[CJR238]

So i opted for the free oil changes with scheduled maintenance/service at the dealer when i bought the 3 in July 14. But now its becoming imbalanced since they want to charge ~$250 to do air filters and just look at stuff.

So i am going to start to do the maintenance my self like i always have with my other cars, and only do the major stuff like spark plugs/belts at the dealer (100k). So i will loose the free oil changes but save a ton on the simple stuff.

Now to my question. The manual sucks when it comes to maintenance description and list so much BS stuff. So what services are the norm? Like oil changes every 6-7k (synthetic), in cabin filter every 12k and air intake filter once a year or so, transmission change every 20k or never (or is it more/less with mazda?). Obviously inspect wearing parts and replace as needed.

Thoughts? Experience? Things to check? I have 65k now and do about 22k a year.

 

[arathol]

Find a new dealer?
Why would you let them do that other simple stuff like looking at your air filter at $250? Just tell them oil change only. I recently took mine in for service and the guy started down the same path with " well, we'll rotate the tires and check this and do that....". Nope, just change the oil and thats that. The car has less than 7k on it, everything is ok and I keep an eye on things pretty close anyhow. I don't think the guy was real happy but I got the oil change done for free. :smile2:

 

[CJR238]

Find a new dealer?
Why would you let them do that other simple stuff like looking at your air filter at $250? Just tell them oil change only. I recently took mine in for service and the guy started down the same path with " well, we'll rotate the tires and check this and do that....". Nope, just change the oil and thats that. The car has less than 7k on it, everything is ok and I keep an eye on things pretty close anyhow. I don't think the guy was real happy but I got the oil change done for free. :smile2:

The oil changes are only free if you do the maintenance. And i already had dozens of free oil changes so they require the $250 service now witch i wont be doing anymore. (did one at 35k for $250)

Try going 60k with free oil changes and no dealer maintenance they require. :wink2:


So to others with more than 7k. :smile2:

Now to my question. The manual sucks when it comes to maintenance description and list so much BS stuff. So what services are the norm? Like oil changes every 6-7k (synthetic), in cabin filter every 12k and air intake filter once a year or so, transmission change every 20k or never (or is it more/less with mazda?). Obviously inspect wearing parts and replace as needed.

Thoughts? Experience? Things to check? I have 65k now and do about 22k a year.

 

[arathol]

The oil changes are only free if you do the maintenance. And i already had dozens of free oil changes so they require the $250 service now witch i wont be doing.

Thats a losing proposition any way you look at it. The free oil changes are the lure to get you into situation where they can pressure you into spending hundreds of dollars on grossly overpriced service items.:w00t 1:

 

[CJR238]

Thats a losing proposition any way you look at it. The free oil changes are the lure to get you into situation where they can pressure you into spending hundreds of dollars on grossly overpriced service items.:w00t 1:

Initially it was fine because i drive a lot and got them to push the required service. Now i have pushed it to the limit and will be doing it all my self to avoid the grossly overpriced service.

Now just trying to put together a logical service schedule for my self with trans changes, oil, filters, other normal maintenance items. Just have no experience with Mazda maintenance. Mostly Ford/Buick/Dodge/Acura.

 

[johnzcarz]

Thats a losing proposition any way you look at it. The free oil changes are the lure to get you into situation where they can pressure you into spending hundreds of dollars on grossly overpriced service items.:w00t 1:

Exactly. Do people really believe this stuff is 'free'? And if the dealer knows you aren't someone whom will be talked into buying additional services, do you trust them to do the 'free' stuff with care or do they bang it out ASAP so they can get to a paying customer?

 

[CJR238]

Exactly. Do people really believe this stuff is 'free'? And if the dealer knows you aren't someone whom will be talked into buying additional services, do you trust them to do the 'free' stuff with care or bang it out ASAP so they can get to a paying customer?

