2004 MAZDA MODEL RX 8 oil filter

8-1
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
8Maintenance and Care
How to keep your Mazda in top condition.
Introduction
................................................................................... 8-2
Introduction ............................................................................... 8-2
Scheduled Maintenance
................................................................ 8-3
Scheduled Maintenance ............................................................. 8-3
Owner Maintenance
...................................................................... 8-6
Owner Maintenance Schedule ................................................... 8-6
Owner Maintenance Precautions ............................................... 8-7
Engine Compartment Overview ................................................ 8-8
Engine Oil .................................................................................. 8-9
Engine Coolant ........................................................................ 8-12
Brake/Clutch Fluid .................................................................. 8-14
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) ...................................... 8-15
Washer Fluid ............................................................................ 8-17
Body Lubrication ..................................................................... 8-18
Air Filter .................................................................................. 8-18
Wiper Blades ........................................................................... 8-19
Battery ..................................................................................... 8-21
Tires ......................................................................................... 8-23
Light Bulbs .............................................................................. 8-27
Fuses ........................................................................................ 8-33
Appearance Care
......................................................................... 8-39
How to Minimize Environmental Paint Damage ..................... 8-39
Exterior Care ........................................................................... 8-41
Interior Care ............................................................................ 8-44
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 1 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

8-4
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Schedule 1
I
: Inspect and repair, clean, adjust, or replace if necessary.
R
: Replace
L
: Lubricate
C
:Clean
ENGINE
AIR CLEANER
IGNITION SYSTEM
FUEL SYSTEM
COOLING SYSTEM
CHASSIS & BODY
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM
*1 According to state / provincial and federal regulations, failure to perform maintenance on these items will not
void your emissions warranties. However, Mazda recommends that all maintenance services be performed at
the recommended time or mileage / kilometer period to ensure long-term reliability.
*2 Check the tire repair fluid expiration date every year when performing the periodic maintenance. Replace the
tire repair fluid bottle with new one before the expiration date.
Maintenance Interval
(Number of months or kilometers
(miles), whichever comes first)Months 6 12182430364248
×1000 km 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
×1000 miles 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60
Engine oilRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filterRRRRRRRR
Drive beltII
Air filterCCRC
Spark plugsR
Fuel filterReplace every 160,000km (100,000miles)
Fuel lines, hoses and connections
*1II
Cooling systemII
Engine coolantR e p l a c e a t f i r s t 9 6 , 0 0 0 k m ( 6 0 , 0 0 0 m i l e s ) o r 4 8 m o n t h s ;
after that, every 24 months
Brake line, hoses and connectionII
Disk brakesIIII
Steering operation and linkagesII
Front and rear suspension and ball jointsII
Manual transmission oilR
Rear differential oilR
Driveshaft dust bootsII
Bolts and nut on seatsII
Exhaust system heat shieldsII
All locks and hingesLLLLLLLL
Flat tire repair kit
*2Inspect every year
Cabin air filter (If installed)Replace every 40,000km (25,000miles) or 24 months
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 4 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

8-5
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Schedule 2
I
: Inspect and repair, clean, adjust, or replace if necessary.
R
: Replace
L
:Lubricate
C
:Clean
ENGINE
AIR CLEANER
IGNITION SYSTEM
FUEL SYSTEM
COOLING SYSTEM
CHASSIS & BODY
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM
*1 According to state / provincial and federal regulations, failure to perform maintenance on these items will not
void your emissions warranties. However, Mazda recommends that all maintenance services be performed at
the recommended time or mileage / kilometer period to ensure long-term reliability.
*2 Check the tire repair fluid expiration date every year when performing the periodic maintenance. Replace the
tire repair fluid bottle with new one before the expiration date.
Maintenance Interval
(Number of months or kilometers
(miles), whichever comes first)Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48
×1000 km 8 1624324048566472808896
×1000 miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
Engine oilPuerto RicoReplace every 5,000km (3,000miles) or 3 months
OthersRRRRRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filterRRRRRRRRRRRR
Drive beltII
Air filterCCRC
Spark plugsR
Fuel filterReplace every 160,000km (100,000miles)
Fuel lines, hoses and connections
*1II
Cooling systemII
Engine coolantReplace at first 96,000km (60,000miles) or 48 months ;
after that, every 24 months
Brake line, hoses and connectionII
Brake fluidRR
Disk brakesIIII
Steering operation and linkagesII
Front and rear suspension and ball jointsII
Manual transmission oilRR
Rear differential oilRR
Driveshaft dust bootsII
Bolts and nut on seatsII
Exhaust system heat shieldsII
All locks and hingesLLLLLLLLLLLL
Flat tire repair kit
*2Inspect every year
Cabin air filter (If installed)Replace every 40,000km (25,000miles) or 24 months
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 5 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

8-6
Maintenance and Care
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
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 8-14)
•Engine coolant level (page 8-12)
•Engine oil level (page 8-10)
•Washer fluid level (page 8-17)

At Least Monthly
•Tire inflation pressures (page 8-23)

At Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
•Automatic transmission fluid level (page 8-15)
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 8-18)
•Engine coolant (page 8-12)
•Engine oil (page 8-10)
Owner Maintenance Schedule
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 6 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

8-8
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Engine Compartment Overview
Automatic transmission fluid-level dipstick
(only for automatic transmission)
Windshield washer
fluid reservoir
Fuse block
(next to air filter)
BatteryBrake/Clutch fluid
reservoir Engine oil dipstick Engine oil-filler cap
Air filter Engine coolant reservoir Cooling system cap
Fuse block
(near battery)
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 8 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

8-10
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C


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 or below L, add enough
oil to bring the level to F.
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
Don’t add engine oil over F. This may
cause engine damage.
L (US qt, Imp qt) 1.7 (1.8, 1.5)
Full
Low OK
CAUTION
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.
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
WARNING
08.fm Page 10 Friday, July 4, 2003 11:45 AM

8-11
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
1. Remove the engine cover.
2. Warm up the engine for a few minutes
and turn it off. Remove the oil-filler
cap.
3. Remove the drain plug and drain the oil
into a suitable container.
4. Replace the plug tightly after the oil
has thoroughly drained.
5. Fill the engine with new oil to the F
mark on the dipstick.
6. Securely replace the oil-filler cap.
7. Start the engine and inspect around the
drain plug for leaks.8. 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.
Engine cover
LoosenTighten
Front
Drain Plug
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
10-5).
•Verify that the engine cover is
securely installed.
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 11 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM

8-18
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
All moving points of the body, such as
door and hood hinges and locks, should
be lubricated each time the engine oil is
changed. Use a nonfreezing lubricant on
locks during cold weather.
Make sure the engine hood’s secondary
latch keeps the hood from opening when
the primary latch is released.This air filter may be cleaned with
compressed air and reused, or replaced,
depending on its condition. Unless it is
very dirty, simply shake it to remove
foreign particles. Each time you inspect it,
wipe inside the air cleaner housing with a
damp cloth.

Replacing the Air Filter
1. Make sure the ignition switch is turned
off.
2. Disconnect the electrical connector.
Body LubricationAir Filter
Don’t drive without an air filter. This
could result in excessive engine wear.
NOTE
If the vehicle is operated in very dusty
or sandy areas, replace the filter more
often than recommended intervals.
CAUTION
Electrical
connector
J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition2.book Page 18 Saturday, April 26, 2003 1:48 PM