Engine Oil Rise

[dad of jon]

Hi all,

We are seriously contemplating buying a 2nd hand CX5 Sport Nav 175 to replace our current RAV4 T180 but after reading this thread I am not so sure.

Apologies if these questions have already been answered but here goes:
1. Have Mazda now treated this as a recall & the issue been resolved or I am at risk of buying a used vehicle that still has these problems?
2. Is the mpg really 41/42 (is this the 2wd version or 4wd) as my wife commutes around 20k motorway miles each year and I ideally want something that is doing around 50 mpg but with the benefits of 4wd?
3. If this problem has not been a recall or completely fixed are we still likely to encounter these issues given the vehicle will not be used for many short journeys?

Thanks

Hi,

1. there has been a recall letter sent out for Exhaust pressure sensors and the car should have a type 'c' dipstick it may also have an ECU upgrade. when buying 2nd hand check you have a 'c' dipstick and if not ask awkward questions. Actually ask awkward questions anyway! If you get a (huh) from the dealer look elsewhere. You can ask to see the digital service record prior to buying. You may not be able to tell if the previous owner ran the car with over the X mark on dipstick and if the dealer then drained or replaced the oil. That would be my biggest concern buying 2nd hand. I knew of the oil level problem before I bought the car so I kept an eye on it.

2. I get 45 mpg with 2wd 150ps. Actually I get higher mpg driving around urban than on motorway.
If you are going to drive a lot of m-way miles at around 65-70 you'll get about 45 but if you were to do 80mph you'll be getting 40mpg. (As I found out in France). The mazda 6 will fare much better fuel wise on motorways, it has a lot of the same tech but of course is more aerodynamic.

3. if the car's had the recall and 'patches' done it should be fine.

 

[rimsy]

My Mazda CX5 has just done 7500 miles of commute mileage 100 round trips and today the Oil Pressure warning light has come on. I have been fitted with the new dipstick but the sensor change is due. The oild level is at the x mark but I now feel reluctant to drive it with the oil pressure light on. I presume this is due to the low viscosity of the fuel and the Oil pump unable to bring thin diluted oil up to pressure. Advice anyone???? Can I drive it still???

how was this resolved in the end? Mine has done about 8k miles and oil pressure light came on today (though oil level on the dip was nowhere near the x). I'm a little worried!!!

 

[Gareth45]

I would ask the dealer to commit to this question.
Personally I would not as you have described why this warning light has come on.

 

[BROADBEAN9513]

Hi Gareth,
Just to let you know I have spoken to Mazda UK about this problem. My CX5 had the Oild pressure light up at 7500 miles had to go in for first service early out of turn and this was logged as the first service on the computer. I complained to Mazda UK who have credited my account but it appears that the servicing by my calculation will be every 7500 mile ish for Oil change due to excessive dilution which is why the oil pressure light came on etc. (Oil became too thin to be sensed!!!). This is still giving me problems as I purchased the car on the onus it would get serviced every 12500 miles or annually etc. I have had all the mods and patches done. I have also started a spreadsheet to monitor the rise in oil level from the service change and so far the oil has risen by 10mm in 1800miles with only 14mm till the X mark. This would equate to about 5000 miles driven before a further oil change. I will approach Mazda again if this occurs. Driving economically does not help as the regen is only really effective at over 2000rpm.

 

[BROADBEAN9513]

how was this resolved in the end? Mine has done about 8k miles and oil pressure light came on today (though oil level on the dip was nowhere near the x). I'm a little worried!!!

Just to let you know I have spoken to Mazda UK about this problem. My CX5 had the Oild pressure light up at 7500 miles had to go in for first service early out of turn and this was logged as the first service on the computer. I complained to Mazda UK who have credited my account but it appears that the servicing by my calculation will be every 7500 mile ish for Oil change due to excessive dilution which is why the oil pressure light came on etc. (Oil became too thin to be sensed!!!). This is still giving me problems as I purchased the car on the onus it would get serviced every 12500 miles or annually etc. I have had all the mods and patches done. I have also started a spreadsheet to monitor the rise in oil level from the service change and so far the oil has risen by 10mm in 1800miles with only 14mm till the X mark. This would equate to about 5000 miles driven before a further oil change. I will approach Mazda again if this occurs. Driving economically does not help as the regen is only really effective at over 2000rpm.

