oil MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2018 Owner's Manual

Owner Maintenance Precautions
The owner or a qualified service technician should make these v ehicle inspections at the
indicated intervals to ensure safe and dependable operation.

Bring any problem to the attention of an Authorized Mazda Deale r or qualified service
technician as soon as possible.
When Refueling
Brake and clutch fluid level (page 6-26)
Engine coolant level (page 6-24)
Engine oil level (page 6-24)
Washer fluid lev el (page 6-26)
At Least Monthly
Tire inflation pressures (page 6-36)
At Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
You can do the following scheduled maintenance items if you hav e some mechanical ability
and a few basic tools and if you closely follow the directions in this manual.
Engine coolant (page 6-24)
Engine oil (page 6-22)

Improper or incomplete service may result in problems. This sec tion gives instructions only
for items that are easy to perform.

As explained in the Introducti on (page 6-2), several procedures can be done only by a
qualified service technician with special tools.

Improper owner maintenance during the warranty period may affec t warranty coverage.
Refer to Introduction (page 6-2) for owner's responsibility in protecting your investment.
For details, read the separate Mazda Warranty statement provide d with the vehicle. If you
are 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 envir onment.

We recommend that you entrust the oil and fluid changes of your vehicle to an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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▼Closing the Hood
1. Check under the hood area to make
certain all filler caps are in place and
all loose items (e.g. tools, oil
containers, etc.) have been removed.
2. Lift the hood, grasp the padded area on the support rod, and secure the support
rod in the clip. Verify that the support
rod is secured in the clip before closing
the hood.

Clip
Pad
3. Lower the hood slowly to a height of
about 20 cm (7.9 in) above its closed
position and then let it drop.
CAUTION
When closing the hood, do not push it
excessively such as by applying your
weight. Otherwise, the hood could be
deformed.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Engine Compartment Overview
Windshield washer fluid reservoirBrake/Clutch fluid reservoir
Engine oil dipstick
Battery
Fuse blockCooling system cap
Engine coolant reservoir
Engine oil-filler cap
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Engine Oil
NOTE
Changing the engine oil should be
performed by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
Refer to Introduction (page 6-2) for
owner's responsibility in protecting your
investment.
▼Recommended Oil
U.S.A., Canada, and Puerto Rico
Use SAE 0W-20 engine oil.
Mazda Genuine Oil is used in your Mazda
vehicle. Mazda Genuine 0W-20 Oil is
required to achieve optimum fuel
economy.

For maintenance service, Mazda
recommends Mazda Genuine Parts and
Castrol
® (U.S.A. only).


(ILSAC)
Only use SAE 0W-20 oil “Certified For
Gasoline Engines” by the American
Petroleum Institute (API).
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), c omprised of U.S.
and Japanese automobile manufacturers.

80
60
40
20
0
–40 –20
30
100
40
20
10
0
–10
–20
–30
–40
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Except U.S.A., Canada, and Puerto Rico
Use SAE 5W-30 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).


(ILSAC)
(Mexico)
Use SAE 5W-30 engine oil. If SAE 5W-30
engine oil is not available, use SAE 5W-20
engine oil.

The quality designation SM, or ILSAC
must be on the label.

80
60
40
20
0
–40 –20
30
100
40
20
10
0
–10
–20
–30
–40
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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▼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.

