I'm dealing with a frustrating issue with my 2018 CX-5 and wondered if others had a solution. Love the vehicle, no issues in warm weather. However, once the temperature gets below 7C or 40 F. there is a loud ticking noise near the front passenger side of the engine. Once completely warm I can push the accelerator to the floor, clouds of carbon then the issue is resolved for a few days. I thought it might be a lazy lifter or injector issue- have used several of the high end additives to try to correct the problem- nothing works, The ticking returns, you have to completely warm up the engine, floor it to clear the carbon then good for a day or two before the ticking returns at start-up.

Any one else have that issue or could offer suggestions as to what might be the cold weather problem?

 

Your description should have information in the ECU if it is properly scanned.
You should have had your check engine light activated.

 

Welcome to the forum

 

Also what do you understand completely "warm" represents?
If the coolant light is still on then you are not
If the idle RPM is above 800 then you are not
Using a scanning diagnostic tool connected to your ECU you can find other indicator to correctly determine if you are "warm-ed" up.

 

The more I read it has to be a lifter and it seems like a more common issue than I suspected. Mine only happens in colder weather and disappears after the engine temperature shows fully warm- after driving down the highway a few miles. Rapid acceleration at that point burns off the carbon after a few times.
I guess I live with it or move to the South unless I want to replace the lifters.
There was a Mazda TSB about the exact issue with a suggestion to run the engine at 2000 rpm for 5 minutes and do it twice. I'll try that first to correct the issue.

 

The lifter are not a common issue on a Madza Skyactiv engine ?? Where ion the world did you get that idea??
And lets say it was then I would suspect the oil and filter service record of when more than a noisy lifter. And lest say it was, that means that there would be a change in the CR during the start up the ECU would have attempted to compensate and you would have generated a check engine light.
I would like to read the exact TSB please provide the number and then I will comment on it!

 

Filter and oil changed every 8000 km or 5000 miles- synthetic- religiously. Air and cabin filters replaced + tire rotation every second oil change- always practised that habit.
The TSB can be found here: MC-10174567-0001.pdf
Another suggestion at the next oil change was to change the oil from 0W-20 synthetic to 5W-30 synthetic. Your thoughts?

 

Yes as I suspected you are reading what you want to read in that TSB ? That’s ok I am use to that both on forums and ITRW ( in the real world)
It was a poorly written TSB . Unfortunately back in the day when I contributed TSB they had to be read by another ASE before publishing. That changed and now anyone that works in a service department can write them now .
You have great service habits keep that up for sure

Going to the higher viscosity should only be considered depending on the season temperatures ? It is not a cure for a noise lifter .

The thing that got my attention is not the noise lifter but the other weird description of “clouds” of carbon? If the lifter was collapsed you would get a misfire DTC and it’s possible to get unburied gas which you would have mentioned a gas smell. Now if you have oil getting into the combustion chambers then you could have a nose lifter and black smoke being cleared out of the cylinder but you would partially foul a spark plug and another DTC. In this case you would need to remove the spark plug from the suspected cylinder and examine it and possibly a compression and leak down cylinder test?

As DIY only and not anything else I would think about changing the oil and filter sooner. But before changing it an no matter what the oil level is use a whole can of sea foam and drive it for 25 - 50 miles and then change the oil and filter.Your oil should be filled to the top level and then add the Seafoam. This will not harm the engine and will not even come close to the crank because the 2.5 Skyactiv engine has a balance shaft assembly

Of the problem is simply a HLA (lifter) the seafoam should clean it and the cold start noises should go away. If not and the problem continues as you posted in the first response then you need to have your engine looked at by a certified mechanic or higher level of experience only.

 

Thanks for the advice! I will try the Seafoam suggestion and change the oil.

 

One follow-up question as I appreciate your knowledge of lifter issues.
The "tic,tic,tic" never happens in warm weather. In cold weather the issue appears intermittently. If the engine is totally warmed, I can push the accelerator to the floor and there is quite a bit of ashy Gray exhaust. When the car is parked then restarted- even in very cold temperatures- the 'tic, tic, tic" does not happen. However, if I have a short trip to the corner store and the engine does not totally warm up- I can do that about 2-3 times and then the noise returns. I then have to take the car on the highway to totally warm the engine, push on the accelerator to emit the ashy Gray exhaust and return home. This will alleviate the noise again unless 2-3 short trips without total engine warm-up.
Is this normal for a lifter issue as I thought the lifters would make the noise at every very cold start-up?