ATF Question

[flcruising]

I've now made it a habit of draining the ATF from the pan @ each oil change. I get about 3 quarts out each time.

 

[Robotazky]

Just ask for Mazda Type M5 and don't worry about Ms and Vs any more. It is not compatible with any other OEM fluid, other than possibly the Ford fluid people are quoting.

 

[flcruising]

Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic ATF for me.

 

[LittleRedWagon5]

Just did the 30K on my wifes' 5 yesterdsay. new PS synthetic Honda P/S fluid , coolant and Trans. flush. The trans fluid was nasty @ 30K, very dark and dirty. I ran 12 qts of dex 3 through it through the flush machine then drained it and filled with synthetic Valvoline MV ATF. Shifts are cleaner and my wife says its "more peppy"

 

[bootman]

I have almost 40K on my 09 and it still looks good.
"lifetime" fluid is not really that much of a joke on a "closed" system. (no filter replacement)

That said, I would change it at around 60K (or sooner) if it looked bad.
It really depends on the environment the car is driven in.

 

[flcruising]

Just because the filter is inside the pan like 90% of the other vehicles on the road doesn't mean that the fluid is lifetime. Mazda was nice enough to at least put a drain plug on the pan - that says something to me. Takes only about another 3 minutes to drain some out and refill. With this method, I doubt I'll ever flush the system. The wife's '08 has only 25k, and I'd never consider going 60k on the fluid based on it's color alone. About 60% of that is highway.

 

[Gil Elvgren]

Does anyone run with an aftermarket Transmission Cooler on their 5? I know a cooler is usually included when a vehicle is setup for towing (which the 5 is not) so it also helps keep the fluid cooler when not towing. Cooler means better fluid.

I am thinking about putting a hitch - Curt Manufactoring - Part No. 11338 to be exact - for a bike rack only (no trailer wiring). And I will be running a top rack with the medium carrier on vacations and such, hopefully, not both at the same time but you never know. I have been quoted $325 installed by the local Transmission shop but it was a quote off the top of his head as he said he has never installed a cooler on a Mazda 5 before.

I saw the How-To on upgrading the horn on this forum and thought that I could handle removing the front bumper myself as in the horn upgrade then I could run it over to the Transmisson shop for the cooler install - saving them the time and me the expense for them to remove the front bumper. They just attach the cooler in front of the radiator, run the hoses, flush the system and add new ATF hopefully for alot less than $350. The coolers run from $50 - $100.

 

[flcruising]

Here's what we discussed last year - http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/show...-s-installed-an-auxiliary-transmission-cooler

I never got around to installing one.

 

[AO928]

Does anyone run with an aftermarket Transmission Cooler on their 5? I know a cooler is usually included when a vehicle is setup for towing (which the 5 is not) so it also helps keep the fluid cooler when not towing. Cooler means better fluid.

I generally disagree with that statement. Proper operating temperature is better. Too cool or too hot leads to problems.

 

[flcruising]

...Too cool or too hot leads to problems.

I believe the too hot statement, but show me evidence that transmissions certainly fail because it they run too cool. It's my belief and understanding that as long as the stock cooler is used to help bring the operating temperature up enough for the fluid to flow and trans to shift properly, then you won't suffer any damage from cooling the fluid to 150* instead of 195*. After running an auxiliary cooler for nearly 200k miles, I was sold in the first 30k since the life of the fluid was greatly extended.

 

[Robotazky]

I believe the too hot statement, but show me evidence that transmissions certainly fail because it they run too cool. It's my belief and understanding that as long as the stock cooler is used to help bring the operating temperature up enough for the fluid to flow and trans to shift properly, then you won't suffer any damage from cooling the fluid to 150* instead of 195*. After running an auxiliary cooler for nearly 200k miles, I was sold in the first 30k since the life of the fluid was greatly extended.

What happens when you create the air-filled void when the new cooler is added? If I just cut the line and add a cooler does it have to be purged? I'm seriously an ATF idiot.

 

[flcruising]

The same thing that happens when you hook up a water hose and turn on the faucet, the air is simply displaced by the fluid.

It isn't like an air bubble floating around in your veins on it's way to your heart, if that's what you were thinking. (wink)

 

[Robotazky]

An air bubble in a hose goes out the end. Are you saying it comes out of the dipstick tube?

 

[flcruising]

No, no, no, it just comes out the other end of the cooler hose back into the transmission, usually into the pan. The atf is not FULL of fluid, it has an operating level of fluid just like the engine. There is air inside the thing.

 

[Robotazky]

No, no, no, it just comes out the other end of the cooler hose back into the transmission, usually into the pan. The atf is not FULL of fluid, it has an operating level of fluid just like the engine. There is air inside the thing.

OK. Thanks.

 

[MikesMazda5]

I am at 59,000+ miles and still on the original fluid. Plan on changing it at the next oil change which will be around 62,000 miles. No shifting issues, or any other issues as of now. Goin on a 2,500 + mile road trip in June, so wanna make sure it is tip-top.

 

[Merryfrankster]

According to the Valvoline ATF Application Guide, Mercon V can be used for applications specifying Mazda M-V. For the doubters out there, who insist that Mercon V could do damage, ask yourself, why would Valvoline expose themselves to liability by publishing potentially damaging information? That's right, they wouldn't.

 

[Robotazky]

According to the Valvoline ATF Application Guide, Mercon V can be used for applications specifying Mazda M-V. For the doubters out there, who insist that Mercon V could do damage, ask yourself, why would Valvoline expose themselves to liability by publishing potentially damaging information? That's right, they wouldn't.

Wow. That was out of nowhere. Give me some time and I'll present links to stories about the different friction modifiers provided by experts who know Ford's spec (Mercon V) versus the generic products that cover multiple specs. If I don't find what I'm looking for because I don't have time to actually worry about you blowing up your car's tranny, please keep us posted on the results of running fluid that Mazda says is out of spec.

Valvoline's product overlaps other specifications. All generic products do the same. You can meet specs in the stated requirements from the entity providing the requirements and be a bad product due to all of the parameters that aren't required. First, ask yourself if you even know the difference between requirements and specifications from an engineering perspective. I doubt very seriously that you do. I deal with product specifications all day, every day, so that is obvious to me. Since you didn't mention, or imply, any such knowledge, I would advise you to stick with what Mazda described. Normally, I would not bother advising a loud-mouthed stranger on anything out of the enjoyment of watching their misery, but Mazda ATX fluid has been proven, to me anyway, to be a very finicky product for a very finicky product. As an engineer who deals with product specs every day, I will use M-V. You can use Valvoline.

 

[ErikO]

What's stopping people from just using the Mazda ATF? Is it overpriced or hard to get?

 

[5zoom]

That is my thought exactly. If you change the tranny fluid every 30k or so, how much extra does it really cost to get the Mazda stuff/go to the dealer. I'm usually one for saving a buck here or there, but I don't want to risk it with the transmission. The automatic transmission IS the weak link in today's cars and there is no way I'm going to chance an aftermarket application, particularly while its still under warrranty.