I just crossed 30,000 on my 22 CX-5 Turbo. Was checking the recommended maintenance. Question: Do the spark plugs really need to be changed at 40,000 miles? And if so, exactly which ones do I use? (In other words what exactly is in there.)

 

I'm pondering the same thing as I'm about to hit 36k miles. I know that it's recommended to have them done by the 40k mile mark with the turbo, but in all of vehicles that I've had in the past I never needed to change the plugs...

 

New plugs will always give you a measurable increase in electric response and a better spark.
The only thing questionable, is if you'll actually notice or not.

 

Spark plugs due every 60,000km in RHD which equates to 36,000 miles.

 

Changing the spark plugs at or under 35K miles will improve your overall performance.

Any of you go out and WOT short run say like the distance merging onto a highway (*safely) if you have over 35K miles on your spark plugs and then change them and do another WOT (*short run safely) and tell me you don't notice a difference.
There is a reason why better racers when they drive to an event change their spark plugs no matter what the miles are on them.
And yes, I understand your Mazda may not be a sport runner but read between the lines what I am saying.
It does make a difference spark plug lose spark energy that can be quantifiable as seen on any Oscilloscope. This is also in line with the coils and boots that start to degrade at about 50K miles and gradually continue to get worse. But so, few ever change them until they fail.

 

Short interval, but okay. Does the Sky Active system use the plugs as sensors? I've had Audis, the Mini, and other modern OBDII cars and it was always 60k-100k. I have an old (2004) Chevy (Suzuki) Tracker with the V6 and it had the original NGK Iridium plugs at 130k. They were rated for 100k. Yes I did change them and put the same ones back in.

So, what plugs are in there (I want to use the same as factory) and what are the torque specs. Please and thank you.

 

It really is better all-around that member don't compare other platforms when asking service-related question and comments?
The biggest reason is no other platform in the world has the Mazda Skyactiv technology and the ECU developed programing are vastly different from every other platform to control the operation of the Mazda Skyactiv Engine.

Your MINI would be the same recommendation and more so if it were a 1st or 2nd generation model.

As for the people on media blasting their extreme miles on spark plugs ... it only shows a neglect in basic service operation and an engine that is down overall at least a minimum of 38% on everything from HP TQ MPG and overall drivability.

As I keep posting on this forum and so many others' having something to do with a gasoline internal combustion engine... spark plug is the weak link in the ignition system and have the most dramatic effect overall in lessening the engine performance above all other ignition components. Just because the service advisories give the recommend and expected under warranty service recommendation for servicing the spark plugs has NOTHING to do with how that spark plug is performing. And it would be next to impossible to have a ECU program that could have a program devised to show a decline in spark output because that is more based on the spark plug flame Kernal more so than other components factor of how a spark plug operates in it environment. Like combustion temperatures, changes in fuel type and quality the coil output etc.

Let me put it another way some can grasp and get a a real-world observation to relate to some of what I am posting. We ALL have been hind THAT VEHCKLE when the driver decides to accurate hard... what do we always see. What you think it is is not what you think it is but rather the spark plugs in a cleaning process and all the smoke that comes out the exhaust during that hard acceleration is the spark plug semi cleaning. Operative word "SEMI"! That same spark plugs if it had been in the best of condition low milage and all other factors supporting (coils and leads and boots and connectors) then you would not have seen the first puff of smoke from the tail pipe. .

BTW another MYTH spark plugs installed at the factory are based on the corporate offices specifically the BEAN COUNTERS division (lol) that look at cost and who they need to stay within what is generally a ong term contract with the spark plug manufacture to get the best cost on product. It is NOT because any specific spark plug of top brands and quality are better than any other.

I know this because at one time in a place I managed we purchased spark plug from a spark plug distributor on the pallet weight. Although NGK, and Bosch was by volume of boxed and case numbers. The exception is when the first BOSCH platinum's hit the retail market. Then it was specific part number and boxed quantities.


ASE (also spark plug expert. lol)

 

Mini was 60k interval....I did it at 45k lol

I'm totally agreeing with you. I'm all about preventive maintenance. I'm the one who has already changed his battery in year two. I always check the maintenance schedule and keep a log, which is why I did this post.

So NGK 90288 torqued to 12-14 ft lb?

 

Yes, skyactiv system have Ion sensors in the coils, older ignition coils were 3 wire, skyactiv coils are 4 wire.

 

You know that you can disconnect the second black wire(ion) and you will not notice any difference in engine operation or performance? And there is not even withing the ECU programing and monitoring of that wire as long as it is not shorted out. And then it is a basic ignition DTC unrelated.
I tossed the Mazda coils after running a few tests and we saw that the efficiency is actually lower then other non ion coils. and run a conventional coil. They proved to be better all around. The ion coils are still in a very infant stage of use as far as what the theorized improvements "may" be using them. So we who have them on their engine ignition system are more or less Guina pigs in these industries experimenting.
There is only one company offering a true performance coil for a Mazda Skyactiv engine, and a set of coil is close to 600 USD. However if you are willing to do some modding with the connector position MSD and ACCEL has some nice coils that will work great and if you want to just eliminate the coil in plug altogether there are even better coils at the tune of 24) USD each that will give your engine all the generated coil energy to your spark plug you could ever use. LOL
In a nutshell an ion coil-in-plug they will do NOTHING to improve any aspect of your engine performance or how the combustion fuel/air charge is produced. This is not a guess but empirical information that anyone have some basic testing and recording equipment can test for themselves.
So don't choose a spark plug based on the type of coil unless you are using a Variable magnetic engineered coil. But that won't happen because the engineer that design the first one sold it to company that buried the technology. Too bad because it would have been fantastic to have coil-in plug coil that used that technology.

Disclaimer.... Changing any aspect of any ignition system requires a full understanding of the ignition system and all the components you are working with. Please don't ask how changing coils is done. If you are asking you should not be considering the upgrade or any modification to the ignition system. In many cases it also requires entering the ECU and adjusting some PID/Cells within factory programming.