2012 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK oil

Black plate (403,1)
The quality designation SM, or ILSAC
must be on the label.
80
60
40
20
0
–40 –20
30
120
100
5040
20
10
0
–10
–20
–30
–40
q
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 at least 5 minutes for the oil to return to the oil pan.
4. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and reinsert it fully.
SKYACTIV-G 2.0
Full
OK
Low
MZR 2.0 and MZR 2.5
Full OK
Low
Type A
Type B Full
OK
Low
MZR 2.3 DISI Turbo
Max
Min OK
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8BY7-EC-11F

Black plate (404,1)
5. Pull it out again and examine the level.The level is normal if it is between
Low or MIN and Full or MAX.
If it is near or below Low or MIN, add
enough oil to bring the level to Full or
MAX.
CAUTION
Do not add engine oil over Full or
MAX. This may cause engine
damage.
6. Make sure the O-ring on the dipstick is positioned properly before reinserting
the dipstick.
Engine Coolant
qInspecting Coolant Level
WARNING
Do not use a match or live flame in the
engine compartment. DO NOT ADD
COOLANT WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT:
A hot engine is dangerous. If the
engine has been running, parts of the
engine compartment can become
very hot. You could be burned.
Carefully inspect the engine coolant
in the coolant reservoir, but do not
open it.
Switch the ignition to off and
make sure the fan is not running before
attempting to work near the cooling
fan: Working near the cooling fan when it
is running is dangerous. The fan
could continue running indefinitely
even if the engine has stopped and
the engine compartment temperature
is high. You could be hit by the fan
and seriously injured.
Do not remove the cooling
system cap when the engine and
radiator are hot: When the engine and radiator are
hot, scalding coolant and steam may
shoot out under pressure and cause
serious injury.
NOTE
Changing the coolant should be done by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8BY7-EC-11F

Black plate (407,1)
qAdding Brake/Clutch Fluid
WARNING
Be careful not to spill brake fluid on
yourself or on the engine:
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.
If the brake/clutch fluid level is low,
have the brakes and clutch inspected: 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 the fluid level is low, add fluid until it
reaches MAX.
Before adding fluid, thoroughly clean the
area around the cap.
CAUTION
Ø Brake and clutch fluid will
damage painted surfaces. If brake
or clutch fluid does get on a
painted surface, wash it off with
water immediately.
Ø Using nonspecified brake and
clutch fluids (page 10-5) 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.
Power Steering Fluid
qInspecting Power Steering Fluid
Level
CAUTION
To avoid damage to the power
steering pump, don't operate the
vehicle for long periods when the
power steering fluid level is low.
NOTE
Use specified power steering fluid (page 10-5).
Inspect the fluid level in the reservoir at
each engine oil change with the engine off
and cold. Add fluid if necessary; it does
not require periodic changing.
The level must be kept between MIN and
MAX.
Visually examine the lines and hoses for
leaks and damage.
If new fluid is required frequently, consult
an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8BY7-EC-11F

Black plate (410,1)
Inspect fluid level in the washer fluid
reservoir; add fluid if necessary.
To inspect the washer fluid level in the
front reservoir, pull off the cap. Then,
holding your thumb over the hole in the
center of the cap, lift it straight up. The
fluid level can be seen from the fluid
column in the pipe. 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
Front and rear washer fluid is supplied from
the same reservoir.
Body Lubrication
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 hood's secondary latch
keeps the hood from opening when the
primary latch is released.
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Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Form No.8BY7-EC-11F

