Hi guys, I tried checking the forum for the answer to this, but I could not find a definitive answer: What kind of coolant do you use? I have a 2005, and I checked the manual, the coolant cap, and under the hood and there was no info on what specific coolant to use. I went to my local NAPA and asked the guy there and his computer couldn't tell him either. The manual says something about not using an alcohol (and other chemicles) based coolant, which the guy from NAPA replied that it's probably a Mazda proprietary coolant. This was just too hard to believe that a coolant would be proprietary. I stuck a scribe in the tank to get a couple drops in sight and it was green...so I figure just a 50/50 mix of green coolant and water should be sufficient...what do you think? Thanks so much.

--Phil

 

I just use prestone from any auto parts store. Big yellow jug.
They sell a pre-mixed with is 50% coolant / 50% water.

I buy the concentrated coolant since I run closer to 70% water / 30% coolant. (it's not cold here and summers are quite toasty)

Usually the 50/50 works best for all around climate unless you're out in the desert or extreme cold. Mazda ships the cars with a 60/40 mix

 

i use the same prestone yellow jug i use full strength since i live in seattle hitting the teens right now brrr

 

also, because of the extensive use of aluminum in the engine, i change my coolant once a year. if the coolant is left unchanged year after year, the area around the coolant seals and the jackets will corrode. the engine will then require new rotor housings. i have seen this many times over the years with RX-7's. this has made me a stickler for changing the coolant.

 

+1 to yearly flushes, I've been doing that since I bought the car and it's worthwhile maintenance.


OR...
you can be like NYCGPS who I believe has changed out his coolant at least 3 times already this year!

 

Awesome, thanks for the advice. I'll probably use a less concentrated formula since it never gets below 60 here.

 

50/50 provides freeze protection to something on the order of -35F. High coolant concentrations transfer heat very inefficiently and will make the car run hotter.

 

Mazda does sell a prorietary coolant, FL22, which is diluted green glycol. I think someone posted that it's 55/45, not 50/50, but that's in the same ballpark. FL22 is supposed to be good for 10 years.

Since yours is green, definitely keep using green and not orange. There's a TSB that says mixing green and orange will work OK, but will turn black which tends to upset customers.

Ken