CX-5 Transmission: Drain and fill vs flush vs oil pan drop drain/fill?

[sm1ke]

I'd say you're at just the right mileage for a drain and fill, and that's all you should need. There's lots of threads on the subject. You can start here:

https://mazdas247.com/forum/t/atf-drain-fill.123838434/

Only use Mazda fluid.

Thanks for providing a link, @madar.

@q1054521247q, in the future please use the Search function as previously suggested by other members. Thanks!

 

[Lazy2.5]

Goodness me, it's only two years old.
I know someone will argue this one, but I'd leave it alone. Not necessary at this point, unless you are having issues, in which case a fluid change won't fix it.
If you do decide to go ahead, don't do a flush with one of those machines. They do more harm than good. Drain and fill.

My 6 has 296,000KM on it. I have seen what the bottom of the pan looks like in these AT's a couple times now.

Once you have it dropped, you'll be happy you did.

 

[Mazda6Dad]

So I have a 2017 Mazda6, but the process seems the same for a pan drop/gasket/filter replacement and then 3x3 drain and fill. My only question is whether to use the o-ring gasket that come in some kits or just use RTV when replacing the pan? The gasket would be easier, but I don’t trust the quality of the Chinese manufacturers that surely make them.

Anyone have a strong opinion about that?

 

[Lbear]

So I have a 2017 Mazda6, but the process seems the same for a pan drop/gasket/filter replacement and then 3x3 drain and fill. My only question is whether to use the o-ring gasket that come in some kits or just use RTV when replacing the pan? The gasket would be easier, but I don’t trust the quality of the Chinese manufacturers that surely make them.

Anyone have a strong opinion about that?

With RTV, the pan mating surfaces must be completely oil free and clean. The RTV must be applied to make sure it covers the mating surfaces without any voids.

Gaskets are much easier but the gaskets they supply in the kits are usually cheapo gaskets. On my other cars, the factory included a steel core gasket encased in rubber. These gaskets are reusable and I've never had them leak.

Mazda used RTV as it's "less expensive" than a quality gasket. RTV makes it harder later to do service on it as it requires a lot of detail work to remove, clean and reinstall.

I used RTV and hopefully it doesn't leak. So far, it hasn't but I haven't drive it long to make sure it is not leaking.

 

[Jmaz]

With RTV, the pan mating surfaces must be completely oil free and clean. The RTV must be applied to make sure it covers the mating surfaces without any voids.

Gaskets are much easier but the gaskets they supply in the kits are usually cheapo gaskets. On my other cars, the factory included a steel core gasket encased in rubber. These gaskets are reusable and I've never had them leak.

Mazda used RTV as it's "less expensive" than a quality gasket. RTV makes it harder later to do service on it as it requires a lot of detail work to remove, clean and reinstall.

I used RTV and hopefully it doesn't leak. So far, it hasn't but I haven't drive it long to make sure it is not leaking.

The factory rubber /steel core gaskets are nice but it's a bummer to have your transmission serviced somewhere and later find out they tossed the rubber one and used the gasket from the filter kit. Which then leaks later on. This happened on a previous car where I forgot to instruct them to reuse the factory gasket. Dealer price on factory gasket was ~ $50 and this was almost 20 years ago.

 

[yrwei52]

If anyone thinking about using the aftermarket transmission filter with pan gasket, be aware that the gasket may not fit depending on your transmission pan. My guess is Mazda had changed the transmission pan shape when they added the cylinder deactivation for 2018 CX-5, where the transmission was also modified to add some components to fight the vibration by CD.

I did mine today. 2020 CX-5 Touring, 2.5L NA engine, 50,000 miles. ⋯
The WIX filter and gasket I got from Rockauto had a different variation of gasket (similar but 2 holes were about 3/4" off), so I ended up buying RTV from a local auto parts store, I was a bit pissed about that.

I use Wix filters, which includes a gasket. I use the gasket every time, and I've never had a leak.
Wix part number on the filter for my 2013 CX-5 with the 2.0 is WL10379.

Used that same filter today on my 2020 2.5L NA Touring.
Two holes on the gasket were about 3/4" off - couldn't use the gasket. That had me a bit pissed. Ended up using $15 tube Permatex from my local parts store - the price of the RTV was nearly as much as the filter and gasket, which had me more pissed.

And from:

Blauparts.com - Mazda CX-5 Transmission Fluid Change Kit - 2013-23 - 6 Spd - Ravenol

Vehicle Fitment Note: Fits all 2013-2017 Mazda CX-5 models. 2018-2023 Mazda CX-5 models could have two transmission pan types. 2018-2023 Mazda CX-5 model owners will need to confirm a transmission pan part number FZ01-21-51XA, FZ01-21-51XB, FZ01-21-51X, or FZA1-21-51X before ordering. We suggest contacting your dealer and ask them what transmission pan part number you would need if replacing it. You can also visually inspect the pan for an OEM part number sticker but these have typically been weathered and are not legible.

 

[Newtocx5]

Beware of the dealership that quotes you a price for flushing the transmission.

The Skyactive trans cannot be flushed without a special adapter and from my reading on this forum, this adapter is not a common thing, and most shops don't have it.

