We often have questions about the inspection and maintenance of the MX-5. Which oils can I use? What are the maintenance intervals for certain components? How do the maintenance intervals behave when the yearly mileage is low? We get to the bottom of these and more questions here.
First of all, it should be said that we have put together ready-made packages for you, the inspection part packages. So you can easily carry out your inspection of your MX-5 NA / NB / NBFL / NC / ND from home. Of course you are also welcome to make an appointment with us for the inspection of your MX-5, so that we can carry out the inspection for you.
Now let's get to the most common questions about inspection:
Which oils can I use?
Motor oil: We basically subdivide the vehicles according to use and choose the oils accordingly. Naturally aspirated engines with road use get Motalin 5W-50 from us, turbo and compressor engines with road use are filled with 10W-60. All engines used on the racetrack get Motalin 10W-60 HP.
Transmission oil: It is easier to differentiate here. MX-5s that are used on the road get Motalin 75W-90, when the racetrack is used, 85W-140 is used.
Differential oil: This is where things get a little more complicated due to the many different differentials with different locking principles. KAAZ differentials are always driven with the special KAAZ oil, whether on the road or on the racetrack. Lamella locks get 80W-90 LS on the road and 85W-140 LS on the racetrack. Open and unlocked differentials use 75W-90 on the road and 85W-140 on the racetrack. Torsen differentials for road use use 75W-90 and on the racetrack 85W-140.
Why do you differentiate the oils according to road and racetrack use?
The differentiation of oils according to use comes from the fact that the demands on the oil are different on the racetrack and the oils get significantly hotter. A transmission should, for example, shift cleanly and not unevenly when it is cold, even when it is on the road, whereby on the racetrack the only thing that really counts is that the transmission does not overheat and that no damage occurs as a result. Through our intensive tests on the racetrack, we ensure that the oils do not sag even in extreme heat and stress and that you can drive your cars safely on the track.
What are the maintenance intervals for my components?
When it comes to the maintenance intervals for our inspection parts packages, we have followed Mazda specifications. In addition, we thought about what should be renewed through conversions to the Mazda intervals on-top.
In principle, an oil change should take place every year. Every 2 years, the spark plugs, brake fluid, air filter insert, coolant, transmission and differential oil and, in the case of Rotrex superchargers, the Rotrex oil with filter are replaced. The third year is another oil change with a filter. The fourth year is all components from year 2, plus timing belt and water pump and all sealing rings and seals, which we would also replace in our workshop. NC and ND are timing chain motors, which is why year 2 is repeated in this case.
How do the maintenance intervals behave if my MX-5 is running low yearly mileage?
The answer in a nutshell: They stay the same, regardless of the annual mileage. A timing belt for example, ages even without the vehicle being moved and can become brittle and cracked over time. We therefore urgently recommend that the specified maintenance be carried out annually to avoid damage to the components.
What else should I watch out for during an inspection?
In addition to renewing the oils and other supplied components, an inspection naturally includes inspecting the vehicle. Here you have to look through your car completely. So a rust check of the body, check brake pads and discs, check brake lines for rust, take a close look at the suspension bushings and check for cracks and much more. An inspection is not only used to replace oils, but is also an inventory for any further work on your car. If you find any damage, it is best to write it down directly and find the right parts to repair in our shop.
If you have any further questions about inspection and maintenance, please do not hesitate to contact us by email. Alternatively, you are welcome to leave a comment under this post, we will be happy to answer your questions here.
Your SPS Motorsport Team