Corksport Aluminum Crank Pulley for 2.0L & 2.5L SkyActiv Engines

Feeling like your SkyActiv powered Mazda isn’t getting the “shining” attention it deserves? Maybe you’ve already bought every CorkSport item you can, but just want more! I can’t blame you really; it’s a virus that all car fanatics fight. So here’s fuel for the fire! Introducing the aluminum crank pulley for 2.0L & 2.5L SkyActiv engines!

Manufactured from high-grade 6061-T6 aluminum, this precision machined crank pulley is sure to give you that extra level of detail you’ve been searching for. Plus it’s 100% designed and manufactured right here in the Pacific NW, USA.

This crank pulley isn’t just for looks folks, it’s got bite too! With a 68% weight reduction, compared to the OEM component, your engine is going to rev faster due to the lower moment of inertia of the rotating mass. I can’t guarantee your bum will feel the difference, but your 2.0L will.

You may also be wondering: “The OEM component is steel, will the aluminum be strong enough?” Absolutely! We’ve been testing the component on an employee car for 2 months (roughly 2000 miles) without a single issue. The accessory belts put a very small, almost insignificant, amount of force on the pulley. The real concern is the bolt that holds the pulley on, but we got that covered also, see below.

To be confident in the products we produce, we conduct FEA (Finite Element Analysis) on all applicable components. In this case it is the bolt clamping force holding the pulley on the crank. The crank pulley bolt is an M16x1.5 with a torque spec of 67-80 ft-lb. For this analysis I used 79 ft-lb which creates a clamping force of 7557 lbf. Looking at the color graph to the above, you can see that the maximum stress is ~12420 psi which is far below the material yield strength of ~40k psi. So what does this mean to you? You can (but shouldn’t) torque that bolt down to ~250 ft-lb without worrying about your beautiful new pulley being structurally damaged, but you will have to worry about getting that bolt out next time, that’s your own problem.

Add some shine to your engine bay and just a little more pep in your step. Keep an eye out for the product release in the near future! Offered in anodized black. Zoom – Zoom!

Barett – CS Engineering

November 21, 2014

The End of the Mazda Rotary RX

R.I.P Mazda RX Rotary

We received some sad news a few days ago about the much loved Rotary RX-7, RX-8 and other RX series. The official word according to the Mazda CEO Masamichi Kogai is that “we don’t have that kind of vehicle in our future product plan.” when asked about a future RX.

Honestly I’d love to pontificate about this more, but there isn’t much to say. It sounds like the final word from the current CEO. When pushed further he gave some reasoning that honestly makes perfect sense, “If you increase the number of segments, then the resources we can allocate to each will decline and that will prevent us from developing truly good products.” Also stated was the fact that “It’s difficult for us at present to further expand our lineup. The company is still in the process of improving its financial structure. We want to focus our limited resources on the Skyactiv products that we have today”

Though this probably makes the most sense from a stability standpoint, it certainly doesn’t make us excited or want to say “Zoom-Zoom”. What happened to the Mazda passion? All that racing knowledge and development? Did they just give up on pushing the bar? Honestly, I don’t think so, I just think they are changing focus. The Rotary is off the board in the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean their current lineup won’t see some improvements…. after all, what about that Mazdaspeed 3 and MX-5?

Nonetheless, let us all take a moment of silence and mourn the passing of the RX series, for now.

Cheers

Spencer@CorkSport

Written by Spencer Carson. Spencer is a car enthusiast and Mazda fan at heart. Whether enjoying the power of a modified Mazdaspeed 3, or driving top down in his 1992 MX5, he always enjoys getting behind the wheel. As much as Spencer loves driving, he loves helping out other Mazda owners even more. Whether helping at a local install day or heading to a car meet across the country, he loves chatting about Mazda and giving advice on how to get more Zoom-Zoom out of any car.

August 19, 2014December 18, 2017

2016 Diesel Mazdaspeed 3 Rumors

Is the Next Mazdaspeed already under our Noses?

We talk a lot about the next Mazdaspeed, will it be AWD, will it be FWD, will it be a 3? the 6? a 2? Though little is known or confirmed, I want to point out a few things we DO know as a fact.

Mazda has been working on their SkyActiv D engines for a few years. They have already shown their SkyActiv D engines, they even race them. What many people fail to realize it that the SkyActiv D runs in the Mazda 6 with a two-stage turbocharger.

The two-stage turbocharger gives you the best of both worlds, it will run a smaller turbo in the low RPM range in order to give you more power and cut emissions, then at higher RPM ranges it flips a lever and runs the bigger turbo to produce more power with no noticeable lag between the two. According to Mazda’s own website “SKYACTIV-D utilizes a two-stage turbocharger in which one small and one large turbo are selectively operated according to driving conditions.” (Source)

What else do we know? Well, Mazda has been actively racing the SkyActiv D engines in several endurance races. This is a mildly modified version of the SkyActiv D that is known to put down about 400hp.

