3–22
Before Driving
Fuel and Emission
Fuel and Engine Exhaust Precautions
Fuel Requirements
Vehicles with catalytic converters or oxygen sensors must use ONLY UNLEADED FUEL,
which will reduce exhaust emissions and keep spark plug fouling to a minimum.
This vehicle will perform best with fuel listed in the table.
Fuel Octane Rating * (Anti-knock index)
Regular unleaded fuel
87 [(R
M)/2 method] or above (91 RON or above)
* U.S. federal law requires that octane ratings be posted on gasoline station pumps.
Fuel with a rating lower than 87 octane (91 RON) could cause the emission control system
to lose effectiveness. It could also cause engine knocking and serious engine damage.
CAUTION
¾ USE ONLY UNLEADED FUEL.
Leaded fuel is harmful to the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors and will lead to
deterioration of the emission control system and or failures.
¾ This vehicle can only use oxygenated fuels containing no more than 10 % ethanol by
volume. Damage to the vehicle may occur when ethanol exceeds this recommendation, or
if the gasoline contains any methanol. Stop using gasohol of any kind if your vehicle engine
is performing poorly.
¾ Never add fuel system additives, otherwise the emission control system could be damaged.
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer for details.
Gasoline blended with oxygenates such as alcohol or ether compounds are generally
referred to as oxygenated fuels. The common gasoline blend that can be used with your
vehicle is ethanol blended at no more than 10 %. Gasoline containing alcohol, such as
ethanol or methanol, may be marketed under the name "Gasohol".
Vehicle damage and drivability problems resulting from the use of the following may not be
covered by the warranty.
y Gasohol containing more than 10 % ethanol.
y Gasoline or gasohol containing methanol.
y Leaded fuel or leaded gasohol.
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3–23
Before Driving
Fuel and Emission
Emission Control System
This vehicle is equipped with an emission control system (the catalytic converter is
part of this system) that enables the vehicle to comply with existing exhaust emissions
requirements.
WARNING
Never park over or near anything fl ammable:
Parking over or near anything fl ammable, such as dry grass, is dangerous. Even with the
engine turned off , the exhaust system remains very hot after normal use and could ignite
anything fl ammable. A resulting fi re could cause serious injury or death.
CAUTION
Ignoring the following precautions could cause lead to accumulate on the catalyst inside
the converter or cause the converter to get very hot. Either condition will damage the
converter and cause poor performance.
¾ USE ONLY UNLEADED FUEL.
¾ Do not drive your Mazda with any sign of engine malfunction.
¾ Do not coast with the ignition switched off .
¾ Do not descend steep grades in gear with the ignition switched off .
¾ Do not operate the engine at high idle for more than 2 minutes.
¾ Do not tamper with the emission control system. All inspections and adjustments
must be made by a qualifi ed technician.
¾ Do not push-start or pull-start your vehicle.
NOTE
y Under U.S. federal law, any modifi cation to the original-equipment emission control
system before the fi rst sale and registration of a vehicle is subject to penalties. In some
states, such modifi cation made on a used vehicle is also subject to penalties.
y While the engine is off, the sound of a valve opening and closing can be heard at the rear
of the vehicle, however this does not indicate an abnormality. The vehicle has a self-
checking device and it operates while the engine is off.
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