ATF question

[BouMazda5]

What are you guys using for your 5's? Going to the stealership tomorrow to check trans, shifts hard between 3rd and 4th, and will at least get fluid changed. I've used Royal Purple and Amsoil in my Fords. What do you recommend?

 

[jimp]

You need to use something that is M-V compatible, Mobile 1 syn is as well as others, not sure about RP. I just did the drain and fill on my 09 5 AT and used O'reilly's Global ATF, not a syn fluid. I did the drain/fill 3 times when I changed the oil last month, drove it a few miles inbetween each drain/fill, and feel like I got 80-90% of the old fluid out. I plan on doing the drain/fill each oil change going forward. You don't mention model year or miles, but should start the atx fluid changes at around 30K and thereafter to keep the atx from acting up. There is a thread on the board, just search for atx or atx fluid and you should find it. You can search in the Mazda 3 forum as well, the 3 and the 5 have the same 2.3L engine and trannys, so what works for one, works for the other.

 

[rscottg]

I did a cooler line flush about 10,000km ago and put in Amsoil. Nobody around here even had the other compatible atf fluids (possible the Mobil 1). So far the fluid colour has been stable and has pretty much stayed the original colour.

I did notice that in France and other places, Mazda actually has a synthetic (Dexelia) MV atf fluid. The specs are similar to other synthetics like Amsoil. So for whatever reason, they sell a MV fluid that is better than their regular stuff.