New to forum & new to MS6: Questions about 45000 service

[sharky]

Hello all. I'm the proud owner of a shiny new (for me) Mazdaspeed 6. The purpose of my post is twofold. First to introduce myself, and second to ask a question.

I consider myself a fairly adept mechanic but have never worked on anything as complicated as the MS6 (I'm a carburated bike guy). I paid the dealer to do my last oil change for me. The shop manager came back with several maintenance items he claims I need to do:


Flush the power steering fluid
Have the intake disassembled and cleaned of carbon
Have a 45000 mile service done


I'm pretty skeptical of the first two. Has anyone heard of either of them? If it isn't BS, is it something I can do myself?

As far as the 45000 mile service, what actually needs to be done? They were trying to sell me Marvel Mystery Oil and a bunch of other things. I'm worried they are trying to sell me blinker fluid and change my muffler bearings.

Finally, can you recommend a good source for a service manual? I've always used Chilton and Haynes in the past but they don't appear to be available for the MS6 or M6. I'm thinking about Alldata DIY.

Thanks in advance.

[tunersteve]

I don't have mine in front of me, but check out the owners manual and verify what he's telling you to be correct. I don't know if the PS fluid is something to change at this point.

Knock out anything you can do yourself, most of the smaller things are easy to take care of.

Welcome to the forums as well.

[GoFast]

most of this stuff is just bs IMO. Dealerships make tons of money off of this kind of stuff and laugh all the way to the bank. unless there is a bigger problem, there should be no reason that your ps fluid would need to be changed at 45,000, let alone "flushed" You intake cleaning will simply be a MAF sensor cleaning which should take you 5 minutes and 6 bucks for a can of maf cleaner from pep boys. read the services included in the 45k service and most will seem stupid, easy enough to do by yourself, or not even apply to your car.

[Blendercloud]

Welcome to the forums. Congratulations on joining our MS6 family!

These guys are spot-on with what they are saying. Since you're familiar with a little shade-tree mechanicing you should be fine. You can pop open the power steering fluid reservoir and take a sample. If there are little discolored deposits within the fluid, you have some contamination and it will need to be flushed. If you are not low on fluid and do not have any contamination, you do not need to flush the system.

GoFast is right with the intake cleaning. All you do is pull the two bolts that hold the mass air flow sensor into the stock intake hose, unplug it from the electrical connector and clean it with the previously said MAF cleaner. Make sure to be somewhat careful with how you handle that sensor though. They aren't cheap and they aren't very protected when uninstalled.

If I remember correctly, I think the '45,000 mile service' is a lot of examining of chassis and suspension. You will probably want to get that done. I don't know that I'd keep going to that dealer though. It sounds like they're trying to take advantage of you.

[erick pina]

so if they did this(Have the intake disassembled and cleaned of carbon )they took the intercooler off,that will be alot of work plus they can't start the engine to do this.what they realy do is put the cleaner through the gas pipe to the tank and thats it.

[VRMS6]

WWW.MYMAZDA.COM is mazdas USAs official site. Sign up with your vin. It will give you maint info including what needs to be done when. Going by what the owners manual says you should be doing a oil change, tire rotation, lube of doors/hood/trunk hinges and possably a air filter. Rest is just visual inspections.
If the car is "new" to you and you dont have any maint records you would be wise to replace your rear diff fluid as Mazdas recommendation is to replace every 28K miles. Check the pollen filter for needed replacement. Other than that everything else is dealers way of making $$.....

[USAFVMI08]

I'm pretty your spark plugs are due for a change at 45k. At least that's what people on this site were telling me...

[tunersteve]

I'm pretty your spark plugs are due for a change at 45k. At least that's what people on this site were telling me...

60k per the owners manual. Changing them early never hurt anyone though.

[VRMS6]

60k per the owners manual. Changing them early never hurt anyone though.

X12345

[USAFVMI08]

Oh, whoops. Oh well. The Densos eliminated the hesitation I've been having and have made the ride much smoother :)

[chiefmg]

Welcome. I think everyone has pretty much covered everything. I would recommend the actual factory manual, it's pricey (and huge) at over $100 but it covers it all (including all sorts of troubleshooting for various systems). Since you have bought it used, it wouldn't hurt to change out your fluids. Just be sure to check the owner's manual to be sure to use the correct ones (for instance, the power steering system on this car uses ATF).

[sharky]

So this forum pretty much rocks. I've been a member of many automotive forums in the past and have never gotten so many good answers so fast. Thanks everyone. FYI, here is their 45000 mile service according to the brochure


Change oil/filter
Install CASTLE oil additive
Inspect air cleaner
Inspect and adjust drive belts
Inspect cooling fan
Inspect transmission linkage
Adjust clutch (if necessary)
Service battery
Adjust idle speed
Inspect radiator and hoses
Reset ignition timing if out of spec
Check AC
Check throttle body
Adjust parking brake
Clean and adjust front brakes
Inspect front and rear suspension
Inspect steering box
Inspect tires and adjust pressure
Rotate and balance tires
Check stop, turn signals, and headlights
Inspect wiper blades
top off all fluids
Lube recommended areas
Install CASTLE fuel conditioner
Check EGR system
Check EFI system
Road test


All of this is on sale this week for $300. Sounds like a ripoff at me. This is all stuff I can do easily. The only parts I'm not sure about are the inspections. I'm pretty good friends with the guys at the local lube-quick. I'll ask their opinion on my PS fluid and flush it if they think it needs it. MAF cleaning is easy and so is running Seafoam through the fuel lines.


Any other gotchas you can think of, or do you think I've got it? 60k will be a big one.