My car has a full video/audio surveillance system so i can keep an eye on whats going on. Its quite funny to view it to see how much down time it sits there. A 2 hour job is like 30min of work. lol

 

[arathol]

The cars recommended maintenance scheduled should be in the owners manual.

https://www.mazdausa.com/siteassets/pdf/manuals-and-guides/2016/2016-mazda3-maintenance-schedule.pdf

 

[dradernh]

I think you're going to have to decide for yourself what you want the maintenance intervals to be for your transmission and brake fluids. I chose 30,000 miles for the transmission fluid and 2 years for the brake fluid.

 

[CJR238]

I think you're going to have to decide for yourself what you want the maintenance intervals to be for your transmission and brake fluids. I chose 30,000 miles for the transmission fluid and 2 years for the brake fluid.

I think your right, there maintenance schedule in the manual sucks so what others like your self do is helpful.

Ill have to check what Mazda did for a transmission change, i think it says in the manual at like 75k for first transmission fluid change?

 

[Stewie]

Depends where you live and how you drive, I do mine every 6000 and 8000 winter OCI

 

[CJR238]

The cars recommended maintenance scheduled should be in the owners manual.

https://www.mazdausa.com/siteassets/pdf/manuals-and-guides/2016/2016-mazda3-maintenance-schedule.pdf

Interesting. Looking at the "recommended maintenance" it does not say to ever change the transmission fluid????

 

[dradernh]

i think it says in the manual at like 75k for first transmission fluid change?

If I recall, I couldn't find anything about when to change the transmission fluid in either the owner's manual's scheduled maintenance section or in the workshop manual. Same thing with the brake fluid. I called my dealer's service department about when to change the transmission fluid, and they couldn't help me. The guy said he thought they had only done two transmission fluid changes on Mazda 3s during the years he'd been there.

When I had it changed at 30,000 miles, the independent shop I use told me that it looked fine - clean and not dark with a bad odor, and no metal to speak of. The owner of that shop told me that he waited until 100,000 miles to change the transmission fluid in his gf's 2012 Mazda 3, and it had looked okay. So 75,000 miles may be a reasonable time to change it.

We treat our car very gently, as does the shop owner's gf with her car. I think if a driver regularly worked the car hard, he might want to shorten up the fluid change interval to something in the 40,000 to 60,000 mile range. To me, that's cheap insurance. I'm just guessing here, though - I didn't care enough to have the 30,000-mile fluid sent out for analysis to see exactly what condition it was in.

 

[CJR238]

If I recall, I couldn't find anything about when to change the transmission fluid in either the owner's manual's scheduled maintenance section or in the workshop manual. Same thing with the brake fluid. I called my dealer's service department about when to change the transmission fluid, and they couldn't help me. The guy said he thought they had only done two transmission fluid changes on Mazda 3s during the years he'd been there.

When I had it changed at 30,000 miles, the independent shop I use told me that it looked fine - clean and not dark with a bad odor, and no metal to speak of. The owner of that shop told me that he waited until 100,000 miles to change the transmission fluid in his gf's 2012 Mazda 3, and it had looked okay. So 75,000 miles may be a reasonable time to change it.

We treat our car very gently, as does the shop owner's gf with her car. I think if a driver regularly worked the car hard, he might want to shorten up the fluid change interval to something in the 40,000 to 60,000 mile range. To me, that's cheap insurance. I'm just guessing here, though - I didn't care enough to have the 30,000-mile fluid sent out for analysis to see exactly what condition it was in.

Thank you. Guess they are at the point transmission fluid changes are not necessary for the average driver. Maybe at 100k.
Old school was to do at ~20k intervals or never since the idea was if you haven't changed it in a long long while its likely the gunk is holding that baby together. lol

So it looks like for my usage (25k a year):

Regular maintenance:
- 7k oil changes for 0-20 Synthetic (check all fluids inspect breaks and other wearing items).
~15k In cabin air filter change.
~ Every year or two clean/replace air intake filter. I have an aftermarket i can just clean.

75-100k service:
- Spark plugs.
- Replace belts.
- Engine coolant.
- Replace power steering fluid.

