how often to change tranny oil?

[bombdotcom]

like the title says, how often is it suggested to change your tranny oil??

is there a preference of mt-90 to royalpurple? i have access to both and dont have much knowledge or experience with either

[fbpem1]

i change it every 6k since it only takes 5 minutes with 75-90 gl4

[kingpin748]

I put MT-90 in when I got it and have been pretty happy. I don't see any point in changing it every 6000k. Maybe 12000k but whatever.

[fbpem1]

i have the car on the rack and i dont pay for the fluid, i beat the living shit out of my car in all honesty, i have always been one for overmaintaining my toys.

[bombdotcom]

whats the best fluid i your opinion?

[Frequentflyer]

Redline MT-90 or BG Syncroshift. Some use Amsoil, but I've read complaints of knotchy shifting with Amsoil, in not just the MS3. BG Syncroshift is popular in the DSM world. It's a synthetic fluid and is really designed for FWD trannies. Next time I change my Redline out, I'm gonna try the BG stuff. Redline seems to be working fine for me however.

As far as when to change, it's gonna depend on how you drive the car. Every 6k? Wow. Overkill, but I guess if I didn't pay for the fluid, I'd change often also. Theoretically, the tranny should be a sealed system. It's not like motor oil that gets dirty when you use it. Aside from some wear metals (hopefully not a lot unless you can't drive a manual tranny), there should not be the chemical reactions and stress on the tranny oil like there is on motor oil. The only thing you deal with is heat and I really think you've gotta beat the living shit out of the tranny to break the oil down enough to change it even every 12k miles, nevermind 6k. If you track the car and/or autocross all summer, I'd probably change it at the end of the season, but for a daily driver, I think every 24k miles is fine.

[aaronc7]

i changed mine after 15 or 20k

[Phantom]

I feel bad letting mine go this long. I have 88k Km (55k miles). I didn't know it should be changed that frequently. Does it need to be?

I should change my oil ASAP.

[bombdotcom]

lol im at 23000 and havent changes it yet, im goin to this week tho

[bykeryder4life]

I would try to change it every 15k if I wanted to be safe, no more than 30k though before a change. Thats the longest I would let it go. I aim for 25k

[steven88]

20k to 30k sounds like a good interval....i changed mine out to amsoil full synthetic around 1k when i got the car...i plan to change it out around the 20-30k mark

no need to change it any sooner....tranny oil lasts alot longer than motor oil

most transmission services are performed at the 30k mark anyway...drain and refill that is...i know toyota honda and nissan are like this

[eddelgado]

I switched to the Redline MT90 after a few hundred miles and noticed significant improvement. I am at about 7500 miles now and would probably not look to change until 20k or more. The transmission is not perfect however. On cold days before the tranny warms up shifting into second is a bit notchy.

I have read some good things about the Ford Full Sythetic Manual Transmission Fluid:

Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid

I have not seen any info from Speed3 users. I am interested in knowing if anyone here has tried it in their car.

Ed.

[gsrtype1]

i'm at almost 50,000 miles and ive never changed mine. I thought you didn't reeally need to cuase it doesn't get that hot in there.. When does the service manuel say to change it?

[fjames]

A good rule of thumb if you beat on your car with a manual trans is twice as often as the manual says.

[Frequentflyer]

Originally Posted by eddelgado I have read some good things about the Ford Full Sythetic Manual Transmission Fluid: Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid I have not seen any info from Speed3 users. I am interested in knowing if anyone here has tried it in their car. Ed.

Since our tranny is a Ford tranny, I wouldn't be shocked if it worked well in it. Ford does make some pretty good lubes.

[fbpem1]

full synthetic = gl5 most of the time, as it says there its for rwd trans, ours is not our final drive and diff is in the front i wouldn't do it personally.

[kingpin748]

MazdaSpeed 3's take GL-4. I wouldn't suggest using anything else but what is specified for the tranny.

[Frequentflyer]

Motorcraft® Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid is a premium-quality SAE 75W-90 gear oil designed, engineered and recommended by Ford Motor Company meeting warranty requirements. It is particularly recommended for MTX-75 and IB5 transmissions, and is also recommended for older transmissions including rear wheel drive that recommend GL-3 and GL-4 type gear oils

It should work fine.

[eddelgado]

From what I have read the issue with some of the GL5 type fluids is that they are not rated for yellow metals - ie bronze, copper, etc...

