|
Hi there, spent all my savings on a new mazda 3ts,. At only 3mths and about 800 mls it started a loud ticking/clattering noise when pulling away on a cold engine. Before the unsuccessful 5th attempt at repairs I complained that I had been very patient and had had enough, and asked for a refund or a new car. I was then told by the garage that a 5th attempt was the best option, and was assured that this time it would be sorted as according to mazda it could be a loose tappet. It was not! Mazda then decided to send a technician who said it was piston slap, and that it was ok to live with and no damage was being done!!! When I said the noise is embassingly loud especially when neighbours are close by, he said he may recommend a short engine in his report. After seeing someone else who had a new Mazda 3 with piston slap and after great difficulty had a new short engine installed only to have the same problem again but even worse. I'm wondering if piston slap is a common problem with Mazda 3's. Has anyone else had this problem? Would be so grateful for any help, Many thanks, Barry
|
|
The engine in my wifes Mazda 2007 1.6TS is almost silent when hot or cold. As your car is newer ,Is the engine in yours a different design I wonder ?.
|
|
Piston slap is not normal in any engine you get it from a worn engine or in your case from badly engineered parts.
|
|
Thanks for your reply, well, the 'technician' from mazda said the 'gap' is so minimal it could not be measured ! on a scale of 1 to10, on other engines he's heard, mine is only a 2. although when my wife drives off i can hear the noise from 50 or 60ft away.
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for your reply, i dont know if its different, but it was certainly very quiet until about 800mls and then was very loud on driving off when cold, but strangely not every time.
|
|
Despite what Andy says above, piston slap is normal in some engines (early 2.5 Subaru flat fours for example).
It is usually a function of pistons with short bodies (which can improve their efficiency but can lead to 'slap' when cold).
It is generally not a sign of significant engine wear, but equally should not worsen with time and should go away when the engine is warm.
Cold weather will make it appear worse than warmer weather.
If it's not a common 'feature' on 3s then a short engine rebuild may help.
|
|
As it seems you are unfamiliar with the sound and associated extent of "piston slap", you would be advised to commission a report from a suitable independent engineer and then decide what to do in the light of the findings. It could be that what you hear may be unusual to your ears but acceptable in Mazda engineering standards. Should you have to take the matter further with Mazda again, you need to so before warranty time passes. As Lygonos writes above, it can occur in some engines and continue thus for a long time in the future depending on the extent of piston tolerances etc, as I have experienced. But "piston slap" should not be expected in a new modern engine!
|
Quite right, an engine with piston slap could last 200K+ miles - that's not the point - you don't buy a petrol engine for it to sound like a diesel! Get the engine changed or reject the car. It is serviceable but defective. For instance
, Hondas, even though they are reliable, often suffer from piston slap because Honda tend to produce massively over-square (short stroke) engines with very short piston skirts (motorcycle influenced engineering.) I would not put up with a slappy engine even if I was happy that it's going to be reliable.
|
|
|
|
|
Aircooled 2-stroke engines DO suffer with piston slap (especially older engines), because they run wider piston / cylinder wall clearances and they have the engine ports in the cylinder wall.
I know what you mean about some Subarus etc showing some signs of slap, but a new 4-stroke motor really shouldn't do it at all -- it's a sign of excessive clearance and will accelerate wear in the cylinder (typically a 'lip' at the top of the bore).
It could also be the result of a lubrication problem -- one or more bores / pistons may have been damaged, and is slapping as a result.
|
|
|
|
|
|
I understand (from similar posts on this matter in the past couple of years) that the issue may be related to post-facelift (mid 2007) Mazda3's. My 2006/55 (built in Oct 2005) Mazda3 TS2 1.6 has not suffered from piston slap - the reports I read on the other threads related to the newer cars.
As regards what changes were made to that engine from mid 2007, I'm not sure, however I do know it was altrered in some way to reduce its emmissions just enough to squeak into the next CO2 group down, at the cost of engine performance (a few less bhp and about 0.5 sec slower to 60mph than mine).
Edited by Engineer Andy on 19/03/2011 at 19:20
|
I understand (from similar posts on this matter in the past couple of years) that the issue may be related to post-facelift (mid 2007) Mazda3's. My 2006/55 (built in Oct 2005) Mazda3 TS2 1.6 has not suffered from piston slap - the reports I read on the other threads related to the newer cars.
As regards what changes were made to that engine from mid 2007, I'm not sure, however I do know it was altrered in some way to reduce its emmissions just enough to squeak into the next CO2 group down, at the cost of engine performance (a few less bhp and about 0.5 sec slower to 60mph than mine).
my wifes 2007 1.6ts Mazda 3 is post facelift, and very quiet. When sitting in it at idle, you can't tell its running. Its also very quiet on the move. Its done 39,000 miles now from new.
|
|
The old style Hyundai / Kia petrol engines suffer from it.
I dont think the new kappa engine designs do, but certainly the older hyundai/kia stock would be loud with piston slap in the winter.
Most noticably the 1.3 found in the rio/accent, it was the most notorious for piston slap - yet a highly reliable engine.
I also understand vauxhall 1.6 petrol engines tend to get it, but the 1.4 or 1.8 does not?
|
|
http://www.pistonslap.com/
No manufacturer worth his salt wants their customers to drive a car with audible piston slap.
The scenario with Suburus is hard to believe having stripped early engines down due to rubbish crankshafts there was never a sign of piston wear or slap.
|
|
|
|
The engine in my wifes Mazda 2007 1.6TS is almost silent when hot or cold. As your car is newer ,Is the engine in yours a different design I wonder ?.
I should also add that I have driven a half a dozen Mazda 3 1.6 petrols with various mileages(loan cars, Hire cars and test drives) and none were noticeably noisy.
|
|
|
|