Black plate (427,1)
WARNING
Do not replace the xenon fusion bulbs
yourself:Replacing the xenon fusion bulbs
yourself is dangerous. Because the
xenon fusion bulbs require high
voltage, you could receive an electric
shock if the bulbs are handled
incorrectly. Consult an Authorized
Mazda Dealer when the replacement
is necessary.
Never touch the glass portion of a
halogen bulb with your bare hands and
always wear eye protection when
handling or working around the bulbs: When a halogen bulb breaks, it is
dangerous. These bulbs contain
pressurized gas. If one is broken, it
will explode and serious injuries
could be caused by the flying glass.
If the glass portion is touched with
bare hands, body oil could cause the
bulb to overheat and explode when
lit.
Always keep halogen bulbs out of the
reach of children: Playing with a halogen bulb is
dangerous. Serious injuries could be
caused by dropping a halogen bulb
or breaking it some other way.
qReplacing Exterior Light Bulbs
NOTElTo replace the bulb, contact an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
lIf the halogen bulb is accidentally touched,
it should be cleaned with rubbing alcohol
before being used.
lUse the protective cover and carton for the
replacement bulb to dispose of the old bulb
promptly and out of the reach of children.
Xenon fusion bulb/Adaptive front
lighting system
Replacing the headlight bulbs
(Low/High beam bulbs)
You cannot replace the low/high beam
bulbs by yourself. The bulbs must be
replaced at an expert repairer, we
recommend an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Parking lights (Except Canada)
1. Make sure the ignition is switched off
and the headlight switch is off.
2. Turn the socket and bulb assembly counterclockwise and remove it.
3. Disconnect the bulb from the socket.
4. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of the removal procedure.
Daytime running lights (Canada)
(Type A)
1. Make sure the ignition is switched off and the headlight switch is off.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Black plate (449,1)
2. Use a good grade of natural wax formetallic, mica, and solid colors.
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the sponge supplied or a soft cloth.
4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and similar
materials will usually also take off the wax.
Rewax these areas even if the rest of the
vehicle does not need it.
q Repairing Damage to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the finish
should be repaired promptly. Exposed
metal quickly rusts and can lead to major
repairs.
CAUTION
If your Mazda is damaged and needs
metal parts repaired or replaced,
make sure the body shop applies
anti-corrosion materials to all parts,
both repaired and new. This will
prevent them from rusting.
qBright-Metal Maintenance
lUse tar remover to remove road tar and
insects. Never do this with a knife or
similar tool.
lTo prevent corrosion on bright-metal
surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a high luster.
lDuring cold weather or in coastal areas,
cover bright-metal parts with a coating
of wax or preservative heavier than
usual. It would also help to coat them
with noncorrosive petroleum jelly or
some other protective compound.
CAUTION
Don't use steel wool, abrasive
cleaners, or strong detergents
containing highly alkaline or caustic
agents on chrome-plated or anodized
aluminum parts. This may result in
damage to the protective coating and
cause discoloration or paint
deterioration.
qUnderbody Maintenance
Road chemicals and salt used for ice and
snow removal and solvents used for dust
control may collect on the underbody. If
not removed, they will speed up rusting
and deterioration of such underbody parts
as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and exhaust
system, even though these parts may be
coated with anti-corrosive material.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and
wheel housings with lukewarm or cold
water at the end of each winter. Try also
to do this every month.
Pay special attention to these areas
because they easily hide mud and dirt. It
will do more harm than good to wet
down the road grime without removing
it.
The lower edges of doors, rocker panels,
and frame members have drain holes that
should not be clogged. Water trapped
there will cause rusting.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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Form No.8BY7-EC-11F

Black plate (450,1)
WARNING
Dry wet brakes by driving very slowly
and applying the brakes lightly until
brake performance is normal:Driving with wet brakes is
dangerous. Increased stopping
distance or the vehicle pulling to one
side when braking could result in a
serious accident. Light braking will
indicate whether the brakes have
been affected.
qAluminum Wheel Maintenanceí
A protective coating is provided over the
aluminum wheels. Special care is needed
to protect this coating.
CAUTION
Do not use any detergent other than
mild detergent. Before using any
detergent, verify the ingredients.
Otherwise, the product could discolor
or stain the aluminum wheels. NOTE
lDo not use a wire brush or any abrasive
cleaner, polishing compound, or solvent on
aluminum wheels. They may damage the
coating.
lAlways use a sponge or soft cloth to clean
the wheels.
Rinse the wheels thoroughly with lukewarm
or cold water. Also, be sure to clean the
wheels after driving on dusty or salted
roads to help prevent corrosion.
lAvoid washing your vehicle in an automatic
car wash that uses high-speed or hard
brushes.
lIf your aluminum wheels lose luster, wax
the wheels.
(With Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
Check special requirements for Tire Pressure
Monitoring System.
Refer to Tires and Wheels on page 5-35.
q Plastic Part Maintenance
lWhen cleaning the plastic lenses of the
lights, do not use gasoline, kerosene,
rectified spirit, paint, thinner, highly
acidic detergents, or strongly alkaline
detergents. Otherwise, these chemical
agents can discolor or damage the
surfaces resulting in a significant loss
in functionality. If plastic parts become
inadvertently exposed to any of these
chemical agents, flush with water
immediately.
lIf plastic parts such as the bumpers
become inadvertently exposed to
chemical agents or fluids such as
gasoline, oil, engine coolant, or battery
fluid, it could cause discoloration,
staining, or paint peeling. Wipe off any
such chemical agents or fluids using a
soft cloth immediately.
8-68
Maintenance and Care
íSome models.
Appearance Care
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Form No.8BY7-EC-11F

Black plate (451,1)
lHigh water temperature and high water
pressure car washers are available
depending on the type of high pressure
car washer device. If the car washer
nozzle is put too close to the vehicle or
aimed at one area for an extended
period of time, it could deform plastic
parts or damage the paint.
lDo not use wax containing compounds
(polish). Otherwise, it could result in
paint damage.
lIn addition, do not use an electrical or
air tool to apply wax. Otherwise, the
frictional heat generated could result in
deformation of plastic parts or paint
damage.
Interior Care
qDashboard Precautions
Prevent caustic solutions such as perfume
and cosmetic oils from contacting the
dashboard. They'll damage and discolor
the dashboard. If these solutions get on
the dashboard, wipe them off
immediately.
CAUTION
Do not use glazing agents.
Glazing agents contain ingredients
which may cause discoloration,
wrinkling, cracks and peeling.
Front passenger's side instrument panel
top (soft pad)
lExtremely soft material is used for the
soft pad surface. When cleaning, it is
recommended that you use a clean
towel dampened in a mild detergent to
remove soiling.
lIf the soft pad surface is rubbed
harshly, it could result in the surface
being damaged leaving white scratch
marks.
qCleaning the Upholstery and
Interior Trim
Vinyl
Remove dust and loose dirt from vinyl
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean vinyl with a leather-and-vinyl
cleaner.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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Form No.8BY7-EC-11F