[GoFast]

yes, this is all a waste of 300 bucks. If you want, gimme $150 bucks and I will do the following :

-Open hood and look while having a cup of coffee
-look at your dash to see if you have a check engine light
-throw a bottle of FI cleaner in your tank
-rotate your tires
-look at your battery that is a sealed unit and call it good
-pull your parking brake handle
-enjoy your a/c while i finish my cup of coffee

I think i have covered everything on that list....(lol)

Honestly though, it's hose job

As far as your PS fluid, just pop the cap and if its low, top it off. it really shouldnt be though. The 60k is just as big of a joke and twice the money. they will grease your door hinges on that one though

[tunersteve]

Sounds like you got it all figured out sharky. If you want to get ambitious, flush the radiator, change the tranny/diff/transfer case fluids, new spark plugs, new cabin filter, and all of the other recommended items. If it's new, I'd give it a good once over so you know what you're working with, but that might seem a little over the top.

Besides that, a good clay & wax wouldn't hurt, maybe shampoo and deep clean the interior too.

[Blendercloud]

yes, this is all a waste of 300 bucks. If you want, gimme $150 bucks and I will do the following :

-Open hood and look while having a cup of coffee
-look at your dash to see if you have a check engine light
-throw a bottle of FI cleaner in your tank
-rotate your tires
-look at your battery that is a sealed unit and call it good
-pull your parking brake handle
-enjoy your a/c while i finish my cup of coffee

I think i have covered everything on that list....(lol)

Honestly though, it's hose job

As far as your PS fluid, just pop the cap and if its low, top it off. it really shouldnt be though. The 60k is just as big of a joke and twice the money. they will grease your door hinges on that one though

I lol'd. Glad you like the forum Sharky.

[Killer]

welcome

[VRMS6]

So this forum pretty much rocks. I've been a member of many automotive forums in the past and have never gotten so many good answers so fast. Thanks everyone. FYI, here is their 45000 mile service according to the brochure


Change oil/filter
Install CASTLE oil additive
Inspect air cleaner
Inspect and adjust drive belts
Inspect cooling fan
Inspect transmission linkage
Adjust clutch (if necessary)
Service battery
Adjust idle speed
Inspect radiator and hoses
Reset ignition timing if out of spec
Check AC
Check throttle body
Adjust parking brake
Clean and adjust front brakes
Inspect front and rear suspension
Inspect steering box
Inspect tires and adjust pressure
Rotate and balance tires
Check stop, turn signals, and headlights
Inspect wiper blades
top off all fluids
Lube recommended areas
Install CASTLE fuel conditioner
Check EGR system
Check EFI system
Road test


All of this is on sale this week for $300. Sounds like a ripoff at me. This is all stuff I can do easily. The only parts I'm not sure about are the inspections. I'm pretty good friends with the guys at the local lube-quick. I'll ask their opinion on my PS fluid and flush it if they think it needs it. MAF cleaning is easy and so is running Seafoam through the fuel lines.


Any other gotchas you can think of, or do you think I've got it? 60k will be a big one.

Where do I start....
Clutch not adjustable...
Battery is sealed no maint to it...
Ignition timing is controlled by the ECU and is not adjustable...
Ummm what do you clean and adjust on front brakes?? There disks not drums..

[GoFast]

Here is a demonstration on cleaning your brakes.....



http://blog.nbc.com/ross_blog/TAO%20blowing%20candles.jpg

[Super Shredder]

any type of fluid flush is good, a simple person can clean an intake, be more concentrated on lubing, engine, tranny fluid swap, make sure you switched to synthetic by now, driving belt replacements, tires/alignment, tell them check the transfer case, rear diff, and spark plugs. and while the intercooler is off tell them to check the internals.

[tunersteve]

any type of fluid flush is good, a simple person can clean an intake, be more concentrated on lubing, engine, tranny fluid swap, make sure you switched to synthetic by now, driving belt replacements, tires/alignment, tell them check the transfer case, rear diff, and spark plugs. and while the intercooler is off tell them to check the internals.

??? No reason to.

[USAFVMI08]

Here is a demonstration on cleaning your brakes...

And make sure you keep your hands like that along with wearing the same kind of shirt :D

[Super Shredder]

well i would like my internals checked personally before i do any more modding, with the ok, i will be moving onto intercooler, exhaust, and ap

[GoFast]

well i would like my internals checked personally before i do any more modding, with the ok, i will be moving onto intercooler, exhaust, and ap

internals as in the pistons, bearing, crank, cams, etc....? Do you really think that a dealer is going to remove your engine from your car, tear it down, bust out a mic and some plastigage and then rebuild and re-install as a part of a "routine" service? And would you honestly do that to put on some bolt go-fast goodies?

[Super Shredder]

i thought i said check, not dissassemble and yes, my dealership would do it. they love me. and for 800$+ a 50,000 service they better do anything the fuck i ask.

[GoFast]

how would you check the internals without doing what i said?

[tunersteve]

i thought i said check, not dissassemble and yes, my dealership would do it. they love me. and for 800$+ a 50,000 service they better do anything the fuck i ask.

Someone is bending you over then for a 50,000 mile snake oil treatment. I would be willing to bet they won't be checking your internals, the sheer cost of labor would be above the benefits.

[Super Shredder]

this is probably true for most dealerships, but if you remember i posted a special PM only infobox about a certain NJ dealership that is very pro-tuning, as well as the person who works on my car is young, cool, and also has a tuned speed6 and has already done 3-4 free things for my car that most places would charge 2 hours of labor for. it hasnt come around yet, i have 5k left to go in 2 weeks ill let you know how he did the internal check (since i will be there when it happens)