The Best Ways to Keep Your Mazda Running Smoothly

Whether you are a new Mazda owner or you have been driving your favorite model for years, proper maintenance is key to keeping your car running smoothly for as long as possible. From the engine and transmission to the brakes and battery, vehicle components require regular maintenance checks and actions to make sure your Mazda remains in good shape for years to come. 

Top Strategies for Maintaining Your Mazda’s Performance  

When it comes to performance, Mazda engineers and designers put a lot of time and effort into creating vehicles that combine top-level technology with a sleek design that leaves drivers anticipating their next trip, even if it’s just around the corner. However, if you want to keep your Mazda running like new, it’s important to master one key essential practice: preventative maintenance. Regularly scheduling service at a Mazda-certified service center, such as DePaula Mazda, ensures that your vehicle gets the attention and care it needs from qualified professionals. 

Why Regular Maintenance Is Key  

The cost of owning or leasing a vehicle involves more than the price of insurance, monthly payments, and gallons of gas. Regular maintenance is an important line item on any driver’s list. Thankfully, it’s also one that pays for itself many times over by saving you money over the long term.  

In fact, while AAA estimates that routine vehicle maintenance costs drivers about $66 per month, or $792 per year, failing to perform that regular maintenance could lead to repairs that cost twice that much (or more). Therefore, keeping the time and cost commitment of regular maintenance in mind is not only a way to keep your Mazda running smoothly for years to come, but it can also save you money in the long term.  

Let’s take a look at the exact steps each vehicle owner should take to ensure that they maintain their Mazda in a way that positively affects not only their vehicles’ performance, but also their bottom line. 

Keep Your Engine Running Smoothly  

The first major part of vehicle maintenance to consider is the engine. If your car’s engine fails, it is literally the end of the road until costly repairs are made. Necessary engine maintenance includes both routine service visits for oil changes and fluid checks as well as watching for signs of engine trouble. Spotting potential issues early gives you a chance to consult a trusted mechanic before disaster strikes, leaving you stranded and possibly financially strapped. 

The Importance of Oil Changes for Your Mazda  

When it comes to routine car maintenance, the first (and most frequent) service every vehicle requires is a timely oil change. Depending on the age and type of Mazda you drive, you may need to change your oil every 3,000 to 6,000 miles. Consult your owner’s manual or a professional to make sure you know the right mileage limit for your vehicle. 

Oil changes are simple but critical maintenance for all vehicles. The motor oil in your car or SUV deteriorates over time and causes particles to build up in your engine. This, in turn, affects performance as well as fuel efficiency and could even cause premature wear on the engine, leading to dire mechanical consequences, possibly even total engine failure. 

How to Spot Engine Problems Early  

Even with routine oil changes, engine problems sometimes occur. It’s always important to get any potential engine problems checked out and fixed immediately. Ignoring an issue, no matter how simple it may seem, could affect the safety of passengers as well as the health and longevity of the vehicle. Signs that your engine may need additional service include: 

• The “check engine” light illuminates. 
• The performance power of your car decreases, even with regular oil changes. 
• Gas mileage decreases, even with regular oil changes. 
• Strange sounds come from the car, including knocks, popping, hissing, and backfiring. 
• Odd smells come from the vehicle’s exhaust pipe. 
• The engine runs or idles roughly. 

Maintain Your Transmission  

After the engine, the next major system that must remain in top shape is the transmission. Your vehicle’s transmission is responsible for moving the power from the engine to its wheels. A failure in this system can lead to failure in other systems as well. Although routine transmission service is only necessary every 60,000 miles, on average, it’s a maintenance requirement that should not be forgotten or ignored.  

Signs Your Mazda’s Transmission Needs Attention  

There are several clear signs of a transmission problem or all-out failure. These include trouble changing gears or slipping gears (especially in manual transmission vehicles), a burning smell, leaking fluid, grinding or shaking (especially at high speeds), and unusual sounds such as humming or whining. In addition, the illumination of the “check engine” light can also signal an issue with your vehicle’s transmission. 

Transmission Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Mazda Running Smoothly  

Routine transmission service is necessary as vehicles age because older systems require more careful maintenance. In general, any vehicle needs to have the transmission fluid flushed at around 60,000 to 100,000 miles. The transmission filter may need changing more frequently, such as every 30,000 miles. Other common, routine transmission maintenance includes cleaning the transmission’s parts and inspecting the pan gasket. These tasks are generally part of service packages for vehicles at milestones like 30,000 and 60,000 miles.  

