My wife has a 2003 Protege5 with a stick shift. She loves the car and so do I, but there's one thing about it that I'm not crazy about: It seems to me that 5th gear is kind of low which translates to lower gas mileage than a higher overdrive gear would give. My son has our old '95 626 with the same engine as the P5 but what feels like a higher 5th gear. The 626 gets around 32 mpg at 75 mph on the highway. The P5 at the same speed gets around 27 mpg. My questions are these: Has anyone out there experienced the same thing? And, has anyone out there replaced the 5th gear in their P5 for a higher ratio gear? Finally, is it possible to put a 6-speed in an '03 P5? Thanks very much.
P5 5th gear question
- Thread starter swampfox
- Start date
FreewheelBurner
Member
- :
- E36 M3/4
What revs are you at while driving 75?
Yes, it has a horrible 5th gear.swampfox said:
Not that I'm aware of and I wish we could. I keep reaching for my non-existent 6th when I'm on the highway and the RPMs are above 3.5K. The current Mazdas are incompatible and AFAIK, so is the Miata and no other 6 speeds come to mine.
Thanks for replies
It's turning about 3600 rpm at 75. Since the 6-speed isn't compatible, have you heard of anyone reconditioning an older 5-speed from a 626 and dropping it into a P5? It's not just the gas mileage that's annoying - at 75 the P5 is far noisier than the old 626.
Also, in answer to another post, I live in Florida where folks are prone to drive most of the time with a/c on. I've found that with the a/c off, the P5 (at least with a stick shift) performs like a totally different car. The performance is so remarkably better without a/c that I've taken to driving without it even in the summer, unless it's raining.
Katya4me said:
It's turning about 3600 rpm at 75. Since the 6-speed isn't compatible, have you heard of anyone reconditioning an older 5-speed from a 626 and dropping it into a P5? It's not just the gas mileage that's annoying - at 75 the P5 is far noisier than the old 626.
Also, in answer to another post, I live in Florida where folks are prone to drive most of the time with a/c on. I've found that with the a/c off, the P5 (at least with a stick shift) performs like a totally different car. The performance is so remarkably better without a/c that I've taken to driving without it even in the summer, unless it's raining.
mountjonas
Member
- :
- 2013 VRM MS3
i averaged about 30-31mpg in 5th. yeah, it revs relatively high and coupled with the mazdaspeed sport exhaust, it was too much for me to handle.
iliveonnitro
Member
Just turn the A/C off when you are about to accelerate. Also note that the A/C is disabled at full throttle.
BTW, I just got 33mpg at 3500rpm in 5th gear on the highway for 244mi. But yeah, it's a high gear. 400+ miles to the tank was pretty sweet though!
BTW, I just got 33mpg at 3500rpm in 5th gear on the highway for 244mi. But yeah, it's a high gear. 400+ miles to the tank was pretty sweet though!
jimmysuite
Member
- :
- 2003 Mazda Protege5
I tried not very hard to get a 5th gear out of a bongo friende from japan when i did the calculations it figured about a 15% decrease in engine rpms and hwy speed
Check out this thread.
http://www.msprotege.com/vbb225/showthread.php?t=123618318&highlight=5th+gear+kit
http://www.msprotege.com/vbb225/showthread.php?t=123618318&highlight=5th+gear+kit
Jack Daniels
Member
For me, it's not about the MPG, just the buzzing motor running 3500 RPM's on the highway. I'm always looking for sixth gear too. Especially after driving my GTO which turns less than 2000 in high gear.
Jack Daniels
Member
nate0123 said:
No doubt, but 2500 rpms would be about right in the P5 IMO. Even in my GTO, 6th is strictly a cruising at speed gear. You still have to downshift to accelerate with any rapidity. I'll sometimes go from 6th all the way to 3rd at highway speeds for a quick pass.
speedblue88
Member
- :
- 2003 Laser Blue P5
I'm glad I found this forum & thread.....I've only owned my P5 for about a week and constantly find myself reaching for the phantom 6th gear. That is by far the most annoying feature of the P5 in my opinion. Funny how I didn't notice it on the test drive at the dealer. I even had the car overnight before I bought it, but the only highway driving I did was through a construction zone so I didn't notice it. I like the car a lot, but 5th gear is a major annoyance. The buzzing is driving me nuts!
