engine coolant MAZDA MODEL TRIBUTE 2008 (in English) User Guide
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3.0L DOHC V6 engine 1. Engine coolant reservoir 
2. Automatic transmission fluid dipstick
3. Brake fluid reservoir
4. Air filter assembly
5. Power distribution box
6. Battery
7. Engine oil dipstick
8. Engine oil filler cap
9. Windshield washer fluid reservoir
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WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID
Add fluid to fill the reservoir if the 
level is low. In very cold weather, do
not fill the reservoir completely. 
Only use a washer fluid that meets Mazda specifications. Do not use any 
special washer fluid such as windshield water repellent type fluid or bug
wash. They may cause squeaking, chatter noise, streaking and smearing.
Refer to the Maintenance product specifications and capacities 
section in this chapter. 
State or local regulations on volatile organic compounds may restrict the 
use of methanol, a common windshield washer antifreeze additive.
Washer fluids containing non-methanol antifreeze agents should be used
only if they provide cold weather protection without damaging the
vehicle’s paint finish, wiper blades or washer system. 
WARNING: If you operate your vehicle in temperatures below 
40°F (4.5°C), use washer fluid with antifreeze protection.
Failure to use washer fluid with antifreeze protection in cold
weather could result in impaired windshield vision and increase
the risk of injury or accident. 
Note:  Do not put washer fluid in the engine coolant reservoir. Washer 
fluid placed in the cooling system may harm engine and cooling system
components. 
Checking and adding washer fluid for the liftgate 
Washer fluid for the liftgate is supplied by the same reservoir as the 
windshield.
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•Always dispose of automotive 
batteries in a responsible manner.
Follow your local authorized
standards for disposal. Call your
local authorized recycling center
to find out more about recycling
automotive batteries. 
ENGINE COOLANT 
Checking engine coolant 
The concentration and level of engine coolant should be checked at the 
intervals listed in  scheduled maintenance. The coolant concentration 
should be maintained at 50/50 coolant and water, which equates to a
freeze point of -34°F (-36°C). Coolant concentration testing is possible
with a hydrometer or antifreeze tester (such as the Rotunda Battery and
Antifreeze Tester, 014–R1060). The level of coolant should be maintained
at the “FULL COLD” level or within the “COLD FILL RANGE” in the
coolant reservoir. If the level falls below, add coolant per the instructions
in the  Adding engine coolant section. 
Your vehicle was factory-filled with a 50/50 engine coolant and water 
concentration. If the concentration of coolant falls below 40% or above
60%, the engine parts could become damaged or not work properly.  A 
50–50 mixture of coolant and water provides the following: 
•  freeze protection down to -34°F (-36°C). 
•  boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C). 
•  protection against rust and other forms of corrosion. 
•  an accurate temperature readout from the engine coolant 
gauge.
LEAD
RETURN
RECYCLE
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When the engine is cold, check the 
level of the engine coolant in the
reservoir. 
• The engine coolant should be at the“FULL COLD” level or within the 
“COLD FILL RANGE” as listed on the engine coolant reservoir
(depending upon application). 
•  Refer to scheduled maintenance section for service interval 
schedules. 
•  Be sure to read and understand Precautions when servicing your 
vehicle  in this chapter. 
If the engine coolant has not been checked at the recommended interval, 
the engine coolant reservoir may become low or empty. If the reservoir is
low or empty, add engine coolant to the reservoir. Refer to  Adding 
engine coolant  in this chapter. 
WARNING: Automotive fluids are not interchangeable; do not 
use engine coolant, antifreeze or windshield washer fluid
outside of its specified function and vehicle location. 
Adding engine coolant 
Use only Mazda Genuine Engine Coolant or a premium engine 
coolant that meets a Mazda specification. 
•  DO NOT USE Extended Life Engine Coolant (orange in color). 
•  DO NOT USE a DEX-COOL engine coolant or an equivalent 
engine coolant. 
•  DO NOT USE alcohol or methanol antifreeze or any engine 
coolants mixed with alcohol or methanol antifreeze. 
•  DO NOT USE supplemental coolant additives in your vehicle. 
These additives may harm your engine’s cooling system. 
•  DO NOT MIX different colors or types of coolant in your 
vehicle. Make sure the correct coolant is used.
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•DO NOT MIX recycled coolant and conventional coolant 
together in your vehicle. Mixing of engine coolants may harm
your engine’s cooling system. 
