water quality as far as I am aware reading the 2023 report is interesting but nothing that when the water air dries would leave a residue. But then I am only guessing based on the report I read what may cause a reaction to simple green or other products used for car cleaning maintenance that could support a dry residue after water rinsing?
Interesting subject about water and washing the car, engine, underside that I never considered before.

 

Im not sure if you mean that Mazda replaced the valve cover gasket and timing cover gasket and oil pan gasket ? Or if thats a self diagnosis - Regardless -- You smell oil in the cabin ....you think is oil - but may not be ? Are you getting low reads on the oil dipstick between oil changes ? I would have the dealer do a thorough test on the vehicle under warranty --Its a new vehicle and starting to chase this with soap and water is ludicrous since its new - get it isolated asap -- by the dealer

 

I was laughing so hard I double posted... rolamo

 

Well well well another laughable response from a person with very small service experience. LOL . The problem many fluids leaking fluids is that because of their operating environment the fluid can end up in different areas of the engine compartment or undercarriage. So washing the engine and or transmission and undercarriage make it easy to find a fluid leak origin that may be questionable of its origin. Any person that has worked for even a short time in a service shop can state that some fluids are illusive to find there origin of leaks. DIY that are good at wrenching will often place cardboard under their vehcle to narrow down the origin of a leak. Then there is the common sense, if a fluid is leaking in the engine compartment even if you find it you would want to completely clean the engine compartment after the service to clean all the fluid that leaked on other parts of the engine and engine compartment DUH!!!!

Then there is the smell theory. Unfortunately, most all vehcle owner do not know the different smells of fluids so that advise generally blows in the wind. LOL

lastly it has already been demonstrated on many Mazda forums that most di not know how to properly read their dipstick. If the oil leak was that bad you obvious would be a substantial drop checking the dip stick, but you would first need to have a base line to gauge the oil reduction. To do that you would need to let the engine sits overnight then check and note the oil level. Then drive 50-75 miles and again let the engine sit overnight and then check and compare the results. There is even more to this test but at this point that test IMHO is not needed based on the limited information about the leak.

 

Maybe I've read the OP comment wrong.
I assumed they had gaskets (and seals?) replaced which can leave oil on the engine and other areas of the engine compartment.
And that was the burning they smelled which would be alleviated by washing the oil off.
I also assume no one would be foolish enough to use washing the engine and/or engine bay to try and find out where a leak was coming from.
But there are always exceptions to everything.

 

It is often a practice for service shops to pressure wash the engine and transmission as well the chassis and suspension when there is a large undetected engine that is extremely neglected for cleaning and is completely dirty. By cleaning the engine, the oil leaks are found much faster, and the service are to correct the leak is now clean, so you do not contaminate the removal or parts that expose part when replacing gaskets and seal that are leaking.
No service mechanic likes to work on a customer's and neglected dirty oil mess of an engine

I can give a baker's dozen + examples why this works.....

 

Most all dealership would have washed the engine bay or at least the area that oil contaminated(leak) on other areas.
Aside from its safety concern not to do this it is customer service that better service shops just do as part of the repair.

This has some interesting words I didn't catch the first time...."Mazda experts".... unless it was a certified mechanic then no it was not an expert.
If the smell was their it could have been found. Or at least if it was caused from your oil leak then the washing as posted a few times should have eliminated the smell.

 

With the exception of motorcycle shops, I can tell you washing the engine or anything under the vehicle is not a common practice of the majority of service shops around here.
I can honestly say in all my years of driving I have never seen any shop I've visited ever actually do it.
In fact, just getting excess fluids wiped off is a chore many here fail to strive for.
But you will always get fresh coffee and free donuts...go figure.

 

I think it was at one time, even in your area but your area may have Enviromental regulation laws (EPA) against that.
I know this because I often talk to service shop owners and techs all over the USA.

Maybe I should have clarified deeper that if a shop deems it could be a fire hazard if anything they should be obligated to wash the oil off the engine!

Example :
At one time any drive, up self serve car wash you could use a specific bay to wash your engine. They are now far and few anywhere now. EPA!!!


LOL do you actually look in the back shops area or in the "*dirty bay" (*where a full engine pull or transmission is generally specifically used) to see what they are doing like washing an engine or the outside of a car or maybe other parts they removed off a servicing vehcle? pleeeeeze!!!!! lol

 

Am I reading this wrong?
2024 Mazda CX5 Mazda has replace valve cover oil pan seal and timing cover.
Why has the dealer carried out all this work? From my experience Mazda's are well designed and usually don't have oil leaks.
I don't suppose some boof spilt oil when trying to fill it up after a service.
Like most comments wash it down and wait and see.