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agreed...people are capable of learning to maintain a vehicle but it depends what makes the most sense to the individual...i would say people fall into a few categories....1) if you have the time, money, capability and drive to learn, 2) lack of money and it's necessary to learn, 3) you have money but no time and just pay someone to take care of it and worry about other things in life instead of adding another job description to your resume and 4) a little of all those approaches, fix/maintain what you have the tools for and are capable of yourself and let a shop/dealer handle the rest...another thing that is currently helping people diagnose, fix and maintain their vehicles while saving money without necessarily having to retain information or read up prior to maintaining/fixing is AI and it will keep getting better
This statement shows how you think about many things in life. So I guess it is the same way regarding your personal health and how you pay bills as well?
You agree that prolonging a simple service that will save you money in gas, in service bills and overall problems if not worth it and to wait to the very end of a recommended service date before doing a service if as you used the word quoting the other member "agreed". Wow ok then you make my point about the people that just follow all over the preverbal cliff!
BTW it takes 6 basic simple tool costing about 20 bucks to do a spark plugs change on most all Mazda from 2014 to preset. If you have a brain and can rember about 15 part to remove maxium most are less then 5 parts is all it takes to change spark plugs.
Hahahahahahaha...good one.
There are 242,293,001 current drivers just in the USA.
How many of them are on this forum, or any vehicle forum, and how many could even explain what Bluetooth is let alone use a scanning app, including some on this forum?
Doing service for as long as you have you must know the average driver has no idea how any engine even works let alone anything about maintaining the parts involved. The majority of US drivers (and most every other country) have zero mechanical aptitude or abilities and have no pretense of learning any.
The average person should get a physical every year but just like the average vehicle driver, most never do until something goes wrong.
As a species, we collectivelyaren't all that brightand anyone (like me and yourself) that has worked in any service to the public, can attest to that
Well you should go look and add up how many members total there are on the Mazda forums I think you would be surprised.
And as for the total number of vehicles all that is to me is job security, and income security on a business I no longer even have to run anymore.
I do get a physical every year and also a complete blood work analysis.
I do love the polite way you call the majority of people"collectively aren't all that bright" (great term I may have to use that in the future thanks!)
I do love the polite way you call the majority of people"collectively aren't all that bright" (great term I may have to use that in the future thanks!)
Personally, I prefer the term "vast, unwashed masses."
The main reason for those spark plugs is the TURBO charger when booted can increase the EGT and combustion temperatures which play a direct effect of the life stan of a spark plug.
So, its easier to use a spark plug that will last longer overall usage when using a boosted engine. Heaven forbids suggesting that sparkplugs need to be changed more often the basic internet information or even from the auto manufacture. Buty hey they also print that automatic transmission is lifetime no service as well. LOL
There is more technical information but that is the short version for best understanding of most reading this.
And I will repeat again that using diagnostic equipment and DATA logging ignition and fuel injection activity can easily make believer about what I have been saying. LOL
This is that same sort of responses when I try to suggest that most are doing it incorrectly when reading the spark plugs using those charts dating back from the 1950"s even if they have a ilustrated date in the 20"s (2010-2015-2022 etc.)
From my earlier response: As I said the scope does not lie. Any person can go to a shop with an oscilloscope and run a baseline, then change ONLY ONE SPARK PLUG with a new one and do another run. You will be able to see the spark energy and even if you don't understand the data on an oscilloscope scope would be able to pick out which cylinder had the new spark plug
I appreciate the info. Makes more sense that they degrade quicker. I will still follow a 40k interval as it doesn't make sense to me Mazda would say 40k if it hadn't been determined they needed replacement at that mileage. I understand the argument about the ATF fluid, but that is different as all Mazda cares about is getting the car past the warranty (and many folks just care about total service cost over the time they have the car and not listing the cost of an ATF change lowers this cost, even if it's not smart to NOT do the service). If Mazda said the plugs needed replacement every 15k, they would stand to make more $$$ for their dealers for a relatively easy service. It seems the ATF service is another area they could be making the dealer money, though. I tried twice to have mine do it at 30k and they all but refused, finally giving me a ridiculous quote which ended up costing them the business.
Last edited by chickdr19; Aug 7, 2025 at 09:24 AM.
I appreciate the info. Makes more sense that they degrade quicker. I will still follow a 40k interval as it doesn't make sense to me Mazda would say 40k if it hadn't been determined they needed replacement at that mileage..
I think maybe I am not being clear, or the point is being missed. The 40K miles set by Mazda is the determined maximum performance life estimated of a spark plug. This is totally different from the spark plug supportive capability that achieves their EPA and other engine related performance or required at the time of the sale in some countries as advertised. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE??
Here is another fun fact, they and we will say MAZDA do not state which spark plug type to specifically use to gain that 40k service date either. Spark plugs are under the part descriptive category of the ket word "RECOMMEND" .
If you live in a state that does EMISSION TESTING to renew your vehcle registration and you fail a pretest the service advise is to change your engine oil and spark plugs. NOW WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?? lol
Or even some suggest to go do an "Italian Tune Up" and drive directly back to the Emissions testing business. Again why and what do you think happens? hmmm.... lemme think... hold on its coming to me... wait wait... auh .... it cleans the plugs enough that it makes them more efficient and hopefully enables you to pass the Emission test.
