MS6 Fluid Notes & DIY Pictures

TiGraySpeed6 · Sep 30, 2008

Notes on fluids & associated part information for the MS6

Please do post corrections or suggestions-
I'll integrate to this post as appropriate

This was mostly copied & pasted from dozens of posts,
or taken from the '06 MS6 owners manual
-notes gathered mostly just to make my life easier.

based on US dollars, quarts or gallons
=============================================

> Fuel Tank
'06 MS6 Manual - 15.9 us gal

> Power steering fluid
'06 MS6 Manual - ATF M-III, M-V, or equivalent (e.g. Dexron II)
dry fill- 1 quart

> Brake/Clutch fluid
'06 MS6 Manual - SAE J1703, or FMVSS116 DOT-3
system flush- 1 liter

> Coolant
'06 MS6 Manual - 8.5 us qts (2.25 us gallons)
Type- Mazda FL22
Mazda OEM - part# 0000-77-508E-20

It seems that only mazda has coolant called "FL22"
Whatever, per their own service bulletin-
"FL22 coolant is compatible with current (Green) ethylene glycol coolant."
Bulletin No: 01-033/07
http://www.mazda6wiki.com/w/images/7/72/01-033-07-1830b.pdf

////////////////

> Engine:

5.5 - 6 qts
7 quarts with Balance Shaft removed

'06 MS6 Manual - 5W-30
There's a strong argument being made that 5W-40 or even 10W-40
is better as the slightly thicker viscosity will not seep past the seals
in the turbo and may help prevent the smoking turbo syndrome.

Oil Filter - cartridge style

Oil Filter Part Numbers:
FL-2017B - Motorcraft/Ford OEM cartridge oil filter
L321-14-302-9U - Mazda OEM cartridge oil filter
7203 - Napa Gold cartridge oil filter (made by Wix)
57203 - Wix cartridge oil filter
L15505 Purolator Premium Plus cartridge oil filter
PL15505 Purolator Pure One cartridge oil filter
GL15505 O'Reilly's/Microgard cartridge oil filter
P7313 - Baldwin cartridge oil filter
HP-7013 - K&N cartridge oil filter (made by Champion Labs)
84203 - Carquest cartridge oil filter (made by Wix)
LF594 - Hastings cartridge oil filter
CH9641 - Fram cartridge oil filter
P960 - Champ cartridge oil filter (Champion Labs, makes oil filters for other companies)
S9641 - STP cartridge oil filter (made by Champion Labs)
M1C153 - Mobil1 cartridge oil filter

Oil Filter Wrench - 76mm/14 flutes

Crush Washer-
Mazda OEM - part# 9956-41-400

**NOTE - Short interval oil changes- fuel shear from DISI is bad mojo

////////////////

> Tranny:
'06 MS6 Manual - API Service GL-4 (SAE 75W-90)

3 qts - GL-4
2.5 us qts actual fill

-Amsoil
Synthetic Manual Transmission and Transaxle
Gear Lube 75W-90 API GL-4 (MTG)
$12.90/qt retail

-RedLine
MT-90 (75W90 GL-4 Gear Oil)
$11.49/qt retail

-Motorcraft
Ford Manual Transaxle fluid # XT-M5-QS (75W-90 GL-4 Gear Oil)

////////////////

> PTO & Rear Diff:
'06 MS6 Manual - API Service GL-5 (SAE 80W-90)

3qts - GL-5
'06 MS6 Manual - pto - 1.3 us qts actual fill
'06 MS6 Manual - r.diff - 1.1 us qts actual fill

-Amsoil
SEVERE GEAR Synthetic Extreme Pressure (EP) Lubricant 75W-90 (SVG) GL-5
$13.25/qt retail
Long Life Synthetic Gear Lube SAE 75W-90 (FGR) GL-5
$11.20/qt retail
**NOTE: My amsoil rep no longer stocks Synthetic Gear Lube SAE 80W-90 (AGL), and states the SVG is substantially better. I have heard from a few folks happily running the SVG in the MS6 rear dif without adding the SlipLock additive, seems it's not needed for the MS6. I removed the AGL from this list, but if you find it locally it will be fine to use.**

-RedLine
75W-90 (75W90 GL-5 Gear Oil)
$10.95/qt retail
**NOTE: Not recommended to run RedLine 75W-90NS - doesn't contain the friction modifiers for limited-slip rear diff**

(retail pricing from maufacturer websites september 2008)

DIY Pictures:

Trans:
both plugs 24mm (note: you will need a box wrench or similar to get at the fill plug)

Transfer Case/PTO:
drain plug is 24mm and refill plug is 23mm

Rear Differential:
drain plug is indeed 24 mm. and the refill plug is indeed 23 mm.

helpful hints:

the plugs are all either 23 or 24mm (see above for specifics)

the crush washers (if you are replacing) are part numbers:
Trans oil plug washer - A601-17-117
T-case oil plug washer - 9956-21-800
Diff oil plug washer - 9956-41-800

A pump of some kind is highly recommended for all three locations.
-Basic, inexpensive hand pumps can be had from almost any parts store

wannabe · Nov 3, 2008

good info. i'm looking to do my transfer case and rear diff sometime real soon.

OJ Bartley · Nov 10, 2008

Awesome post, thanks TiGray. This could probably be stickied.

