountain driving)
or if the vehicle is operated in extremely humid climates, change the brake fluid annually.
*6: This is a full function check of electrical systems such as lights, wiper and washer systems (including wiper blades), and power windows.
Maintenance
Interval
Maintenance
Item Number of months or kilometers (miles), whichever comes first
Months 6 121824 30 36 42485460667278849096
× 1000 Km 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160
(× 1000 Miles) (6) (12) (18) (24) (30) (36) (42) (48) (54) (60) (66) (72) (78) (84) (90) (96)
Engine valve clearance Inspect every 100,000 km (60,000 miles) or 60 months
Drive belts
*1IIII I I IIIIIIIIII
Engine timing belt*2Replace every 100,000 km (60,000 miles)
Engine oil*3RRRR R R RRRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filter*3RRRR R R RRRRRRRRRR
Cooling system II I IIIII
Engine coolant Replace every 2 years
Idle speed II I IIIII
Air filter
*4IR I RIRIR
Fuel filter R RRR
Fuel lines and hoses II I IIIII
Spark plugs R R RRR
Evaporative system II I IIIII
E.G.R. system II I IIIII
All electrical system
*6 II I IIIII
Head light alignment I I III
Brake pedals and clutch pedals IIII I I IIIIIIIIII
Brake lines, hoses and
connections II I IIIII
Clutch fluid IIII I I IIIIIIIIII
Brake fluid
*5I I IR I I IRI I IRI I IR
Parking brake IIII I I IIIIIIIIII
Power brake unit and hoses II I IIIII
Disc brakes IIII I I IIIIIIIIII
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8-10
Maintenance and Care
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Owner Maintenance
The owner or a qualified service technician should make these vehicle inspections at the
indicated intervals to ensure safe and dependable operation.
Bring any problem to the attention of an Authorized Mazda Dealer or qualified service
technician as soon as possible.

When Refueling
• Brake and clutch fluid level (page 8-17)
• Engine coolant level (page 8-15)
• Engine oil level (page 8-13)
• Washer fluid level (page 8-22)


At Least Monthly
• Tire inflation pressures (page 8-28)


At Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
• Automatic transmission fluid level (page 8-20)
• Power steering fluid level (page 8-19)
You can do the following scheduled maintenance items if you have some mechanical
ability and a few basic tools and if you closely follow the directions in this manual.
• Air filter (page 8-23)
• Engine coolant (page 8-15)
• Engine oil (page 8-14)
Owner Maintenance Schedule
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8-11
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Improper or incomplete service may result in problems. This section gives instructions
only for items easy to perform.
As explained in the Introduction (page 8-2), several procedure can be done only by a
qualified service technician with special tools.
Improper owner maintenance during the warranty period may affect warranty coverage.
For details, read the separate Mazda Warranty statement provided with the vehicle. If
you’re unsure about any servicing or maintenance procedure, have it done by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Owner Maintenance Precautions
Maintenance Procedures:
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle is dangerous if not done properly. You can
be seriously injured while performing some maintenance procedure. If you lack
sufficient knowledge and experience or the proper tools and equipment to do the
work, have it done by a qualified technician.
Running the Engine:
Working under the hood with the engine running is dangerous. It becomes even more
dangerous when you wear jewelry or loose clothing.
Either can become entangled in moving parts and result in injury.
Therefore, if you must run the engine while working under the hood, make certain
that you remove all jewelry (especially rings, bracelets, watches, and necklaces) and
all neckties, scarves, and similar loose clothing before getting near the engine or
cooling fan.
Electrical Fan and Engine Inspection:
Inspecting the engine with the ignition switch in the ON position is dangerous. The
cooling fan could come on unexpectedly even when the engine isn’ t running. You
could be seriously injured by the fan. Turn the ignition switch off and remove the key
from the ignition switch when you inspect the engine.
WARNING
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8-12
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
Engine Compartment Overview
Fuse blockEngine oil-filler cap Cooling system cap Power steering fluid filler cap/dipstick Air filterClutch fluid reservoir
(Only for manual
transmission model)
Automatic transmission fluid-level dipstick
(Only for automatic transmission model)
Engine oil dipstickBrake fluid reservoir
Washer fluid reservoir
(TypeA)
The battery is in the trunk
ngine coolant
eservoir Washer fluid reservoir (TypeB)
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8-13
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F

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.


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.
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
Full
Low OK
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8-14
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
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. 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.
Don
’t add engine oil over F. This may
cause engine damage.
L (US qt, Imp qt) 0.8 (0.85, 0.70)
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
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
Tighten
Loosen
Drain plug
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8-15
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
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.

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 FULL and LOW
marks on the coolant reservoir when the
engine is cool.
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).
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
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8-16
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8Q42-EA-01F
If it’s at or near LOW, add enough coolant
to the coolant reservoir to provide
freezing and corrosion protection and to
bring the level to FULL.
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). For mixture percentage:
To change coolant
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
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
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