As for ATF choice and when to change it well this goes without saying the same language can be described from those that know better and those that will likely unload the veckle well before the transmission fails are start to present issues. Then it is the next guy and they join a forum like this and learn what and why things happened pertaining to that used vehicle from those that followed to the letter the service max millage service info.
I might add that the highest percentage of new members on most all auto related forums join because they have a service problem or question!!!
FACT FIND THAT
At any given day if you look on this forum at members and what they are reading and then go to visitors I would guess 90% are looking at service-related threads to get answers for issues they or someone they know is having.
This is today and this very moment ! 8 members and 9223 guests Page 1 of 4627:59 PM.
I If Mazda said the plugs needed replacement every 15k, they would stand to make more $$$ for their dealers for a relatively easy service. It seems the ATF service is another area they could be making the dealer money, though. I tried twice to have mine do it at 30k and they all but refused, finally giving me a ridiculous quote which ended up costing them the business.
no,no ,no you do not understand how a dealership works. You are assuming that service and parts are strongly related to the GP(gross profit) In most cases NO! Thats not how a dealership gets it largest income from. Its services the vehicles sold from them and other like dealerships. Offering or suggesting a service prior the service scheduling opens a pandora's box that globally most dealership do not do. So maybe if you are really wanting to post better and informed information learn all the ins and outs of a dealership and where their money is and what legal obligations and or protections they must do as not to violate a customer's rights or take advantage of them. That went on decades ago and laws and regulations were established to better control abuse from dealerships like the sale and service departments.
I have also post to many times that many dealerships either do not have the proper equipment and tools or a certified and or Factory trained service individual to perform some service-related work. They are not required to have either but from some service-related issues they must also decline to do them both legally and as per their contract with the auto-manufacture and send them to another dealership.
So reading so many that their dealership won't do, strongly advise not to or read from the almighty service scheduling that it does not need to be done is what support all members that like to go by the "BOOK" and wait until either problem happens or the exact or close to secluding service miles for service period.
I just realized all this over helping member make a better-informed choice to change spark plugs sooner than the auto-manufacture service schedule guide...OMG whatever ROLMAO
WOW!!!!
Time to post this thread for some of you to read or re-read?
no,no ,no you do not understand how a dealership works. You are assuming that service and parts are strongly related to the GP(gross profit) In most cases NO! Thats not how a dealership gets it largest income from. Its services the vehicles sold from them and other like dealerships. Offering or suggesting a service prior the service scheduling opens a pandora's box that globally most dealership do not do. So maybe if you are really wanting to post better and informed information learn all the ins and outs of a dealership and where their money is and what legal obligations and or protections they must do as not to violate a customer's rights or take advantage of them. That went on decades ago and laws and regulations were established to better control abuse from dealerships like the sale and service departments.
I have also post to many times that many dealerships either do not have the proper equipment and tools or a certified and or Factory trained service individual to perform some service-related work. They are not required to have either but from some service-related issues they must also decline to do them both legally and as per their contract with the auto-manufacture and send them to another dealership.
So reading so many that their dealership won't do, strongly advise not to or read from the almighty service scheduling that it does not need to be done is what support all members that like to go by the "BOOK" and wait until either problem happens or the exact or close to secluding service miles for service period.
I am sure the dealer makes more money on the service end than on selling Mazda's. In fact, my local dealer doesn't even have Mazda's on the street front area. You wouldn't know it was even a new car Mazda dealer from the street. The front line is all used high end cars.
I am sure the dealer makes more money on the service end than on selling Mazda's. In fact, my local dealer doesn't even have Mazda's on the street front area. You wouldn't know it was even a new car Mazda dealer from the street. The front line is all used high end cars.
I know where to highest GP is earned from most top brand auto manufactures in the us.
And you are somewhat correct.... trade-ins of the same make, either separate lots that AKA under a different name or there on site for used vehicles mostly from trade-ins and dealership trades and dealer auction buys and sold , then new vehicles, leased is always a good GP earner, service dept and parts department are pretty much always the low GP earners.
And there are the less know very high GP earners which have to do with high profile (*using the term loosely) and approved warranty on some customers vehicles. But generally, Warranty service is a very low GP earner.
* as an approved warranty Automotive service tech by a few auto manufactures I get a higher rate of pay to perform certified warranty work then any dealer. However it is still lower then the what I would normally get in my area for an hourly rate. Which is mostly why I don't service many vehicles anymore because technically I get paid more and seldom get my hands dirty. It is also the reason why when in-between customers and helping my crew I have time to post attempting to help members on my favorite forums. This forum is the first I come to everyday!!!!!
This statement shows how you think about many things in life. So I guess it is the same way regarding your personal health and how you pay bills as well?
You agree that prolonging a simple service that will save you money in gas, in service bills and overall problems if not worth it and to wait to the very end of a recommended service date before doing a service if as you used the word quoting the other member "agreed". Wow ok then you make my point about the people that just follow all over the preverbal cliff!
BTW it takes 6 basic simple tool costing about 20 bucks to do a spark plugs change on most all Mazda from 2014 to preset. If you have a brain and can rember about 15 part to remove maxium most are less then 5 parts is all it takes to change spark plugs.
lol...i agreed with Lobstah about owner's abilities and expanded on it...that's all i agreed with cause that's all his statement said which i quoted...not sure what you read but you cooked the rest of that up in your head
