engine MAZDA MODEL RX 8 2004 (in English) Repair Manual

8-4
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Schedule 1
I
: Inspect and repair, clean, adjust, or replace if necessary.
R
: Replace
L
: Lubricate
C
:Clean
ENGINE
AIR CLEANER
IGNITION SYSTEM
FUEL SYSTEM
COOLING SYSTEM
CHASSIS & BODY
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM
*1 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.
*2 Check the tire repair fluid expiration date every year when performing the periodic maintenance. Replace the
tire repair fluid bottle with new one before the expiration date.
Maintenance Interval
(Number of months or kilometers
(miles), whichever comes first)Months 6 12182430364248
×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 oilRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filterRRRRRRRR
Drive beltII
Air filterCCRC
Spark plugsR
Fuel filterReplace every 160,000km (100,000miles)
Fuel lines, hoses and connections
*1II
Cooling systemII
Engine coolantR e p l a c e a t f i r s t 9 6 , 0 0 0 k m ( 6 0 , 0 0 0 m i l e s ) o r 4 8 m o n t h s ;
after that, every 24 months
Brake line, hoses and connectionII
Disk brakesIIII
Steering operation and linkagesII
Front and rear suspension and ball jointsII
Manual transmission oilR
Rear differential oilR
Driveshaft dust bootsII
Bolts and nut on seatsII
Exhaust system heat shieldsII
All locks and hingesLLLLLLLL
Flat tire repair kit
*2Inspect every year
Cabin air filter (If installed)Replace every 40,000km (25,000miles) or 24 months
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8-5
Maintenance and Care
Scheduled Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Schedule 2
I
: Inspect and repair, clean, adjust, or replace if necessary.
R
: Replace
L
:Lubricate
C
:Clean
ENGINE
AIR CLEANER
IGNITION SYSTEM
FUEL SYSTEM
COOLING SYSTEM
CHASSIS & BODY
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM
*1 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.
*2 Check the tire repair fluid expiration date every year when performing the periodic maintenance. Replace the
tire repair fluid bottle with new one before the expiration date.
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 1624324048566472808896
×1000 miles 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
Engine oilPuerto RicoReplace every 5,000km (3,000miles) or 3 months
OthersRRRRRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filterRRRRRRRRRRRR
Drive beltII
Air filterCCRC
Spark plugsR
Fuel filterReplace every 160,000km (100,000miles)
Fuel lines, hoses and connections
*1II
Cooling systemII
Engine coolantReplace at first 96,000km (60,000miles) or 48 months ;
after that, every 24 months
Brake line, hoses and connectionII
Brake fluidRR
Disk brakesIIII
Steering operation and linkagesII
Front and rear suspension and ball jointsII
Manual transmission oilRR
Rear differential oilRR
Driveshaft dust bootsII
Bolts and nut on seatsII
Exhaust system heat shieldsII
All locks and hingesLLLLLLLLLLLL
Flat tire repair kit
*2Inspect every year
Cabin air filter (If installed)Replace every 40,000km (25,000miles) or 24 months
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8-6
Maintenance and Care
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Owner Maintenance
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.

When Refueling
•Brake and clutch fluid level (page 8-14)
•Engine coolant level (page 8-12)
•Engine oil level (page 8-10)
•Washer fluid level (page 8-17)

At Least Monthly
•Tire inflation pressures (page 8-23)

At Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
•Automatic transmission fluid level (page 8-15)
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.
•Air filter (page 8-18)
•Engine coolant (page 8-12)
•Engine oil (page 8-10)
Owner Maintenance Schedule
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8-7
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Improper or incomplete service may result in problems. This section gives instructions
only for items that are easy to perform.
As explained in the Introduction (page 8-2), several procedure can be done only by a
qualified service technician with special tools.
Improper owner maintenance during the warranty period may affect warranty coverage.
For details, read the separate Mazda Warranty statement provided with the vehicle. If
you’re unsure about any servicing or maintenance procedure, have it done by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.
There are strict environmental laws regarding the disposal of waste oil and fluids. Please
dispose of your waste properly and with due regard to the environment.
We recommend that you entrust the oil and fluid changes of your vehicle to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Owner Maintenance Precautions
Maintenance Procedures:
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle is dangerous if not done properly. You can
be seriously injured while performing some maintenance procedures. If you lack
sufficient knowledge and experience or the proper tools and equipment to do the
work, have it done by a qualified technician.
Running the Engine:
Working under the hood with the engine running is dangerous. It becomes even more
dangerous when you wear jewelry or loose clothing.
Either can become entangled in moving parts and result in injury.
Therefore, if you must run the engine while working under the hood, make certain
that you remove all jewelry (especially rings, bracelets, watches, and necklaces) and
all neckties, scarves, and similar loose clothing before getting near the engine or
cooling fan which may turn on unexpectedly.
Electrical Fan and Engine Inspection:
Working near the electrical cooling fan when it is running is dangerous. You could be
hit by the fan and seriously injured. Turn off the ignition switch and make sure the
fan is not running before attempting to work near the electrical cooling fan.
NOTE
Once the engine coolant exceeds a preset temperature, an electrical cooling fan turns on.
It will continue running for about 10 minutes after the ignition switch is turned to off.
WARNING
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8-8
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
Engine Compartment Overview
Automatic transmission fluid-level dipstick
(only for automatic transmission)
Windshield washer
fluid reservoir
Fuse block
(next to air filter)
BatteryBrake/Clutch fluid
reservoir Engine oil dipstick Engine oil-filler cap
Air filter Engine coolant reservoir Cooling system cap
Fuse block
(near battery)
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8-9
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Recommended Oil
Oil container labels provide important
information.
The quality designation SL
or ILSAC

must be on the label.Engine oil viscosity, or thickness, has an
effect on fuel economy and cold-weather
operation (starting and oil flow).
Low-viscosity engine oils can provide
improved fuel economy and cold-weather
performance.
But high-temperature weather conditions
require higher-viscosity engine oils for
satisfactory lubrication.
When choosing an oil, consider the
temperature range your vehicle will
operate in before the next oil change.
Then select the recommended viscosity
from this chart.
Energy conserving oils are recommended.
A chief contribution they make to fuel
economy is reducing the amount of fuel
necessary to overcome engine friction.
Engine Oil
NOTE
The Mazda RX-8 requires regular
inspection of the engine oil level. The
compact, high performance RENESIS
rotary engine in your vehicle consumes
a small amount of engine oil due to its
structural design.
Although your vehicle is equipped
with an engine oil level warning light
and an engine oil pressure gauge, it is
best to keep the engine oil level in the
range between full and low by
checking the oil dipstick regularly.
Inspect the level when refueling.
FORGASOLINEENGINES
(ILSAC)
Using oils of viscosity besides those
recommended for specific temperature
ranges could result in engine damage.
–30–20–100 1020304050
–20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
5W-20
CAUTION
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8-10
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C


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 5 minutes for the
oil to return to the oil pan.
4. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and
reinsert it fully.
5. Pull it out again and examine the level.
It’s OK between L and F.
But if it’s near or below L, add enough
oil to bring the level to F.
The distance between L and F on the
dipstick represents the following:


Changing Engine Oil and Filter
Change engine oil and filter according to
Scheduled Maintenance (page 8-3).
Please act responsibly—protect the
environment and take used oil to a
recycling facility. Ask your dealer or a
service station for information.
Changing engine oil
Don’t add engine oil over F. This may
cause engine damage.
L (US qt, Imp qt) 1.7 (1.8, 1.5)
Full
Low OK
CAUTION
Handling Used Engine Oil:
Continuous contact with used engine
oil is dangerous. It could cause skin
cancer. Always wash with soap and
water immediately after changing oil
and filter.
Checking or Changing Engine Oil:
Hot engine oil is dangerous. If the
engine has been running, the engine
oil becomes very hot. You could be
seriously burned. Don’t check or
change the engine oil when the
engine is hot.
WARNING
WARNING
08.fm Page 10 Friday, July 4, 2003 11:45 AM

