Originally Posted By: jrustles
Thanks for this, I'm aware of them all, been involved in the troubleshooting since day one. Did you see that site before?
Originally Posted By: zloveraz
Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 Engine Failures
The Mazda 3 has three versions of four cylinder engines, two of which are shared with the Mazda 6 and displace 2.3L. Most (but not all) of APA's complaints concern the 2.3L 4 cylinder engines. We have received a small number of reports on the 2L engine, which is much more widely sold.
The 2.3L turbo engine is rare on the Mazda3 (likely less than 2% of production) and also shared with the CX-7, in which it equips all vehicles to 2009 and most in 2010. It has had several issues with the timing chain assembly, and turbo failures. Mazda has extended the warranty to cover repairs and made an internal change to the recommended oil (synthetic oil no longer recommended). Here is the list of warranty extensions:
2007-2009 CX-7 and 2007-2008 Mazdaspeed 3: oil consumption and smoke coming out of the tailpipe. PCV valve and routing changes, turbo repair covered if it has been damaged. 7 years/140,000 km.
The Hitachi-Warner turbo on these engines use a labyrith seal. It relies on a certain viscosity of the oil to uphold the 'seal' and certain pressure characteristics. People that used 5w30 "resource conserving" oils (a very different animal than the 5w30 that Mazda intended IMO that's available internationally) and installed a popular turbo intake tube had these issues. The oil would break down inside the turbo center and leak past the labyrinth seal into the turbine housing, where it burned in the exhaust. When combined with the aftermarket turbo intake pipe, caused changes in pressures which made the problem worse.
Two solutions: use a better oil, change the turbo with the revised seals. Some people with the intake pipes had the problem go away when reverted to the stock tube.
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2007-2010 CX-7: noisy engine, more noticeable on starting. Warranty on the turbo and timing chain extended to 7 years or 140,000 km.
Stretching of the timing chain due to infrequent/neglected oil changes and/or improper viscosity used (5w20). This happened more on the CX-7 due to owners not realizing that this was a turbo engine that needed regular oil changes, not a 2.0 EFI engine that could get away with 20K on factory fill. Most of the timing chain failure engines had sludge as noted by technicians. Like the turbo seal problem, this too is virtually non-existent internationally.
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Non turbo 2.3L engine on Mazda 3 and 6: 2004-2007
The engine may begin to burn oil seemingly all of a sudden at 80,000 to 100,000 km. The consumer would likely be unaware of the condition unless they check the oil regularly. If the oil drops below 2 litres in the crankcase, intermittent oil starvation begins to occur, typically first at the location of the number 1 connecting rod -- by this time internal damage is severe. If the consumer does not stop driving the vehicle, the rod can fail completely and pierces a whole in the side of the block.
The cause appears to be gradual overheating of the engine, due to 1) an internal defect in the catalytic converter that can plug up over time OR 2) the catalytic convertor plugs up over time from burned oil in the exhaust stream. There may be other causes.
"whole" in the side of the block- who's writing this stuff?
Never seen cat cons plugging, or a random surge of oil burning relating specifically to the L-engines and I work on them regularly.
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Failures appear more common with the manual transmission, perhaps because crankcase ventilation or some other factor is more affected by the overrun that accompanies gear changes. Used engines are in chronically short supply and expensive. In Montreal some recyclers have stopped selling the engines because they're too troublesome. APA has sourced rebuilt engines for about $3,500 in Montreal (plus installation). APA has recorded about 35 written complaints from consumers and confirmed a high rate of failures with rebuilders. We have not written Mazda directly about this issue, but could do so given the number of complaints.
APA can obtain a below retail price to replace the engine in Montreal, and likely a bit of break at our recommended engine specialist in Toronto. Either shop would be competent to report on the engine damage.
35 complaints. $3500? engine unavailable? Yards not selling them? Your recommended engine specialist? LOL Gooby pls. I'll install one for $1500 labour in.
Anyone in the Toronto area needs a new Mazda 2.3L? Holler!
Originally Posted By: jrustles
Originally Posted By: zloveraz
Not trying to be negative but has Mazda solved all of their blown engine woes from a few years ago?
I'm dying to know what you are even referring to
Thanks for this, I'm aware of them all, been involved in the troubleshooting since day one. Did you see that site before?
Yes I did see that site before and many others when I was researching Mazda last year, which is why I asked the question in the first place.
Amazing turn around from "I'm dying to know what you are even referring to" versus your "expert" rebuttal on the issues regarding the engines listed that supposedly didn't exist before. Talk about selective amnesia.
I'm glad Mazda is back on-track literally...
P.S. - do you work for Mazda Canada?
