Problem?

[xtrememps]

I just recently got an extremely big illness and had to be bed ridden for over a week so I'm not sure if I'm just being paranoid and never noticed this (also it recently got a little warmer out so maybe I've been outside more). I'm taking it in tomorrow to get my radio looked at (Sirius keeps losing presets and for this sound).

Anyway, I took a short video of a rattle which is only noticeable at idle outside the car mainly from the passenger side wheel well or with the hood open (near the oil cap or by the belts somewhere?). It isn't noticeable from inside the car with the windows up or when driving around. Stationary the sound sounds like it speeds up in frequency when applying throttle but it's hard to tell because it gets overpowered by the sound of the engine. It sounds like a rattle sort of. I've heard rod knock before but I'm not familiar with valve sounds too much. Could that possibly be it or is this just normal? The engine's got synthetic changed less than 3000 miles ago and it's pretty much been babied except for a missed 2-3 shift which has got me worried.

Opinions? Thanks in advance.

Also looked under the oil cap and saw this: ">

Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omD-hR1Tkec

 

[xtrememps]

Sorry for the bad video I can take another one I wanted to open the hood but I had to have my car in the driveway because the street sweeper was and there isn't a whole lot of space.

 

[xtrememps]

Wow, no responses yet. Well update: The mechanic at the dealership thought it was normal but I lucked out and they had a Mazda engineer there and they ordered a new belt/tensioner unit after he looked at it. Guess the oil is normal..

 

[mazdaspeed32007]

your going to get a ton of carbon build up in the oil. thats normal. the oil is still just fine. someone on here did a composit test to see how the oil withstood like...5000 miles and it was almost like brand new. just black. so when you change your oil and you go....oh man that s*** is black as hell. its probably fine. cars nowwa days are very different from yesteryear. i got that tick noise too recently. if all theyre doing is oredering you a belt tensioner i have complete faith that i dont give two s**** to change that myself seeming my warranty is up. ill get 1 when i see my belt or smell my belt burning up. so far so good.

 

[Bravnik]

ROFL - I love that the Mazda Tech said it was normal. My car does NOT do that and I have never heard a MS3 that did. Belt tensioner is my guess as well as that does not sound like Valve or Rod to me. There is a TSB for the Belt Tensioner for our cars but normally the noise it refers too is only at startup. I hope it fixes your issue.

Anyway, GL man. I hate seeing sick MS3's.

 

[xtrememps]

Thanks for the kind replies! I figured the oil was normal it's just the funny colored traces in it that had me wondering.

Anyway they just called me notifying me it was done but I have to pick it up tomorrow morning because my friend bailed on me. For what it's worth I got two responses on youtube saying they had an ms3 and thought it was normal. But the tech said it was fixed so I shall go and see!

 

[RC08MS3]

I get a weird noise too, dosen't sound like that though. Hope they fix it up for ya

 

[xtrememps]

Just got my car back this morning and all is well! The sound is gone! So if you view my youtube video and think to yourself hey I have that sound go try and get it fixed...it may be your belt tensioner.

 

[mazdaspeed32007]

Just got my car back this morning and all is well! The sound is gone! So if you view my youtube video and think to yourself hey I have that sound go try and get it fixed...it may be your belt tensioner.

thanks for the update! i dont have a warranty anymore but theres no reason why they wouldnt fix the belt tensioner for me seeing how theres nothing that would cause my belt tensioner to go besides it being a POS part.

 

[eg6motion]

...someone on here did a composit test to see how the oil withstood like...5000 miles and it was almost like brand new...

I would hope so...their "severe" oil change schedule is 5000 miles and their standard is 7500. Should last at least that long. Most people change it more frequently anyway.

 

[mazdaspeed32007]

my point was older cars oil changes were every 3000k. people became accustomed to that and its just not necessary anymore. go ahead and do it if you wnt but its a waste of money. 5000k oil is that same as your 3000k oil.....so why change it prematurely? just saying. sometimes people think the dealership is trying to save money on oil changes by making them less frequent but thats not the case. anywho.

 

[xtrememps]

I would hope so...their "severe" oil change schedule is 5000 miles and their standard is 7500. Should last at least that long. Most people change it more frequently anyway.

Well I use synthetic in mine so I do change it every 5k...i'm not sure what brand they used since last time I got it changed was at the dealership(payed out the ass for synthetic sue me it's cold out). Last time I changed my oil before that was Mobil 1 and it seemed to hold out better.

Regardless I wasn't concerned about the darkness just the weird colored traces in the oil if you look carefully. Guess it's nothing. On a related note they way overtightened the cap, I had to get a big towel and wrap it around it because I couldn't get it off with my bare hands!

 

[mazdaspeed32007]

Well I use synthetic in mine so I do change it every 5k...i'm not sure what brand they used since last time I got it changed was at the dealership(payed out the ass for synthetic sue me it's cold out). Last time I changed my oil before that was Mobil 1 and it seemed to hold out better.

Regardless I wasn't concerned about the darkness just the weird colored traces in the oil if you look carefully. Guess it's nothing. On a related note they way overtightened the cap, I had to get a big towel and wrap it around it because I couldn't get it off with my bare hands!

grow a set of muscles and quit being such a wussand maybe you could open it. lol. im jk. i know what you mean though. even when i tighen it hand tight it seems to lock itslef as tight as possible between changes

 

[xtrememps]

grow a set of muscles and quit being such a wussand maybe you could open it. lol. im jk. i know what you mean though. even when i tighen it hand tight it seems to lock itslef as tight as possible between changes

LOL Yeah the power part wasn't a problem it's my soft girly hands that were hence the towel lol.