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Mazda3 Engine Issues

94 messages,  Last post on Apr 30, 2013 at 2:41 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mazda MAZDA3, Engine, Hatchback

    

Messages Page 10 of 10

#85 of 94 Re: 2007 Mazda 3 stalling [jami829] by adamwestlaw

Jun 20, 2012 (7:43 am)

Replying to: jami829 (Feb 04, 2008 8:37 am)
Hi, I have a Mazda 3 with 70K miles and in the last month it stalled 2X - once on the interstate when my pregnant wife was driving and then 2 days ago in a parking garage.
 
- No engine code, but all the lights turned on during the stall.
 
Did you find out the problem? The dealership mentioned water in gas but that does not make a lot of sense to me. it starts up immediately after the stall.

#86 of 94 2004-2007 2.3 Engine burns oil.... by bmpskier

Jul 05, 2012 (9:38 am)

I recently purchased a 2005 Mazda 3 with 110,000km on it. It was clean and well taken car of inside and out. It was maintained regularly by the first Owner at the dealership per the Mazda Service Schedule. All service records came with the car. I had it checked out before I bought it and did a thorough self maintenance check on everything at about 110,800km.
 
At 112,300km I noticed an engine noise that led me to believe it could be a sticky valve or lifter so I immediately checked the oil. It was down 3 quarts (this in the less than 1500km I had driven since I performed the self check) with not a drop of oil under the engine or any smoke from the exhaust.
 
After a visit to the dealership I found out that running it so low on oil threw a bearing in the crankshaft and as a consequence I am now in the process of replacing the engine.
 
After speaking with the service manager I discovered that the 2.3 engines are known to suddenly start burning oil without any warning or evidence, as much as 1 litre every 500km. Searching through numerous on-line forums I confirmed that it's a prevalent issue with an abnormally high percentage of these cars, some having experienced the problem as early as 80,000K. The apparent cause is a collapsed oil seal inside the engine and the only solution to address the oil consumption, according to the service dept (outside of an outright engine replacement as it's too costly to fix) is to change to heavier oil. This will slow the rate of consumption but it won't stop it. The 2.0 and 2.5 engines do not seem to have this problem.
 
Mazda Corp apparently knows about this (the service department I deal with told me that numerous delerships across the country have brought it forward to them) but fails to recognize there is an issue. What puzzled me most is that when looking into the cost of a replacement engine, the Mazda factory rebuilt engine was only warranted for 1 year or 20,000K when all their other engines are warranted similar to what would be provided on a new car power train.
 
I am not laying blame on anyone anyone but myself for my predicament. Had I checked the oil every fill-up, as is recommended, I would have a car that burns oil but would not have had to replace the engine; however, IMHO, any vehicle made in the last 10 years with less than 200K on the odometer, and maintained regularly, should not be burning oil at all, let alone at the rate I and many other owners have experienced.
 
Heads up to all owners with Mazda 2.3L engines.

#87 of 94 Re: 2004-2007 2.3 Engine burns oil.... [bmpskier] by matsuda3

Aug 07, 2012 (5:47 pm)

Replying to: bmpskier (Jul 05, 2012 9:38 am)
excuse me bmpskier
what did you do with your engine issue? I have just purchased a mazda 3 with 80K and now it is using oil .. one spark plug is black - oily all others normal. thanks

#88 of 94 Re: 2004-2007 2.3 Engine burns oil.... [bmpskier] by autonomous

Aug 08, 2012 (9:50 am)

Replying to: bmpskier (Jul 05, 2012 9:38 am)
2005 Mazda 3 with 110,000km ... It was maintained regularly by the first Owner at the dealership per the Mazda Service Schedule. All service records came with the car. I had it checked out before I bought it and did a thorough self maintenance check on everything
So, there was no documentation of the oil burning issue in the last 7 years? Did you contact Mazda head office?

#89 of 94 Re: 2004-2007 2.3 Engine burns oil.... [autonomous] by roadburner

Aug 08, 2012 (9:32 pm)

Replying to: autonomous (Aug 08, 2012 9:50 am)
Another one and done. Can you say guerrilla marketing?

#90 of 94 Re: 2004-2007 2.3 Engine burns oil.... [autonomous] by matsuda3

Aug 09, 2012 (2:32 pm)

Replying to: autonomous (Aug 08, 2012 9:50 am)
Mazda head office told me contact the dealer. The dealer said no recalls on that and my engine will need to be replaced and just keep adding oil.

#91 of 94 Re: 2004-2007 2.3 Engine burns oil.... [matsuda3] by bmpskier

Nov 16, 2012 (2:22 pm)

Replying to: matsuda3 (Aug 07, 2012 5:47 pm)
I ended up replacing the factory engine with a complete re-manufactured engine from a reputable company. it came with a 3 year 80,000KM warrantee. NOTE that it was not an OEM re-manufacturer directly from Mazda as this option was quite a bit more money and only came with a 20,000km/1 year warrantee ( Mazda not providing an original warrantee on their own engine is a little disconcerting).
 
Oddly enough the new re-manufactuered engine also burns oil, about 0.75L every 1500km although now that I am aware of the issue I check the oil more frequently (every fill up).
 
Generally I love the car and the way it handles; however, as I stated previously burning this amount of oil in an engine should not be happening with cars designed and constructed in the last 10 years. Being as Mazda apparently does not acknowledge this issue as being design flaw and flips the onus of responsibility onto the Owner, I doubt I will ever buy from Mazda again.

#92 of 94 Re: 2004-2007 2.3 Engine burns oil.... [bmpskier] by roadburner

Nov 21, 2012 (9:33 am)

Replying to: bmpskier (Nov 16, 2012 2:22 pm)
I don't think it's an issue with the 2.3; I'd say that the PO of your car and the quality of the rebuild have more to do with your engine's oil consumption.

#93 of 94 Car won't Start by wickedhuge

Apr 10, 2013 (7:37 am)

I have a 2004 Mazda 3. Yesterday I had my car running and forgot something inside so I turned it off and ran in real quick. When I came back out the car wouldn't start. The battery is fine. when I turn the key I hear a click and kind of a hiss for a second. Any insight would be appreciated. thanks

#94 of 94 Re: 2004-2007 2.3 Engine burns oil.... [bmpskier] by edbe

Apr 30, 2013 (2:41 pm)

Replying to: bmpskier (Nov 16, 2012 2:22 pm)
I had an 05 with under 60K miles and the engine blew on it because of the oil issue. Got the car new and retired it 7 years later with a blown motor, of course Mazda wont take ownership of the issue. I spent $20K + for a new car that lasted 7 years WTF!!!
 
Cost to replace the motor was insane even from corner mechanics that do engine swaps. Interior materials were were not great, the car didnt hold on the interior either, the cloth material on the drivers side door was peeling off. The paint on the car was super thin too, I had scratches on the car that were down to the primer that should have never happened.
 
That was my first and last Mazda.

Messages Page 10 of 10

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