What would it take to swap the 2.5l into a gen 1?

[Kiyomi]

if your worried about fuel consumption, just forget going this route. the 2.5l is a gas guzzler pretending to be a fuel econobox engine.

[Nickzgrl]

ill be doing research this week.
ill try to find out everything i can abt the swap then post it up.
i leave for holidays soon so may be in a couple weeks.

[Chrisinski]

if your worried about fuel consumption, just forget going this route. the 2.5l is a gas guzzler pretending to be a fuel econobox engine.

+1

[TheMAN]

waaaa
wonder why the 2.3l burns oil? because everyone that had theirs blew up used the recommended 5W20 piss.... better CAFE numbers for mazda at the expense of increased engine wear and oil consumption.... mazda/ford doesn't care because they knew during their cost analyses that the failure rates during warranty would be low and that they don't care after the warranty expires.... they want you to buy more cars anyway, which is why new cars aren't built as well as the japanese cars of the 90s..... planned obsolescence!

run the proper oil it was designed for since new (5W30 or better), and it's rock solid

[a_ahmed]

^I've already been using 5w30 on the old engine that blew and on the new engine i swapped in. I in fact switched to 5w40 more than half a year ago or however long it's been now I can't remember.

One guy has already swapped a 2.5 into his 1st gen mz3 but doesn't seem to detail totally everything as to what he swapped or didn't and what he used. Seems like he used the 2.5 flywheel and header but had to modify exhaust slightly cut:

http://www.mazda3forums.com/showthread.php?t=387711

Either way I am doing this rather than getting another car, I'm still fricking making payments on this pos... again it's a great car with a pos engine. So this is worth it instead of another 2.3 or downgrading to a 2.0 which will probably as much work as with the 2.5 or worse yet doing an ms3 swap which will cost lots more and be even more work.

[Jackal]

if your worried about fuel consumption, just forget going this route. the 2.5l is a gas guzzler pretending to be a fuel econobox engine.

Exsqueeze me?


Haha!

[Flagrum_3]

^I've already been using 5w30 on the old engine that blew and on the new engine i swapped in. I in fact switched to 5w40 more than half a year ago or however long it's been now I can't remember.

One guy has already swapped a 2.5 into his 1st gen mz3 but doesn't seem to detail totally everything as to what he swapped or didn't and what he used. Seems like he used the 2.5 flywheel and header but had to modify exhaust slightly cut:

http://www.mazda3forums.com/showthread.php?t=387711

Either way I am doing this rather than getting another car, I'm still fricking making payments on this pos... again it's a great car with a pos engine. So this is worth it instead of another 2.3 or downgrading to a 2.0 which will probably as much work as with the 2.5 or worse yet doing an ms3 swap which will cost lots more and be even more work.

First using 5w-40 in your 2.3 might have been a little too much. 5w30 is probably the thickest you should go, if you consider the close engine tolerances and small oil passages, you could have been starving certain areas of the engine of oil due to low flow.

Why not just spend the cash and get another 2.3 and use synthetic 5w30 in the new one? It'll save alot of headaches and possible future issues.

_3

[a_ahmed]

why the hell would i waste another penny on another overpriced piece of shit 2.3 I already swapped to a 2.3 last year after the other one blew up and have been using 5w30 since i got it, but upped to 5w40.

Worst money pit car ever. the 2.3 liter engine sucks. Didn't you read anything that was posted earlier...

I'm not getting another 2.3 only to have the same crap happen AGAIN. Damn mazda and their denial that there ever was anything wrong with this engine. LOL at save headaches.

I'm still paying for the damn car since i bought it from a dealership... THINKING buying a new car or at least a very low mileage car (123k) will save me money problems in the long term... which it didn't and cost me even more and isn't even paid off yet. Last year 3600$ on 60-80k engine 2008 2.3 engine (i forget now) and labour. Money pit over a money pit. But since the only problem with this car is it's garbage engine quality and reliability I am trying to safeguard whatever money was wasted by keeping the car and not wasting more money on the same garbage 2.3 engine. Money doesn't grow on trees and I am not overflowing to be pissing it away when I need a reliable car and this one isn't even paid off yet.

2.5 engine or nothing. Or I blow it up to smiteriness myself with gasoline and get a 500$ car instead that will have a more reliable engine.

I'm angry at the thought of the 2.3's existence. The car is good but the engine sucks and I want to swap in the 2k10+ 2.5liter engine in instead.

Read the reports and links I gave you. "poor maintenance my ass" the oil burning and engines blowing has been happening to babyd grandma drivers. So please... mazda and their bs that nothing is wrong with it only 'poor maintenance' YEAH RIGHT. 5k or less oil changes with amsoil synthetic always.

