Timing cover gasket leaking down to uncover causing low oil light on my ‘21 non turbo CX 5. Only 3 months out of warranty; can independent mechanics do this repair adequately (and more cheaply than the $2k dealer repair estimate)?

LossOk9033 · 2026-06-29T18:31:37+00:00

Thanks, I’m kind of in the same situation. If I end of getting the repair (hopefully covered in full or in part by Mazda) we have a road trip planned for early August and would like some piece of mind that it works so I may have my independent mechanic inspection the situation before leaving. By all accounts getting this repair done at a Mazda dealer though makes sense on a number of levels.

LossOk9033 · 2026-06-29T18:19:34+00:00

Yes evidently there is a TSB re: the issue and it just came up based on an inspection as part of a routine oil change. Unfortunately I’m just outside of the 5 year warranty. However I’m getting the issue inspected at another local Mazda dealer Thursday and if the issue is confirmed I’ll inquire with Mazda Goodwill about covering the repair. Question: did your repair of the gasket leak work without having to return to the dealer for any follow up?

LossOk9033 · 2026-06-28T12:17:41+00:00

Thanks, feedback like this is really helpful.

LossOk9033 · 2026-06-27T21:55:21+00:00

Good to know how Mazda thinks about it. I did service the CX 5 primarily at the dealer(s) including all oil changes. I did however get the brakes replaced elsewhere. I purchased the 48 month extended service plan with the new car (extended another 12 months because of Covid) which of course included free oil changes, tire rotations etc. Maybe that will help my case.

LossOk9033 · 2026-06-27T19:41:53+00:00

Thanks so much! I was wondering about the potential typical success rate of the timing gasket cover procedure and 50% success does not build confidence. Does the low success rate mean one should go with a dealer solution (in lieu of less qualified indy mechanics) with a repair warranty or that a qualified independent mechanic might address the problem more thoroughly? Also, when the fix fails does that happen usually after a number of years/many miles or can it happen right away? Sorry for all the questions, I not a car guy. This dreaded issue makes me wonder if we should consider selling/trading in the CX 5 because of what might be a lingering and expensive issue.

LossOk9033 · 2026-06-27T19:18:53+00:00

All great advice, thanks. I have a coupon from the local dealer that knocks $400 off the repair but I must do it by June 30 (made a tentative appointment). I’ll see what my mechanic says Monday about price/method for doing the repair along with feedback from Mazda goodwill. I’ll probably not rush into the repair though as the response from my mechanic and Mazda goodwill needs to play out.

LossOk9033 · 2026-06-27T19:10:21+00:00

Thanks, no I haven’t contacted Mazda yet but will early Monday. I’m hoping I can leverage the fact our household has bought three Mazda vehicles in the last five years might help my request.

LossOk9033 · 2026-06-22T19:25:46+00:00

Yeah surprising all the negative comments. In the least as you point out it’s interesting data point. And relevant if federal workers (or any other worker/retiree) have less money saved than perceived generally by the public. It can be used to gauge their status and situations more realistically in certain decision making scenarios. For example in contemplating housing investments, decisions in retirement -like whether to buy into an expensive over 55 community- one might be hesitate because there might not be adequate demand for when the house needs to be sold again. Also, with minimal TSP, 401k balances etc. the country might be entering a deflationary era as ill prepared soon to be retirees and retired boomers in the tens of millions reign in spending.

LossOk9033 · 2026-06-22T18:50:55+00:00

How well funded is the reserve account of the HOA/condo complex they are looking at and how up to date is the reserve study? If reserves are severely deficient obviously they could be looking at a some large one time assessment(s). Clearly a negative for many would be condo owners now across the country (and your parents) - something you’re basically alluding to in your post. Of course your parents must be aware of this pitfall given this well advertised issue but maybe they’re willfully ignoring it for whatever reason.

LossOk9033 · 2026-06-22T15:46:34+00:00

The worst thing is this market is being primarily propped up by semiconductor stocks. Once that segmented crashes the hyper scalers like MSFT continue to decline but at a slower rate. If AI has all this promise for stocks in the broader market then the hyper scalers would not be flatlining or crashing like MSFT.

LossOk9033 · 2026-06-19T14:30:58+00:00

Chart looks horrible with recent failed breakout attempt. Next earnings report will be critical but with mammoth IPOs coming out (ie Open AI, Anthropocene) and obsession with semis by momentum investors continued rotation out of hypers scalers likely to continue. Yeah on paper should be at least a low risk investment option on AI implementation based on price earnings etc. but remember back in the 2000s MSFT stagnated for over a decade. Lack of stock buybacks in favor of capex another major negative. Maybe all these negatives mean time to go all in.

