Recommended Maintenance for Protege 2002

Hello Everyone.
My wife has bought a 2002 Mazda ES Protege.
I was wondering if anyone knew or recommended any maintenance tips for the car:
I am referring to:
Recommended Motor oil brand and grade.
Recommended Spark Plugs
Recommended Transmission oil brand and grade
Recommended power steering fluid brand and grade.
The obvious answer is taking it to the dealer to servicing it there but I always want to find out more since its her first Mazda.

Thanks.
Regards.

The recommended engine oil is 10w-30, 5w-30 is also acceptable. Any name brand oil is ok providing it meets API Service SL or SM. The Mazda maintenance schedule recommends changing oil and filters at 5k miles or 4 months for normal daily use. Using some filters on a Mazda will cause a start up rattle, I use Mazda filters. If not Mazda try
to find Purolator, MotorCraft, Wix or Mann. Avoid Fram, filters made by Champion and Bosch. These suggestions are made based on some observations made on cutting open and inspecting several filters.
I'm not saying they are bad but there are better alternatives.

In manual trans axles use 75W-90 gear lube meeting API service GL-4 or 5. Automatic trans-axles use ATF M-III (e.g. Dexron III). Use the same fluid for the power steering.

Mazda comes with either NGK or Denso spark plugs. I try to use NGK in all my vehicles. Plugs an air filter should be changed at 30k mile intervals. Be extra careful changing air filters, it's sometimes difficult to get a good seal fit.

My source of information is the Mazda 2002 owners manual. The filter information is my opinion.

Hope your wife enjoys the Mazda.

Clifton

The recommended engine oil is 10w-30, 5w-30 is also acceptable. Any name brand oil is ok providing it meets API Service SL or SM. The Mazda maintenance schedule recommends changing oil and filters at 5k miles or 4 months for normal daily use. Using some filters on a Mazda will cause a start up rattle, I use Mazda filters. If not Mazda try
to find Purolator, MotorCraft, Wix or Mann. Avoid Fram, filters made by Champion and Bosch. These suggestions are made based on some observations made on cutting open and inspecting several filters.
I'm not saying they are bad but there are better alternatives.

In manual trans axles use 75W-90 gear lube meeting API service GL-4 or 5. Automatic trans-axles use ATF M-III (e.g. Dexron III). Use the same fluid for the power steering.

Mazda comes with either NGK or Denso spark plugs. I try to use NGK in all my vehicles. Plugs an air filter should be changed at 30k mile intervals. Be extra careful changing air filters, it's sometimes difficult to get a good seal fit.

My source of information is the Mazda 2002 owners manual. The filter information is my opinion.

Hope your wife enjoys the Mazda.

Clifton



Clifton,

You might want to double check your owners manual again. My owners manual for my 02 Protege ES says to use ATF M-V (Mercon-V) for the auto transaxle, NOT ATF M-III. It's on page 10-4.

The manual does say use ATF M-III for the power steering. That is located just below the auto transaxle listing. On first glance it is easy to miss the ATF M-V.

John

John, Thanks for posting, I should have said my reference is the 2002 Mazda Protege 5 Owners manual. The information I posted is correct for a Protege 5 according to my owners manual on page 10-5.

The Protege 5 shop manual on page 05-17-18 specifies ATF Type M-V or equivalent (e.g. Dexron III) for the automatic trans-axle. The shop manual on page 06-12-3 specifies ATF M-III or equivalent (e.g. Dexron III) for the power steering.

I suppose for the ES you should use the ATF specified in the appropriate manual. I do have a conflict between my owners manual and the shop manual for the trans-axle, but all references specify Dexron III as an alternative ATF.

Clifton

Clifton,

Interesting info. I went and did some research on Mercon V to learn more about it's history and applications. Here's some links with good info to share. The Canadiandriver one is excellent!

John

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/040128.htm

http://www.txchange.com/merconv.htm

http://www.smartsynthetics.com/faqs/questions_about_transmission_applications.htm

http://www.havoline.com/products/na/trans_mv.html

http://www.exxon.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/NAUSE2PVLEXAAMCO_Mercon_V.asp