CX-5 | CorkSport Mazda Performance Blog

September 10, 2020November 2, 2022

Mazda CX-5 Aluminum Skid Plate for 2017+ Model

We are back with another product release for you CX-5 owners! Say hello to the CorkSport Aluminum Skid Plate for 2017+ Mazda CX-5. Using our tried and true 11 gauge aluminum construction and 2-piece design, the CS skid plate adds some much needed protection to the underside of your CX5. Whether you use your CX-5 for camping, extra snow protection, or as a slammed show car, the CorkSport skid tray is a perfect fit for your build along with our axle-back exhaust! Read on for full details!

The OEM splash shield does a good job at its intended purpose: to smooth the air under your car for efficiency and keep your engine bay components dry. Any impact from road debris, rocks, or even a pesky speed bump though can easily crack or tear off your plastic splash shield leaving you without any protection.

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The CS skid tray will offer better protection for your engine

The CorkSport Skid Plate replaces the easily broken OEM unit with a full aluminum skid tray that can take a beating. We’ve used and abused these skid trays at the track (and some off-track excursions…) on our Mazda 3’s over the years and they have proven themselves to be sturdy, even withstanding the stresses of the 25 hours of Thunderhill! The CS skid tray will offer better protection for your engine so you can be less worried about your CX-5 when you take it camping on rocky forest roads, up to the mountain through snow & ice, or slam it and take it to shows.

To offer the best experience possible for you all, we have carefully CAD designed the CX-5 skid plate to mount directly in place of the OEM splash shield. This means no drilling, cutting, trimming, or headaches during the hour or less install. We kept the OEM style 2-piece design for further easy installation plus, the bonus of adjustability for minor variation vehicle to vehicle and cheaper shipping! Finally, there is an oil access cover just like OEM that you can move out of the way to easily change your oil and filter.

Each CorkSport CX-5 skid tray is made from laser-cut and precision formed 5052 aluminum. This ensures a consistent product for each of you that will stand the test of time and the elements. Included with each kit is all the extra hardware needed for installation.

Stainless steel button head bolts that provide great corrosion resistance and won’t snag

This includes stainless steel button head bolts that fasten the skid tray to the vehicle. These provide great corrosion resistance and won’t snag as easily as a traditional hex head bolt. We also include Torx screws for the oil access cover. This style of screw prevents the head from stripping after repeated oil changes which are typical with a traditional Phillips head screw.

If you’re looking to add some protection to the underbody of your 2017+ CX-5, look no further than the CorkSport Aluminum Skid Tray! Be sure to check out the product listing for more images and don’t hesitate to call us with any questions.

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2017+ Mazda CX-5 Turbo Lowering Springs

We are proud to announce the Sport Lowering Springs for 2017+ Mazda CX-5 equipped with the 2.5L turbocharged engine. We took a fresh approach to spring design to offer you the best combination of style, ride quality, and handling in a package that fits just like OEM. The new Mazda CX-5 looks great, but a functional drop gives it just what it needs to look even better.

2017+ Mazda CX-5 Turbo Lowering Springs — Shop all 2017+ CX-5 Parts

Let’s get right to the point…ride height. The CX-5 looks great but it needs a drop and dropped it we did. Being an SUV, the factory ride height is pretty high up so we were able to make a significant drop while still keeping your SUV functional and practical for a daily driver.

These springs offer a drop of about 2.1 inches front & rear. We chose this height as it offers a great new look without sacrificing any of the daily drivability of the Mazda CX-5. This height clears the typical driveway with no issues, and retains plenty of suspension travel, even when fully loaded with 5 adults and weight in the trunk.

The height drop will be noticed when you’re outside the car, but the handling improvements will be apparent when driving. By lowering the center of gravity and stiffening the springs, body roll is reduced in corners, giving you extra confidence when attacking that backroad (Haha we know it’s an SUV). Also, we stiffened the rear springs more than the fronts, reducing understeer. By number, this meant 3.4K front springs (17% stiffer than OEM) and 7.0K rear springs (32% stiffer than OEM).

While this may sound like a big jump, they ride very similar to the OEM springs. We used natural frequency analysis and referenced our spring designs from earlier CX5 models to ensure we achieved comfortable characteristics over bumps. The spring rates we chose fit well with the stock shocks and struts to prevent any bounciness, plus, the drop ensures you are in the normal operating range of the dampers. This means no prematurely worn shocks/struts due to springs that are too low.

Lastly, the CS Sport Lowering Springs are made from high tensile strength spring steel and come with pre-installed spring isolators to eliminate any unwanted noises common with lowering springs. With that, we are introducing our new CorkSport Blue powder coat for long-lasting quality and corrosion resistance. They install just like stock, reusing all your OEM components. The only permanent modification is trimming the bump stops to match OEM suspension travel.

Thanks for checking out the new lowering springs for the facelift 2017+ CX-5. Check out our product listing for more details and images!