 

[Dr_Watson]

How can it be only effective over 2000rpm. I can and do happily drive around daily, overtake this and that, certainly not driving like grandpa, a never go over 2000rpm. Defeats the purpose of a diesel if you need to rev it above 2000rpm.

If they want us to drive in such a way, especially when the regen is taking places then they should have at least made a light visible when the regen is ongoing. It's very difficult to know the regen is happening by watching your fuel consumption.

 

[dad of jon]

broadbean,

thats not good. when did you get your car? did you buy it from new?

some dealers just drained excess fluid off rather than replace oil. My car vin no 147XXX has done 11500 and has made it to the the 1 year mark after an earlier oil change and patched were applied.

 

[alex1706]

broadbean,

thats not good. when did you get your car? did you buy it from new?

some dealers just drained excess fluid off rather than replace oil. My car vin no 147XXX has done 11500 and has made it to the the 1 year mark after an earlier oil change and patched were applied.

Mine needed a premature oil change at 6,200 miles thanks to the oil rise. The modifications to the E.C.U., dipstick & exhaust sensor were carried out shortly afterwards. I did however have the annual service at 11,200 but in the interim no significant oil rise and has hardly moved since. Also a marked improvement with regard to fuel consumption.

Alex

 

[BROADBEAN9513]

Hi dad of Jon, Yes I purchased it new and it has had the apparent MODS done. The good thing is that Mazda have reimbursed me for the first service etc. The oil level is still rising and it appears to getting worse. You know you are getting near the X mark as the economy gets better!!!! This is probably down to the thinner Oil. I shall keep this page updated as there is another modification due top be done on the oil pressure sensor!!!!

 

[BROADBEAN9513]

broadbean,

thats not good. when did you get your car? did you buy it from new?

some dealers just drained excess fluid off rather than replace oil. My car vin no 147XXX has done 11500 and has made it to the the 1 year mark after an earlier oil change and patched were applied.

Hi dad of Jon, Yes I purchased it new and it has had the apparent MODS done. The good thing is that Mazda have reimbursed me for the first service etc. The oil level is still rising and it appears to getting worse. You know you are getting near the X mark as the economy gets better!!!! This is probably down to the thinner Oil. I shall keep this page updated as there is another modification due top be done on the oil pressure sensor!!!!

 

[xtrailman]

Just to let you know I have spoken to Mazda UK about this problem. My CX5 had the Oild pressure light up at 7500 miles had to go in for first service early out of turn and this was logged as the first service on the computer. I complained to Mazda UK who have credited my account but it appears that the servicing by my calculation will be every 7500 mile ish for Oil change due to excessive dilution which is why the oil pressure light came on etc. (Oil became too thin to be sensed!!!). This is still giving me problems as I purchased the car on the onus it would get serviced every 12500 miles or annually etc. I have had all the mods and patches done. I have also started a spreadsheet to monitor the rise in oil level from the service change and so far the oil has risen by 10mm in 1800miles with only 14mm till the X mark. This would equate to about 5000 miles driven before a further oil change. I will approach Mazda again if this occurs. Driving economically does not help as the regen is only really effective at over 2000rpm.

Who has told you the regen requires over 2000rpm?

That may have applied to my old Xtrail, but only if the dash warning light came on, mine never did even though my usage was mainly short journeys, very little motorway.
The CX-5 does timed regens anyway (same as my Xtrail did) so you should only need to do high revs should you see a DPF warning light come up on the dash, again I've never seen one with only 3.7K miles since July.

Also I would say that 90% of my driving is below 2K revs, today I used sixth gear at 1250 rpm without effort, I seen it just over 1K revs. Showing 42.7 average MPG.

 

[BROADBEAN9513]

yes I get roughly the same to the gallon. I was informed by Mazda that below 2000rpm there would be excessive fuel waste on the regen cycle.

