What have you done to your CX-9 today?

[sm1ke]

Took it to a wand wash to get most of the muddy junk off the car, then finished with a waterless wash in the driveway. Wheels still need a good scrub but I'll be swapping them over soon anyway.

 

[shawnee]

Went ahead and installed the frameless rear-view mirror. Took about an hour. Thought it was going to be plug-and-play, but I had to rewire the mirror

 

[sm1ke]

Did an oil change and filmed a video.

 

[shawnee]

Went ahead and replaced the infotainment screen in my 2016 CX-9 Grand Touring. Upgraded from the 8-inch screen to the 9-inch screen. One of the easiest modifications I’ve done.

The tools I used were a 10mm socket, flathead screwdriver, and a plastic pry-tool.

 

[Antoine]

Went ahead and replaced the infotainment screen in my 2016 CX-9 Grand Touring. Upgraded from the 8-inch screen to the 9-inch screen. One of the easiest modifications I’ve done.

The tools I used were a 10mm socket, flathead screwdriver, and a plastic pry-tool.

@shawnee This would make for a great addition to our newly updated DIY section (formerly known as Resources)...

Mazdas247 DIY & Guides

mazdas247.com

@sm1ke recently posted one for his oil change video...

2016-2023 CX-9: DIY Oil Change Video

Apr 22, 2026

Quick 4.5 min video showing engine oil change process and tools

• sm1ke
• DIY Guides & How-Tos

 

[theblooms]

It's only when you wash the car that you realize how big the CX-9 really is. But damn that Soul Crystal Red is breathtaking.

And I have a whole system when I wash cars. I even have a mixed bed demineralizer so the regular water doesn't lay on the car creating spots. I'm anal like that.

 

[N7turbo]

I don't have a DI source, but as long as I wash in the shade I'm good.

 

[theblooms]

I don't have a DI source, but as long as I wash in the shade I'm good.

I got mine from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)

 

[N7turbo]

I don't get water spots if I'm diligent with my process. I only wash after the sun puts its shadow over the driveway (east facing). I also re-foam the panels until I have finished the contact wash for all panels. Or I'm doing a rinseless wash, which is done one section at a time and will never spot.

I've also been working on a hybrid wash process. Do a foam pre-wash when necessary, then rinse, but finish with rinseless after pulling the car into the garage. It eliminates the 2nd foaming, the 2nd rinse, and laundering of the wash mitts/pads. You just go straight into drying with a twist loop when you're done with the sponge on each panel.

 

[dougal]

Drove my 2021 over 1400 miles up and down the east coast. Mostly highway but about 200 of city. I decided to drive max of 5 miles over speed limit. I averaged 29 MPG over those miles. My best MPG 30.3 over the first 501 miles,

My CX-9 currently has over 141,000 miles.

 

[sm1ke]

Drove my 2021 over 1400 miles up and down the east coast. Mostly highway but about 200 of city. I decided to drive max of 5 miles over speed limit. I averaged 29 MPG over those miles. My best MPG 30.3 over the first 501 miles,

My CX-9 currently has over 141,000 miles.

Wow, nice! My CX-9's have never even come close.. well, the 2022 had an average L/100km reading of 8.4 (equal to about 28 mpg) when I drove it home from the dealership, but I suspect the dealer "engineered" that reading with some careful highway driving.

Did you do anything different to improve mpg, besides driving habits? Like increase tire pressure, for example?

 

[sm1ke]

Got the 22s on. No pics cause I haven't washed it yet lol.

 

[dougal]

Wow, nice! My CX-9's have never even come close.. well, the 2022 had an average L/100km reading of 8.4 (equal to about 28 mpg) when I drove it home from the dealership, but I suspect the dealer "engineered" that reading with some careful highway driving.

Did you do anything different to improve mpg, besides driving habits? Like increase tire pressure, for example?

