3 quick Qs, pls

[ElGaspo]

Hi there, everyone! I've been reading the posts on this excellent board to find some answers, and am finally posting to find some definite answers [hopefully these are all in the correct thread]. Could you please give me your best ideas?

The whip is a 2007 MS3, 1200 mi, only mod is an injen cai.

I'd like to change the gearbox oil to a fully synth type. Those of you who have done it, what brand do you prefer, does it make a big diff in the gear action, and how many quarts does it take?

Since the cai gave such a massive improvement over stock intake, next Q is: why wouldn't Mazdaspeed offer a cai as standard equipment? as the Speed division, wouldn't they want to add a quick, safe, & easy ~20 hp straight from the factory?

And last - and this might be a bit off topic - does anyone know the true production # run for 2007 models [did Mazda stick to the 5000 original, or did the build more] and what are the #s for 2008?

Many thanx in advance for your help, i look forward to reading, learning, and contributing...in that order. Lots of things i still need to learn, but boy! is it fun.

 

[exNeon]

Hi there, everyone! I've been reading the posts on this excellent board to find some answers, and am finally posting to find some definite answers [hopefully these are all in the correct thread]. Could you please give me your best ideas?

The whip is a 2007 MS3, 1200 mi, only mod is an injen cai.

I'd like to change the gearbox oil to a fully synth type. Those of you who have done it, what brand do you prefer, does it make a big diff in the gear action, and how many quarts does it take?

there are fans of redline and valvoline and a few royal purple types around from what i gather. check your manual for amounts

Since the cai gave such a massive improvement over stock intake, next Q is: why wouldn't Mazdaspeed offer a cai as standard equipment? as the Speed division, wouldn't they want to add a quick, safe, & easy ~20 hp straight from the factory?

they do. its the mazdaspeed cai, talk to your dealer if really interested, but its pricey and was on back order for a while. should be all set with the injen though

And last - and this might be a bit off topic - does anyone know the true production # run for 2007 models [did Mazda stick to the 5000 original, or did the build more] and what are the #s for 2008?

no clue. you can search though, or call mazda

Many thanx in advance for your help, i look forward to reading, learning, and contributing...in that order. Lots of things i still need to learn, but boy! is it fun.

 

[BlackCherry06]

I recommend Redline MT-90 for the gearbox...cleared my 2nd gear issue up nicely and shift quality is much improved. Check your owner's manual for capacity....it may be the same as the MS6 but I have no way to be sure.

A CAI isn't installed at the factory because there are some people who are happy with the stock output and don't want that much intake noise on their daily driver.

I would guess that Mazda stuck with their production number, and I'd also guess they upped it for 2008 due to brisk sales. I'm only guessing. You'd have to contact a Mazda insider to get the real numbers.

 

[Rotus8]

You need to buy 3 quarts of transmission oil, it should take a bit over 2.5. I prefer Redline MT-90.

 

[Shadow102]

Also look into Synchromesh either strait from a GM dealership or in penzoil form. Royal Purple is also a good alternative. Redline is nice once it warms up, cold though its a little notchy.

As for the cold air intake its more of a liability issue. Technically the vehicle already has a cold air intake due to the ducting. Also you have to deal with the people that will drive through huge puddles and suck up water

 

[CaSHMeRe]

You need to buy 3 quarts of transmission oil, it should take a bit over 2.5. I prefer Redline MT-90.

+1 ... same here. redline MT-90. you use about 2.6 quarts .. you can find for about $10-$12 per quart

 

[knowledge007]

How do you drain the gearbox reservoir?

 

[Rotus8]

How do you drain the gearbox reservoir?

1) Drive onto ramps
2) Put drain pan under transmission
3) Remove drain plug

 

[knowledge007]

Would this be in our manual? The location of the drain plug. This is something I have never done before and would like to see if this will take care of my 2nd to 3rd shift. It still sticks sometimes... Going to try the MT 90.

 

[Rotus8]

Would this be in our manual? The location of the drain plug. This is something I have never done before...

It is not in the owners manual. It is in the service manual. Sorry for the flip answer.

If you put the car on ramps and get underneath, the drain plug is pretty obvious: at the side of the transmission case near the back. The fill plug is less obvious, but is shown in the attached picture. Filling is actually a PITA. To fill properly you need the car level and either a pump to put the oil in from the bottom, or a funnel with a flexible tube attached. You fill until it spills out, at least that is the official way. I admit I left the car on the ramps and put in about 2 2/3 quarts which is cheating, but much less messy and I am sure will be fine.

 

[knowledge007]

Thanks Rotus.

 

[BluMicaR]

When the OP said 'why don't they offer it straight from factory' I read, installed as a standard. My answer to this is the obvious greedy business in a capitalistic society.

Why buy the cow when you get the milk for free?

Why give a part away when you can charge $350 for it after you've already soaked your buyer of the price of the car?

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

Off-topic but...