Who has told you the regen requires over 2000rpm?

That may have applied to my old Xtrail, but only if the dash warning light came on, mine never did even though my usage was mainly short journeys, very little motorway.
The CX-5 does timed regens anyway (same as my Xtrail did) so you should only need to do high revs should you see a DPF warning light come up on the dash, again I've never seen one with only 3.7K miles since July.

Also I would say that 90% of my driving is below 2K revs, today I used sixth gear at 1250 rpm without effort, I seen it just over 1K revs. Showing 42.7 average MPG.

 

[Dr_Watson]

Same as saying the regen only works correctly above 65 mph!

 

[dad of jon]

My car is off for service today. I checked the oil at 11800 it is pretty much at the level its been since the unscheduled oil change and s/w upgrade 1000's of miles ago. That is 1/2 way between the full mark and the X.

 

[BROADBEAN9513]

Is your CX-5 the Higher BHP model (175)?

My car is off for service today. I checked the oil at 11800 it is pretty much at the level its been since the unscheduled oil change and s/w upgrade 1000's of miles ago. That is 1/2 way between the full mark and the X.

 

[dad of jon]

Is your CX-5 the Higher BHP model (175)?

nope

and my oil after service is 2mm ish over F mark. checked 25 miles after service

I did wonder if the 175 bhp auto would be more prone to oil level rise due to less revs, cos if the exhaust is never hot enough (short trips / cold weather) the dpf will get clogged quicker and then diesel is injected on the exhaust? stroke of the engine to raise exhaust gas temp and burn off the dpf deposits. My shortest journey is about 6 miles / 15 mins so I dont expect any problems now with the fixes applied to the car.

I also like xtrail find it hard to get over 2000rpm.

 

[xtrailman]

I have read a post from a skoda owner who says his car regens at 1K revs, so I don't think the 2K applies ?

Also I watched the instantaneous mileage reading the other day returning from a 5 mile trip, a regen took place at under 2K revs which did appear to finish before I arrived home.

 

[dad of jon]

I have read a post from a skoda owner who says his car regens at 1K revs, so I don't think the 2K applies ?

Also I watched the instantaneous mileage reading the other day returning from a 5 mile trip, a regen took place at under 2K revs which did appear to finish before I arrived home.

The driving at 2000 rpm and above applies to when the dpf light comes on - page 4-54 of manual. Page 4-130 warns of of the conditions that could clog up the pdf because the active regens are unable to complete.

i've owned dpf cars since apr 2007 and not had the dpf warning light come on once.

city cars with diesel and dpf dont make much sense...because if you do a lot of this....

The diesel particulate filter collects and
removes most of the particulate matter
(PM) in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine.
PM collected by the diesel particulate
filter is cleared during normal driving,
however, PM may not be removed and the
diesel particulate filter indicator light may
illuminate under the following conditions:
l If the vehicle is driven at 15 km/h (9
mph) or less continuously.
l If the vehicle is repeatedly driven for a
short period of time (10 minute or less)
or driven while the engine is cold.
l If the vehicle is idled for a long time.

they you'll most likely need to do this......

The diesel particulate filter indicator light
illuminates when the particulate matter
(PM) cannot be removed automatically
and the amount of collected PM reaches a
specified amount. Drive the vehicle at an
engine speed of 2,000 rpm or more and a
vehicle speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) or
more for about 10 to 15 minutes to
eliminate the PM.

 

[xtrailman]

Right I'll have a read, it was the same with the Xtrail but I never saw a dpf light in the time I had it, nearly 5 years, so I don't expect to see one on the Mazda either.

 

[dad of jon]

Right I'll have a read, it was the same with the Xtrail but I never saw a dpf light in the time I had it, nearly 5 years, so I don't expect to see one on the Mazda either.

I suspect that they allow a safety margin of some sort, but I'm not taking any chances. I've never had a dpf light come on since driving dpf equipped cars from 2007. so like you I don't expect one now especially because I do the same journeys I did in my kia carens. Anything under a 10 min drive and I take the petrol car.