Mazda SKYACTIV Engine Service Tips and Possible Problems

If you have a car, you know how important it is to keep it in great running shape. By doing so, not only will it last longer, but it will run more efficiently and give you better gas mileage. Not only that, regular maintenance can ensure that you don’t get stuck on the side of the road. For this reason, maintenance is important and can save you a ton of time and money in the short and long run. Here are a few Mazda SKYACTIV engine service tips and how to avoid potential problems.

Regular Oil Changes

Without a doubt, if you want your diesel or gas engine running for the long run, and running efficiently, you should do regular oil changes. The oil in your engine serves a very important function by keeping all the mechanical components lubricated so they don’t overheat or underperform. Over time, the oil will become dirty and break down. Without changing it, you will leave your engine vulnerable to unnecessary wear-and-tear, or worse. As a rule of thumb, you should change your oil every 3,000 miles or six months, or whatever comes first. However, check your owner’s manual or speak to a mechanic at the dealer to get the right numbers. An oil change isn’t expensive and will pay for itself in the long run with increased efficiency and avoiding small repair bills down the road.

Fluid Level Checks

If you have a nice car, you will want to make sure it runs well. Mazda SKYACTIV is amazing tech that will make your car stand out when it comes to performance. However, you will want to make sure you treat your car well by getting your fluid levels checked and changed when needed. Check your engine coolant, transmission fluid, hydraulic clutch fluid and other fluids such as windshield wiper fluid. By ensuring that they are topped up and never run dry, you can protect your engine and other vital, expensive components.

Air Filter Replacement

While many don’t think of this, the air filter is important for your engine. Think about how an engine works, and now think about an engine that isn’t receiving enough air. Over the months and years, an air filter can get clogged, just doing its job. However, you normally can’t just take debris and oil and dirt out yourself. No, you will need to buy a new air filter and replace it. This is something a certified mechanic can do. By investing a few bucks in an air filter, you will improve efficiency, get better performance and ensure that your car and engine lasts longer. Your motor will not work as hard once you replace the air filter. Generally, you should change every 15,000 to 30,000 miles, but that may vary based on your driving habits and where you live. If you drive on a lot of dusty or muddy roads, it may be best to do it more often. Luckily, a mechanic can have a look and advise you.

Annual Diagnostic by A Trusted Mazda Dealer

If you own a nice car, it can be tempting to think that you can just put in diesel, or gas, and go. No, you will need to invest time and money to make sure that it runs well, and sometimes you can’t do this yourself, at least for more complicated matters. Your engine, transmission and other parts of your vehicle are very complicated, and modern vehicles are harder to work on than before. However, if you take your Mazda to a trusted mechanic, such as one at Seacoast Mazda, a certified mechanic can diagnose the health of your car and its vital parts. Just as with your body health, prevention is important and can save you a lot of headaches, and money, in the long run. Remember, a certified professional can catch problems before they turn into costly headaches.

Maintenance Schedule

Mazda does its owners a favor by offering a maintenance schedule. Meaning, you will want to follow their schedule when it comes to changing oil, adding fluids, taking it in for other maintenance, etc. if you want to ensure that your Mazda lasts a long time and at its best, you should make sure you follow the maintenance schedule. Of course, it’s not set in stone. If you drive hard or off-road often, you may want to take it in more often. The same is true if you drive your car in a lot of stop-and-go traffic, which adds more wear than freeway traffic where you are in a constant state. If you have any doubts, you can take your car in and talk to a certified professional who can guide you. However, the owner’s manual is a good start and will give you an idea.

Listen to Your Car

Finally, your car will speak to you. As weird as that sounds, when you are driving, you will notice if anything changes. If when it accelerates it makes a weird noise or if it doesn’t have the strength it had before, that’s your car telling you something. Instead of ignoring the noise or any other issue that comes up, make sure to take your car in to check for potential problems. If you do, you can spot some issues, large and small, before they become bigger. By taking your car in, a mechanic can run tests and see if anything is amiss. Usually, if you can do so at the onset of issues or weird noises coming out, you are going to save yourself a lot of trouble in the long run.

If you want to ensure that your car lasts a long time, you will want to treat it well. Furthermore, by following these engine service tips, you can prevent most issues from ever arising, which will save you time and money in the future. If you have any needs or want to take your car in for an inspection, you can have a professional, certified mechanic at Seacoast Mazda take a look. He or she can ensure that there are no problems and fix any small or large ones that may arise.