2015 CX-5 GT With Blown Head Gasket...Advice Needed

[anyman]

2015 CX5 GT with 100k miles.

Long story short I've been chasing a SLOWLY disappearing coolant issue for a few months. Back in September I decided to start changing my own oil and noticed the coolant reservoir was completely empty. Since then I've been monitoring it. A sniffer test proved to be negative but my guess is the leak is so small that there's not enough gases to trigger the liquid to turn yellow. Today I finally got my test results back from Blackstone (after waiting over two weeks) and it shows a small amount of coolant in the oil (.26%). Bummer.

My question is what should I do next? I'm based in Salt Lake City and I've yet to really find a reputable mechanic with experience working on Mazdas. I could go the dealer route but don't like the idea of paying dealer rates. The main issue is this is my wife's car and uses it a lot for her work so downtime is going to be an issue.

The car has never overheated which sounds like a good thing at this point but she has to keep using it until I find a mechanic to do the work.

I loved this car and would brag to people about how trouble-free it was. I took good care of it. 5k oil changes religiously. Anyway...super, super bummed about this.

 

[anyman]

I thought I'd also ask if a leak down test is considered the gold standard for confirming a head gasket leak? I just don't want to have the mechanic tear down the engine only to find that I have a cracked head or a pinhole leak in the casting...just something more insidious. I guess they could see a cracked cylinder head with a borescope too? Anyway, any advice is appreciated.

 

[Snorting2.5]

Top up your coolant and carry on.

 

[anyman]

Wait…for real?

 

[ceric]

I don't see a 3rd choice for you.
Either open up the engine and track down the leak, OR .... Top off your coolant often and carry on...

 

[HyFlyer]

I agree with the top up and carry on. 0.26% coolant isn't much ( 0.41 ounce) in your oil. Of course ideally it would be none but you could monitor the reservoir drop and get oil analysis and decrease change interval to 3-5000 miles to help mitigate the situation. That's likely cheaper than head replacements or new cars.

I'd roll with it and see what happens.

 

[Snorting2.5]

there is no leak. its being burnt.

its not a big deal.

 

[anyman]

Ok, interesting responses. I'm fairly green when it comes to automotive issues. I do my own oil changes, brakes, etc. But this stuff goes beyond my purview.

My assumption is that the gasket can go at any moment, dump the coolant and overheat the engine which is why I'm freaking out a bit. But maybe not? You guys know more than I do and maybe I'm catastrophizing.

I've monitored the reservoir and I'm estimating about 8 ounces of coolant lost in 2k miles over the past couple of months. So most is presumably being burned as I don't see any external leaks on the engine and that low 1/3 ounce in the crankcase took 5k to accumulate.

We had already decided on a new car this year due to my wife's new job that requires her to travel quite a bit as well as a growing family. So regardless of what we do, the CX5 won't be ours for much longer but I don't want to regret being passive about this.

 

[madar]

Compression test will give you a better idea if it's a head gasket around the cylinder area. It's a high compression engine so I'm guessing it's that.

 

[anyman]

there is no leak. its being burnt.

its not a big deal.

Well there is a leak. Not sure what you mean. Yeah, most of it is more than likely being burnt but a leak is a leak.

 

[Snorting2.5]

i wont believe there is a leak until you show me it.

my 300k KM +skyactiv has consumed some coolant its entire life. there has never been any leaks. the head gasket is perfect.

your head gasket is fine too.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

My ‘15 CX-5 uses no coolant

I’d either get it fixed or get rid of the vehicle.

I guess I’ve been lucky in 35 years of driving to never having a single vehicle with an internal coolant consumption issue…aside from an external leak from a worn out water pump.

 

[Snorting2.5]

My ‘15 CX-5 uses no coolant

I’d either get it fixed or get rid of the vehicle.

I guess I’ve been lucky in 35 years of driving to never having a single vehicle with an internal coolant consumption issue…aside from an external leak from a worn out water pump.

Its never consumed more than a fraction of what's inside the reservoir.

It's not normal, but not any significant concern either.

Engine consumes no oil.

 

[7eregrine]

Just want to say for the record replying to "I can't find a good indy that knows Mazda"...because Mazda's ain't all that complicated or special. Any decent mechanic can replace a head gasket in your Mazda. You don't need a specialist. That's one of the reason we DRIVE THESE CARS.

 

[anyman]

@7eregrine Thanks. Yeah, in my short time under the hood of mine doing simple DIY stuff it's amazing how simple they are. Comparatively under the hood of my Tacoma...I don't know which way is up. Just a mess of wires and hoses. Obviously not an apple-to-apples comparison but getting around the Mazda's engine bay seems relatively simple.

 

[madar]

Well there is a leak. Not sure what you mean. Yeah, most of it is more than likely being burnt but a leak is a leak.

So, let's say over the last 6 months, how much have you had to add to the reservoir? In the last 6 years I think I've added a coffee's cup worth.

 

[anyman]

In the last 6 months (about 6k miles) I’ve added 24 ounces roughly (4 oz for every 1k miles). It’s obviously leaking somewhere and it’s not external.

 

[Snorting2.5]

In the last 6 months (about 6k miles) I’ve added 24 ounces roughly (4 oz for every 1k miles). It’s obviously leaking somewhere and it’s not external.

that does sound a little excessive, but, it could just be consumption. does the engine burn oil?

 

[ColoradoDriver]

Just want to say for the record replying to "I can't find a good indy that knows Mazda"...because Mazda's ain't all that complicated or special. Any decent mechanic can replace a head gasket in your Mazda. You don't need a specialist. That's one of the reason we DRIVE THESE CARS.

Yep, this isn't some specialty exotic car.

 

[dunhillmc]

could also be a water pump leak