TiGraySpeed6 · Nov 27, 2008

Updated the engine oil section with notes on the use of thicker viscosity oils, quantity increase due to balance shaft delete mod and additional oil filters & their part numbers.

kalonov · Dec 3, 2008

Thanks for the info.

One question though. Which AMSOIL is better for MS6 transmission fluid.

Amsoil SEVERE GEAR Synthetic Extreme Pressure (EP) Lubricant 75W-90 (SVG) GL-5

or

Amsoil Synthetic Manual Transmission and Transaxle Gear Lube 75W-90 API GL-4 (MTG)

Not sure I'm doing right comparisons though.

TiGraySpeed6 · Dec 3, 2008

Use the GL4, which is designed to be gentle to gold metals like brass synchros.

Many a parts counter guy will do their best to sell you the GL5, saying things like "supercedes the GL4" and/or "replaces GL4 for all uses". Nevertheless, there is a reason Mazda specs GL4 for the tranny and GL5 for the rear diff. In my reasearch this was backed up by my Amsoil rep, who suggested the same GL4 & GL5 package as spec'd above. Wasn't even a question for him, it was as simple as "Lube for a manual tranny, you need GL4."

Edit to add:
For the pto & the rear diff - The Severe Gear is the s***. Highly recommended for them!

Quantities needed for all three locations are listed in the original post above- that is, 3 qts of each....

kalonov · Dec 3, 2008

TiGraySpeed6 said:
Use the GL4, which is designed to be gentle to gold metals like brass synchros.

Many a parts counter guy will do their best to sell you the GL5, saying things like "supercedes the GL4" and/or "replaces GL4 for all uses". Nevertheless, there is a reason Mazda specs GL4 for the tranny and GL5 for the rear diff. In my reasearch this was backed up by my Amsoil rep, who suggested the same GL4 & GL5 package as spec'd above. Wasn't even a question for him, it was as simple as "Lube for a manual tranny, you need GL4."

Edit to add:
For the pto & the rear diff - The Severe Gear is the s***. Highly recommended for them!

Quantities needed for all three locations are listed in the original post above- that is, 3 qts of each....

Thanks dude. I'll definately keep that in mind. By the way, When do you think it's the right time to change the fluids for rear diff? I wonder if it is in our MS6 manual schedule?

Killer · Dec 4, 2008

excellent post! Thanks.

wannabe · Dec 30, 2008

was hoping to do this today, just a quick question, do i need a pump for all three/any of these? i bought mobil 1 products (availabilty/price), and they came in the longer skinnier bottles.

and I added pics to the first post, since I had to search for them. I credit "misa" on another board for these. Hope you don't mind.

TiGraySpeed6 · Dec 30, 2008

No prob & thanks for the assist!
I didn't want to replace exisiting "how-to" posts, just compliment them, so didn't add any pics originally. Those are "the" pics to use tho, same ones I used the first time I change fluids.

As for where to use a pump, you'll need to be mighty creative to get away without one at all three locations- tranny, pto & rear diff....

I got, and was quite pleased with, the Amsoil one, but decent pumps can be had for dirt cheap at almost any local parts store...

Also- If you would reply with or pm me the Mobil1 details, I'll add them to the list above. Did you follow the GL-4 & GL-5 mazda reccomendations?

TiGraySpeed6 · Dec 30, 2008

Oh, and- (just looked....)

HOLY CRAP I'VE BEEN STICKIED!

hmmmmm
ya know, when typed out that reads kinda gross....

nevertheless, much coolness & thanks!

wannabe · Dec 30, 2008

i bought a $8 pump from autozone, hopefully it will do the trick. didn't have a chance to do this today, as i was installing christmas present goodies (Stage 2 SS and rear seat fold down stuff) and then i just got sidetracked.

and yeah, figured with the addition of the pics it should be stickied.

Driverman5777 · Jan 8, 2009

awesome thread... thanks a lot

TiGraySpeed6 · Jan 9, 2009

updated to add suggestion to use a pump....

Driverman5777 · Jan 9, 2009

do you have a write-up for brake/ clutch fluid also?

LBV · Jan 10, 2009

I like how you put the pics with the different colors for the drain and add ... well done!!

gooniac33 · Jan 26, 2009

next question is how often should they be changed?

wannabe · Jan 27, 2009

gooniac33 said:
next question is how often should they be changed?

manual says for the rear diff and transfer case:

If the vehicle is operated under any of the following conditions, change the rear differential oil every 45,000km {28,100 miles}
a) Driving in dusty, sandy or wet condition
b) Extended periods of idling or low speed operation
c) Repeated short trips of less than 16 km {10 miles}

If this component has been submerged in water, the oil should be changed.

I take that to mean about every 30k.

ERABBIT23 · Jan 29, 2009

good write up!

robooccms6 · Apr 13, 2009

Epic Write Up

Sorry for bringing up a dead post but this maintenance is something everyone should do. Does anyone have torque specs for the plugs? My 6 only has 22k on her and I was quite surprised by the layer of gunk on the magnetic drain plug. Also does anyone have a theory on why only the pto and rear diff have magnetic drain plugs while the trans and oil drain plugs do not have a magnet. I figure the engine filter will catch most particles and that you wouldn't want a huge glob of gunk coming off the plug up through the engine at once. But the trans on the other hand has me scratching my head.

MS6 Fluid Notes & DIY Pictures

Member

meh

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

meh

Member

Member

meh

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

meh

Member

Member