Fuel in oil warning light

[chicky]

My Mazda 2 1.6 D has only covered 12300 miles when the fuel in oil warning light appeared on dash. Is this a common problem with this engine?
I have checked the oil level and it is OK. Looks like a visit to the stealers. Have any other members suffered this?

[cuke2u]

My Mazda 2 1.6 D has only covered 12300 miles when the fuel in oil warning light appeared on dash. Is this a common problem with this engine?
I have checked the oil level and it is OK. Looks like a visit to the stealers. Have any other members suffered this?

Hi, has a dpf? If so you must take it to the dealership immediately as you run the risk of a blown engine. Mazda's implimetation of dpf regen is particulary poor with many 6's having major issues with engine failures, although I don't know about the diesel fitted to the 2.
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/6-2008/?section=bad
Chris

[chicky]

Thanks for the reply cuke 2u
Rang a few stealers and none of them could give me any information regarding the warning light some were not even aware that the mazda 2 had a fuel in oil warning light. It says a lot that they don't have much product knowledge about the goods that they are selling!
Car is currently booked in to the stealers for monday so hoping it will be a quick repair.

[2020vision]

Hi 

this fuel in oil warning light has just come on for me today...

Mazda 2 1.6D - only 11300 miles? Does anyone have any more
insight into this so that I will have an idea as to what kind of
response I can expect from the dealer tomorrow or when it's
actually booked in for a check up?

Is there actually a simple reason or fix for this? How far would it
be safe to drive do you think? Checked the oil and it appears to
be very full - just over the top marker and also black and runny?

Thanks - Michael 

[cuke2u]

Hi, see my replies above and I would only drive it carefully to the dealership and leave it there. Seems like Mazda's still have a very poor implementation of the dpf regen causing unburnt fuel to get into the lubrication system when a failed regen takes place. Would I buy one of these diesels, no thank you, not in a million years...
Chris

[2020vision]

Hi 

if this is of use to anyone...

Have been in touch with dealer and got it booked in for
this Wednesday afternoon. They said it was most likely
caused by my driving style - too many short trips and not
enough sustained higher revving trips.

Told me to take it over 2500revs for at least 15 minutes
a week in order to regenerate the dpf (diesel particulate filter).
In other words get on a motorway. Caused by the ecu trying to
force a regeneration (i.e. burn off the soot) and not having time
to finish the cycle. Diesel gets into the oil!

Going to cost me £69.95 for early oil and filter change - also reset
the warning light. If this price sounds good it's only because they
agreed to price match an independent garage service locally,
they did ask for more. *NOT* COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

I find it hard to believe that they need to make cars this way,
it's actually put me a little bit off my car and makes me think twice
about my "wise" decision to buy this diesel (or any diesel) model
- time will tell, eh? Appears to be the wrong car for my lifestyle!

As soon as the 3 year warranty period is up I shall definitely
think seriously about having the dpf removed?

Have a good day to all - Michael 

[cuke2u]

Hi, I agree with Mazda's statement about the dpf regen process, however once a week is too much as once a month would be enough. Any diesel with a dpf that requires a regeneration will need to have that process completed, however, as I've stated, Mazda's implementation is poor and can lead to blown engines because of oil contamination by fuel.

My car, a Mk4 Mondeo diesel, also has had the oil service light come on once, after around a year's use only around town. I took it to the dealership and they changed the oil and filter, reset and reprogrammed the ecu all under warranty and I've not seen this issue again. However I do make sure that I go on a, reasonably fast   , run of about 20 miles once a month, or, if the regen process has started after a short journey, make sure the process has completed.

You can tell a regen because the engine will sound 'gruff'' you will feel heat being issued under the car, possibly with a burning smell, and the cooling fan will be running at full speed. Once the regen has finished the fan will stop.

Unfortunately this is a fact with all dpf's, as they are actually catching carcinogenic materials that are issued by diesels, thus you'd be well advised to keep the dpf, the side effect being that soot needs to be periodically burned off the filter.
See here for more information http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuels-and-environment/diesel-particulate-filters.html

Thus all that's really required is for you to adapt your motoring to take this into account and you shouldn't, fingers crossed, have anymore problems.
Cheers,
Chris

[2020vision]

Thanks for those words cuke2u  

But there is no way I can tell when this regeneration process has
started? My cooling fan seems to kick in for the slightest reason?
At least the problem of it switching off now appears cured.

I have never smelt burning or felt any heat, going by the current
mpg consumption trip meter means nothing much because I did
notice a long time ago that fuel economy reading appears to drop
about 30% simply because the cooling fan kicks in? Some kind of
signal/light that this is happening would been of much use to drivers?

I have no kind of warning light to let me know this process is taking
or needs to take place? Why should I and quite likely others have this
added and premature expense without it being made clear at point of sale?
It's not my fault - I bought the car because of it's economy and expected
reliability. This is not to mention the underlying disappointment and worry
that it could lead to blown engine or huge cost of new DPF?

The whole idea I bought this car was fuel economy and I have been told
I should blow around an extra £5 to £6 worth every week in order to save
the problem I have now - ludicrous! (Still not sure to work either?)
This extra expense would take me back to fuel cost I had for old petrol car!

