Mazda L3-VE
The most famous problem of such an engine is increased oil consumption.
Mazda 3/Axela engines
The Mazda 3 is a compact car from the Japanese automaker Mazda Motor Corporation. In the Japanese market, cars are sold under the name Mazda Axela. Start of production – 2003. The car has undergone a transformation in three generations. The latter has been produced since 2014 at factories in Mexico, Japan and Thailand. The 1st and 2nd generation Mazda 3 is based on the Ford C1 platform. The 3rd generation model is already based on the Skyactiv chassis and features a completely new body design based on the ideology of the brand – KODO.
The Mazda 3/Axela was offered with 17 engines since 2003 (12 petrol, 5 diesel). Displacement ranges from 1.3 to 2.5 liters, power output from 75 to 275 hp. 16 use a timing chain and 2 a timing belt. 7 are turbocharged. The longest rated lifespan belongs to the Mazda L5-VE (about 350,000 km).
Mazda 3/Axela engines by generation
| Engine | Years | Volume | Power | Fuel | Timing | Oil | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda 3 BK 2003–2009 | |||||||
| Mazda MZR Z6 | 2003–2009 | 1.6 L R4 | 105 hp | petrol | chain | 4.2 L | ~250,000 km |
| Mazda ZY-VE | 2003–2009 | 1.5 L R4 | 100–115 hp | petrol | chain | 3.9 L | ~280,000 km |
| Mazda ZJ-VE | 2003–2009 | 1.3 L R4 | 75–90 hp | petrol | chain | 3.7 L | ~240,000 km |
| Mazda L3-VE | 2003–2008 | 2.3 L R4 | 150–180 hp | petrol | chain | 3.5–4.7 L | ~300,000 km |
| Mazda LF17 | 2003–2008 | 2.0 L R4 | 140–150 hp | petrol | chain | 4.3 L | ~320,000 km |
| Mazda LF-DE | 2003–2008 | 2.0 L R4 | 140–160 hp | petrol | chain | 4.3 L | ~300,000 km |
| Mazda Y6 1.6 CiTD | 2004–2009 | 1.6 L R4 | 90–115 hp | diesel, turbo | chain + belt | 3.8–3.9 L | ~300,000 km |
| Mazda RF7J | 2006–2009 | 2.0 L R4 | 110–145 hp | diesel, turbo | belt | 4.8 L | ~280,000 km |
| Mazda Axela BK 2003–2009 | |||||||
| Mazda ZY-VE | 2003–2009 | 1.5 L R4 | 100–115 hp | petrol | chain | 3.9 L | ~280,000 km |
| Mazda 3 MPS BK 2006–2009 | |||||||
| Mazda L3-VDT | 2006–2009 | 2.3 L R4 | 235–275 hp | petrol, turbo | chain | 5.7 L | ~230,000 km |
| Mazda 3 BL 2008–2013 | |||||||
| Mazda L5-VE | 2008–2013 | 2.5 L R4 | 160–175 hp | petrol | chain | 5.5 L | ~350,000 km |
| Mazda LF17 | 2008–2013 | 2.0 L R4 | 140–150 hp | petrol | chain | 4.3 L | ~320,000 km |
| Mazda LF-DE | 2008–2013 | 2.0 L R4 | 140–160 hp | petrol | chain | 4.3 L | ~300,000 km |
| Mazda MZR Z6 | 2009–2013 | 1.6 L R4 | 105 hp | petrol | chain | 4.2 L | ~250,000 km |
| Mazda Y6 1.6 CiTD | 2009–2013 | 1.6 L R4 | 90–115 hp | diesel, turbo | chain + belt | 3.8–3.9 L | ~300,000 km |
| Mazda R2AA | 2009–2013 | 2.2 L R4 | 150–185 hp | diesel, turbo | chain | 4.7 L | ~275,000 km |
| Mazda ZY-VE | 2009–2013 | 1.5 L R4 | 100–115 hp | petrol | chain | 3.9 L | ~280,000 km |
| Mazda LF-VD | 2010–2011 | 2.0 L R4 | 145–155 hp | petrol | chain | 4.3 L | ~260,000 km |
| Mazda 3 MPS BL 2009–2013 | |||||||
| Mazda L3-VDT | 2009–2013 | 2.3 L R4 | 235–275 hp | petrol, turbo | chain | 5.7 L | ~230,000 km |
| Mazda Axela BL 2009–2013 | |||||||
| Mazda ZY-VE | 2009–2013 | 1.5 L R4 | 100–115 hp | petrol | chain | 3.9 L | ~280,000 km |
| Mazda 3 BM 2013–present | |||||||
| Mazda MZR Z6 | 2013–2019 | 1.6 L R4 | 105 hp | petrol | chain | 4.2 L | ~250,000 km |
| Mazda SkyActiv-G 2.0 | 2013–2018 | 2.0 L R4 | 150–165 hp | petrol | chain | 4.2 L | ~300,000 km |
| Mazda SkyActiv-G 1.5 | 2013–2019 | 1.5 L R4 | 100–120 hp | petrol | chain | 3.9 L | ~250,000 km |
| Mazda S5-DPTS | 2014–2018 | 1.5 L R4 | 105 hp | diesel, turbo | chain | 5.1 L | ~240,000 km |
| Mazda S8-DPTS | 2018–present | 1.8 L R4 | 115 hp | diesel, turbo | chain | 5.1 L | ~260,000 km |
| Mazda 3 IV (BP) 2018–present | |||||||
| Mazda SkyActiv-G 2.0 | 2018–present | 2.0 L R4 | 150–165 hp | petrol | chain | 4.2 L | ~300,000 km |
| Mazda SkyActiv-G 1.5 | 2018–present | 1.5 L R4 | 100–120 hp | petrol | chain | 3.9 L | ~250,000 km |
| Mazda HF-VPH | 2019–present | 2.0 L R4 | 177–190 hp | petrol, turbo | chain | 4.6 L | ~250,000 km |
Mazda 3/Axela engine FAQ
What engines were used in the Mazda 3/Axela?
