MAZDA MODEL 6 2009 Owners Manual (in English)
Page 341 of 464
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Towing Description
We recommend that towing be done only
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a
commercial tow-truck service.
Proper lifting and towing are necessary to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.
A towed vehicle usually should have its
drive wheels (front wheels) off the
ground. If excessive damage or other
conditions prevent this, use wheel dollies.
Wheel dollies
When towing with the rear wheels on the
ground, release the parking brake.
CAUTION
Do not tow the vehicle pointed
backward with driving wheels on the
ground. This may cause internal
damage to the transaxle.
CAUTION
Do not tow with sling-type
equipment. This could damage your
vehicle. Use wheel-lift or flatbed
equipment.
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
7-17
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Recreational Towing
An example of“recreational towing ”is
towing your vehicle behind a motorhome.
The transaxle is not designed for towing
this vehicle on all 4 wheels.
When doing recreational towing refer to
“ Towing Description ”(page 7-17) and
carefully follow the instructions.
7-18
In Case of an Emergency
Emergency Towing
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8Maintenance and Care
How to keep your Mazda in top condition.
Introduction .................................................................................. 8-2Introduction ............................................................................... 8-2
Scheduled Maintenance ................................................................ 8-3 Scheduled Maintenance (USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico) ....... 8-3
Scheduled Maintenance (Mexico) ............................................. 8-8
Owner Maintenance ................................................................... 8-15 Owner Maintenance Schedule ................................................ 8-15
Owner Maintenance Precautions ............................................. 8-16
Engine Compartment Overview .............................................. 8-18
Engine Oil ............................................................................... 8-19
Engine Coolant ....................................................................... 8-21
Brake/Clutch Fluid .................................................................. 8-22
Power Steering Fluid ............................................................... 8-23
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (ATF) ........................................... 8-24
Washer Fluid ........................................................................... 8-27
Body Lubrication .................................................................... 8-28
Wiper Blades ........................................................................... 8-28
Battery ..................................................................................... 8-31
Tires ........................................................................................ 8-32
Light Bulbs ............................................................................. 8-37
Fuses ....................................................................................... 8-46
Appearance Care ........................................................................ 8-52 How to Minimize Environmental Paint Damage .................... 8-52
Exterior Care ........................................................................... 8-54
Interior Care ............................................................................ 8-57
8-1
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Introduction
Be extremely careful and prevent injury to yourself and others or damage to your vehicle
when using this manual for inspection and maintenance.
If you're unsure about any procedure it describes, we strongly urge you to have a reliable
and qualified service shop perform the work, preferably an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Factory-trained Mazda technicians and genuine Mazda parts are best for your vehicle.
Without this expertise and the parts that have been designed and made especially for your
Mazda, inadequate, incomplete, and insufficient servicing may result in problems. This
could lead to vehicle damage or an accident and injuries.
For expert advice and quality service, consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
The owner should retain evidence that proper maintenance has been performed as
prescribed.
Claims against the warranty resulting from lack of maintenance, as opposed to defective
materials or authorized Mazda workmanship, will not be honored.
Any auto repair shop using parts equivalent to your Mazda's original equipment may
perform maintenance.But we recommend that it always be done by an Authorized
Mazda Dealer using genuine Mazda parts.
8-2
Maintenance and Care
Introduction
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Scheduled Maintenance (USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico)
Follow Schedule 1 if the vehicle is operated mainly where none of the following conditions
apply.
lRepeated short-distance drivinglDriving in dusty conditionslDriving with extended use of brakeslDriving in areas where salt or other corrosive materials are usedlDriving on rough or muddy roadslExtended periods of idling or low-speed operationlDriving for long periods in cold temperatures or extremely humid climateslDriving in extremely hot conditionslDriving in mountainous conditions continually
If any do apply, follow Schedule 2 (Canada and Puerto Rico residents follow Schedule 2).
NOTE
After the prescribed period, continue to follow the described maintenance at the recommended
intervals.
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
8-3
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qSchedule 1
Maintenance Interval Number of months or kilometers (miles), whichever comes first
Months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
×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
Engine valve clearance (for 2.5-liter engine) Audibly inspect every 120,000 km (75,000 miles),
if noisy, adjust
Drive belts 2.5-liter engine
I
3.7-liter engine Inspect every 168,000 km (105,000 miles)
Replace every 240,000 km (150,000 miles)
Engine oil RRRRRRRR
Engine oil filter RRRRRRRR
COOLING SYSTEM
Engine coolant FL22 type
*1Replace at first 192,000 km (120,000 miles) or 10 years; after
that, every 96,000 km (60,000 miles) or 5 years
Others Replace at first 96,000 km (60,000 miles) or 4 years; after that,
every 2 years
FUEL SYSTEM
Air filter 2.5-liter engine
R
3.7-liter engine CR C
Fuel lines and hoses
*2II
Hoses and tubes for emission*2I
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs 2.5-liter engine Replace every 120,000 km (75,000 miles)
3.7-liter engine Replace every 160,000 km (100,000 miles)
CHASSIS and BODY
Brake lines, hoses and connections II
Disc brakes IIII
Tire (Rotation) Rotate every 12,000 km (7,500 miles)
Steering operation and linkages II
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and wheel
bearing axial play II
Driveshaft dust boots II
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body TT
Exhaust system and heat shields Inspect every 72,000 km (45,000 miles) or 5 years
All locks and hinges LLLLLLLL
8-4
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
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Maintenance IntervalNumber of months or kilometers (miles), whichever comes first
Months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
×1000 km 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
×1000 miles 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM
Cabin air filter Replace every 40,000 km (25,000 miles) or 2 years
Chart symbols:
I:Inspect: Inspect and clean, repair, adjust, fill up, or replace if necessary.