Not that all of my driving is slow but very rarely do I go on motorways,
personally I don't like motorways and only few other roads provide the
possibility of sustained high revs for any length of time.

Seems like a very poor way of going on if you ask me? I am right now
completely disillusioned with my Mazda 2, this episode has now taken
virtually all the pleasure away from me and left me with nothing but worry.
I shall have to think long and hard about whether I keep this "wonderful
car of the Year 2008" for much longer? I may try driving the recommended
way and see if the problem crops up again?

Shall leave it at that for now, thanks for your help and interst,

All the best - Michael  

P.S. Perhaps it would be cheaper to have an oil change once every 6 months?
(52 x £5.50) - 1 extra oil change @ £70 (tomorrows price) = £216 saved but,,,
would not take into account possible premature DPF total failure?

[cuke2u]

Hi, I'm sorry you are disillusioned by your purchase, however you cannot blame Mazda for something that all dpf diesels have and whether you should have been informed at the point of sale is maybe something you should take up with the dealer that supplied your car.

Perhaps the dpf regeneration process needs maturing in some way amd maybe manufacturers need to help the owners of dpf engined cars more. It is evolving as I know ford have changed their regen systems on the Mondeo now but whether is is because cars that are driven around town require this change I don't know.

As I said, there is no need to force a regen every week, unless you do 500 in one, once a month, or evey 500 miles will do. Just take it for a drive and enjoy your car...
Chris

[Si]

I posted this in the "cooling fan" thread but it seems worth posting here as well as cuke2u and I seem in agreement about it being an issue with diesel engines as a whole.

Up until recently I actually thought this car was "the bee's knees"!

Rant over - all the best - Michael 

FWIW I became fed up with my TS2 after about 8 months when it was clear that Mazda will probably never fix the clicking clutch pedal problem.  I still have the car and finances mean I'll be keeping it for a while longer, but posts on here showing problems never being fixed by Mazda mean I'll steer clear next time.

I have posted several times before that "Car Of The Year" type awards should be given when the car has been out for at least 3 years.  Before that time it is meaningless.

Not that it helps you but I think dpf problems are fairly standard across all modern diesel engines, regardless of the manufacturer.

I haven't owned a diesel engined car so this may be twaddle, but could the need to run the car at higher revs every so often be met by not changing up from 4th gear on some journeys, say for 5-10 miles or so?

[cuke2u]

Hi, some manufacturers dpf 'issues' are greater though, and not warrented, I've never heard of a Mk4 Mondeo diesel blowing up its engine due to a failed regen but there are plenty of Mazda 6's that have and are having a problem http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/6-2008/?section=bad
So nice to have a real debate here in this forum 
Chris

[Si]

So nice to have a real debate here in this forum  

Likewise    But I am at the limits of my knowledge!

As I said above, I have no experience of driving a diesel - other than about 100 miles in work car about 10 years ago.  My late father always looked after my cars until about 2004 and wouldn't be surprised at me saying I know so little!  

I have just searched google for "dpf problems" and put the name of various manufactures in front of that.  I then stumbled across this page www.sinspeed.co.uk/blog/tag/toyota-diesel-particulate-filter-dpf-problems-fixed/  

Admittedly it is a website with a vested interest in fixing problems, but I assume the cars listed as having had reported problems is accurate - and it is quite long.  This does seem to be drifting towards a problem being created due to insufficient research and testing having been done before the product is installed.  Its a bit like early DVD recorders that were almost guaranteed to fail through what I call "imperfect technology".

[cuke2u]

Hi, all I can say is get a diesel that can be remapped, majority of them made after 1999 can have this, then enjoy a free revving engine that drives like a petrol but has the torque of a diesel and more. It'll bring a big grin to your face with the bonus of better mpg as well...
Chris

[Scottbrook]

I had the fuel in oil warning light show this morning on my M2 1.6 diesel Sport. This is the second time this has happened and I mentioned it on the forum last May.
http://www.mazda2forums.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1137.0.html

The first time it occurred it was about a week after the first service which was carried out slightly early, so the light would have shown just before 12,500 miles.
This morning the light came on as soon as the mileage hit 24,900, exactly 100 miles before the 2nd service due at 25,000miles.
It would seem that the light is linked to mileage rather than there being anything wrong with the oil.

I can't see it being due to driving style, I do a 60 mile commute each day, admittedly on the clogged up M60 but the car does get frequent blasts when the road clears and most week ends which should enable the DPF to regenerate or whatever it does

My car is going in for a service anyway tomorrow so it will be reset and the oil and filter replaced.It will be interesting to see what happens around 37,500 miles.

Speaking with the garage there have been a number of these instances with the 1.6D engines so maybe it is just a reminder to get the oil replaced and the light reset. If this is not done and say the oil pump were to fail  at some stage then this would be the get out clause not to replace under the warranty or for the manufacturer to accept any responsibility!

[cuke2u]

Hi, it could be the case but then how does that work for us that do little mileage and require a service at timed intervals, plus our petrol engined sport has never shown this light and I believe it doesn't exist on the petrol engines.
Chris