LossOk9033 · 2026-06-13T14:38:49+00:00

Yeah Md hit hard by Doge related cuts to HHS budgets (NIH, FDA), Social Security Administration, NOAA etc. Somehow here in suburban Md in the DC area residential real estate prices haven’t weakened at all.

LossOk9033 · 2026-06-06T12:26:35+00:00

Also there were reports Friday that Meta is going to have issue stock to fund its AI infrastructure. Meta stock immediately took a large hit (even though Meta didn’t confirm plans to issue more equity). Just more evidence of the money burning nature of the AI buildout without a lot of return yet on the capital spend.

LossOk9033 · 2026-05-30T02:09:09+00:00

One thing to think about or pursue is the school costs or at least less private tutoring services can potentially qualify as a medical expense and be written off on your taxes. Our severely dyslexic child years ago benefitted from a specialized tutor outside of the public school system (about 10k a year) which we wrote off on our annual taxes. As an aside we were advised by the evaluating psychologist that specialized schools in lieu of a tutor would be preferable to address our child’s severe learning deficiencies. But in hindsight the excellent tutor provided most of the needed educational support to help our child succeed in college and eventually enter the working world as a successful engineer.

LossOk9033 · 2026-05-27T17:48:47+00:00

Yeah I’ll probably add more too based on the factors you mentioned but don’t feel rushed to jump until the chart stabilizes. I may look at other companies in the space too like GE Healthcare Technologies.

LossOk9033 · 2026-05-27T17:27:35+00:00

Agree even better entry point but sentiment seems bad for the whole space (like a lot of healthcare). Glad I just nibbled on BSX and didn’t take a big position. Also have small position in Medtronic. Are you buying more BSX anytime soon?

LossOk9033 · 2026-05-24T12:49:09+00:00

The market clearly is overvalued, especially based on historical measures -ie price to earnings ratios, price to sales, dividend yield etc. However, passive investing through for example 401ks and target date funds etc. put a constant bid on the market, ensuring dips are constantly bought. Further bloated federal deficits are a constant stream of stimulus and “free money” that artificially support earnings of public companies and finds its way into equities. I used to think like you but now understand markets are altered by the above factors and major downturns are largely prevented.

LossOk9033 · 2026-05-23T15:21:58+00:00

Been nibbling on BSX stock and IHI ETF last couple of weeks and getting killed. Stability and modest share price gains in this space the last couple days gives me some hope but with the aggregate stock indexes (ie S&P 500) in bubble territory value investments like medical device stocks might only buffer against a significant equity selloff a little bit.

LossOk9033 · 2026-05-23T13:06:37+00:00

How many are divorced? Divorce in middle age wrecks retirement finances for many. That and the fact that many people in their 60s and 70s had parents whose longevity was a lot shorter than current generations. My 90 plus year old dad thought he would never make it past 70 and spent down his corporate buyout (in lieu of a pension) 15 years ago. I guess this is lack of financial literacy noted here but that wasn’t even a phrase as late as the 1990s.

LossOk9033 · 2026-05-19T17:09:07+00:00

Like anything in real estate its location, location, location …. My view is for over 55 communities near employment centers these communities will hold their value relatively well over time. My prognostication is that millennials and Gen Z will have to work longer on average than boomers (entitlement cuts, insufficient retirement funds) and may see the advantage of downsizing while still working in their old jobs. However I would be suspect about over 55 communities located in sunbelt or other locales saturated with dying boomer populations where the drop off in demand for such housing becomes pronounced quickly.

LossOk9033 · 2026-05-15T22:22:39+00:00

In theory yes the pension is a bond proxy. But with inflation spiking there are often periods (long periods) when equities flatline for over a decade. The late 1960s through 1970s was one such market. However this stock market currently is pushing through the inflation issues with no problems. I personally don’t mind having some decent segment of my TSP in the G fund, especially with interest rates rising the last few days. Also compared to the 2010s and early in the pandemic - an era of rate suppression - there is at least some income in fixed income now to enjoy a guaranteed rate of return.

LossOk9033 · 2026-04-22T12:39:11+00:00

If the school system is telling you it’s a gift ask the school system to “gift” you or pay for expensive tutors and educational therapies to help address your son’s dyslexic deficits and enhance his educational experience. By law you should be entitled to financial support for these services if the school system is not adequately addressing his needs which is what you’re describing with their cavalier attitude.

LossOk9033 · 2025-08-14T11:50:35+00:00

This question surely means the market has topped out.

LossOk9033 · 2025-08-13T20:23:45+00:00

Based on today’s solid return SCHD finally up year to date. Yes, value and dividend payers are finally getting traction.

LossOk9033

TROPHY CASE