Mazda engine L8, LF, L3. Manual - part 10

B–20

ENGINE 

4. Insert the piston ring into the cylinder by hand and 

use the piston to push it to the bottom of the ring 
travel.

5. Measure each piston ring end gap with a feeler 

gauge.

•

If the piston ring end gap exceeds the 
maximum end gap, replace the piston, piston 
pin, piston ring and connecting rod as a single 
unit.

Standard end gap:

Top: 0.16—0.31 mm {0.0063—0.012 in}
Second: 0.33—0.48 mm {0.0130—0.0189 in}
Oil (rail): 0.20—0.70 mm {0.0079—0.0275 in}

Maximum end gap:

1.0 mm {0.0393 in}

End Of Sie

CRANKSHAFT INSPECTION

A6E242411301E01

1. Install the main bearing cap. (See 

B–30 Main Bearing Caps Assembly Note

.)

2. Measure the crankshaft end play.

•

If not as specified, replace the thrust bearing 
or crankshaft so that the specified end play is 
obtained.

Standard end play:

0.22—0.45 mm {0.0087—0.0177 in}

Maximum end play:

0.55 mm {0.022 in}

3. Remove the main bearing cap. (See 

B–11 Main 

Bearing Cap Disassembly Note

.)

4. Measure the crankshaft runout.

•

If the crankshaft runout exceeds the maximum runout, replace the crankshaft.

Maximum runout:

0.05 mm {0.0019 in}

L8, LF

L3, L3 (with variable valve timing mechanism)

AME2224E104

AME2224E034

AME2224E035

AME2224E311

ENGINE 

B–21

B

5. Measure the journal diameter in X and Y 

directions at the two points (A and B) as indicated 
in the figure. 

•

If not as specified, replace the crankshaft or 
grind the journal and install the undersize 
bearing.

Main journal

mm {in}

Maximum out-of-round:

0.05 mm {0.0019 in}

Crank pin

mm {in}

Maximum out-of-round:

0.05 mm {0.0019 in}

6. Install the main bearing caps and crankshaft.
7. Position a plastigage atop the journals in the axial direction.
8. Install the main bearing caps and cylinder block. (See 

B–30 Main Bearing Caps Assembly Note

.)

9. Remove the main bearing caps. (See 

B–11 Main Bearing Cap Disassembly Note

.)

10. Measure the main journal oil clearance.

•

If the clearance exceeds the maximum, 
replace the main bearing using the main 
bearing selection table or grind the main 
journal and install the oversize bearings so 
that the specified oil clearance is obtained.

Standard clearance:

0.019—0.035 mm {0.0007—0.0013 in}

Maximum clearance:

0.10 mm {0.0039 in}

mm {in}

Bearing size

Standard diameter

Standard

51.980—52.000 {2.0464—2.0472}

0.25 {0.01} 
undersize

51.730—51.750 {2.0366—2.0373}

Bearing size

Standard diameter

Standard

49.980—50.000 {1.9677—1.9685}

0.25 {0.01} 
undersize

49.730—49.750 {1.9579—1.9586}

Bearing 

size

Color

Bearing thickness

Standard

Green 2.506—2.509 {0.0987—0.0988}

0.25 {0.01} 
oversize

2.628—2.634 {0.1034—0.1037}

0.50 {0.02} 
oversize

2.753—2.759 {0.1084—0.1086}

AME2224E036

AME2224E038

B–22

ENGINE 

End Of Sie

CONNECTING ROD INSPECTION

A6E242411211E01

Caution

••••

The piston, piston ring and connecting rod cannot be disassembled.

••••

When replacing the piston, piston pin, piston ring and connecting rod, replace them together as a 
single unit.

1. Install the connecting rod cap. (See 

B–31 Connecting Rod Cap Assembly Note

.)

2. Measure the connecting rod large end side 

clearance. 

•

If the connecting rod large end side clearance 
exceeds the maximum clearance, replace the 
piston, piston pin, piston ring and connecting 
rod as a single unit.

Standard clearance:

0.14—0.36 mm {0.0056—0.0141 in}

Maximum clearance:

0.435 mm {0.0172 in}

3. Remove the connecting rod cap.
4. Position plastigage atop the journals in the axial direction.
5. Install the connecting rod bearing and connecting rod cap. (See 

B–31 Connecting Rod Cap Assembly Note

.)

6. Remove the connecting rod cap.
7. Measure the connecting rod oil clearance.

•

If not as specified, replace the connecting rod 
bearing or grind the crank pin and use 
oversize bearings so that the specified 
clearance is obtained.

Standard clearance:

0.026—0.052 mm {0.0011—0.0020 in}

Maximum clearance:

0.1 mm {0.0039 in}

mm {in}

End Of Sie

BOLT INSPECTION

A6E242410135E01

1. Measure the length of each bolt.

•

Replace any that exceeds maximum length.

Bearing size

Color

Bearing thickness

Standard

Green

1.496—1.502 

{0.0589—0.0591}

0.50 {0.02} 
oversize

1.748—1.754 {0.0688—0.0690}

0.25 {0.01} 
oversize

1.623—1.629 {0.0639—0.0641}

AME2224E059

AME2224E310

AME2224E050

ENGINE 

B–23

B

Length L

End Of Sie

VARIABLE VALVE TIMING ACTUATOR INSPECTION

A6E242400142E02

L3 (with variable valve timing mechanism) 

Caution

••••

Variable valve timing actuator can not be disassembled it is a precision unit /

1. Confirm that notch of the rotor and bump of the 

cover at the variable valve timing actuator are 
aligned and fitted.

•

If the notch and the bump are not aligned, 
rotate the rotor toward the bulb timing retard 
position by hand until they are in place.

•

If the rotor and cover are not secured even 
though their notch and groove are aligned, 
replace the variable valve timing actuator.

End Of Sie

OIL CONTROL VALVE (OCV) INSPECTION

A6E242414420E02

L3 (with variable valve timing mechanism)
Coil resistance inspection

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Disconnect the oil control valve (OCV) connector.
3. Measure the resistance between terminals A and 

B using an ohmmeter.

•

If not as specified, replace the oil control valve 
(OCV).

Specification

6.9—7.9 ohms

4. Connect the oil control valve (OCV) connector.

bolt

Standard (mm) {in}

Maximum (mm) {in}

Cylinder 

head bolt

149.0—150 

{5.86—5.90}

150.5 {5.92}

Connecting 

rod bolt

44.7—45.3 

{1.75—1.78}

46.0 {1.81}

Main bearing 

cap bolt

110.0—110.6

{4.33—4.35}

111.3 {4.38}

AME2224E342

A6E2226W002