Manual Trans Fluid Replacement Interval

[opus]

(boom07)I have looked, and looked, and looked in my owners manual, and on Mazdausa.com and I cannot for the life of me find what the fluid replacement schedule is for the manual transmission on my 5. My dealer is claiming it needs to be replaced at 30,000 miles, which seems awfully soon to me, but I can't find anything either confirming or denying this(rant) I would appreciate any information that other owners can provide.
Thanks (flash)

 

[bulwnkl]

As you discovered through your search, there is no scheduled replacement interval for the manual transmission fluid. I'm personally not a very big 'lifetime fluid' proponent, so I replace mine occasionally. 30,000 miles for a manual transmission fluid replacement is a very conservative change interval. You could almost certainly run longer if you wish, though.

I have a manual transmission-specific fluid in mine, and somewhere around 30k is about right for replacement of it. However, that's not based on wear rates or durability, it's because the 'stuff' in this fluid that helps the transmission shift nicely is about worn out at that point. So, shift quality will start to taper off if I don't replace it.

This is not an issue with the factory stuff, nor with what most people (including your dealer) will replace the factory fluid with. All of that is just a plain-jane gear oil, so it's not designed for buttery shifting and that means those additives won't wear out on you ('cause they're not there).

 

[opus]

As you discovered through your search, there is no scheduled replacement interval for the manual transmission fluid. I'm personally not a very big 'lifetime fluid' proponent, so I replace mine occasionally. 30,000 miles for a manual transmission fluid replacement is a very conservative change interval. You could almost certainly run longer if you wish, though.

I have a manual transmission-specific fluid in mine, and somewhere around 30k is about right for replacement of it. However, that's not based on wear rates or durability, it's because the 'stuff' in this fluid that helps the transmission shift nicely is about worn out at that point. So, shift quality will start to taper off if I don't replace it.

This is not an issue with the factory stuff, nor with what most people (including your dealer) will replace the factory fluid with. All of that is just a plain-jane gear oil, so it's not designed for buttery shifting and that means those additives won't wear out on you ('cause they're not there).

Thanks Bulwnkl! You just confirmed what I thought. I agree that fluids should not be lifetime, but 30k is just a tad on the short side!! If you don't mind me asking, what fluid did you replace yours with. I am not adverse to increasing the frequency of changing the fluid if it improves the shift action, I'm just adverse to changing fluids when there is no benefit to it

 

[Heat]

On my '99 Honda Accord (manual transmission), the owner's manual states that the fluid should be changed every six years or 90,000 miles. On my Mazda5 (also manual transmission) I'll probably change it around the same time unless it starts feeling sluggish or something.

For what it's worth, here is a writeup I did on changing the manual transmission fluid in a sixth generation Accord ('98 through '02):

http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2567087

My only mistake was not going after the bolts from below from the start - I got the bolts off using a lot of extensions but I wasted about 15 minutes.

 

[bulwnkl]

Opus, I have Red Line MT-90 in mine. That's a 75W90, GL-4 fluid, which is what Mazda specifies (so no way for the dealer to cry foul in the unlikely event of a warranty claim). One could also run Red Line's 75W90NS fluid. Similar viscosity, but a GL-5. Amsoil also makes a good option that is manual transmission specific. I've forgotten whether it's MTG or MTF; I think MTG? One of those is a 75W90, which is what our trannies call for.

Good luck!

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

The red line is also my suggestion and do it yourself. That or start complaining that you are getting hard 2nd gear shifts in the morning and keep complaining till they swap out your fluis for Synthetic on their dime. I know a couple people who have made this happen, give it a try!

 

[Drogos]

what about changing tranny oil at 70k on mazda 6s stickshift???
Should I do it? I heard theory that you either start changing early on and then you keep on changing it as a standard maintanance or you should leave it as is in the older car. What are your thoughts on this one?

 

[MD5]

I changed mine at 60k with the Mobil equivelent.

 

[07MZ5SA]

I normally replace factory dino MTF at 10K with synthetic.

50K-100K for synthetic whenever shift quality deteriorates.

Synthetic fluid often improve cold shifting quality especially in reverse.

 

[SGT_OKINAWA]

My rule of thumb has been timing belt and MANUAL transmission change the same time. (Psssstt: both at 80 or 88K)

JUST my .02 worth.

Peace!(rei)

 

[thaxman]

I normally replace factory dino MTF at 10K with synthetic.

50K-100K for synthetic whenever shift quality deteriorates.

Synthetic fluid often improve cold shifting quality especially in reverse.

OK, so I'm sold, but what are my options? I am a little ignorant on gear oils. Are the aforementioned Red Line and Amsoil products synth? Anything else?

 

[Mr. Left]

My rule of thumb has been timing belt and MANUAL transmission change the same time. (Psssstt: both at 80 or 88K)

JUST my .02 worth.

Peace!(rei)

My 2009 M5 GT has timing chain not belt, so there is nothing to change.

 

[DKaz]

manual transmission is ideally changed every 64,000km. I'm gonna go to Redline MT-90 in my 5 at 96,000km.