Thread: Mazda Axela diesel

Hi guys.
Looking at a new set of wheels for the Mrs. Mazda Axela 2L ticks all the boxes but I've just seen a few 2.2L Diesels. Any feedback on their diesels ? Maintenance, running costs, longevity etc

TIA
Al.

Mechanic of 25 years here. The Mazda 2.2 diesel is probably the worst engine they've ever made. Seriously bad stuff. They have a habit of hand-grenading at about 120,000km. Avoid at all costs.

50 yrs a mechanic hear, stay away, not good cars.

Back when imports were all the rage, the word on the street was never buy a diesel starting with M.....Mitsi, Mazda.....Sure things have changed, but I've only been biten with this advice, to the point I still don't buy any, petrol or diesel

Well, to be fair on that - most of the current superlightweight mini automotive diesels are designed in Europe by either Mercedes, Volvo or Peugeot/Citroen. The T6 used in the Ranger is a good example, originally a Citroen and Peugeot basic design rehashed in Belgium by Ford and Volvo had a hand in it as well. All of the major makers are hand in hand with this, even Hyundai/Kia diesels are these designs.

For the small diesels, I suspect a lot of the issues are originating in the fact that the engines are just built so lightly to increase efficiency that longevity has left the chat. It doesn't seem to be a particular manufacturer that suffers more than others, although you do get a few engines with particular design 'features' that just keep cropping up as causes of recurring problems. A couple of these are the Ford oil pump setups, the T6 vane pump to save 0.75Kw of power is one that is a gamble as to if the engine lives loner than the warranty period and another is the Ford 2L 'wet belt' setup for driving the oil pump and the timing gear. Two rubber items immersed in engine oil, rubber being a basic product that doesn't like oil despite getting a few additives to try to make it like the experience. What were they thinking - apart from 'we can save a few 0.02c per unit here - we're going to spend a few million to make this work come hell or high water!'.

Never seen a diesel one. Sounds like a bit of an orphan to me.

Mitsi diesels are ok. Wouldnt touch a mazda diesel. Been a mechanic for too long 40yrs

OK. Thank you all for that.
I think I'll stick to the petrol options then