[The Wolf]

get a 2.0

[Chrisinski]

get a 2.0

+1

[Flagrum_3]

why the hell would i waste another penny on another overpriced piece of shit 2.3 I already swapped to a 2.3 last year after the other one blew up and have been using 5w30 since i got it, but upped to 5w40.

Worst money pit car ever. the 2.3 liter engine sucks. Didn't you read anything that was posted earlier...

I'm not getting another 2.3 only to have the same crap happen AGAIN. Damn mazda and their denial that there ever was anything wrong with this engine. LOL at save headaches.

I'm still paying for the damn car since i bought it from a dealership... THINKING buying a new car or at least a very low mileage car (123k) will save me money problems in the long term... which it didn't and cost me even more and isn't even paid off yet. Last year 3600$ on 60-80k engine 2008 2.3 engine (i forget now) and labour. Money pit over a money pit. But since the only problem with this car is it's garbage engine quality and reliability I am trying to safeguard whatever money was wasted by keeping the car and not wasting more money on the same garbage 2.3 engine. Money doesn't grow on trees and I am not overflowing to be pissing it away when I need a reliable car and this one isn't even paid off yet.

2.5 engine or nothing. Or I blow it up to smiteriness myself with gasoline and get a 500$ car instead that will have a more reliable engine.

I'm angry at the thought of the 2.3's existence. The car is good but the engine sucks and I want to swap in the 2k10+ 2.5liter engine in instead.

Read the reports and links I gave you. "poor maintenance my ass" the oil burning and engines blowing has been happening to babyd grandma drivers. So please... mazda and their bs that nothing is wrong with it only 'poor maintenance' YEAH RIGHT. 5k or less oil changes with amsoil synthetic always.

Yes I did read all the posts and everything. Now if you want to be nasty, let me give you my honest thoughts. You've blown two engines, I haven't heard of the 2.3 blowing in excessive amounts, my 2.3 runs like a clock, burns no oil @ 210k. Just possibly the problem could be you, or more precisely stated, your driving habits. The 2.3 is not a bad motor per say.

_3

[midnightfxgt]

Yes I did read all the posts and everything. Now if you want to be nasty, let me give you my honest thoughts. You've blown two engines, I haven't heard of the 2.3 blowing in excessive amounts, my 2.3 runs like a clock, burns no oil @ 210k. Just possibly the problem could be you, or more precisely stated, your driving habits. The 2.3 is not a bad motor per say.

_3

+1

I left out any input on this thread based on the rants against the 2.3L. If someone can be so short sighted into thinking that some reports of blown engines equals a serious defect on one of the best selling cars, they are delusional. Come back, and give us a factual report based on number of cars sold vs number of engines blownup, and you would have more credibility. Wait another year or two, and I bet I can dig up posts of blown 2.5L.... its the internet. People bitch. Motors are not perfect, from any manufacturer.

-John

[RedRaptor]

The 2.3 engine isn't bullet proof and there have been a lot of documented issues with it. From burning oil to the cartridge based oil filter system, it doesn't give the owner any comfort that it will be around for awhile.

I have 246,000km on my 2.3L and have used 5W-20 synthetic oil (mostly Mobil1) since 3000km. I won't go as far as vouching for it but you can make your own conclusions.

[Flagrum_3]

The 2.3 engine isn't bullet proof and there have been a lot of documented issues with it. From burning oil to the cartridge based oil filter system, it doesn't give the owner any comfort that it will be around for awhile.

I have 246,000km on my 2.3L and have used 5W-20 synthetic oil (mostly Mobil1) since 3000km. I won't go as far as vouching for it but you can make your own conclusions.

What's a lot? There is over 3.5 million Mazda 3s out there, meaning most probably over 1 million 2.3 engines. If there was a common issue with the engine, it would be well known by now. But like I said, I haven't heard of any. It's not bulletproof, but it sure isn't no piece of shit either.

_3

[TheMAN]

1 million 2.3l mazda3s? I'm not sure about that.... only countries that got the 2.3 was USA, Canada, Japan, and Australia

[Flagrum_3]

1 million 2.3l mazda3s? I'm not sure about that.... only countries that got the 2.3 was USA, Canada, Japan, and Australia

The U.S, Japan, and Canada? These are are high volume countries, ...anyways it was just a rough estimate. Even if its less, say 600,000 does that change my point?

_3

[Dave_The_BMXER]

get a 2.0

OP would you entertain this?