Barett @ CS

June 11, 2020November 15, 2022

Skyactiv 2.5T Intake Heat Shield

OEM Look and solid performance power gains for the Mazda 6 Turbo

We’re back with another product for SkyActiv 2.5T owners that a lot of you have requested after getting your CorkSport SRI. Introducing the CorkSport Heat Shield for 2018+ Mazda 6 Turbo, 2019+ Mazda CX-5 Turbo, and 2016+ Mazda CX-9! Cool down your intake air temps in two ways: by blocking heat from the engine bay and by using the OEM ducting to draw in fresh air. This allows your turbo system to breathe just a bit easier, especially during hot days or if you’re stuck sitting in traffic. Plus, it makes the CS SRI look like a factory option performance part!

Read on for full details and be sure to give us a call if you have any questions!

Isolates heat from the Mazda 6 turbo SRI

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We really focused on keeping cool air around the filter with the CorkSport SkyActiv 2.5T heat shield. The shield was carefully designed to seal the intake off from as much engine bay heat as possible. This meant a complicated 2 piece design that is riveted together. We also designed the shield to work with the OEM air ducting. This directs cool outside air to the filter, further reducing intake air temps. The shield is also left open to the area in front of the tire, underneath the headlight. We found that this area gets some fresh air during driving as well, further keeping air temps down.

Cx9 Turbo cold air intake heat shield — CorkSport Heatshield

Now what benefits does cooler air offer? The basic generalization is that since cooler air is denser than warmer air, your engine can ingest more air per cycle, and make more power. When a car is turbocharged though, this gets a little more complicated as you have a turbo that compresses and heats up your intake air and then an intercooler that cools down the boosted air before even getting to the engine. What that means is that the “colder air will make more power” generalization may not hold true, especially with how advanced modern turbocharged vehicles have become. What colder intake air does offer you is a less stress on your turbo system. Colder air means your turbo does not have to work as hard to flow the same amount of air at the same boost pressure. In addition, colder intake air can translate to slightly cooler air exiting your turbo and heading to your intercooler, taking some stress off the intercooler as well.

Cx5 Skyactiv 2.5T Performance airbox — See the video

Enough theory, let’s talk results! In both daily driving testing and in torture testing on the dyno, we found decreased intake air temps with the CorkSport Heat Shield installed. When cruising or when it’s cold outside, we were actually surprised at the low intake temps of the CS SRI alone—there’s actually a surprising amount of fresh air that gets into the engine bay. Where the heat shield really comes into its own is when sitting stationary or driving on a very hot day. That’s when we saw our biggest improvements in intake air temp.

While we did not see any notable changes to horsepower, our torture testing on the dyno really shows what a worst case scenario would look like for intake temps. Check out the graph below that compares the CS SRI alone vs. the CS SRI and heat shield combo. This is a little exaggerated due to decreased airflow on the dyno but is similar to what your engine could see when sitting in traffic on a hot day, then accelerating back up to speed.

Performance Skyactiv 2.5T air temp data — CorkSport

The CorkSport Heat Shield is made from laser cut and precision formed carbon steel. We chose carbon steel for great strength and lower heat transfer than aluminum. For corrosion resistance, the heat shield is finished off with wrinkle black powdercoating. This coating also gives the heatshield a great look that helps it blend in with the rest of the engine bay and make the intake system look like a factory performance part! The two sections of the shield are attached together using stainless steel rivets for a great look and long lasting strength. Lastly we include rubber edge seal to keep as much heat out as possible, and to prevent any vibration or unwanted noise.

Mazda Cx5 Turbo Short Ram Intake OEM Look — CS Heatshield

If you’re looking for the next mod your Sky 2.5T or have been holding off on the CS SRI until there was some heat protection, check out the new CorkSport Heat Shield. We are even offering a package deal! If you purchase the heatshield and SRI together you will save $20.

For early adopters of the CS SRI, we have not forgotten about you! We are also offering the same $20 discount on the heatshield for a short time. When placing your order, enter coupon code heatshield20, and in the customer notes, enter your original SRI order number. BAM – $20 Savings!

Finally, we’ve got some new silicone colors coming for the CS SRI! They aren’t quite here yet but if you’re looking to add a splash of color in your engine bay, wait just a bit longer! That’s all for now, be sure to check out the product listing for more images of the heat shield and give us a call if you have questions!

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February 13, 2020September 22, 2023

We have love for the Cx5 Turbo

With the success of the CorkSport CX-9 axle back, it was time to turn our attention to the slightly smaller little brother, the CX-5. We are proud to introduce the CorkSport 80mm Axle Back Exhaust for the 2017+ Mazda CX-5 equipped with the 2.5T. If you’re looking for a little more life out of your new CX-5 Turbo, read on for full details on how to give your grocery-getter some growl.

