Mazda MZR 2.5L 5L-VE Engine Specs, Problems & Reliability

Mazda MZR 2.5L 5L-VE Engine

Here in this post, I have gathered information about the Mazda MZR 2.5L 5L-VE Engine from its official website, including its specifications, Problems, and Reliability.

We believe in providing reliable information to our readers, therefore we prefer to obtain information on the Mazda MZR 2.5L 5L-VE Engine from authentic sources.

This article, which has been updated, has all the information you require about the Mazda MZR 2.5L 5L-VE Engine.

The SkyActiv-G 1.5-litre engine (P5-VPS, P5-VP (RS)) is a scaled-down version of the SkyActiv 2.0-liter unit. Models like the Mazda2 and Mazda3 got this engine before the MX-5 did.

This Mazda L-series engine is an upgraded version of the 2.3-litre L3-VE engine’s four cylinders to produce a total of 2.5 litres of gasoline power.

The first version of the driver was released for the Mazda6 in 2008. Exactly one year later, it hit the shelves in the United States (2009–2013 Mazda 6).

The L5-VE, like the smaller 2.3L, uses a cylinder block made of aluminium alloy with sleeves and liners cast straight into the engine block.

However, instead of cast iron, 4340 steel-molybdenum alloys are used for the cylinder liners. This material is resistant to high temperatures and has little friction.

The bore height was increased to 89 mm (3.5 in) and the stroke length was increased to 100 mm (3.94 in) on the engine block (3.50 in).

This means the engine has a capacity of 2,488 cubic centimetres or 2.5 litres. There are eight counterweights on the L5-VE’s forged steel crankshaft (like a 2.3L DISI Turbo or L3-VDT).

The engine’s middle and high revs (2,000–5,000 rpm) benefit from a flexible joint between the crankshaft and the flywheel, which dampens resonances.

The L5 motor utilizes a balancing unit similar to a cassette. The crankshaft turns a gear that spins two balancing shafts.

Connecting rods and pistons were replaced with new components, including forged powder-metal rods and pistons and aluminium pistons with graphite-coated skirts.

Mazda MZR 2.5L 5L-VE Engine Problems

2.5 Excessive Use of Duracool Coolant

When it comes to “issues,” the Duratec I4 is most notorious for its tendency to waste engine coolant.

In reality, most vehicles only need to have their coolant topped off once every few years, but owners say they have to do it once or twice a year. However, the high amount of coolant used by the Fusion and Escape has not been adequately explained.

Some have speculated that engine block porosity is to blame for this issue, despite the fact that the leaks in question rarely cause any visible coolant to escape.

This is a topic for which there is currently no known solution, but it nonetheless merits attention. Low coolant levels can cause engine failure.

Overheating an engine can cause severe damage to the block, heads, and internals. If you get the low coolant warning light while you’re on the road, be prepared with an extra bottle of coolant.

There are a few additional possible sources of coolant loss besides the mysterious coolant loss.

A broken radiator, a leaking water pump or hoses, a blown head gasket, or cracked heads are all things that can cause a car to lose a lot of coolants. 

Problems Shifting Gears with a Duratec 25 I4 Transmission

Conventional 6-speed automatic transmissions are used in the Fusion, Escape, and Milan.

Unfortunately, there are leaks in the transmissions, which cause the transmission fluid to run low and create a slew of problems including hard shifting, erratic shifting, slippage, etc.

Concerns with the 2012–2014 Fusions and Escapes are most likely to surface at about 70,000 miles.

These concerns have been observed most frequently with vehicles manufactured in 2012–2014, but have also been seen with vehicles of different ages.

A worn or broken shaft seal on the left side of the transmission is the most prevalent reason for the problem.

Sealing the output shaft to the transfer case is the job of the output shaft seal, which is placed on the front of the transfer case.

Transmission fluid leaks out at the output shaft as a result of seal wear and deterioration, which is normal over time.

The engine and gearbox control modules are another typical source of transmission failure in these vehicles.

It may be necessary to upgrade the software calibration if it has gotten out of sync.

When the TCM or PCM is broken, shifting between first and second gear or fourth and fifth gear can be rough or take a long time.

Transmission fluid seeping from the transfer case is the most obvious indicator of trouble.

Yet many people who own 2.5 Duratec don’t become aware of the leaks until it’s too late.

Transmission problems, such as rough shifting and gear slippage, become severe after enough fluid spills out.

Mazda MZR 2.5L 5L-VE Engine Reliability

The last section emphasized how challenging it was to uncover commonly experienced issues with the Duratec 25. These engines may be underpowered, but their incredible dependability makes up for it.

When you’re cranking out 175 horsepower with a 2.5-litre engine, it’s hard to damage many moving parts.

With this engine alone, you won’t have to worry about nearly any typical issues.

A few transmission and power steering problems have afflicted the Fusions and Escapes that use this engine, but otherwise, there have been no real problems.

They are notorious coolant guzzlers, so make sure you constantly replenish their supply.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many tried-and-true performance upgrades for the Ford 2.5, so we can’t comment on its dependability with the extra muscle.

On the other hand, when used for basic transportation and kept in their standard configuration, these engines are rock solid and reliable.

They are dependable, to be sure, but age inevitably necessitates some upkeep.

Water pumps, spark plugs and ignition coils, fuel injectors, gaskets and seals, suspension components, etc. are just some of the basics that will need replacing once you hit 100,000 miles and continue on to 150,000 miles.

Mazda MZR 2.5L 5L-VE Engine Review 

The Mazda MZR is a 2.5L inline-4 gasoline engine with naturally aspirated combustion. It was first introduced in 2001. The Mazda L engine is also called the Ford Duratec family. For a full review, please check this YouTube video Here.

Mazda MZR 2.5L 5L-VE Engine FAQ

Is the Mazda 2.5 LA a good engine?

The 2.5-litre L-series engines found in Mazda vehicles are among the company’s most dependable and durable offerings. You can easily get 300,000 miles out of it with regular servicing.

Is Mazda 2.5 a Ford engine?

The 2.5-litre Duratec 25 four-cylinder engine from Ford Motor is often called the Mazda L engine. It is usually found in midsize sedans, cargo vans, and SUVs.

What kind of engine is a 2.5 L?

GM’s patented Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis tools were used to create an all-new combustion system with a higher compression ratio.

It is based on a new generation of large-displacement four-cylinder engines that are built to be more efficient.