Auto trans fluid specs

[kiwidon]

Just pulled the plug on my '05 Mazda6 auto trans....accidentally. thought it was the engine oil plug! anyway, out pours some nasty looking, brown fluid. looked in the manual for the fluid spec and all it says is ATF M-V.
My questions to you are
1. What should the fluid look like after 50,000 km?
2. Why is there no recommended mileage for trans fluid change?
3. Are there any equivalent types of trans fluid. (can't imagine mazda have their own fluid manufactured to a unique spec.)
4. The manual states trans capacity of 8.2 litres. no way that much fluid came out of the drain.

P.s The Mazda 6 here in New Zealand comes in a 2.3L or2.0L I4 with 5A or 6M trans. Mine is the 2.0L with 5spd Auto.

 

[wannabe]

the fluid is gonna be smelly and nasty, thats just the nature of tranny fluid.

not all of the fluid is going to drain, due to the way the transmission sits. since you are on the 2.0, i'm assuming its gonna be the same as the protege, in that case, its about 4 qts.

make sure you use the m-v fluid, you should be able to find it, just remember that transmission fluid is NOT the same as gear oil

oh, and the protege guru's around here typically recommend are 50,000 miles for the changes (if i recall properly)

 

[neox.286]

ehh, the pro is a 4-speed auto...I don't think the 6 uses the same trans at all...I'd go by the manual for capacities, not a guess based off of what a completely different transmission uses lol

 

[kiwidon]

thanks for that,

i actually bought 8 litres of dextron 111 fluid to put in it. but got looking on the web and decided it may not be compatible (i was assured it was by the guy in the shop). anyway, the factory fluid is what came out, and perhaps most of it is still hidden away in the trans i guess the best thing is to put new "factory" fluid back in. will be off to the mazda dealer in the morning to buy the "good oil".

 

[TheMAN]

wait hold on... there IS an interval for this, but it's just not published for every country in the world:
http://www.imazda.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1522

the fluid it takes IS type M-V (NOT to be confused with Mercon V)
mazda fluid is just conventional stuff.. there are synthetics available, you just have to look hard!

I upgraded to red line ATF D4 myself and the shifts was NEVER any smoother than now... it works great! the fluid is a lot cooler too... amsoil makes a compatible one also... there are a couple of other brands.... just take the time and research online so you don't waste time at the store... then find out where you can buy what you want!

 

[kiwidon]

Seems you guys are spoiled for choice when it comes to alternative oils. Down here we don't have that many options. I think the easiest and safest thing for me do is get the OEM stuff. Its not a race car. i am pleased i accidentally pulled the wrong plug now though. i would have just kept on going by the service manual which says to only ever check the level...never a replacement of the trans oil. seems to me a "drain and fill" every so often is well worth it.

 

[TheMAN]

of course the safest is the OEM fluid... but if you want your transmission to last and work better, then get synthetic... my 3 isn't a race car either.... it's the family car, but I've done a few upgrades to it to improve reliability... it was well worth it!

 

[kiwidon]

i can get redline oil here actually. ahhh the power of gooogle. bu its NZ$34 per qt! thats about US$25!! seem expensive?

 

[neox.286]

not expensive for redline, but yea expensive for oil in general...

 

[TheMAN]

but sooo worth it if you're planning to keep the car! $25 US sounds like regular prices for redline overseas everywhere I looked... you can get that for more than half the price here!

do keep in mind you want to flush it if you want to use it for full effect... just drain and fill will have more than half the fluid still in the torque converter... thats old s*** and you don't want it in there! after an initial flush with the synthetic, you can do drain and fill there after with no problems

I expect the fluid in my transmission to last 100k miles... so I expect my drain and fill in 130k

the transmission takes about 7.5 quarts... so 8 quarts (maybe an extra to be safe) is what you need to flush it

redline ATF D4 is the compatible type... do not get D6, or anything else, it's not for it!

 

[TheMAN]

amsoil is also a popular alternative and people say it works great also:
https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/atf.aspx

 

[neox.286]

^^^
indeed, heard a lot of good things about amsoil, good price too