So why would Mazda try and rework a new regular gas powered engine with a turbocharger for the next speed? Why not take the 400 hp Two-Stage turbo diesel that they already have, and pull a little power from it, and release it as a street legal vehicle?

More questions: Why has the SkyActiv D release been delayed? Is it emissions related? According to Mazda their engines pass with flying colors, no treatment necessary. So it can’t be that. In fact when the SkyActiv D was delayed Mazda spokesman Jeremy Barnes was quoted as saying: Skyactiv technology can meet it [emissions] — and it can — but the challenge is engineering a car that delivers the kind of performance that a Mazda needs to have and we’re unable to do that given where we are right now.”

Wait a minute. So what you are saying is that the 2.2L passes emissions, (source) but doesn’t have enough performance? If Mazda has already passed the emissions testing for the engine then why delay it. We know they have released it in the CX-5 in other markets, they even confirmed they will be releasing it in the Mazda 3 in Australia come September. (Source) Along with this the CX-5 has been selling in Japan at a rate of “four 2.2L SKYACTIV-D purchases for every one 2.0L SKYACTIV-G.” (Source) So why would they work on a turbo gasoline variant when the Diesels (which already have a turbo) are already clearly being sold at such a significantly greater rate? My answer? I don’t think they will.

So what’s the delay. My guess is that they plan on announcing the SkyActiv D release date at the same time as the performance oriented version, the Mazdaspeed SkyActiv D which may be a variant of the engine seen above. Even the SkyActiv D that is currently running in the CX-5 pushes 310 lb ft of torque and 173 hp. Still impressive, especially that torque! Imagine bumping the hp by even 100 and the torque would be incredible!

Last but not least, check out these two videos from Mazda that were released almost 2 years ago. Starting at minute 2 they say some interesting things.

https://youtu.be/cK5SQkEUBdo?t=2m

“An exceptionally high redline or 5200rpm. When we were done we had created a beast … delivers the driving performance of a 4.0L V8.”

A 4.0L V8!! Just do a quick google search for standard HP from common 4.0L V8s and you should be more than impressed with the results. Is this Mazda teasing us and we just failed to notice?

In the long run, whether we get a Mazdaspeed version of the SkyActiv D or not, I can’t wait until it hits our shores for good. Let’s hope it’s soon!

Until next Time,

-Spencer@CorkSport

July 3, 2014January 13, 2020

Product Release – CorkSport Shifter Bushing Set 2012-2013 SkyActiv Mazda 3

Say goodbye to sloppy loose and poor shifts! Keep the shifter feeling crisp and clean by installing the CorkSport Aluminum Shifter Bushings!

The new CORKSPORT shifter bushing set is CAD designed, machined for exact fitment, and made from billet aluminum which is anodized blue for a long lasting durable finish.

The factory OEM bushings are made out of rubber that gives soft and sloppy shifts. Over time, shifting gears can cause the soft rubber bushings found at the anchor point of your shifter assembly to deteriorate and fall apart.

Luckily CorkSport has a solution with the CorkSport shifter bushing set that gives you solid shifts and a firm responsiveness which will never wear out.

These bushings will improve your shift feel significantly and increase the fun factor times 10. Plus you can finally prove to your friends and family that the stick shift is greater than the slushbox.

Designed for easy fitment on the 2012-2013 Mazda 3 SkyActiv with manual transmissions.

Order the CORKSPORT Mazda 3 Shifter Bushing set HERE

BONUS: This is a perfect time to add the Adjustable Short Shifter and adjustable shift knob to cut down on installation time and give you the best shifting possible in your Mazda!

May 14, 2014March 10, 2020

Product Release – SkyActiv Aluminum Oil Catch Can

CorkSport – SkyActiv Aluminum Oil Catch Can

CorkSport is proud to announce the SkyActiv Aluminum Oil Catch Can. An excellent product to help increase the life of your engine, helping capture the oil and contaminants is now available for the SkyActiv.

Specifically designed to to fit the 2012-2013 Mazda 3 SkyActiv models. Easy installation and a direct OEM fitment.

An oil catch can is designed to “catch” unwanted vapors that are in your crankcase and PCV system and prevent these contaminates from entering your motor. With no catch can installed, you have the potential to get build up in the intake manifold causing dirty valves and poor compression.

For a good understanding of how the Oil Catch can can add years onto the life of your motor check out this past blog write up.

Get yours today