Maintenance schedule; new member
 

Hi guys,
New member here with a 2008 Mazdaspeed3 with 45k miles on the odometer.

I would typify my driving, in regards to which maintenance schedule to follow, as non-severe/normal.

I am generally satisfied with the dealer who sold me the car and to whom I take it for routine maintenance because they have been responsive and proactive in solving the smoking turbo problem I have had with my MS3. I find, however, that they tend to push for maintenance to be down at the lower end of the mileage scale. E.g., I think that most folks would agree that you ought to change the fluid in your manual transmission between 30k and 60k. I chose 45k; dealer "complained" that I should have had it done at 30K.

As my mileage begins to pile up, I'd appreciate some input on the following items:

Spark plugs: several sites I visited recommended changing non-platinum plugs at 30k. Would the car have come stock with non-platinum plugs?

Coolant flush: The manual says if it came equipped with FL22 coolant, 192k or 10 years. Again, any easy way to tell if it has FL22 coolant?

Transfer case fluid
Rear differential fluid
Transaxle fluid.
Can anyone suggest at what interval I should change these three?

Thanks so much. I confess that I joined the Mazda24/7 Forum some time ago but when I posted a simple question about intervals, I got 59 views and not a single suggestion.

Hoping this forum works out better.

I think the FL22 stuff is orange, the normal green coolant should be changed every 3 years (not sure of mileage)
Manual trans fluid doesn't need to be changed, the maintenance schedule only says to check it. If it starts looking dirty, then change it. I looked at mine after 30-40k miles and it looked new golden colored, so I have forgotten about that.
transfer case, rear diff - none on this car unless you modified in an AWD system.

For brakes, coolant, follow the schedule since they break down with time (brake fluid absorbs moisture, coolant becomes corrosive & conductive).
For oils, trans fluid and such, there's a schedule, but do keep in mind that depends on your driving habits and how clean the engine is running (I.E. burning oil / leaking fuel past the rings). SO monitor those fluids to see when they start going south.
As for plugs & other mechanical things like the brakes, do a visual inspection once in a while. Plugs will start to have the electrodes round over and the gap increases as it wears, eventually causing hard starts & poor performance. Until that starts, there's no real need to replace them.

Thanks
 

Thanks for that detailed response. Exactly what I was looking for: some guidance as to when to change the various fluids.

Much appreciated.

One more maintenance question, please
 

When I took the car in at about 30k miles, I asked the service guy about changing the fuel filter.

He looked it up - it did not fill me with confidence that he had to look it up - and then told me that it was located inside the fuel pump which in turn was inside or atop the fuel tank and that replacing it was not normal maintenance. Doing so would require removing the fuel tank and be very expensive.

I have to tell you, I was really surprised at that! I recently found and downloaded the Shop Manuals for both the first and second generation Mazdaspeed3 and saw that the fuel filter was indeed inside the fuel pump, in or on the gas tank but found no recommendation for any change interval.

What's your take on this? Do folks not change their fuel filters in this car??? Sound like it would be a _very_ expensive maintenance item if they did.

Thanks,
Jarhead.