•  The use of an improper coolant may harm engine and cooling 
system components and may void the warranty of your vehicle’s
engine cooling system. If you are unsure which type of coolant
your vehicle requires, contact your local authorized dealer. 
WARNING: Do not put engine coolant in the windshield washer 
fluid reservoir. If engine coolant is sprayed onto the windshield,
it could make it difficult to see through the windshield. 
When adding coolant, make sure it is a 50/50 mixture of engine coolant 
and distilled water. Add the mixture to the coolant reservoir,  when the 
engine is cool , until the appropriate fill level is obtained. 
•  NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%. 
•  NEVER decrease the coolant concentration below 40%. 
•  Engine coolant concentrations above 60% or below 40% will 
decrease the freeze protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage. 
A large amount of water without engine coolant may be added, in case of 
emergency, to reach a vehicle service location. In this instance, the
cooling system must be drained and refilled with a 50/50 mixture of
engine coolant and distilled water as soon as possible. Water alone
(without engine coolant) can cause engine damage from corrosion,
overheating or freezing. 
For vehicles with overflow coolant systems with a non-pressurized cap 
on the coolant recovery system, add coolant to the coolant recovery
reservoir when the engine is cool. Add the proper mixture of coolant and
water to the “COLD FILL RANGE”. For all other vehicles, which have a
coolant degas system with a pressurized cap, or if it is necessary to 
remove the coolant pressure relief cap on the radiator of a vehicle with
an overflow system, follow these steps to add engine coolant. 
Note:  For the 2.3L engine, when adding more than 1 quart (.95L) of 
coolant it is necessary to use the coolant bleed valve. Failure to bleed
the cooling system when adding engine coolant may cause engine
damage. Refer to the Cooling section of the  Workshop Manual.
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WARNING: To reduce the risk of personal injury, make sure the 
engine is cool before unscrewing the coolant pressure relief
cap. The cooling system is under pressure; steam and hot liquid
can come out forcefully when the cap is loosened slightly. 1. Before you begin, turn the engine off and let it cool. 
2. When the engine is cool, wrap a thick cloth around the coolant  pressure relief cap on the coolant reservoir (an opaque plastic
bottle). Slowly turn cap counterclockwise (left) until pressure begins
to release. 
3. Step back while the pressure releases.
4. When you are sure that all the pressure has been released, use the  cloth to turn it counterclockwise and remove the cap. 
•  2.3L coolant bleed valve 
5. For the 2.3L engine ONLY, open the coolant bleed valve on the back  of the engine water outlet. 
6. Fill the coolant reservoir slowly with the proper coolant mixture  (see above), to within the “COLD FILL RANGE” or the “FULL
COLD” level on the reservoir. 
7. For the 2.3L engine ONLY, close the bleed valve.
8. Reinstall the cap on the coolant reservoir. Turn the cap until it is  tightly installed to prevent coolant loss. 
After any coolant has been added, check the coolant concentration. 
Refer to the  Checking engine coolant section. If the concentration is 
not 50/50 (protection to –34° F [–36° C]), drain some coolant and adjust
the concentration. It may take several drains and additions to obtain a
50/50 coolant concentration. 
Whenever coolant has been added, the coolant level in the coolant 
reservoir should be checked the next few times you drive the vehicle.
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If necessary, add enough 50/50 concentration of engine coolant and 
distilled water to bring the liquid level to the proper level. 
If you have to add more than 1.0 quart (1.0 liter) of engine coolant per 
month, have your authorized dealer check the engine cooling system.
Your cooling system may have a leak. Operating an engine with a low
level of coolant can result in engine overheating and possible engine
damage). 
Recycled engine coolant 
Not all coolant recycling processes produce coolant which meets 
Mazda recommended coolants. Use of a recycled engine coolant
which does not meet the Mazda recommended coolant, may harm 
engine and cooling system components.
Always dispose of used automotive fluids in a responsible manner. 
Follow your community’s regulations and standards for recycling and 
disposing of automotive fluids. 
Coolant refill capacity 
To find out how much fluid your vehicle’s cooling system can hold, refer 
to  Maintenance product specifications and capacities in this chapter. 
Fill your engine coolant reservoir as outlined in  Adding engine coolant 
in this section. 
Severe climates 
If you drive in extremely cold climates (less than –34°F [–36°C ]):
•  It may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration 
above 50%. 
