Hoping for quick response.
The check engine light on our 2014 CX5 came on today. We stopped at an auto parts store and they ran the code for us which pointed to the Coolant Sensor.

Since possible reason could be low coolant, I checked the Coolant Reservoir and it is nearly empty - maybe about an inch of coolant which is not much in the narrow bottom of the reservoir.

According to the manual and a stamp on the reservoir lid, apparently it uses a Mazda FL22 coolant. Looking up at various auto part stores, I'm not finding anything with a FL22 label.
We're on vacation, and driving home tomorrow (Sunday). What coolant can I use? Does it have to be FL22? Can it be what's labeled as Asian Coolant Green 50/50 Mix? I don't want to drain/flush, just add (I'm not where I can drain/flush, I'm lucky to have access to an auto parts store tomorrow).

What are the short term consequences of not using FL22? Once home, I can take it to my local service location and have it all taken care of, I just need to get it there and don't want to drive the 150 miles with the coolant so low and the check engine light on.

Of course, just because I fill the coolant, doesn't mean the check engine light goes off.

 

As an emergency fix you can add water, this will cause a reduction of the coolant lifespan.

 

FL22 is Mazda's part number and not a specification. Mazda says it's compatible with regular "green" coolant but FL22 is silicate and borate free. Zerex by Valvoline had a Asian vehicle formula - green cap on the bottle that should be fine. Zerex also makes "Asian" formula with blue and red tops that I'd be willing to bet are the exact formula. Compare the list of vehicles on the back and I bet they are the same.

 

FL22 is not a specific Mazda product / part number. Its is a actual type of coolant. Ford also brands & sells FL22 coolant.

 

That because it rebadges it from Mazda for Ford's rebadged Mazda cars.

 

FL22 is a specific kind of coolant and Mazda says not to mix ANY other type of coolant with it.

When I bought my 2016 MX (which also requires FL22) it was clear that someone had topped off the coolant reservoir with something other than FL22. The color was off and there seemed to be a residue around the top of the tank. I completely drained and flushed the system and then used the proper coolant.

AmazonSmile: RAVENOL J4D2092 HJC FL22 Coolant Antifreeze Concentrate (Hybrid Japanese Coolant) (5 Liter): Automotive

The op didn't state where he was/is on vacation. If it was my car and there was no chance of getting the correct coolant, AND there was no chance of freezing, I'd be tempted to just use distilled water to top off the coolant reservoir and sort it out properly when I got home.

 

TB250, Thanks greatly. We went with the Zerex and took an extra bottle with us in case we did have a leak somewhere. However, that didn't take care of the check engine light. We drove the 150 miles with no issue. We stopped and checked around 30, 60, 90 miles. The coolant level held with no leakage and the car never ran hot.

After getting home, we didn't drive it until we could get it to the dealer on Monday. They performed diagnostic and found stored code P011A. Mazda Bulletin 07-007/19 pertains to P011A. After further diagnostic per bulletin, they report ECT1 (engine coolant temperature sensor) is 130 degrees and ECT2 is 74 degrees indicating partial blockage in the Heater Core. Here goes $2000.

I did ask the technician and they said no problem that we used Zerex instead of Mazda FL22.

 

Just because a person is a technician doesn't always mean that they know what their talking about.

This is from the owner's manual.

If the “FL22” mark is shown on or near the cooling system cap, use of FL-22 is recommended when replacing engine coolant. Using engine coolant other than FL-22 may cause serious damage to the engine and cooling system.

YMMV

 

Notice a few key words in the manual language: "is recommended", not is REQUIRED; "may cause", not WILL CAUSE. It's all scare tactics to get you to by from the Mazda parts department.
From Mazda's literature on FL22 coolant:


FL22 is a long life coolant that's good for 10 years. Mixing it with regular green antifreeze just makes it a "regular life" coolant that will now need to be changed every 5 years. Just because it's in the owners manual doesn't mean it's true. 30 years ago, owners manuals used to tell us how to adjust the valve lash. Now they spend 400 pages in 20 languages telling us not to drink the battery acid.

 

"It's all scare tactics to get you to by from the Mazda parts department."

Scare tactics? Why would they want to scare you? You do know that FL22 is available from sources other than Mazda right?

Such as where I bought mine.



Do what you like, it's your car after all. I'll be following Mazda's recommendations.

YMMV