- Transmission fluid change (never)

 

[quidnatch]

I think your right, there maintenance schedule in the manual sucks so what others like your self do is helpful.

Ill have to check what Mazda did for a transmission change, i think it says in the manual at like 75k for first transmission fluid change?

I believe Mazda recommends not touching the transmission fluid as it is a sealed system.

 

[dradernh]

I believe Mazda recommends not touching the transmission fluid as it is a sealed system.

I don't think it's a sealed system, as each transaxle type has a means to top-up, drain, and fill the case. The workshop manual has instructions for carrying out these procedures.

 

[CJR238]

Suggests spark plugs at 75k, is that really necessary? Don't they use Platinum or iridium spark plugs?

Would rather do 100k, but maybe because of MPG performance?

 

[BearlyHere]

Air Filter done, boom: JBR SKYACTIV Dry Flow OEM Panel Filter 2012+ [SKY-PNL-FLT] - $55.00 : James Barone Racing, Aftermarket Performance

 

[CJR238]

Air Filter done, boom: JBR SKYACTIV Dry Flow OEM Panel Filter 2012+ [SKY-PNL-FLT] - $55.00 : James Barone Racing, Aftermarket Performance

Nice. I want with AEM.

 

[dradernh]

So it looks like for my usage (25k a year):

Regular maintenance:
- 7k oil changes for 0-20 Synthetic (check all fluids inspect breaks and other wearing items).
~15k In cabin air filter change.
~ Every year or two clean/replace air intake filter. I have an aftermarket i can just clean.

75-100k service:
- Spark plugs.
- Replace belts.
- Engine coolant.
- Replace power steering fluid.

- Transmission fluid change (never)

Don't forget a brake fluid flush in there somewhere - you can't run the fluid that came with the car indefinitely. If you want to know when you have to change it, a brake fluid tester will tell you when the moisture content has become too high. They're cheap on Amazon. If you get one, make sure it's for DOT 3 brake fluid, the type that came in your car from the factory.

Another thing you'll need to do periodically is change the battery in your key fob. IIRC, they're supposed to last around two years. I needed to change mine this month, 30 months after we got the car.

Regarding the transmission fluid, you can indeed never change it, and if you'll keep the car only 3-5 years at 25K per year you'll likely be fine. We usually keep our cars until they're totally used up - i.e., 15+ years & ~250K - that's why I decided to change it at 30K and have it examined by people who know what they're looking at. I knew it would be too early to make it worthwhile to send it out to be analyzed, but I'll do that at the second or third change.

--------------------------------------

In comparison, and I'm not sure if they're still doing it, but in the past BMW has filled its transmissions with "lifetime" fluid. Many owners, usually the second, third, or fourth owner by the time it matters, have found themselves in the 100-150K range paying for a premature transmission replacement. Many of those owners bought the cars at seemingly bargain prices, only to discover that what they really bought was a series of $2-6K shop invoices.

Because BMWs are the cars I know best, at the link below I'll offer up to forum members Mike Miller's BMW "Lifetime Maintenance Schedule v03.13". Mike is probably the foremost expert in the U.S. when it comes to taking care of a BMW for the long haul. He updates the LMS every few years as the cars change and new information becomes available.
The basic ideas in the document can be applied to other brands. As always, YMMV. :smile2:

https://www.dslreports.com/r0/downl...2b06/Lifetime Maintenance Schedule v03.13.pdf

For a taste of what's in there, the document begins with the following, which I think applies to our MZ3s as well:

Introduction

This document discusses maintenance for long-term ownership. Long-term means more than 100,000 miles or without a warranty.

If you are going to trade, sell, or return your car during the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty or even much before 100,000 miles there is no reason to perform extra maintenance other than helping out subsequent owners of the car. If you get out of the car during the warranty or even much before 100,000 miles, superior maintenance is not likely to affect your ownership experience with one exception, the manual gearbox – it will shift better if you change its oil at the reasonable intervals discussed here.