•  NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%. 
•  Increased engine coolant concentrations above 60% will 
decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage. 
•  Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the 
coolant concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate
freeze protection at the temperatures in which you drive in the
winter months. 
If you drive in extremely hot climates:
•  It is still necessary to maintain the coolant concentration 
above 40%.
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•NEVER decrease the coolant concentration below 40%. 
•  Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will 
decrease the corrosion protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage. 
•  Decreased engine coolant concentrations below 40% will 
decrease the freeze protection characteristics of the engine
coolant and may cause engine damage. 
•  Refer to the chart on the coolant container to ensure the 
coolant concentration in your vehicle will provide adequate
protection at the temperatures in which you drive. 
Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use a 50/50 
mixture of engine coolant and distilled water for optimum cooling system
and engine protection. 
What you should know about fail-safe cooling (2.3L I4 engine only) 
If the engine coolant supply is depleted, this feature allows the vehicle to 
be driven temporarily before incremental component damage is incurred.
The “fail-safe” distance depends on ambient temperatures, vehicle load
and terrain. 
How fail-safe cooling works 
If the engine begins to overheat:
•  The engine coolant temperature gauge will move to the red (hot) 
area. 
•  The
indicator light will illuminate. 
If the engine reaches a preset over-temperature condition, the engine 
will automatically switch to alternating cylinder operation. Each disabled
cylinder acts as an air pump and cools the engine. 
When this occurs the vehicle will still operate. However:
•  The engine power will be limited. 
•  The air conditioning system will be disabled. 
Continued operation will increase the engine temperature and the engine 
will completely shut down, causing steering and braking effort to
increase. 
Once the engine temperature cools, the engine can be re-started. Take 
your vehicle to an authorized dealer as soon as possible to minimize
engine damage.
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When fail-safe mode is activated 
You have limited engine power when in the fail-safe mode, so drive the 
vehicle with caution. The vehicle will not be able to maintain high-speed
operation and the engine will run rough. Remember that the engine is
capable of completely shutting down automatically to prevent engine
damage, therefore: 1. Pull off the road as soon as safely possible and turn off the engine.
2. Arrange for the vehicle to be taken to an authorized dealer.
3. If this is not possible, wait a short period for the engine to cool.
4. Check the coolant level and replenish if low. 
WARNING: Never remove the coolant reservoir cap while the 
engine is running or hot. 
5. Re-start the engine and take your vehicle to an authorized dealer. 
Driving the vehicle without repairing the engine problem 
increases the chance of engine damage. Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as possible. 
FUEL FILTER 
For fuel filter replacement, see your authorized dealer. Refer to 
scheduled maintenance information  for the appropriate intervals for 
changing the fuel filter. 
Replace the fuel filter with an authorized Mazda part. The 
customer warranty may be void for any damage to the fuel system
if an authorized Mazda fuel filter is not used. 
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
Important safety precautions 
WARNING: Do not overfill the fuel tank. The pressure in an 
overfilled tank may cause leakage and lead to fuel spray and
fire. 
WARNING: The fuel system may be under pressure. If the fuel 
filler cap is venting vapor or if you hear a hissing sound, wait
until it stops before completely removing the fuel filler cap.
Otherwise, fuel may spray out and injure you or others.
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MAINTENANCE PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS AND CAPACITIES
Item Application Mazda part name or 
equivalent  Capacity 
Brake fluid and (clutch  fluid–if equipped)  All High Performance DOT 3 
Motor Vehicle Brake Fluid  Between MIN and MAX 
on reservoir 
Engine coolant  2.3L I4 engine 
with manual transaxle 
Mazda yellow-colored Premium Engine Coolant
1
5.3 quarts (5.0L) 
2.3L I4 engine 
with automatic transaxle  6.3 quarts (6.0L) 
3.0L V6 engine  with automatic transmission  10.6 quarts (10.0L) 
Engine oil (including  filter change)  2.3L I4 engine 
SAE 5W-20 Motor Oil  4.5 quarts (4.25L) 
3.0L V6 engine 6.0 quarts (5.7L) 
Transfer case fluid  4WD with 
automatic transaxle  API service GL-5 
SAE 75W-140 Synthetic Lubricant  12 ounces (0.35L) 
4WD with manual  transaxle  API service GL-5 
SAE 80W-90
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