New Transmission Costs

[SparkYellow]

Its obvious that Mazda amongst other manufacturers don't want their transmissions to be serviced properly for a corrupt method of profit.

I believed that was the case at least with MINI.

@AL Cx5 These transmissions have a strainer, not a filter.

The oem filter that I ordered for my CX-3 seems to be the paper-element type. I didn't have to order the rubber rings separately. Is the strainer type on pre-Skyactiv transmissions?

 

[sinistriel@]

All Skyactiv use a paper element that are made by Denso or Filtran for Mazda and are high quality. The 'filled for life' comes from a few things. 1st oems receive CAFE credit if there is not a fluid recommendation because the thought process is the vehicle will put less oil out into the world through its life cycle. 2nd to protect themselves. Transmission warranty claims fall substantially when a 'filled for life' philosophy is adopted by an OEM. The amount of DIY that believe they can do a transmission service correctly is much higher than can actually be accomplished. Using the wrong fluid, witches brew concoctions that 'someone on a forum' said you should really try! Even checking the fluid level correctly, the amount of times people ignore the part about the vehicle being running and at the correct temperature is astounding.

Mazda internal training documents call for service to be done for correct service life, called out in the first attached picture.

I personally recommend a pan drop and filter change at 30k miles. These units shed a good amount of clutch material and the magnet usually has quite a bit as seen in the second picture.

 

[AL Cx5]

All Skyactiv use a paper element that are made by Denso or Filtran for Mazda and are high quality. The 'filled for life' comes from a few things. 1st oems receive CAFE credit if there is not a fluid recommendation because the thought process is the vehicle will put less oil out into the world through its life cycle. 2nd to protect themselves. Transmission warranty claims fall substantially when a 'filled for life' philosophy is adopted by an OEM. The amount of DIY that believe they can do a transmission service correctly is much higher than can actually be accomplished. Using the wrong fluid, witches brew concoctions that 'someone on a forum' said you should really try! Even checking the fluid level correctly, the amount of times people ignore the part about the vehicle being running and at the correct temperature is astounding.

Mazda internal training documents call for service to be done for correct service life, called out in the first attached picture.

I personally recommend a pan drop and filter change at 30k miles. These units shed a good amount of clutch material and the magnet usually has quite a bit as seen in the second picture.

OK then, 30k intervals, drop pan and change the filter. Scrap the RTV off one time and use a gasket in the future.

How long do the solenoid valves normally last?

After looking at the filter pictures, I like that the filter is corrugated to get more filter area in a small footprint.

Not much has changed in trans service. My 06 Domestic, recommends changing fluid and filter every 30k. We also adjust the front and rear bands. And about every 100k mi we change the valve body solenoids. A Domestic, Dodge, 48re goes and goes if one follows the above and puts a shift kit in the VB. As mentioned, one documented 48re has over 430,000 miles. About every 200k mi they need a front band that slips over the drum.

I think the CX5 trans when serviced every 30k will live longer than I'll keep the car, 8 to 10 years.

Is there a valve body shift kit in the works? I don't see much out there about tuning these transmissions?

Thanks for chiming in!

 

[sinistriel@]

The direct linear solenoids in these are far and away different technology than the garbage pressure transducer and solenoids in a 48RE and I've not seen or heard of a failed solenoid. Thankfully bands are largely gone from the industry in almost every unit in production.

I rebuild valve bodies for these but haven't seen a large need for any type of shift kit. I have a few things cooking regarding tuning but that's entirely up to software release.