I suggest that the OP do some reading on this forum as there are several threads that address this.

My dealership gave me the option to do drain and fill or a flush. Assuming a Mazda dealership would have the needed adapter to adequately perform a flush, no?

 

[sm1ke]

My dealership gave me the option to do drain and fill or a flush. Assuming a Mazda dealership would have the needed adapter to adequately perform a flush, no?

It's a safe assumption, but something you'd want to clarify with the dealer first. Just tell them you heard that a special adapter is needed to flush the transmission and ask if they have it.

 

[erhayes]

I suspect that Mazda has determined, because of individual warranty requests, that many transmissions have been damaged by DIYers, so they don't have a change recommendations. Already on this subject we see people trying to cheap out by not using the OEM fluid. Just my observations. Ed

 

[madar]

I suspect that Mazda has determined, because of individual warranty requests, that many transmissions have been damaged by DIYers, so they don't have a change recommendations. Already on this subject we see people trying to cheap out by not using the OEM fluid. Just my observations. Ed

Good point

 

[sinistriel@]

I suspect that Mazda has determined, because of individual warranty requests, that many transmissions have been damaged by DIYers, so they don't have a change recommendations. Already on this subject we see people trying to cheap out by not using the OEM fluid. Just my observations. Ed

This is a big driver towards the lifetime recommendation. It is safer for the OEM to just keep people out of it from a warranty perspective.

 

[erhayes]

+1 sinistiel

 

[N7turbo]

When it comes time, at around 30K I think, I'll find a shop who can do this. I think many are overthinking and overworking themselves on this issue.

 

[sinistriel@]

When it comes time, at around 30K I think, I'll find a shop who can do this. I think many are overthinking and overworking themselves on this issue.

So many overthink it and there is so much bad information about flushing vs servicing out in the wild and is apocryphal. You could spend a lifetime trying to combat it and its pretty futile to try to do it. We do drain and fills and full 'flushes' using a BG machine but with OEM fluids, like his video we have done thousands over the decades and not once have we had a transmission failure from a flush. Like him, if the fluid is burned and black, the transmission already has a problem and its just wasting money.

 

[ruthrj]

When it comes time, at around 30K I think, I'll find a shop who can do this. I think many are overthinking and overworking themselves on this issue.

That’s the trick, finding a competent shop you can trust. I think we saw a poster here some years back say their mechanic “flushed” their transmission when really their invoice charged 4 quarts of FZ fluid. It was a drain and fill. Sell services like that, couple it with some dealerships that refuse to do the service claiming it’s sealed and you’ll always have confusion we’re left to our own imagination and devices to figure out what we want to do.

I’m seeing that over on the Titan talk forum too. I’m going to drain and fill the fluid on a new to me truck, and Nissan dealers may refuse to drop the pan and replace the pan assembly. They may direct you to a MB dealer as the transmission is their design. It’s a barebones plastic pan with filters built in, even comes with a gasket as part of the compete assembly. Should be a very simple procedure but for some reason some Nissan service centers won’t do it

 

[sinistriel@]

That’s the trick, finding a competent shop you can trust. I think we saw a poster here some years back say their mechanic “flushed” their transmission when really their invoice charged 4 quarts of FZ fluid. It was a drain and fill. Sell services like that, couple it with some dealerships that refuse to do the service claiming it’s sealed and you’ll always have confusion we’re left to our own imagination and devices to figure out what we want to do.

I’m seeing that over on the Titan talk forum too. I’m going to drain and fill the fluid on a new to me truck, and Nissan dealers may refuse to drop the pan and replace the pan assembly. They may direct you to a MB dealer as the transmission is their design. It’s a barebones plastic pan with filters built in, even comes with a gasket as part of the compete assembly. Should be a very simple procedure but for some reason some Nissan service centers won’t do it

A good rule of thumb when shopping around for someone to service a transmission, if they say it is 'sealed', keep shopping, there is no unit on the market that is 'sealed', they can all be serviced.

That 9 speed can be an absolute pain in the ass to get the fluid level correct on, depending on the Mercedes it is in you need a few special tools to release the fluid in the converter charge port. The early Frontier came with that design and it made a lot of shops and dealers nervous about servicing them. JATCO builds them under license from Mercedes and made a few changes for the Titan version. The good news is that it is a solid unit, the Aisin in the Cummins XD is another story lol.

 

[ruthrj]

A good rule of thumb when shopping around for someone to service a transmission, if they say it is 'sealed', keep shopping, there is no unit on the market that is 'sealed', they can all be serviced.

That 9 speed can be an absolute pain in the ass to get the fluid level correct on, depending on the Mercedes it is in you need a few special tools to release the fluid in the converter charge port. The early Frontier came with that design and it made a lot of shops and dealers nervous about servicing them. JATCO builds them under license from Mercedes and made a few changes for the Titan version. The good news is that it is a solid unit, the Aisin in the Cummins XD is another story lol.

Leave it to German engineering to make a key like device and selector switch to drain and set your fluid level! Thank god Amazon has a cheap kit to actuate the drain plug.

Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled programming. Couldn’t agree with you more on the “sealed” comment being a great red flag.