Mazda MZR

Mazda's petrol four before SkyActiv, in 1.8 to 2.5 litre forms — and the same basic engine Ford sold as the Duratec HE, since the two companies shared the design. A fault documented on a Ford Focus or Mondeo of that era often applies directly to a Mazda3 or Mazda6, which is exactly the cross-badge relationship this catalogue exists to make visible.

It is a chain-driven, port-injected engine (except the turbocharged DISI versions) with a good durability record. The recurring items are the variable valve timing actuator and its oil control solenoid, which respond to oil condition and produce a rattle at start-up, and the ignition coils.

The turbocharged 2.3 DISI in the Mazda3 MPS and CX-7 is a different proposition: direct-injected, highly boosted, and known for turbocharger and high-pressure-fuel-pump wear where oil changes have been stretched. On that version the maintenance history is the first diagnostic input.