With our experience with the SkyActiv 2.5T in the CX-9 and Mazda 6 exhaust, we had a pretty good idea of the correct balance of volume and tone that would be a good fit for the CX5-T exhaust. With this, we ended up with 80mm, mandrel bent piping that feeds through two large flow-through resonators. The large resonators keep the noise and drone down during regular driving yet the larger piping size and flow-through design of the resonators ensures you can actually hear your 2.5T when you get on the gas. It’s a throaty and deep sound that adds some much-needed excitement to the CX-5. It’s not all sound though, the larger piping and flow-through resonators are much less restrictive than the OEM muffler section. While we haven’t had a chance to get a CX-5 on the dyno, the 2.5T is definitely breathing easier.

Aside from the obvious sound benefit, the CS axle back adds a visual boost that looks at home on the rear of the CX-5. The exhaust tips were enlarged to 100mm to fill in the bumper cutouts. They were also extended outward slightly, and a slant cut was added to the end. This gives a stylish and classy look that should’ve been the way Mazda made it! The tips are garnished with a laser-engraved CorkSport name badge for a nice finishing touch.

Tig Welded Mazda Cx5 2.5T Axle Back Exhaust

The entire CorkSport axle back exhaust is made from fully polished 304 stainless steel that is precision TIG welded together. This construction ensures good corrosion resistance and strength to last as long as you own your CX-5. Plus, being fully polished, it looks great if you ever catch a glimpse past the tips. In addition, we supply the hardware and gaskets you need for installation, so spicing up your CX-5 can be done in as little as 30 minutes!

Want to hear the Cx5 Turbo Exhaust? Check out the Youtube Vid below.

CX5 Turbo Performance Dual Axle Back Exhaust

There you have it, the new CorkSport 80mm Axle Back for 2017+ Mazda CX-5 2.5T. Be sure to visit HERE for sound clips and video of the exhaust on car!

For all you 2017+ non turbo CX-5 owners, yes this will fit your Cx5. The exhaust note of the axle back will be different without the turbo in the system and will be comparable to our 1st Gen Cx5 axle back.

If you’re still curious, give us a call and we can answer any question you may have!

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November 14, 2019September 22, 2023

Oil Catch Can Kit for 2016+ SkyActiv Turbo 2.5L

When you think of a performance aftermarket component you typically think of a part that increases the vehicle’s power, but some performance parts don’t. Instead, they have a more critical purpose, increasing the reliability of your performance engine and components. The CorkSport Oil Catch Can Kit (OCC Kit) is just that type of component(s).

Why is an Oil Catch Can Kit critical for your Mazda? Despite the huge advancement Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) technology there are still some downfalls. Compared to the more conventional port injection fuel systems, GDI is much more prone to engine oil fuel dilution. This is primarily due GDI injecting directly into the cylinder; in low speed operation and cold starts the fuel simply does not have enough time to fully atomize into a gas before ignition. This results in some excess fuel seeping past the piston rings into the oil along with any combustion chamber blow by the pistons. This is fuel dilution.

OCC catch all the nasty build up from entering your Mazda Skyactiv engine

Here you can see the results of a CorkSport OCC installed for ~3000 miles on a 2018 Mazda 6 2.5T. This engine only has 500 miles and has an average commute of 15 miles & 20 minutes of mixed traffic and speeds.

Mazda’s OE design attempts to resolve some of this with a valve cover breather that vents directly into the turbocharger compressor inlet and a PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve in the engine block that vents to the intake manifold.

Mazda’s setup depends on the fuel and water vapor inside the crankcase being drawn into the intake manifold and intake system to then be re-ingested by the engine. This has two major flaws:

The direct crankcase ventilation via the PCV valve only works while cruising (no boost). Combustion gas blow by will occur most often while in boost under high throttle application when the PCV valve is closed.
This forces the engine to re-ingest dirty air that carries contaminants in the form of fuel and water vapor along with carbon debris. These containments then build up on the inside of the intake manifold, cylinder head runners, and the intake valves slowly degrading performance over time.

Carbon build up on a Mazda engine without the catch can

The CorkSport OCC Kit provides you with two major features:

Both the valve cover vent and the PCV valve are drawn from the turbo inlet directly ahead of the turbocharger compressor. Thus both the valve cover and PCV valve have constant vacuum in all driving conditions, both cruising and high throttle application.
The oil catch can itself acts as a “filter” for the vapor and debris that would normally be directly ingested by the engine. The drawn crankcase vapor and debris is separates and collects in the catch can for easy removal during normal oil changes.

As you saw above, there is a significant amount of vapor and fine debris that is being filtered out of the crankcase air that would have normally been ingested. As you continue down the path of modifying and demanding more form your Mazda, the need for a OCC System only becomes more and more critical.

Bolt on Mazda Cx5, Cx9, and Mazda 6 turbo

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Stay Up-to-date with CorkSport

The CS skid tray will offer better protection for your engine

Stainless steel button head bolts that provide great corrosion resistance and won’t snag

Stay up-to-date on the latest news and product updates from CorkSport.

Stay Up-to-date with CorkSport

Stay up-to-date on the latest news and product updates from CorkSport.

Stay up-to-date on the latest news and product updates from CorkSport.

Stay up-to-date on the latest news and product updates from CorkSport.