Page 342 of 452
Black plate (342,1)
(Cont.)Maintenance Interval Number of months or kilometers, whichever comes first
Months 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60 63 66 69 72
×1000 km 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120
ENGINE
Drive belts II
Engine valve clearance Audibly inspect every 120,000 km, if noisy, adjust
Engine oil RRRRRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filter RRRRRRRRRRRR
COOLING SYSTEM
Cooling system II
Engine coolant FL22 type
*1Replace at first 190,000 km or 10 years; after that, every
60,000 km or 3 years
Others R R
Engine coolant level IIIIIIIIIIII
FUEL SYSTEM
Air filter CRCRCR
Fuel lines and hoses I
*2I
Hoses and tubes for emission I*2I
Fuel filter R R
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs Replace every 60,000 km
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Function of all lights IIIIIIIIIIII
8-14
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page342
Friday, August 31 2012 1:46 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F
Page 344 of 452
Black plate (344,1)
Owner Maintenance Schedule
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.
qWhen Refueling
lBrake and clutch fluid level (page 8-24)lEngine coolant level (page 8-22)lEngine oil level (page 8-21)lWasher fluid level (page 8-25)
qAt Least Monthly
Tire inflation pressures (page 8-32)
qAt Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
lPower steering fluid level (page 8-25)
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.
lEngine coolant (page 8-22)lEngine oil (page 8-20)
8-16
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page344
Friday, August 31 2012 1:46 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F
Page 347 of 452
Black plate (347,1)
Engine Compartment Overview
Engine oil dipstick
Engine oil filler cap Brake fluid reservoir / Clutch
fluid reservoir
Washer fluid reservoir Cooling system capBattery
Engine coolant reservoir Power steering fluid cap
Air filter
Fuse block
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-19
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page347
Friday, August 31 2012 1:46 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F
Page 348 of 452

Black plate (348,1)
Engine Oil
NOTE
Changing the engine oil should be performed
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Refer to Introduction (page 8-2) for owner's
responsibility in protecting your investment.
qRecommended Oil
U.S.A. and CANADA
0W-20 full synthetic recommended:
Mazda Genuine Oil is used in your Mazda
vehicle and is the recommended 0W-20
lubricant. Mazda Genuine 0W-20 Oil is
required to achieve optimum fuel
economy.
Recommended viscosity: SAE 0W-20
For maintenance service, Mazda
recommends Mazda Genuine Parts and
Castrol
®(U.S.A. only).
(ILSAC)
Only use SAE 0W-20 oil with the
American Petroleum Institute (API)
symbol and ILSAC GF-4/GF-5.
Oil with this trademark symbol conforms
to the current engine and emission system
protection standards and fuel economy
requirements of the International
Lubricant Standardization and Approval
Committee (ILSAC), comprised of U.S.
and Japanese automobile manufacturers.
80
60
40
20
0
–40 –20
30
120
100
5040
20
10
0
–10
–20
–30
–40
Except U.S.A. and CANADA
Use SAE 5W-20 engine oil.
Oil container labels provide important
information.
A chief contribution this type of oil makes
to fuel economy is reducing the amount of
fuel necessary to overcome engine
friction.
For maintenance service, Mazda
recommends Mazda Genuine Parts and
Castrol
®(Mexico only).
8-20
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page348
Friday, August 31 2012 1:46 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F
Page 349 of 452

Black plate (349,1)
(ILSAC)
(Mexico)
Use SAE 5W-20 engine oil. If SAE 5W-
20 engine oil is not available, use SAE
5W-30 engine oil.
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.
Full
OK
Low
Type A
Full
OK
Low
Type B
5. Pull it out again and examine the level.The level is normal if it is between
Low and Full.
If it is near or below Low, add enough
oil to bring the level to Full.
CAUTION
Do not add engine oil over Full. This
may cause engine damage.
6. Make sure the O-ring on the dipstick is positioned properly before reinserting
the dipstick.
The distance between Low and Full on the
dipstick represents the following:
Oil capacity
L (US qt, Imp qt) 0.75 (0.79, 0.66)
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-21
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page349
Friday, August 31 2012 1:46 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F
Page 353 of 452

Black plate (353,1)
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 10-4).
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.
Washer Fluid
q Inspecting Washer Fluid Level
WARNING
Use only windshield washer fluid or
plain water in the reservoir:
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.
Using Washer Fluid Without Anti-freeze
Protection in Cold Weather: Operating your vehicle in
temperatures below 4 degrees C (40
degrees F) using washer fluid without
anti-freeze protection is dangerous
as it could cause impaired windshield
vision and result in an accident. In
cold weather, always use washer
fluid with anti-freeze protection.
NOTE
State or local regulations may restrict the use
of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which
are commonly used as anti-freeze agents in
washer fluid. A washer fluid with limited VOC
content should be used only if it provides
adequate freeze resistance for all regions and
climates in which the vehicle will be operated.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
8-25
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page353
Friday, August 31 2012 1:46 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F
Page 354 of 452
Black plate (354,1)
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.
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.
8-26
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page354
Friday, August 31 2012 1:46 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F
Page 387 of 452

Black plate (387,1)
Thoroughly rinse with lukewarm or cold
water. Don't allow soap to dry on the
finish.
Waxing
Wax the hardtop when water no longer
beads on the paint. Always wash and dry
it before waxing.
CAUTION
ØWiping off dust or dirt with a dry
cloth will scratch the finish.
Ø Don't use abrasive wax. This may
damage the protective coating and
discolor or deteriorate the paint.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and similar
materials will usually also take off the wax.
Rewax these areas.
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.
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.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
8-59
MX-5_8CM3-EA-12F_Edition2 Page387
Friday, August 31 2012 1:46 PM
Form No.8CM3-EA-12F