How many Drain & Fills before full transmission/filter service?

[DennisT]

Did search here; it helped. Our 2019 CX-5 we got new. Now 66,000 miles, and mechanic and I talked. He suggested pull drain plug, drain and refill ATF. Then, a little later do full service. I went to Foothills Mazda dealer in Spokane and asked, "Parts," man how much fluid to buy. He said 4 quarts is all I need to change fluid. I asked if there was a gasket kit; service kit; filter, etc., kit, and he said NO, just drain and refill. "No filter l- there was NO kit." Said 4 quarts is all I need. Made no sense to me, but I came home with 4 Qts. of Mazda ATF for about $80. (Whew)

So I look at fluid change you tubes tonight and, sure enough, seems I was right there is a kit for pulling down pan and doing full service. Gasket, drain plug washer, and an, "L," shaped black plastic house to replace. Then I find that the full, "system," is more like 9 quarts. (Probably part sits in torque converter) So I'm thinking this week when mechanic does oil change I'll go ahead and have him dump 4 quarts, and refill with fresh. Then search for all the other stuff to do it fully in about a month.

Do you all BUY from dealers for these kits and fluids? Tips???? I think that parts guy just thought I wanted to do drain and fill, even after I quizzed him about a full kit.

We're retired, wife with health issues, 80 miles to city doctor, etc. I need to keep this car going because I doubt we'll ever have the money to buy new or near-new again. I wonder how long these transmissions last????? Thanks for thoughts, Dennis in E WA state

 

[madar]

If you do a search on this forum, there are numerous threads on the subject from various posters including me.
Start here:

Guide - ATF Drain/Fill

 

[SparkYellow]

Did search here; it helped. Our 2019 CX-5 we got new. Now 66,000 miles, and mechanic and I talked. He suggested pull drain plug, drain and refill ATF. Then, a little later do full service. I went to Foothills Mazda dealer in Spokane and asked, "Parts," man how much fluid to buy. He said 4 quarts is all I need to change fluid. I asked if there was a gasket kit; service kit; filter, etc., kit, and he said NO, just drain and refill. "No filter l- there was NO kit." Said 4 quarts is all I need. Made no sense to me, but I came home with 4 Qts. of Mazda ATF for about $80. (Whew)

So I look at fluid change you tubes tonight and, sure enough, seems I was right there is a kit for pulling down pan and doing full service. Gasket, drain plug washer, and an, "L," shaped black plastic house to replace. Then I find that the full, "system," is more like 9 quarts. (Probably part sits in torque converter) So I'm thinking this week when mechanic does oil change I'll go ahead and have him dump 4 quarts, and refill with fresh. Then search for all the other stuff to do it fully in about a month.

Do you all BUY from dealers for these kits and fluids? Tips???? I think that parts guy just thought I wanted to do drain and fill, even after I quizzed him about a full kit.

We're retired, wife with health issues, 80 miles to city doctor, etc. I need to keep this car going because I doubt we'll ever have the money to buy new or near-new again. I wonder how long these transmissions last????? Thanks for thoughts, Dennis in E WA state

The average diligent owners start draining/filling at 60K miles transmission fluid (plus transfer case oil and rear differential oil if AWD.) Your mechanic is on point. If by full service you mean replacing the filter, that can happen later, much later. Mazda doesn't offer a kit, but there is one aftermarket kit that i know of. There is no OEM gasket for the pan. The pan typically doesn't need to be replaced. Not sure what the black L shaped housing is?

I didn't do the first drain/fill of transmission fluid until 153K miles.

 

[Lazy2.5]

Do you all BUY from dealers for these kits and fluids? Tips???? I think that parts guy just thought I wanted to do drain and fill, even after I quizzed him about a full kit.

Let's do an assessment here. If the parts guy informs you there is no filter kit, but there is, do you still trust the Parts department at this dealer?

We're retired, wife with health issues, 80 miles to city doctor, etc. I need to keep this car going because I doubt we'll ever have the money to buy new or near-new again. I wonder how long these transmissions last????? Thanks for thoughts, Dennis in E WA state

These transmissions are very reliable.

Personally, I suggest to drop the pan and have the filter changed too. The early stages of transmission break-in is when the filter and magnet gets most dirty. At the same time, part of the fluid will obviously some out and need to be replenished.

But, if you decide to go with only the drain and fill for now, that's fine too.

 

[DennisT]

This is GREAT information. Thank you all. Tomorrow we change out 4 qts. of ATF, (Mazda brand). Next oil change I might do another and consider the pull-pan/filter service in the next few weeks. I wonder where a service, "kit," ought to be purchased if the dealer's parts guy, "doesn't have such a thing." ?????????
I'll be digging/reading more.

 

[cz5gt]

Mazda sells the filter and a new pan (its not expensive) but there is no full kit with gasket etc that is oem. Mazda docs point to use rtv type sealant on the pan.
Scrubbing the old selant from the pan after remov is pita so often times just buying new pan is better.
Put rtv, tighten in the sequence and thats it.

As far as I know dealers never drop the pan etc. Some dont even offer drain refill, others do.

You can buy the so called kits with gasket from aftermarket stires. Rockauto comes to mind.

At current miles I would just do drain refill (make sure to check level at the specified temp or just fill exactly what you got out.)
Then after 1000 miles do another drain and refill and you would be golden.
No need to change filter and drop pan that early.

 

[Jmaz]

As mentioned above there are many threads dealing with transmission service. Here's my thoughts for dealing with this in the here and now. More can be done later.
1) never heard of a "service kit" . Put that on the back burner for now.
2) Not necessary to drop pan and change filter at this mileage. Mazda used a sealant instead of a gasket and there is a lot of work involved cleaning the sealant off of the pan and transmission case surfaces. And care must be exercised if using sealant when installing the pan. The use of a gasket instead is, in my estimation , inviting a leak somewhere down the line. In my experience if there is a gasket that's going to leak it's after the transmission has been serviced. Seems like the factory installed gaskets go the longest before leaking.
3) carefully measure the amount drained and add back only that amount. Don't want to overfill and can always add more later if needed for some reason.
4) After the first change, drive the car a bit to mix the new and old fluid and do another drain and fill. Yes, the expense of another 4 qts. But at this point that should give about 75% new fluid and no further service needed for quite a while. I'd rather ( and myself do practice) the transmission have more new fluid than doing a filter change that can be delayed into the future.
5) This naturally is my opinion how I see things. I'm also retired, have done and still do as much maintenance as possible. My 2014 CX-5 Touring had 2X drain and fills at 44,000 miles and 1X drain and fill at 71,000 miles. Currently at 78,000 miles and likely get 1 more drain and fill before/at 100,000 miles. Car runs like a top and a filter change not even thought about yet. These are great transmissions.