Jack Daniels
Member
speedblue88 said:
I knew about it going in. I read a couple reviews and just about everyone complained about it. It wasn't enough to make me buy something else though. Drive it all the time and you'll eventually get used to it.
spotthedogg
Member
- :
- 2002 Mazda Pro5
I would like to see about 5-8% reduction in RPM on the highway and have been searching for an option. I thought I read some where that the 2.0 626 5th would drop in? Also something from nsn http://www.nsnmotorsports.com/produ...d=162&osCsid=06377328fd9b881f4a44533de6dec90e
I really want to change this when I do my clutch/flywheel/LSD(ughdance)
I really want to change this when I do my clutch/flywheel/LSD(ughdance)
- :
- 2006 Infiniti M
lol our 5th is insane for a 4cyl car. its very good. you guys should drive in an older car. my first gen protege was at 4500 at 75. THAT is annoying. 3500 really isnt bad at all. its a small car, with a small motor, and only 5 gears. mazda didnt have the luxury of making 5th a cruising only gear like 6th on most cars. 5th is overdriven, but still has to have the power to react, which if it rested lower would be impossible
spotthedogg
Member
- :
- 2002 Mazda Pro5
spotthedogg said:
Yessir, I found the 1989/90 626 or MX-6 non-turbo gear should do the trick. (Also 1st gen Probe SE I think and escort/Tracer w 2.0L) Here is a bunch of info I have been uncovering over the past several days. Somewhere between 1:0.71 - .72 is where I want to be. Sorry it doesn't flow, these are all cut and pasted from all over the net.
EscortTransmission
Mazda based G-series transmission(G5M).
1st - 3.310
2nd - 1.830
3rd - 1.310
4th - 0.970
5th - 0.750
Final - 4.10
Probe SE Manual Transmissions: 2.0I4 engine
1st: 3.307
2nd: 1.833
3rd: 1.233
4th: 0.914
5th: 0.717
rev: 3.166
Final drive: 3.850
Protg 5
G15M-R
Used with FS-DE, FS-DET
Type 5MT, FWD
1st gear 3.307:1
2nd gear 1.842:1
3rd gear 1.310:1
4th gear 0.970:1
5th gear 0.755:1
Final Drive 4.105:1
Reverse 3.166:1
Differential open, 2 way LSD in FS-DET
Shift mechanism remote, rod actuation
MTX
2.0L FS
First gear
3.307:1
Second gear
1.833:1
Third gear
1.233:1
Fourth gear
0.914:1
Fifth gear
0.717:1
Reverse
3.166:1
Final Drive
3.850:1
Ford Five Speed Manual Transaxles
Trans Model First Second Third Fourth Fifth
2005 Escape 3.50 1.94 1.26 0.95 0.81
G5M 3.307 1.833 1.311 1.030 0.795
G5M 3.310 1.830 1.310 0.970 0.750 (Probe2.5L/Escort ZX2 2.0L)
G5M-R 3.666 2.059 1.310 1.030 0.837
G15M-R 3.307 1.842 1.310 0.970 0.755
iB5 3.154 1.926 1.281 0.951 0.756
M5 3.45 1.94 1.28 0.86 0.69 (Tracer 2.5L, Festiva)
M5 3.30 1.83 1.31 1.03 0.79 (Escort/Tracer 1.8L)
M5 3.42 1.70 1.15 0.87 0.73 (Escort/Tracer 1.9L (FS))
M5 3.42 1.84 1.29 0.97 0.73 (Escort/Tracer 1.9L)
M5 3.31 1.83 1.23 0.91 0.72 (Probe/Escort 2.0L, 2.2L Non-Turbo)
M5 3.25 1.71 1.19 0.93 0.71 (Probe 2.2L Turbo)
M5 3.250 1.90 1.32 0.98 0.71 (Probe 3.0L)
MTX 3.416 1.842 1.290 1.028 0.820 (Capri Non-Turbo)
MTX Q 3.667 2.136 1.448 1.028 0.767
MTX G 3.307 1.833 1.233 0.970 0.795 (Capri Turbo)
MTX-75 3.667 2.136 1.448 1.028 0.767
MTX-75 3.42 2.14 1.45 1.03 0.77
MTX III 3.60 2.12 1.39 1.02 0.75
MTX IV 3.60 2.12 1.39 1.02 0.77
Mazda Five Speed Manual Transmissions
Trans Model First Second Third Fourth Fifth
2003 MAZDASPEED Protog 3.307 1.842 1.310 0.970 0.755
2003 MAZDA6 i 3.307 1.842 1.233 0.914 0.733
2003 MAZDA6 s 3.153 1.842 1.258 0.947 0.733
5MT 3.136 1.888 1.330 1.000 0.814
M5OD-R1 3.720 2.200 1.500 1.000 0.790
M5OD-R1HD 3.400 2.050 1.310 1.000 0.790
G5M-R 3.666 2.059 1.310 1.030 0.837
G15M-R 3.666 2.059 1.310 1.030 0.837
the F2-SOHC G25M from the 89-92 probe GL/626/MX6 NA has some impressive ratios! 1.233 3rd -- .927 4th -- .710 5th
I like those! When used with the 4.3 final drive should work out to good acceleration with a decent top speed
the 1G G25 has the same 1st gear as us..
