2.3 liter is burnning 1.5 liters of oil per 1000km

[jonrwebb]

Bought a 2006 Mazda 3 2.3 liter with 97,000 km on it. The car consistently uses 1.5 l of oil per 1000km. Now sitting at 113,000 km.
PCV valve was changed, even though the mechanic said the old one was in good working order. No change to oil consumption.

Using Quaker State 5w30 (high mileage formula)

There are no visible leaks, no pools of oil in the yard.

I'm getting a visible cloud of blue smoke when starting the car now.

The car is a daily driver and I don't drive like a fiend.

I'm really frustrated and it seems that this is not a rare issue with the 2.3 l engine. Any suggestions on how to pin-point the issue, or am I stuck with a lemon?

I was reluctant to purchase a Mazda, but the wife thinks they're cute. Seems like my concerns were justified. I can't seem to get over my negative bias to Fords.

[Sonic31]

I read that sometimes the oil gets dumped into the exhaust and fouls the catalitic converter. I'm not 100% sure how it happens, only that it usually is a precursor to catastrophic oil loss (which it seems like you already have going on). This could explain the smoke you are getting out of your exhaust.

In regards to pools of oil in the yard, have you taken the bottom engine cover off and checked on the back of it? It might be catching oil from the leak.

[jonrwebb]

I have looked under the engine cover and it's clean of oil.

Catastrophic is a great word for it!

[jonrwebb]

Found this on the APA.ca website:

Mazda 3 and Mazda 6: 2.3 l engine failure and clogged catalytic converter : An unusually high number of catastrophic failures of 2.3 l engines has been reported to the APA. Abnormal oil consumption typically precedes these failures. Frequently, an obstruction of the catalytic converter occurs simultaneously. If your vehicle has been plagued with either one of these problems, do not hesitate to fill our complaint form.

[McGuyver_3]

Sounds to me like you need valve seals or a headgasket. Do you see burping In the coolant reservoir at all?

[jonrwebb]

I don't see any discoloration to the coolant. I was thinking of having a valve job done on the car, but my fear is that the expense will not fix the issue. I'm leaning toward the piston rings being shook, or the cylinders be out of true. Not a cheap proposition. :(

[McGuyver_3]

Your alternative route would be to hit up your local scrap yard and pull a used engine out of their lot
http://standardautowreckers.net/asp/parts/bystock.asp?S=CK246
Now heres the funny thing. All the 2.3L are about 2000~$ and the 2.0L are only about 500~$??? what they heck are they smoking. I remember geting my 2.5L for 800$ and up according to the warranty I wanted

[jonrwebb]

Pricey for a used engine that I'd want to refresh anyway. As this is a semi-common issue, I'd be reluctant to put another engine in without a full going over.

[McGuyver_3]

see I had the 2L in my 05 and i never had oil issues. mind you my engine saw redline constantly and it was always run hot never started and stopped without proper heat up time. If that is what happened to the car in its life prior to your purchase then I can fully understand why its burning oil. Also this would indicate to me that your car may have had a lack of maintenance prior to your purchase.

[standsideways]

see I had the 2L in my 05 and i never had oil issues. mind you my engine saw redline constantly and it was always run hot never started and stopped without proper heat up time. If that is what happened to the car in its life prior to your purchase then I can fully understand why its burning oil. Also this would indicate to me that your car may have had a lack of maintenance prior to your purchase.

Maintenance is likely the killer as with 90% of failed or failing MZR engines. I did oil changes for 3 years and ide say atleast 70% of people i dealt with were ALWAYS well overdue.(10k OCI on a suggested 8k)

the 2.0mzr 2.3mzr and 2.3disi are all hard on oil, they need a quality synthetic and 5000km Oil change intervals, that much has been PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

put a new engine in it, next time, do your homework. get a compression/leakdown test, and dont buy a car that has no maintenance history regardless of how cute your wife thinks the car is, because its not cute wasting oil costing you money.



sorry for ranting but it is fairly common sense that buying a car known to be hard on oil, with no maintenance history, at 100,000kms is just asking for trouble.

i got my 2006 sedan with 90000kms, turbo'd it, tracked it, and it has 160 000kms and NO problems and only a 1/2 qt. consumption at 4k oil changes...but i took care of it.

[jonrwebb]

I appreciate the input. Sadly, when I was researching the car, there was nothing obvious online about the car being hard on oil. I had to dig to find out about it. As well, my personal opinion is that a modern 21st century commuter vehicle should not be an oil burner unless abused. The cars service records indicated it was taken care of. That's not to say that the previous owner didn't drive it like an asshat (only he knows).

I spoke to Mazda, and (of course) the party line was that there are no known issues with the 2.3 and all should be well with purchasing a used 3. Live an learn.