When the OP said 'why don't they offer it straight from factory' I read, installed as a standard. My answer to this is the obvious greedy business in a capitalistic society.

Why buy the cow when you get the milk for free?

Why give a part away when you can charge $350 for it after you've already soaked your buyer of the price of the car?

Why is every company "greedy". I can understand how some companies could be considered greedy (cell phone companies being at teh top of the list) but the root of a capitalistic society is making money. I don't feel Mazda gouges people at all. It's your choice as to whether you buy aftermarket accessories or not. The MS3 in factory form presents an incredible value that if far from price gouging. You want price gouging go buy a Toyota or Honda. Now those products are overpriced. One benefit of living in a capitalistic society is voting with your wallet. If you think the CAI is overpriced than don't buy it. IMO. (wiggle)

 

[Rotus8]

Toyota or Honda, small timers. Look at Mercedes: refuse to sell service manuals to anybody. If you want accessories they have a slick catalog with $100 key chains and $2k each wheels. Feh!

 

[BlackCherry06]

"I don't feel Mazda gouges people at all."

Mazda may not gouge any worse than other manufacturers, but the prices they charge for aftermarket accessories, and even OEM parts is outrageous. There's nothing about an intake that should cost them anywhere near $350. The markup is insanely high.

 

[ElGaspo]

Thanx guys. will do some reading on redline vs. synchromesh + royal purple. heard about a site called 'bobtheoilguy' or some such that has lots of test #s.

and as far as "I can understand how some companies could be considered greedy (cell phone companies being at teh top of the list) but the root of a capitalistic society is making money." yeppers on that one.

still, i think Mazda is doing well by us and that we all got an insanely good deal out of the MS3. i subscribe to all the 5 major car mags and when they ALL start chiming about 'best bang for the buck' i think we're on to something. i know i'm loving driving once again after 16 yrs in a CRX Si. cute lil ole egg-shaped scooter, but 106 vs 263 hp, + turbo, disi...puhleeze!

 

[BluMicaR]

I'm madly in love with my SP3, and I got a fantastic deal, which I owe to both Mazda, and the dealer I chose to work with in getting out of an '05 3s and into an '07 SP3. (drive2)

I have to go with above though and state that I am going to spend what they charge, Mazda or otherwise for aftermarket mods. However, CAIs and SRIs are insanely overpriced for what you are getting in materials and limited if any research (CPE seems to be one of the ONLY places to do actual research on their CAI). So they are not really displacing any cost they had developing the thing, and it's not like shelf space is an issue - at my dealer they don't stock Mazdaspeed parts, they are all ordered a week before you want them. Still, it's cool Mazda offers stuff. It'd be nice, however, if a 'niche' car like ours, designed soley for a 'tuner' market, actually came with ported heads, a CAI and 3" mandrel-bent high-flow exhaust, an IC you didn't have to upgrade to bigger/more flow... Etceteras. Wouldn't it be cool to drop an extra $5k on your car and have /every/thing done already, factory? I would've dropped the extra cash, and had a little higher payment than I would be comfortable with, but any concern would disappear every time I started it up and got to the road.

Especially on the CAI with our car, why choke it off from the factory? EVERYbody is going to buy a CAI who buys this limited-to-5000 car. They're buying it for performance, and we're missing an integral portion (air in, turbo whine, BOV) of the performance experience. Our car is virtually locked up and passworded with the suffocating airbox in there stock.

And teh cell phone companies suck teh donkey. (iagree)

 

[mazdaspeed32007]

royal purple and redline mt 90 i have heard nothing but great things. i have the mt90 and its awesome. if you dont mind a little more expensive go royal purple. its known to be one of the best out there. their motor oil too. though its like 12 bucks a quart!!! whew...

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

"Theres no reason"

"I don't feel Mazda gouges people at all."

Mazda may not gouge any worse than other manufacturers, but the prices they charge for aftermarket accessories, and even OEM parts is outrageous. There's nothing about an intake that should cost them anywhere near $350. The markup is insanely high.

Your argument could also apply to "AA" Batteries for a flashlight.The basic rule of sales is to reel people in with the product and charge for accessories.

The beauty of accessories is that you don't have to buy them (except for maybe batteries). I'd be much more annoyed if they started charging crazy money for critical parts when the car breaks down. That's one of the reasons I've never bought a European car. Much of the cost is probably in importing the part but I think many European car companies still overcharge for parts. I know people who were spending $4000 a year keeping up there Saab. Now THAT's gouging.

You also have to look at a company's cost structure. Mazda may have lower margins on their cars (less cost to the customer) BECAUSE they load the accessory margins. Who knows.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

I was comparing Japanese manufacturers...

Toyota or Honda, small timers. Look at Mercedes: refuse to sell service manuals to anybody. If you want accessories they have a slick catalog with $100 key chains and $2k each wheels. Feh!

You're right. The German brands are even more egregious about overcharging. But in the world of Japanese I believe Mazda is the least offensive.