I have a 2021 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring that I purchased new. I did not purchase or pay for an extended warranty. The car has just under 36,000 miles. My excellent mechanic discovered a "very small leak" at the main seal between the engine and the transmission. There have been no dashboard warnings or trouble lights either before or after the discovery. The mechanic says I should take the car to Mazda if I have any warranty coverage left, but I checked and found that I am 4 months past the 60-month warranty, so I cannot expect any help from Mazda.

The car is based in South Florida and lives a charmed life. I have a 50/50 mix of city and highway driving, don't drive it hard or aggressively, never drive off-road, change oil and filter every 6,000 miles (usually sooner), and the car drives and behaves like it's brand new. I religiously check the oil dipstick at each gas fill-up, and I have never seen the oil level vary.

My trusty mechanic says the small oil leak issue isn't due to anything I've done. He calls it a "nuisance leak" and says my best course of action is to continue driving and maintaining the car as usual, being extra careful to check the oil level frequently. He says the leak will most likely remain very small and should not affect the car's longevity. In fact, he said the engine will likely be good for at least another 20,000 to 30,000 miles if I continue to care for it as I have over its first five years/36,000 miles.

Just wondering if anyone here has had a similar nuisance leak, when it occurred, and how it's played out over the long term.

Many thanks,

Milt Baker, Pompano Beach, Florida

 

Your mechanic is correct about these small leaks that happen on very make every model likely ever manufactured. The degree is what is important to consider. ALL oil leaks start small and progressively get worse.
The location of your leak is a PIA and costly to service. So, his advice to let it go but watch it is likely what I would say only to add that when it becomes to the point that it is leaving a large oil accumulation on the ground it's time to re-consider and re-evaluate what to do. Oil leaking under the car can contaminate other parts like brakes and what you don't want it oil dripping on your exhaust system.

I would at least give Mazda a try before you get to much farther out of the warranty period. If you purchased the Mazda new, they may consider a couple of actions. 1. replace the seal no charge, or 2 replace the seal at a reduced cost? You don't know unless you try.

If you purchased the Mazda used, then it is not likely you will get any adjustment on cost replacement service.

 

Thanks for confirming my gut feelings, Callisto. I bought the car new from an authorized Mazda dealer, but after a couple of unhappy episodes with the company's service department during the early days of my ownership, I decided to depend on my longtime mechanic rather than the Mazda dealer, which has been a good choice. I'm not optimistic that the dealer would offer me a deal to replace the seal. Moreover, my mechanic also mentioned what a PIA replacing the seal would be, so lots of opportunities for things to go wrong if I decided to go down that road.

I've long followed the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." In this case, I'm gonna go with my gut and follow my mechanic's original advice: live with it. If the nuisance leak progresses into a gusher over the next year or two, I'll sell the car or give it away and move on. If not, I'll have another 10,000 or 20,000 good miles with the car. What's the worst that can happen? Whatever it is, I can live with it!

Much obliged,

Milt Baker

 

sounds like a good choice.

You are fortunate that you live in Florida I am in CA. You can get not only sited but also a reasonable cause to get pulled over by law enforcement and cited here for even a small oil or other fluid leaking from any driven vehicle on the road and highways.

California Law on Vehicles Leaking Oil on the Street

In California, driving a vehicle with an oil leak onto the street is illegal and can result in fines, cleanup costs, and even civil liability.

Key laws and penalties:

• Vehicle Code § 24002 – Unsafe Vehicle Operation: It is unlawful to operate a vehicle in an unsafe condition that presents an immediate safety hazard. An oil leak that reduces traction or risks engine damage can qualify as unsafe, even without a specific fluid volume requirement legalclarity.org.
  
• Vehicle Code § 23112 – Depositing Substances on a Highway: Prohibits depositing any substance likely to injure or damage traffic. Motor oil on pavement is such a substance because it reduces traction and can cause crashes legalclarity.org.
  
• Vehicle Code § 23113 – Cleanup Duty: Requires anyone who deposits material under § 23112 to remove it immediately. If you fail to do so, the road maintenance agency can clean it up and sue you for the cost plus damages legalclarity.org.
  
• Health & Safety Code § 23112.7 – Illegal Dumping: Defines “waste matter” to include oils, fuels, and petroleum distillates. Dumping or depositing these on public property can lead to impoundment, civil forfeiture, and fines CrowdSource Lawyers.
  
• Fines and enforcement: Equipment violations (including oil leaks) are generally correctable, but fines can be significant once state and county surcharges are added. Some sources note fines of up to $1,000 per day for continued violations psychoautos.com. Ignoring the problem can escalate a ticket to a misdemeanor
  

sucks at times to live in this state. LOL