~'05 Mazda 3 oil consumption?: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

Jan. 9, 2012 7:29 p.m. SkinnyG HalfDork

My students were testing an '05 Mazda 3 in Mechanics class the other day. The car had horrific oil consumption.

Compression test was 180 across the board (engine may not have been warm by the time the kids got to the test).

Plug #1 was BLACK, the rest were fine.

Methinks it's something in the head. Is there someone here who might have some insider information as to what other 3's have done to cause this?

Thanks!
Jan. 9, 2012 8:01 p.m. chaparral Reader

That might be a valve cover to plug hole seal - common on Hondas.
Jan. 9, 2012 8:20 p.m. John Brown SuperDork

Low tension oil rings and weak oil seals are the cause. Pull the pistons and clean the carbon off of the rings and piston lands.
Jan. 9, 2012 8:23 p.m. ST_ZX2 HalfDork

Bad PCV--My ex-wife lunched a 2.3 in a Mx5 this way.