2019 CX-5 Need tips on taking over maintenance after 50K miles

[ruthrj]

I looked up a you tube on pulling that manifold and addressing valve carbon. One video said the subject car had only approx. 28,000km on it. And the manifold ports were almost entirely closed with carbon caking. !!!!!!!!!!! Why????? We bought our 2019 CX-5 new. Dealer has done servicing, but not that one. Am I to believe at well under 50,000 miles, part of the motor has to be disassembled to clean out carbon? If that's the case, I should have purchased a different make car. What am I missing here?

Whoa whoa, pump the brakes. You’re likely fine. Was that Felix’s video? If so, I think he’s in the Philippines and drives in 100% city situation, like never gets it to highway speeds. All stop and go, likely all short trips.

I followed his procedure to clean my ‘13 at 68k miles when I was having a slightly rough idle. Mine wasn’t as bad in the video, but the idle was much better after cleaning the valves. The culprit was my frequent short trips around town, like only having to go 2 or 3 miles at a time before having to turn the engine off. If you don’t have any weird symptoms, you’re likely just fine.

Mazda engineered the intake so that the valves should get nice and hot to prevent build up. This problem is not unique to Mazdas but to all direct injection engines (majority of what’s on the road now).

 

[N7turbo]

If that's the case, I should have purchased a different make car. What am I missing here?

All modern engines will do this. But giving the engine some revs each week can help reduce it.

 

[sm1ke]

Pump the brakes is right lol. Often you'll have symptoms of carbon build up present, its not like an overnight issue that can't be rectified. Mileage will drop, and you may notice that the engine is running a little rough. The issue also presents more often in cars where the engine doesn't reach operating temp often enough, as @ruthrj pointed out. Driving the car for a longer period of time occasionally give the engine an opportunity to burn off some of the carbon - but eventually, as with most DI engines, an intake valve walnut blasting may be necessary.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I wish Mazda had a port/DI (D-4S) system like Toyota/Lexus has in many ICE motors….but there is the added cost to prevent valve deposit buildup. My driving habits don’t likely create much of a DFI deposit issue but will pull the intake off in a couple years to check & clean assuming I don’t experience any issues in the meantime. I’ve not seen any intake product reviews or videos that show anything but manual cleaning via chemicals & brush…or walnut blast clean things up.

 

[cz5gt]

To the OP- No. Not true
only on neglected or cars that were driven by grandma to the grocery.
Change oil regularly, use good fuel and dont drive like grandma, do some good highway miles from time to time and you would be good.

 

[DennisT]

OK. This is sound like a lot more common sense. We live in a rural area. See, maybe, 2 cars a day by the place. It's 13 miles to nearest small town; 17 to next, larger, town of 1,400 population. For the past 60+ years I've maintained the habit of never starting a vehicle unless I'm going to drive it enough to fully reach operating temps and more. So here, the Mazda almost never goes fewer than 28 miles every time it's started. And, more than that, into Spokane and back is 160 miles, all 70'ish on I-90. Our low mileage is because I also run a '89 240 Volvo, an older pickup and a Cherokee. So I'm thinking a lot of carbon may not be a major problem in my case..............

 

[200955]

We've gotten along pretty good with our dealer since buying our CX-5 new in 2019. They've done all the oil changes. I do the air filter and cabin filter, but nothing else. Dealer has tried to, "push-sell" us expensive, "maintenance," like dif. oil change, too early brake fluid flush, etc. We passed on those after reading in the owner's book they are not required until later. SO.....now we just passed 50,000 miles. NO more warranty. We have a good local mechanic that does our work on other rigs, so we'll go there. I'd really like to hear what some of you have considered the FIRST and most needed services after passing 50K. Is there any special, "tune up," these cars need besides spark plugs? Etc.. Some feedback would be appreciated. Thank you, Dennis in E WA state.

The only thing any car manufacturer cares about is getting you pass the warranty period. There isn't a vehicle made that shouldn't be able to do this if you didn't even change the oil once or anything else on the maintenance schedule. You could probably drive 30K miles without mechanical issue on most newer vehicles. After warranty runs out, it's all out of your pocket less there be a recall or drastic manufacturing/engineering FUBAR. So, save now pay later which is where most dealerships make their money. YOU screw up, we fix it, YOU pay. Thank you very much. Do not believe those maintenance schedules as they may, or may not, pertain to your geographical area and your driving habits. Living in Alaska is quite different from Texas and short commutes of stop and go is not the same as highway driving - just ask your brakes and tires. Common sense is the ticket here. There seldom if ever exists the "Normal, Heavy and Severe duty" in maintenance schedules and if it does use the one that fits you use of the vehicle, not your wallet. So, just exactly does "not required" mean? How could changing transmission or gearbox fluid be "not required" but engine oil is. I bet that statement was as fiscally appealing to both you and the dealer, YOU screw up, we fix it, YOU pay. I challenge anyone to win a claim on "not required" should catastrophe strike.