MIN
MAX
OK
5. Pull it out again and examine the level. The level is normal if it is between the
MIN and MAX marks.
If it is near or below MIN, add enough
oil to bring the level to MAX.
CAUTION
Do not overfill the engine oil. This may
cause engine damage.
6. Make sure the O-ring on the dipstick is positioned properly before reinserting
the dipstick.
7. Reinsert the dipstick fully.
Engine Coolant
▼ Inspecting Coolant Level
WA R N I N G
Do not use a match or live flame in the
engine compartment. DO NOT ADD
COOLANT WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT:
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.
Pull over to a safe location, then switch
the ignition off and make sure the fan is
not running before attempting to work
near the cooling fan:
Working near the cooling fan when it is
running is dangerous. The fan could
continue running indefinitely even if the
engine has stopped and the engine
compartment temperature is high. You
could be hit by the fan and seriously
injured.
Do not remove either cooling
system cap when the engine and radiator
are hot:
When the engine and radiator are hot,
scalding coolant and steam may shoot out
under pressure and cause serious injury.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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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.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
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Pay special attention to removing salt, dirt,
mud, and other foreign material from the
underside of the fenders, and make sure
the drain holes in the lower edges of the
doors and rocker panels are clean.

Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial fallout, and similar deposits can
damage the finish if not removed
immediately. When prompt washing with
plain water is ineffective, use a mild soap
made for use on vehicles.

Thoroughly rinse off all soap with
lukewarm or cold water. Do not allow
soap to dry on the finish.

After washing the vehicle, dry it with a
clean chamois to prevent water spots from
forming.
WA R N I N G
Dry off brakes that have become wet by
driving slowly, releasing the accelerator
pedal and lightly applying the brakes
several times until the brake performance
returns to normal:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the vehicle
pulling to one side when braking could
result in a serious accident. Light braking
will indicate whether the brakes have been
affected.
Waxing
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle body,
wax the metal trim to maintain its luster.

1. Use wax which contains no abrasives. Waxes containing abrasive will remove
paint and could damage bright metal
parts.
2. Use a good grade of natural wax for
metallic, mica, and solid colors.
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the sponge supplied or a soft cloth.
4. Wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and
similar materials will usually also take off
the wax. Rewax these areas even if the rest
of the vehicle does not need it.
▼ Repairing Damage
to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the finish
should be repaired promptly. Exposed
metal quickly rusts and can lead to major
repairs.
CAUTION
If your Mazda is damaged and needs metal
parts repaired or replaced, make sure the
body shop applies anti-corrosion materials
to all parts, both repaired and new. This
will prevent them from rusting.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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2. Remove the drain filter while pressingthe tab.
3. Remove leaves and other matteraccumulated in the drain filter.
4. Reinstall the drain filter in the reverse order of the removal procedure.
CAUTION
When installing the drain filter, make sure
that the drain filter is securely attached to
its designated position by pushing it until
the tab locks. Water may enter the vehicle if
the drain filter is not secured to its
designated position.
▼ Convertible Top (Retractable
Hardtop) Maintenance
Wa s h i n g
To help protect the retractable hardtop's
finish, use a soft cloth or sponge to wash
it.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial fallout, and similar deposits can
damage the finish if
they are not removed
immediately. When prompt washing with
plain water is ineffective use a mild soap
made for use on vehicles.
CAUTION
 Do not use an automatic car wash.
 Do not spray water directly on the area
where the window glass and the
retractable hardtop meet. This would
probably cause water to enter the cabin.
 Do not use strong soap, chemical
detergents, or hot water, and do not
wash the retractable hardtop in direct
sunlight or when the surface is warm.
Thoroughly rinse with lukewarm or cold
water. Do not allow soap to dry on the
finish.
Waxing
Wax the retractable hardtop when water no
longer beads on the paint. Always wash
and dry it before waxing.
CAUTION
 Wiping off dust or dirt with a dry cloth
will scratch the finish.
 Do not 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.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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CAUTION
When cleaning the drainage outlets, be
careful not to touch the roof links or the
framework of the rear roof. Otherwise,
you could get injured.
Roof links Rear roof
6. After cleaning is finished, continue
pressing the retractable hardtop switch
in the close direction to close the rear
roof.
Refer to Closing the Roof on page
3-43.

▼Plastic Part Maintenance
When 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.
If plastic parts s uch 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.
High 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.
Do not use wax containing compounds
(polish). Otherwise, it could result in
paint damage.
In 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
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