Routine transmission services may cost $100 or more, depending on the maintenance provided. While this tends to cost more than an oil change, regular transmission service can save you thousands of dollars down the road as well as ensure that your Mazda continues to perform at its peak for 100,000 miles and beyond. 

Take Care of Your Brakes  

The engine and transmission are part of a regular vehicle service routine, but other major systems, such as your Mazda’s brakes, are also important to consider. Total brake replacement can cost anywhere from $200 to $800, and replacement becomes inevitable as your vehicle ages. However, you can take certain steps to help maintain your brakes for as long as possible. You also need to be aware of the clear warnings that you have impending brake problems. 

How to Know When Your Mazda’s Brakes Need Service  

Depending on how and where you drive, parts of your brakes, such as brake pads, may need replacement every 25,000 to 60,000 miles. More complex parts, such as the rotors, generally require replacement every 30,000 to 70,000 miles. These ranges are large and depend on a lot of other factors, so it’s important to pay attention to signs that your brakes need maintenance, such as: 

• Taking longer to stop than normal 
• Hearing squeaking or squealing sounds when braking 
• Hearing or feeling grinding when braking 
• Feeling vibrations when braking 
• Illumination of the brake pad indicator light 

Tips for Maintaining Your Mazda’s Brakes 

Like all systems, regular maintenance checks of your brakes help you keep track of how they are working and whether they will need to be replaced soon. Additional services such as brake fluid flushes and bleeding your brake lines also make a big difference in terms of long-term brake performance. You can also maintain your brake system by being mindful of how your driving habits impact your brakes. Carrying heavy loads and towing often, for example, will cause brakes to deteriorate faster. Similarly, frequent hard braking and frequent driving in wet weather are other contributing factors that cause brakes to deteriorate more quickly. 

Keep Your Battery in Good Condition  

Finally, your vehicle’s battery is another critical maintenance consideration. Like the brakes, car batteries aren’t destined to last forever, and all vehicles will eventually need new batteries. In some cases, driving habits and the environment may even cause some drivers to replace batteries more often than others. 

Of course, there are ways to maintain your battery and try to extend its life. Additionally, if you want to avoid getting stuck in the middle of nowhere without easy access to a battery boost (or jump), it’s important to make sure you know the signs of a failing battery and what to do. 

Signs of a Failing Battery and How to Replace it  

Several clear signs will alert you that your car or SUV’s battery is starting to fail. Some signs, such as corrosion on the battery connectors and a warped battery case, are ones that your mechanic can easily spot during routine maintenance checks. Other signs that you may experience while driving include: 

• A rotten egg smell coming from under the hood 
• Electrical issues in your dashboard components or entertainment system 
• Dimming headlights 

Tips for Maintaining Your Mazda’s Battery  

You can take several steps as a driver to help make your Mazda’s battery last longer. Many of these practices are simple, such as limiting short trips down the street where the battery doesn’t have time to recharge while driving, remembering to turn off your headlights and interior lights when leaving your vehicle, and avoiding the use of electronics, such as phone chargers, for long periods when the vehicle is idling. 

In addition, regular maintenance and visual checks of your battery help you to spot problems before you end up stranded and remind you to save or set aside money for a battery replacement when it becomes necessary. This includes doing battery checks using a car battery tester and making sure that your mechanic performs battery checks at each service appointment as well as preventing corrosion by cleaning the area around your battery terminals with baking soda and water. 

Conclusion  

Most drivers love their Mazda because these vehicles are fun to drive. However, maintaining that power and smooth operation over time means paying attention to the maintenance needs of your car or SUV. From routine oil changes to battery checks, vehicle maintenance provided by a reliable, thorough mechanic at a certified Mazda service center is the best way to make sure you enjoy all the fun your Mazda offers for thousands of miles to come. 

Schedule Your Mazda Maintenance at DePaula Mazda in Albany, NY 

If you’re looking for a reliable vehicle service provider in the Albany, NY, area, stop by DePaula Mazda. Our Service Department specializes in caring for new and pre-owned Mazda vehicles with all the care and love we give to our own cars and SUVs. We also have a well-stocked and connected parts department, ensuring any repairs we do are to the standards you expect as a Mazda driver. Even if you don’t (yet) drive a Mazda, we service other popular cars, trucks, and SUVs. Just call or schedule an appointment today to learn more.