Mazda 3 BK (2003–2009): Mazda MZR Z6, Mazda ZY-VE, Mazda ZJ-VE, Mazda L3-VE, Mazda LF17, Mazda LF-DE, Mazda Y6 1.6 CiTD and Mazda RF7J; Mazda Axela BK (2003–2009): Mazda ZY-VE; Mazda 3 MPS BK (2006–2009): Mazda L3-VDT; Mazda 3 BL (2008–2013): Mazda L5-VE, Mazda LF17, Mazda LF-DE, Mazda MZR Z6, Mazda Y6 1.6 CiTD, Mazda R2AA, Mazda ZY-VE and Mazda LF-VD; Mazda 3 MPS BL (2009–2013): Mazda L3-VDT; Mazda Axela BL (2009–2013): Mazda ZY-VE; Mazda 3 BM (2013–present): Mazda MZR Z6, Mazda SkyActiv-G 2.0, Mazda SkyActiv-G 1.5, Mazda S5-DPTS and Mazda S8-DPTS; Mazda 3 IV (BP) (2018–present): Mazda SkyActiv-G 2.0, Mazda SkyActiv-G 1.5 and Mazda HF-VPH.
Which Mazda 3/Axela engine is the most durable?
By rated service life the most durable Mazda 3/Axela engines are: Mazda L5-VE — about 350,000 km; Mazda LF17 — about 320,000 km; Mazda L3-VE — about 300,000 km. Actual lifespan depends heavily on maintenance and oil change intervals.
How much oil does the Mazda 3/Axela engine take?
Engine oil capacity with filter: Mazda HF-VPH — 4.6 L (0W-20); Mazda L3-VDT — 5.7 L (5W-30); Mazda L3-VE — 3.5–4.7 L (5W-30); Mazda L5-VE — 5.5 L (5W-30); Mazda LF-DE — 4.3 L (5W-30); Mazda LF-VD — 4.3 L (5W-30); Mazda LF17 — 4.3 L (5W-30); Mazda MZR Z6 — 4.2 L (5W-30); Mazda R2AA — 4.7 L (5W-30); Mazda RF7J — 4.8 L (5W-30); Mazda S5-DPTS — 5.1 L (5W-30); Mazda S8-DPTS — 5.1 L (5W-30); Mazda SkyActiv-G 1.5 — 3.9 L (0W-20); Mazda SkyActiv-G 2.0 — 4.2 L (0W-20); Mazda Y6 1.6 CiTD — 3.8–3.9 L (5W-30); Mazda ZJ-VE — 3.7 L (5W-30); Mazda ZY-VE — 3.9 L (5W-30).
Does the Mazda 3/Axela have a timing belt or chain?
Timing chain: Mazda HF-VPH, Mazda L3-VDT, Mazda L3-VE, Mazda L5-VE, Mazda LF-DE, Mazda LF-VD, Mazda LF17, Mazda MZR Z6, Mazda R2AA, Mazda S5-DPTS, Mazda S8-DPTS, Mazda SkyActiv-G 1.5, Mazda SkyActiv-G 2.0, Mazda Y6 1.6 CiTD, Mazda ZJ-VE and Mazda ZY-VE; timing belt: Mazda RF7J and Mazda Y6 1.6 CiTD. Belts must be replaced on schedule: on many engines a broken belt bends the valves.
Was the Mazda 3/Axela available with a diesel engine?
Yes: Mazda R2AA, Mazda RF7J, Mazda S5-DPTS, Mazda S8-DPTS and Mazda Y6 1.6 CiTD.
Engine details
Mazda LF-DE
The first years there were a lot of cases with jamming or falling out of the intake dampers.
Mazda LF17
In the engines of the first years, the intake manifold flaps often stuck and even fell out.
Mazda ZJ-VE
This engine is quite reliable, the only thing that is prone to carbon formation.
Mazda ZY-VE
The main problem of the unit is the tendency to accelerated carbon formation.
Mazda MZR Z6
The first years of production were often loose and the intake flaps began to rattle.
Mazda Y6 1.6 CiTD
In the engines of the first years of production, the camshaft cams quickly wore out.
Mazda L3-VDT
This engine does not like bad fuel, up to the destruction of the piston group.
Mazda RF7J
Most of the problems are caused by burnouts of the sealing washers under the nozzles.
Mazda L5-VE
This unit is considered the most reliable in its series and does not even consume much oil.
Mazda R2AA
The most famous problem is the rise in oil level after burning a soot.
Mazda LF-VD
This power unit is rare and there is at least information about its breakdowns.
Mazda SkyActiv-G 2.0
The first years there was a problem with a cold start, but the new firmware fixed everything.
Mazda SkyActiv-G 1.5
This engine is demanding on the quality of gasoline, injectors are constantly clogged in it.
Mazda S5-DPTS
There was a recall campaign in connection with the ingress of oil into the intake at high speeds.
Mazda S8-DPTS
The Common Rail Denso system with piezo injectors is demanding on fuel quality.
Mazda HF-VPH
On specialized forums, they often complain only about weak traction at low revs.
Models with the same engines
- Mazda 6 9 shared engines
- Mazda 5 6 shared engines
- Mazda 2/Demio 5 shared engines
- Mazda CX-5 1 shared engine
- Mazda MX-5 1 shared engine