North America: Diesel is coming in April 2014!

[change-man]

I'd say it's a lock at this point that it won't be coming in April. doubt we see it at all in CY13 since it wasn't announced and the update has already been tagged as a 2014 model.

I am in Australia and have owned a CX5 Diesel auto since July. The car has had oil changes at 2800, 4000 and 7600 kms. A Mazda Aust enginer looked at my car and took an oil sample at 4000 kms. He said that it only had 1% of diesel in the sump oil and no metal. At 7600 I asked the Mazda dealership (service) to take samples for me and they were tested by an independant laboratory (Caltest of Caltex). Their report stated that the diesel in the sump oil was around 7% and was 'severe'. I have passed this onto Mazda Australia.

New diesels usually get active and passive regenerations of their DPF (diesel particulate filter). I noticed that my car had an active regeneration at 8020 ks.. I then drove 300 kms in 5th gear at 2500 revs, on a 34C (93 F) on a quiet 4 lane highway, with the airconditioner on. At that 'magical' 200kms it went into active regeneration. The speed, revs and heat in the DPF did not result in a passive regeneration.

No wonder my sump is filling up with active regenerations every 200kms (DPF 45% full?) and potentially no passive regens. A bit of research revealed that possibly up to 10% of Aust CX5s are suffering from the fault.

I'm old and this is my retirement car. However I can't take it to places in Australia that I won't to go to because of the oil issue. Internet research has shown this has been an issue before April - but I was not informed of this known potential fault and the car was delivered not fit for purpose.

Long term? I think that a new dipstick and an ecu reporgram won't fully address the issue. The other problem is diluted oil in the sump and its impact on engine logevity. It is not only my car but all of the 2.2 liter diesel engines out there. I have put the info to Mazda Australia and wait for their response.

Is there anyone who can clarify passive regeneations in CX5s?

Tks

 

[leedos]

Just got some insider information :

The CX-5 WILL get the SkyActiveD-2.2 in April of 2013!

Believe it or not, I'm stoked!

Any word on if it will be offered with AWD and manual transmission?

 

[loughman]

Hate to hear people having problems with the Skyactiv D. I would love to have one, but suspect the "economy" won't be there in the US, at least not if the MSRP is $2500 or more.....that would be the absolute most i would pay based strictly on breaking even in the first 150,000 miles or so. Of course the torque of the diesel would be nice, but not if it is a troublesome engine.

We had a VW Jetta TDI back in 2002-2005 and sold it because of $1000 timing belt services and incompetent VW dealers....great car, but poor execution and service from VW. That and it was plagued by electrical malfuntions, lights, power windows, etc.

I personally think (as a mechanical engineer and diesel owner) that the current emissions requirements are killing the economic advantage of diesel engines, except for a very narrow band of commercial users. Even UPS is going back to gas engines in their newest trucks. I haven't done the math on a Ford F350 or new Dodge ram, but with a $8000-10000 MSRP upgrade for the engine, the payback has to be close to 200,000 miles. Hopefully Mazda prices this upgrade to $2000 or so and it gets at least 30% mileage improvement over the 2.0 skyactiv. Then it might work for me, othersise we will stay with what we have.

Can't wait to see and hear a skyactiv D in person!!

 

[CX-SV]

Good points loughman, because you've listed the key factors that will impact US diesel passenger vehicle sales, including purchase price premium (how many thousands of $), maintenance (emissions-related requirements), fuel price (diesel not subsidized), or as you noted in summary, economics.

Hope the diesel's $2000 price premium and 30% mileage improvement happens, but that sounds optimistic.

 

[GiddyGoanna]

hope they get a handle on the oil rise issue...

Yeah, Mazda are using the rest of the world as guinea pigs to sort out this issue.

They know that litigious Americans would not stand for it.

Your lemon laws would send them broke, so test it in the small markets before fixing and releasing it to the large market!

Just sayin'.

 

[rcgnrcp]

Hello All,
Brand new here, but certainly not new to Mazda. My first was an '84 626 LX which was a joy to drive and had the most comfortable driver's seat I've ever experienced. Also have had an '84 RX-7, a '94 626 ES V-6 5 speed, and currently own an '06 Mazda 5 GT 5 speed MT and an '06 MX-5 Miata Limited Edition.

Those of you who own Mazda 5's, please take the time to write/email Mazda to urge them to put the new skyactiv diesel in this vehicle. While I love my 5, the most common complaint I read about in reviews is the lack of reserve power. Better for sure with the MT, but still lacking when loaded. Also, the 5 can't be used for towing. With the diesel, both these problems would be eliminated, and the fuel consumption would be reduced at the same time.

Word is the CX-5 and now the 626 will get this engine, but I really think 5 sales would increase if they made the diesel an option.

Merry Christmas to all!

Rob.

 

[ALafya]

I think the 5 is more popular in Europe and other countries. Here, in the US, people look at it as a small mini-van. Mini-van sales here have shrunk to a trickle with the CUV craze. I think the 5 is not first preference for the newest technology. Mazda will eventually trickle their newer engine to all their products, though it still remain to be seen how successful the diesel will be.
I think Mazda is doing it smart that the sell it as the stronger engine choice, like other companies do with V6 or a Turbo. This way, they can justify the premium while providing exceptional fuel-economy others can't match.