that box has:
3.307
1.833
1.233
0.927
0.717
essentially the 2.2 NA has the exact same gearing as the Probe 2.0, including 4.105 final. even though the 1-2 ratio change irks me every time, i figure with a lower 3, 4, and 5 than we have now, it would go more unnoticed, as well as allow for those gears to hold longer. this is what I've come to terms with.
As for G-series, I've done lots of research on them. Here is a break down of the cars they come in:
87 323 GT (cable operated)
88-89 323 GTX
90-94 Protege LX
91-94 Mercury Capri (cable operated)
91-96 Escort GT, LX-E and Tracer LTS
95-98 Protege ES
93-97 Probe (all models)
93-97 626/MX-6 (all models)
01-03.5 Protege w/2.0 FS motor (not the 1.8 FP, they had F-series)
98-02 626 (all models)
98-present Escorts (all models including ZX2's)
94-???? Sephia's with 1.8 liter mazda motor. I think its 94-97, not sure
Thats about all I know of. There may be one or two more but not many. I'm not sure about the 2.2 naturally aspirated 1st gen MX6/Probe's F2 n/a trannies are listed as "g series" in the mazda factory workshop manua
but fifth was bad on the protege tranny so i used a 5 gear and output shaft from a 93 2.0 probe, and the 4.10 dif, input shaft, and gear clusters for 1-4 from the protege.
believe this to be the list of matching trannies:
87 Mazda 323 GT
90-94 Protege LX
91-94 Mercury Capri XR2
91-96 Escort GT, LX-E & Mercury Tracer
92-94 MX-3 GS (pos 1.8 v6)
93-97 MX-6 (both 4 and 6 cyl)
93-97 626 (both 4 & 6 cyl)
93-97 Probe (both 4 & 6 cyl)
95-98 Protege ES (1.8 dohc)
97-99 Kia Sephia (1.8 dohc)
97-present Ford Escort & ZX2's (i'm not sure of this but ppl tell me they use G-series too)
98-01 626 4 cyl (not sure about 6, i forgot if its a k-series)
01-03 Protege w/FS motor (2.0LX, ES, MP3, Protege5, MSP, and in 02' all DX and LX's got the 2.0 standard)
As for the changes under the small cover. I have seen 4 different 5th gear arangments on PGT/MX6 trannies. I wish I would have taken pictures of all of them because some were more heavy duty looking than others.
I mistakenly bought a 4 cylinder 1998 626 transmission thinking it was a V6 model (meaning the bellhousing would bolt right up. Luckily I found out that it is a G-series too and has the same taller gear ratios that I wanted
As for the synchro differences. I've done a bit of research into this as well. From what I"ve read on the Escort forums I've been on, the 97+ synchros in FORD models are updated (apparently by ford) for warranty purposes. I cross-checked part numbers between the old (90-94 protege lx trans) and the newer 626 2.0 transmission synchros and they were identicla. Which leads me to believe that the 97+ g-series in MAZDA cars had the same bad synchros that our V6 cars have
. But i'm not sure of the 99-03.5 protege, it might have had an update in its synchro design at one point, but I haven't cross-checked the part numbers yet.just to throw my $.02, here is what I got directly from Ford:
Car...................1st.....2nd...3rd....4th.... 5th....Rev....FinDr.
2.5 2G Probe (M) 3.307 1.833 1.310 1.030 0.795 3.166 4.388
2.0 2G Probe (M) 3.307 1.833 1.233 0.914 0.717 3.166 4.105
91-94 Capri XR2 **Not available online...could get the book**
91-96 Escort GT, 3.307 1.833 1.310 1.030 0.795 3.166 4.105
91-96 Tracer
97+ Escort ZX2 . 3.307 1.833 1.310 1.030 0.795 3.166 4.105
Hello Scott
From what I remember you can use the taller gearset from a 88-89 Mazda 626 non turbo and it will drop the RPM by 400 in 5th gear.
Thanks
Derrick CorkSport
Last edited:
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