8-11
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C
1. Remove the engine cover.
2. Warm up the engine for a few minutes
and turn it off. Remove the oil-filler
cap.
3. Remove the drain plug and drain the oil
into a suitable container.
4. Replace the plug tightly after the oil
has thoroughly drained.
5. Fill the engine with new oil to the F
mark on the dipstick.
6. Securely replace the oil-filler cap.
7. Start the engine and inspect around the
drain plug for leaks.8. Turn it off and wait 5 minutes for the
oil to return to the oil pan.
Check the oil level and fill to the F mark if
necessary.
Oil capacity (General reference only,
refer to Specifications section for
capacities.)

Changing oil filter
Because you need a special tool to
retighten the filter, an Authorized Mazda
Dealer should do the work.
Engine cover
LoosenTighten
Front
Drain Plug
NOTE
•The indicated engine oil capacities
are for general reference purposes
only. When adding or changing oil,
verify the engine oil level with the
oil dipstick.
•Use only specified engine oil (page
10-5).
•Verify that the engine cover is
securely installed.
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8-12
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Inspecting Coolant Level
Inspect the antifreeze protection and
coolant level in the coolant reservoir at
least once a year—at the beginning of the
winter season—and before traveling
where temperatures may drop below
freezing.
Inspect the condition and connections of
all cooling system and heater hoses.
Replace any that are swollen or
deteriorated.
The coolant should be at full in the
radiator and between the F and L marks
on the coolant reservoir when the engine
is cool.
If it’s at or near L, add enough coolant to
the coolant reservoir to provide freezing
and corrosion protection and to bring the
level to F.
Do not overfill.

If new coolant is required frequently,
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.Engine Coolant
Hot Engine:
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.
Do not use a match or live flame in
the engine compartment. DO NOT
ADD COOLANT WHEN THE
ENGINE IS HOT.
WARNING
Radiator coolant will damage paint.
Rinse it off quickly.
CAUTION
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8-13
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

Changing Coolant
Change coolant according to Scheduled
Maintenance (page 8-3).
For mixture percentage:To change coolant
1. Remove the cooling system cap.
2. Only when the engine is cool, loosen
the radiator drain plug and drain the
coolant into a suitable container.
Properly dispose of the used coolant. •Use only soft (demineralized) water
in the coolant mixture. Water that
contains minerals will cut down on
the coolant’s effectiveness.
•Don’t add only water. Always add a
proper coolant mixture.
•The engine has aluminum parts and
must be protected by an ethylene-
glycol-based coolant to prevent
corrosion and freezing.
•DO NOT USE alcohol or methanol
antifreeze. DO NOT MIX alcohol
or methanol with the coolant. This
could damage the cooling system.
•Don’t use a solution that contains
more than 60 % antifreeze.
This would reduce effectiveness.
ProtectionVo l u m e
Antifreeze
solutionWa t e r
Above -16°
C (3°
F) 35% 65%
Above -26°
C (-15°
F) 45% 55%
Above -40°
C (-40°
F) 55% 45%
CAUTIONRemoving the Cooling System Cap:
Removing the cooling system cap or
drain plug while the engine is
running or hot is dangerous. This
might lead to cooling system and
engine damage and could result in
serious injury from escaping hot
coolant or steam. Turn off the engine
and wait until it’s cool. Even then, be
very careful when removing the cap
or drain plug. Wrap a thick cloth
around it and slowly turn it
counterclockwise to the first stop.
Step back while the pressure escapes.
When you’re sure all the pressure is
gone, press down on the cap — still
using a cloth — turn the cap, and
remove it.
WARNING
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