2014 6 tranny fluid change?

[sbronemann]

What's up everybody? Seems nobody hardly ever posts stuff in here. My 14 Mazda 6 is approaching 75k, probably in the next month or sooner, just wondering when everybody would consider flushing/changing the transmission fluid? I haven't even looked at the manual, but i'm assuming it's got to be getting close to doing so. Anybody had this done at the stealership yet? If so, what's the cost?

 

[ceric]

Do not flush. Drain and refill after cleaning up the floor pan.
Dealer can do that for around $120 to $150.
You might want to do that 2-3 times since drain-n-refill only get to 1/2 fluid each time.
Personally, I do 30k/15k afterwards.
No tranny schedule in manual because Mazda could care less. The life-time tranny fluid will last longer than 50k w/o a hiccup.
After that? Your problem, not Mazda's.

Nowadays, most trannies have "life-time" fluid.... go figure. Trust the automakers if you want to.

 

[GAXIBM]

I think it depends a lot on the type of miles. Stop and go traffic a lot of shifting producing clutch and brake wear/debris. Miles on interstate locked in high gear, no shifting or clutch wear/debris.

 

[ceric]

GAXIBM.
Cannot disagree with you.
It does depend.

To the OP, I said "Do not flush" because you have not done tranny fluid change for 75k.
If you flush it now, debris in tranny might get dislodged and cause problems.
Dealers typically use a suction device to get fluid out. It is still hard to get to the TC, which contains the tranny fluid as well.
Hence, you cannot get all 100% fluid in one shot. Drain-n-replace gets to even less fluid.
Anyway, I, for one, do not believe in "life-time fluid" as some automakers advertise that for marketing purpose.
You are the ones paying for tranny repair when your tranny gets out of warranty period.
Most tranny can pull thru 50k miles w/o fluid change.
After that, your problem to take care. Automakers couldn't care less.

 

[sbronemann]

90% of my miles are highway cruising between 70-80 mph on mostly flat Iowa ground. The first 40k of the vehicle was traveling 120 miles round trip to work with only about 1.5 miles of that non-interstate each day. So literally about 65k of my 73k are interstate highway travel.

 

[GAXIBM]

That type of miles should go 150,000 before I would mess with the transmission. If you want to, drop the pan and replace the filter and clean the pan, replace the gasket, measure the amount of oil in the pan and put that amount of new oil back in. I have heard of a lot of problems come from flush jobs, I would not risk a flush. If your concern is the oil itself you can get a vacuum pump like I have for my boat and suck the oil out from the oil check hole and replace what you remove with new oil. You might think of doing that to the brake reservoir if your brake fluid is still original...

 

[Djbradle]

It's like an oil thread really. To flush or not to flush? That being said I did a drain and refill x3 with new pan bolts, gasket, and filter in my previous '02 e46 and the fluid was not that bad looking at 190k miles. there was some debris on the magnet but much less than I expected. The shifts were smoother and the delay from P to D was diminished. On this car I personally would wait that long until I sense sluggish issues. Highways miles mostly here.

 

[sbronemann]

Ya, I think I may just wait. I am going to get rid of it in probably August or September, it will probably have about 90k on it around that time. So trade it off or sell it outright. But I tell ya, this Mazda has really been a great car so far. Will be getting a 2016 CX-9 for the wife and I get her 2015 Escape Titanium! Can't wait to tune the ecoboost

 

[ceric]

My '98 BMW 540ia came with *life-time* fluid.
Owners were not used to the concept of *life-time* fluid.
When owners asked for tranny fluid change, dealers laughed at them, saying that is sealed and lasts a life-time (whatever that means).
OK.
After 50-60K miles, owners started to see tranny failure (many on BMW forum). (BMW powertrain warranty is 4yr/50K)
BMW dealers started to change their tone of voice.
"Yes, we can change the fluid for you for $300."
Yeah, where were that guys that laughed at the owners....

True. Tranny fluid is under lower temp (~190F), compared to engine oil.
With modern material technology, it should last longer than before.

My typical answer to my friend is as follow:
If you intend to keep your vehicles for less than 100k, do nothing.
Your tranny should last 100K w/o problem.
If you are the kind of guys who keep vehicles for 200k, or even 300k, I would suggest you do fluid change at some point.
It is your money. Whether you spend it on new tranny or services, it is your own call.