Recent content by theorist

Correct. In 2012MY they introduced the 2.0L skyactiv engine as an option (rather standard on the i Touring and i Grand Touring trim levels) on the Mazda3. In 2014MY they introduced a new Mazda3 with a longer hood and part of the firewall reshaped to make room for that large header. Then all...

I read that this skyactiv thermostat is supposed to open at 185 F. I think they try to keep it cooler to avoid preignition with the high compression ratio. I understand that Mazda tried and somewhat succeeded to engineer the engine to keep the intake valves particularly hot, probably partly...

Thank you! This was the right place to ask! The wealth of engineering knowledge, data, experience, perspectives, and opinions is amazing. I do an oil change with each seasonal tire change, so one after each winter. I wouldn't use much of a winter grille block without a ScanGauge displaying...

Originally Posted by Shannow You can't eliminate it. There will always be a residual. These might help with the concept Thank you. I knew that 'eliminating' it was a gross oversimplification. I'm delighted to find users on BITOG who think more analytically. I appreciate the graphs but am...

BTW, the car has a bit more that 100kmiles and runs great. The car doesn't burn more that a few ounces of oil between oil changes (unless it's perfectly offset by fuel dilution.) I've used 0w-20 Castrol Edge, Mobil 1, Pennzoil Platinum, and Castrol Magnatec according to the deals I find with...

Does anyone know at what engine or oil temperature gasoline (regular winter gasoline) will boil or quickly evaporate out of motor oil, quickly reducing fuel dilution? My 2012 Mazda 3 with a direct injection Skyactiv engine runs a bit cold. In the winter its coolant temperature rarely exceeds...

Rust is a huge issue where I live. My wife's 2012 Prius and my mother's 2006 Prius use lug nuts that look like the ones in your picture. We've had both since new and have put well over 200K miles on them. The lug nuts are some of the few things that I haven't seen any signs of rust on. Ours...

Lazydog, if you drive this little, you might consider one of the new all-weather tires like the Michelin CrossClimate+ or Vredestein Quatrac5. They have the snowflake twin peaks approval for dedicated winter tires but wear longer and provide summer performance comparable to all season tires...

Knowing that you replaced a lower control arm makes everything make more sense. Thank you. A worn lower control arm (or more likely worn ball joint or bushings attached to a lower control arm) could easily cause cupping on any tire ever mounted at that corner. If you replaced the lower control...

I'm also confused as to why the cupped tread and vibration while braking would be caused by a misalignment rather than tire imbalance, warped rotors, worn suspension components, or wheel bearings. I'd have a shop look into this sooner rather than later. You might take it to an independent shop...

I've been using GC "German" Castrol Syntec 0W-30 European Formula for years. After I recently bought some more, I noticed that the new bottles no longer list it as being VW 503 01 rated. The old bottles said that it exceeds VW 502 00, 505 00, 503 01. The new bottles only say that it exceeds VW...