[a_ahmed]

Ya HI, beginning of the thread:

http://www.apa.ca/MazdaEngines.asp

Non turbo 2.3L engine on Mazda 3 and 6: 2004-2007

The engine may begin to burn oil seemingly all of a sudden at 80,000 to 100,000 km. The consumer would likely be unaware of the condition unless they check the oil regularly. If the oil drops below 2 litres in the crankcase, intermittent oil starvation begins to occur, typically first at the location of the number 1 connecting rod -- by this time internal damage is severe. If the consumer does not stop driving the vehicle, the rod can fail completely and pierces a whole in the side of the block.

The cause appears to be gradual overheating of the engine, due to 1) an internal defect in the catalytic converter that can plug up over time OR 2) the catalytic convertor plugs up over time from burned oil in the exhaust stream. There may be other causes.

Failures appear more common with the manual transmission, perhaps because crankcase ventilation or some other factor is more affected by the overrun that accompanies gear changes. Used engines are in chronically short supply and expensive. In Montreal some recyclers have stopped selling the engines because they're too troublesome. APA has sourced rebuilt engines for about $3,500 in Montreal (plus installation). APA has recorded about 35 written complaints from consumers and confirmed a high rate of failures with rebuilders. We have not written Mazda directly about this issue, but could do so given the number of complaints.

APA can obtain a below retail price to replace the engine in Montreal, and likely a bit of break at our recommended engine specialist in Toronto. Either shop would be competent to report on the engine damage.

Search hard enough and you'll find others with severe oil burning and blown engines with rods and pistons going through the block including grandmothers.

I've seen people parroting the same thing defending the 2.3 on other forums where people had the same oil burning and engine blowing issues. I wouldn't be surprised if mazda hires its own goons to cover up the fault of this engine as i've seen the same bs excuses from dealerships and forum goers defending it only relating it all down to 'poor maintenance'. Dealerships to whom it was brought to their attention same deal.

[a_ahmed]

OP would you entertain this?

I've considered this but the car is slow as it is and lacks low end grunt, don't need a screaming weasel on the highway when trying to over take a truck. Considering others have said its much hassle to swap between the two with ECU differences and other factors why downgrade when one could go to a 2.5 instead which is newer and with more low end torque. If going through the hassle might as well have an upgrade. And both engines go for real cheap compared to the now ever aging and overpriced 2.3

The 2.0 doesn't have the same APA reports however so at least one could say its reliable.

[TheMAN]

The U.S, Japan, and Canada? These are are high volume countries, ...anyways it was just a rough estimate. Even if its less, say 600,000 does that change my point?

_3

Japan didn't sell many 23S Axelas, due to high taxes involved... you got a 300 series license plate instead of a 500 series plate with the 20S model or less, physically showing you are paying way more taxes for just a "mid sized" car... but Mazda did sell them because JDM land is the land of niche markets

[Flagrum_3]

Japan didn't sell many 23S Axelas, due to high taxes involved... you got a 300 series license plate instead of a 500 series plate with the 20S model or less, physically showing you are paying way more taxes for just a "mid sized" car... but Mazda did sell them because JDM land is the land of niche markets

That is irrelevant. The point here is; there have been enough 2.3 engines built that IF THERE WAS A SERIOUS ISSUE, it would be publicised in the mainstream. Many of the engine failures, I'm sure, could be tracked back to owner neglect. There is also enough 2.3 engines out there with over 200k on them, and still running well, to refute any minor complaints.

_3

[roachkillah]

don't know if this is relevant but, my 2.3 has been using up oil since it was at 120k. It uses about 1.2 liters for every 5k oil change intervals
i use synthetic 5w20 since i bought it.

[a_ahmed]

well the engine now has top end noise (valves clicketeering at revs) and burns 2 quarts every gas change. So every time I fill up, I fill up oil too lol.. piece of shit.

[Rob23]

I bought my car used at 75k and it was burning a lot of oil. But who knows how the previous owner drove it. Engine never blew, but Mazda replaced it before that happened. Was replaced at 110k. I now have 212k on it and never had a problem with burning oil since.

So I wouldn't say all of the engines are defective.

[a_ahmed]

And it finally died, PIECE OF SHIT.

So now I am trying to source as much info asap on the 2.5

From what I was told on another forum... the fusion motors swap in.. the 2.3 and the 2.5....Sensors need to be swapped, ignition coil needs to be swapped, headers need to be gen 1 (? not confirmed 100%), intake manifold needs to be swapped, otherwise block should fit right in.

Need to figure out flywheel and clutch as well as that needs to be replaced anyway, even last time i swapped engine i was told to do it but i pushed through.. so this time ill do it save on labour.

I wont be doing the work but a shop will so the more info and parts i have on hand the less time spent in shop..