Nope. Just drive slower. If this speed limit was 65 MPH, I drove 70. If it was 70, I went 75. Fast enough for most traffic out of the left lane, but it is amazing how much fuel economy improves.

I will also say that I replaced my stock tires with Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 tires and they have lasted over 100,000 miles.

 

[theblooms]

Nope. Just drive slower. If this speed limit was 65 MPH, I drove 70. If it was 70, I went 75. Fast enough for most traffic out of the left lane, but it is amazing how much fuel economy improves.

I will also say that I replaced my stock tires with Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 tires and they have lasted over 100,000 miles.

I don't think that's possible with our family. The CX-9 is just SOOOOOO SMOOOOOOOOOOOOTH going down the road, especially with the Michelin CrossClimate 2's on there. We have both caught ourselfs, shall we say, "speeding". So much so, yeah, I put a Uniden R8 in there. And yes it's saved our asses. It's paid for itself for sure.

 

[Silly Wabbit]

Got the 22s on. No pics cause I haven't washed it yet lol.

Then we all know it didn't happen

 

[sm1ke]

I washed it yesterday, then filled up on fuel this morning (ouch).

I'm pretty sure this is the most I've ever paid to fill a fuel tank ($130 CAD for 59.4L of Shell 93). I'm glad I never went for the 2015 4Runner I was initially wanting to buy before I test drove the CX-9 in 2016.

 

[laika424]

Joining the party and exiting the lurker world.

I just finished doing an complete interior clean of the car after the Canadian winter and kids dirtying the car. I have a '22 signature so did a full detail with including cleaning the leather seat which took me an entire day.

Today was the day to do the oil change, filter change, rear diff and front transfer oil and the spark plugs.

Next weekend will be dedicated for exterior polish and ceramic coating. I also have a bike rack to put together and that includes adding a trailer wiring harness. I completely forgot to take photos but will do so after the exterior wash and ceramic coating.

Now a little question, everything looked good fairly good except that the rear differential oil was a lot darker than the front. @sm1ke I remember seeing in one of the thread that you had a rear axle failure and was wondering if you also saw noticed the rear burning the oil quicker and whether I should consider more frequent change for the rear?

 

[sm1ke]

Now a little question, everything looked good fairly good except that the rear differential oil was a lot darker than the front. @sm1ke I remember seeing in one of the thread that you had a rear axle failure and was wondering if you also saw noticed the rear burning the oil quicker and whether I should consider more frequent change for the rear?

So when I had the rear diff failure on my 2018, I attributed it to a manufacturer's defect/error. I can't prove it, but it is possible that the fluid level in the rear diff was "low" as many report that they had to fill more than they drained out. When I did drain the fluid, it was after the rear diff had failed, so I could not tell whether the rear fluid was darker than the front.

That said, when I did the diff fluid drain and fill on my 2022, the rear fluid was slightly darker than the front. Not significantly so, but if you looked at a sample of each side by side, you'd be able to tell the colour was different. I did my drain and fill at 72.5k kms and plan to do subsequent drain and fills every 50k kms (31k mi).

 

[laika424]

So when I had the rear diff failure on my 2018, I attributed it to a manufacturer's defect/error. I can't prove it, but it is possible that the fluid level in the rear diff was "low" as many report that they had to fill more than they drained out. When I did drain the fluid, it was after the rear diff had failed, so I could not tell whether the rear fluid was darker than the front.

That said, when I did the diff fluid drain and fill on my 2022, the rear fluid was slightly darker than the front. Not significantly so, but if you looked at a sample of each side by side, you'd be able to tell the colour was different. I did my drain and fill at 72.5k kms and plan to do subsequent drain and fills every 50k kms (31k mi).

Thanks for the reply. I got the car last year with around 45k km and this year I decided to do the change of the fluids at 58k km. So with a sample of 2 cars it seems like the rear diff wears the oil quicker. Which might not be too crazy considering that the rear diff has less oil in it.