Letter to Mazda
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2022 2:09 pm
Here is the text of a letter sent today to Mazda UK.
I hope you can help me. I am the secretary of “Bongo Fury”, the Mazda Bongo Friendee owners club. Currently we have about 2,000 members, mainly in the UK. Recently, with the introduction of E10 petrol and also Clean Air Zones, a number of issues have arisen for which we cannot find the solution.
In case you don’t know, Mazda Bongo Friendees (and Ford Fredas) were manufactured for the domestic Japanese market between 1995 and 2005. They make ideal camper vans and many have arrived in the UK as “grey imports”.
I would be grateful if you could answer the following questions or point me in the right direction.
Fuel
There are 2 types of petrol Bongo. The 2 litre 4-cylinder version (FE engine) and the 2.5 litre V6 (J5 engine). Guidance issued by the Japanese Association of Automotive Manufacturers (JAMA) states:
"E10 petrol is cleared for use in all models with petrol engines introduced in and from 2002"
The J5 engine on V6 Bongos did not change between their introduction in May 95 to their demise in August 02. We recommend our members that E5 fuel should be used wherever possible. If E10 petrol is used an “Ethanol Guard” additive should be used.
The same advice is given to users of J5 engines. However the part number for the 2 litre Bongo changed on 17 July 2002, so we have advised that if members have a vehicle with chassis number SGEW-503208 onwards, or SGE3-400091 onwards they can use E10 fuel without any problems.
Can you confirm that we have issued the correct guidance?
Emissions
The introduction of the Greater London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and other Clean Air Zones across the UK means that in many locations Bongos are now subject to a daily charge as they are not listed as meeting Euro4 (petrol) or Euro6 (diesel). But it is possible that later petrol Bongos were manufactured to conform to vigorous Japanese emissions standards and therefore may meet Euro4 standards.
Can you confirm that this is the case? Is there any emissions data available for the diesel (WLT engine) Bongos or the J5 and FE petrol Bongos?
Thank you for taking time to consider these matters and I look forward to your response.
I hope you can help me. I am the secretary of “Bongo Fury”, the Mazda Bongo Friendee owners club. Currently we have about 2,000 members, mainly in the UK. Recently, with the introduction of E10 petrol and also Clean Air Zones, a number of issues have arisen for which we cannot find the solution.
In case you don’t know, Mazda Bongo Friendees (and Ford Fredas) were manufactured for the domestic Japanese market between 1995 and 2005. They make ideal camper vans and many have arrived in the UK as “grey imports”.
I would be grateful if you could answer the following questions or point me in the right direction.
Fuel
There are 2 types of petrol Bongo. The 2 litre 4-cylinder version (FE engine) and the 2.5 litre V6 (J5 engine). Guidance issued by the Japanese Association of Automotive Manufacturers (JAMA) states:
"E10 petrol is cleared for use in all models with petrol engines introduced in and from 2002"
The J5 engine on V6 Bongos did not change between their introduction in May 95 to their demise in August 02. We recommend our members that E5 fuel should be used wherever possible. If E10 petrol is used an “Ethanol Guard” additive should be used.
The same advice is given to users of J5 engines. However the part number for the 2 litre Bongo changed on 17 July 2002, so we have advised that if members have a vehicle with chassis number SGEW-503208 onwards, or SGE3-400091 onwards they can use E10 fuel without any problems.
Can you confirm that we have issued the correct guidance?
Emissions
The introduction of the Greater London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and other Clean Air Zones across the UK means that in many locations Bongos are now subject to a daily charge as they are not listed as meeting Euro4 (petrol) or Euro6 (diesel). But it is possible that later petrol Bongos were manufactured to conform to vigorous Japanese emissions standards and therefore may meet Euro4 standards.
Can you confirm that this is the case? Is there any emissions data available for the diesel (WLT engine) Bongos or the J5 and FE petrol Bongos?
Thank you for taking time to consider these matters and I look forward to your response.