oil MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA RF 2020 Owner's Manual

Owner Maintenance Precautions
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 Deale r or qualified service
technician as soon as possible.
When Refueling
Brake and clutch fluid level (page 6-26)
Engine coolant level (page 6-25)
Engine oil level (page 6-24)
Washer fluid level (page 6-27)
At Least Monthly
Tire inflation pressures (page 6-38)
At Least Twice a Year (For Example, Every Spring and Fall)
You can do the following schedu led 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 6-25)
Engine oil (page 6-23)

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 Introduction (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 i t done by an Authorized
Mazda Dealer.

There are strict environmental laws regarding the disposal of w aste 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
6-18
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

▼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
6-21
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

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
6-22
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old
2019-8-29 16:18:06

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 achie
ve optimum fuel
economy.

For maintenance service, Mazda
recommends Mazda Genuine Parts and
Oil.

(ILSAC)
Only use SAE 0W-20 oil “Certified For
Gasoline Engines” by the American
Petroleum Institute (API).
Oil with this tradem ark symbol conforms
to the current engine and emission system
protection standards and fuel economy
requirements of the International
Lubricant Standardization and Approval
Committee (ILSAC), comprised 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
6-23
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old
2019-8-29 16:18:06

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.

(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
▼ 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 retur n to the oil pan.
4. Pull out the dipstic k, 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.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6-24
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

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.
Wiper Blades
CAUTION
Hot waxes applied by automatic car
washers have been known to
affect the
wiper's ability to clean windows.
 To prevent damage to the wiper blades,
do not use gasoline, kerosene, paint
thinner, or other solvents on or near
them.
 When the wiper lever is in the AUTO
position and the ignition is switched ON,
the wipers may move automatically in
the following cases:
 If the windshield above the rain sensor
is touched.
 If the windshield above the rain sensor
is wiped with a cloth.
 If the windshield is struck with a hand
or other object.
 If the rain sensor is struck with a hand
or other object from inside the vehicle.
Be careful not to pinch hands or fingers
as it may cause injury, or damage the
wipers. When washing or servicing the
vehicle, make sure the wiper lever is in
the OFF position.
Contamination of either the windshield or
the blades with forei gn matter can reduce
wiper effectiveness. Common sources are
insects, tree sap, and hot wax treatments
used by some commercial car washes.

If the blades are not w iping properly, clean
the window and blades with a good
cleaner or mild detergent; then rinse
thoroughly with clean water. Repeat if
necessary.
Maintenance and Care
Owner Maintenance
6-28
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

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.
Wa x i n g
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 m aintain its luster.

1. Use wax which contains no abrasives. Wax containing abrasives will remove
paints 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
6-60
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old
2019-8-29 16:18:06

NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and
similar materials will usually also take off
the wax. Rewax these areas.
Drainage outlet cleaning procedure
There are drainage outlets on the left and
right of the lower side of the rear window.
Rear roofDrainage
outlet
Rear window
NOTE
If leaves or other fore
ign matter block the
drainage outlets, water may enter the
cabin. Clean the drainage outlets at least
once every 6 months.
1. Continue pressing the retractable hardtop switch in the open direction
until the rear roof is raised up from the
fully closed position.
Refer to Opening the Roof on page
3-44.
2. Remove your finger from theretractable hardtop switch after the rear
roof is raised up.
3. Make sure the drainage outlets are visible.

Drainage
outlet
Rear roof links
4. Switch the ignition OFF.
WA R N I N G
Verify that the ignition is switched off:
Closing the roof with the ignition not
switched off is dangerous as the motors
could turn on suddenly and cause
injury resulting from hands or fingers
being pinched in the mechanism.
5. Remove leaves and other foreign matter accumulated in the drainage
outlet.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
6-65
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

▼Plastic Part Maintenance
When cleaning the plastic lenses of the
lights, do not use g
asoline, 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 such 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.
Interior Care
WA R N I N G
Do not spray water into the vehicle cabin:
Spraying water into the vehicle cabin is
dangerous as electrical devices such as the
audio and switches could get wet resulting
in a malfunction or vehicle fire.
NOTE
Do not wipe the interior using alcohol,
chlorine bleach, or organic solvents
such as thinner, benzene, and gasoline.
Otherwise, it may cause discoloration or
stains.
Rubbing hard with a stiff brush or cloth
may cause damage.
If the vehicle interior becomes soiled by
any of the following, wipe it off
immediately using a soft cloth.
Leaving it uncleaned could cause
discoloration, stains, cracks, or peeling of
the coating, and it will make it hard to
wipe off later.
Beverage or fragrance
Grease or oil
Soiling
▼ Seat Belt Maintenance
1. Clean the soiled area by lightly
dabbing it with a soft cloth soaked in a
mild detergent (approx. 5%) diluted
with water.
2. Wipe off the remaining detergent using
a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
6-67
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06

3. Before retracting seat belts which havebeen pulled out for cleaning, dry them
off thoroughly and make sure there is
no remaining mois ture on them.
WA R N I N G
If a seat belt appears frayed or has
abrasions, have it replaced by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer:
If a seat belt is used under such a condition,
it cannot function at its full capacity which
could result in serious injury or death.
Use a mild detergent to remove soiling
from a seat belt:
If organic solvents are used for cleaning the
seat belts or they become stained or
bleached, there is the possibility of them
becoming weakened and as a result, they
may not function at their full capacity
which could cause serious injury or death.
NOTE
Clean seat belts diligently if they get dirty.
Leaving them uncleaned will make it
difficult to clean them later, and it may
affect the smooth retracting of the seat
belt.
▼Vinyl Upholstery Maintenance
Remove dust and dirt from the vinyl
upholstery using a brush or vacuum.
Remove soiling from
vinyl upholstery
using a leather and vinyl upholstery
cleaner.
▼ Upholstery and Synthetic Leather
Maintenance
Fabric
1. Clean the soiled area by lightly
dabbing it with a soft cloth soaked in a
mild detergent (approx. 5%) diluted
with water.
2. Wipe off the remaining detergent using a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
Synthetic leather
1. Remove dust and sand using a vacuum cleaner.
2. Wipe the soiled area with a soft cloth soaked in a mild detergent (approx.
5%) diluted with water.
3. Wipe off the remaining detergent using a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
▼Leather Upholstery Maintenance*
1. Remove dust and sand using a vacuum
cleaner.
2. Wipe off the soiled area with a soft
cloth and a suitable, special cleaner or
a soft cloth soaked in a mild detergent
(about 5%) diluted with water.
3. Wipe off the remaining detergent using a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
4. Remove moisture wi th a dry, soft cloth
and allow the leather to further dry in a
well-ventilated, shaded area. If the
leather gets wet such as from rain,
remove the moisture and dry it as soon
as possible.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
6-68*Some models.
MX-5_8JA4-EA-19K_Edition1_old 2019-8-29 16:18:06