R: Replace
C: Clean
L: Lubricate
T: Tighten
Remarks:
*1 Use FL22 type coolant in vehicles with the inscription “FL22 ”on the radiator cap itself or the surrounding
area. Use FL22 when replacing the coolant.
*2 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.
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
8-5
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qSchedule 2
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 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96
×1000 miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
ENGINE
Engine valve clearance (for 2.5-liter engine) Audibly inspect every 120,000 km (75,000 miles), if noisy,
adjust
Drive belts 2.5-liter engine
I
3.7-liter engine Inspect every 160,000 km (100,000 miles)
Replace every 240,000 km (150,000 miles)
Engine oil Puerto Rico Replace every 5,000 km (3,000 miles) or 3 months
Others
RRRRRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filter RRRRRRRRRRRR
COOLING SYSTEM
Engine coolant FL22 type
*1Replace at first 192,000 km (120,000 miles) or 10 years ;after
that, every 96,000 km (60,000 miles) or 5 years
Others Replace at first 96,000 km (60,000 miles) or 4 years; after that,
every 2 years
Engine coolant level IIIIIIIIIIII
FUEL SYSTEM
Air filter (for 2.5-liter engine) Puerto Rico R R
Others R
Air filter (for 3.7-liter engine) Puerto Rico
CRCR
Others C R C
Fuel lines and hoses
*2II
Hoses and tubes for emission*2I
IGNITION SYSTEM
Spark plugs (for 2.5-liter engine) USA Replace every 96,000 km (60,000 miles)
Others
*3Replace every 120,000 km (75,000 miles)
Spark plugs (for 3.7-liter engine) USA
Replace every 96,000 km (60,000 miles)
Others
*3Replace every 160,000 km (100,000 miles)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Function of all lights IIIIIIIIIIII
8-6
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
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Maintenance IntervalNumber of months or kilometers (miles), whichever comes first
Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48
×1000 km 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96
×1000 miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
CHASSIS and BODY
Brake lines, hoses and connections II
Brake fluid level IIIIIIIIIIII
Disc brakes IIII
Tire (Rotation) Rotate every 8,000 km (5,000 miles)
Tire inflation pressure and tire wear IIIIIIIIIIII
Steering operation and linkages II
Power steering fluid level IIIIIIIIIIII
Front and rear suspension, ball joints and wheel
bearing axial play II
Driveshaft dust boots II
Bolts and nuts on chassis and body TT
Exhaust system and heat shields Inspect every 72,000 km (45,000 miles) or 5 years
All locks and hinges LLLLLLLLLLLL
Washer fluid level IIIIIIIIIIII
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM
Cabin air filter Replace every 40,000 km (25,000 miles) or 2 years
Chart symbols:
I:Inspect: Inspect and clean, repair, adjust, fill up, or replace if necessary.
R: Replace
C: Clean
L: Lubricate
T: Tighten
Remarks:
*1 Use FL22 type coolant in vehicles with the inscription “FL22 ”on the radiator cap itself or the surrounding
area. Use FL22 when replacing the coolant.
*2 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.
*3 If the vehicle is operated primarily under any of the following conditions, replace the spark plugs at every
96,000 km (60,000 miles) or shorter.
a) Repeated short-distance driving
b) Extended periods of idling or low-speed operation
c) Driving for long periods in cold temperatures or extremely humid climates
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
8-7
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Scheduled Maintenance (Mexico)
Follow Schedule 1 if the vehicle is operated mainly where none of the following conditions
apply.
lRepeated short-distance drivinglDriving in dusty conditionslDriving with extended use of brakeslDriving in areas where salt or other corrosive materials are usedlDriving on rough or muddy roadslExtended periods of idling or low-speed operationlDriving for long periods in cold temperatures or extremely humid climateslDriving in extremely hot conditionslDriving in mountainous conditions continually
If any do apply, follow Schedule 2.
NOTE
After the prescribed period, continue to follow the described maintenance at the recommended
intervals.
8-8
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
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