Advice on Recommended Service

[JonathanB]

Hey everyone,

I’m needing some advice. I’ll just provide a quick overview of my car - 2012 Mazda3 GS Sky with just over 60K. I decided to try out a new shop and brought my car in for a routine oil change and tire rotation. They came back to me with some recommendations for the near future.

In their report, they suggested:

1) I exchange the power steering fluid because the colour is “off”. Is this something you would change sooner than later, or do you think I could wait a while?

2) I change the transmission fluid, but they couldn’t have a look at it to make sure because there’s no dipstick. I can’t find any suggestion in the owner’s manual about this. Is this needed?

3) a GDI service. I do use top tier gas. Would you recommend I get this service? Or can I put one of those fuel system cleaners in my gas tank to achieve the same thing (if it’s even needed)?

4) a brake service because my brackets look dry. Needed?

Thanks for the help!

[Flagrum_3]

Have you owned the car since 2012?

Your coolant should be changed every 100k or 5 yrs.

Leave the steering fluid alone, its a sealed unit never needs changing unless it develops a leak.

Unless you are finding rough idle or lack of power just use a fuel system cleaner periodically. I do it at one tank before an oil change interval.

Don't know about the 2012s but my '05 suggest a brake service every 24k or so. Just a cleaning and greasing of points.

Hope that helps.


_3

[G ~ MINI]

To add to @Flagrum_3
Coolant - use the mazda FL-22
I have been also adding a Lucas fuel injector to every tank of gas

[JonathanB]

Thanks for the advice to you both. Yes, I’ve owned the car since 2012. I’ll leave the steering fluid alone. I was curious about that because I couldn’t find any recommendation in the owner’s manual about it.

For the coolant, the owner’s manual says to change every 10 years or 190K. The dealer told me they never change coolant unless 190K is reached. And the independent mechanic I ended up taking my car to told me my coolant was still fine. I don’t know who to believe. Haha

I don’t notice any rough idling or lack of power. The car drives the same as when I drove it off the lot. I’ll try a fuel system cleaner to see if it makes any difference.

I’m definitely going to get my brakes serviced my next appointment. I haven’t had them serviced in years, but I was told it could wait.

*edit*

What about the transmission fluid? Should I change that? The dealer ended up flushing my transmission fluid the second year I owned the car when I had less than 10K. That was obviously premature, but didn’t even realize what was happening at the time.

[JonathanB]

Sorry for the double post.

[Flagrum_3]

I wouldn't trust the 10yrs/190kms on the coolant. It may be true, but you should have the Ph level checked to be sure. Ph is the major factor with coolant system corrosion.

You most likely won't feel any difference with a fuel system cleaner, just make sure to get a 'fuel system' cleaner and not just a 'fuel injector' cleaner. It'll clean varnish and some carbon out of the system. Been doing it for 17 years now and never an issue with my fuel system.

What does the manual state on AT fluid? I know with the 1st Gens it stated never needing service, but several were were having issues with burnt fluid early.


_3

[G ~ MINI]

Forgot to mention
I did a Liqui Moly Fuel system cleaner in April
https://germanparts.ca/parts/lm7986-...cleaner-500ml/
and now Lucas injector / fuel conditioner (Canadian Tire)