Some of the GL5s are OK but it depends on the makeup of the fluid. The GL4s are safe for the components in our transmissions and this Ford lube meets our requirements as far as GL code and weight.

It looks to be more expensive than the MT90 at about $18+ a quart but we only need three quarts. I was hoping that someone had used it in our cars.

Ford focus owners rave about this stuff.

Ed.

[gsrtype1]

it would be great if someone did a how too on this i know its pretty easy but I never done it

[Frequentflyer]

I'm pretty sure there is a "how to" on "the other site" if you need one quickly.

[div2]

My dealer put Synlube gear oil in my MS3 and it sucks.
Hard.
The shift action is now extremely notchy when cold and the LSD groans loudly in tight turns. I'm going to try the Ford XT-M5-QS oil.

[08cosmic3]

Originally Posted by Frequentflyer Redline MT-90 or BG Syncroshift. Some use Amsoil, but I've read complaints of knotchy shifting with Amsoil, in not just the MS3. BG Syncroshift is popular in the DSM world. It's a synthetic fluid and is really designed for FWD trannies. Next time I change my Redline out, I'm gonna try the BG stuff. Redline seems to be working fine for me however. As far as when to change, it's gonna depend on how you drive the car. Every 6k? Wow. Overkill, but I guess if I didn't pay for the fluid, I'd change often also. Theoretically, the tranny should be a sealed system. It's not like motor oil that gets dirty when you use it. Aside from some wear metals (hopefully not a lot unless you can't drive a manual tranny), there should not be the chemical reactions and stress on the tranny oil like there is on motor oil. The only thing you deal with is heat and I really think you've gotta beat the living shit out of the tranny to break the oil down enough to change it even every 12k miles, nevermind 6k. If you track the car and/or autocross all summer, I'd probably change it at the end of the season, but for a daily driver, I think every 24k miles is fine.

I used penzoil syncromesh in my 97 probe GT tranny and it shifty like butter even on cold mornings. Before you had to convice the car to go into 2nd gear when it got really cold.

The Bg syncromesh was simular to Penzoil but cost alot more. Is the BG syncroshift simular and not too thin for our tranny?

[fbpem1]

Originally Posted by div2 My dealer put Synlube gear oil in my MS3 and it sucks. Hard. The shift action is now extremely notchy when cold and the LSD groans loudly in tight turns. I'm going to try the Ford XT-M5-QS oil.

thats because you put gl5 in hahaha you mgiht want to have them give you a new trans while your at it

j/k

seriously though get that out of there and put some gl4 in and be happy.

[div2]

Originally Posted by fbpem1 thats because you put gl5 in hahaha you mgiht want to have them give you a new trans while your at it j/k seriously though get that out of there and put some gl4 in and be happy.

I agree with you about the GL-4, but the service manual says you may either GL-4 or GL-5...
In any case, I'm going to put the Ford stuff in this week since there is no way I'll EVER be able to sell the thing with the LSD sounding like a dying moose.

[kingpin748]

Originally Posted by 08cosmic3 Is the BG syncroshift simular and not too thin for our tranny?

I know you can use it but I never have. It was way to expensive and I had my heart set on Redline.

Originally Posted by div2 I agree with you about the GL-4, but the service manual says you may either GL-4 or GL-5...

The MazdaSpeed 3 take only GL-4.

GL-4 & GL-5 is for 3's without turbochargers.

[div2]

Originally Posted by kingpin748 The MazdaSpeed 3 take only GL-4. GL-4 & GL-5 is for 3's without turbochargers.

I'm just telling you what the Mazda shop manual says. On page 05-15B-3 it states:

"Manual transaxle oil Grade
API Service GL-4 or GL-5

Manual transaxle oil Viscosity
~
All-season: SAE 75W-90"

The section I'm quoting refers to the A26M-R transaxle only, which is the one fitted to the MS3.

[kingpin748]

Originally Posted by div2 I'm just telling you what the Mazda shop manual says. On page 05-15B-3 it states: "Manual transaxle oil Grade API Service GL-4 or GL-5 Manual transaxle oil Viscosity ~ All-season: SAE 75W-90" The section I'm quoting refers to the A26M-R transaxle only, which is the one fitted to the MS3.

Fair enough. If GL-5 works with this tranny that makes life easier.

Post it up. It could settle this issue for ever.

[fbpem1]

the esm contridicts the owners manual

[MS3_Noob]

Originally Posted by Frequentflyer Redline MT-90 or BG Syncroshift. Some use Amsoil, but I've read complaints of knotchy shifting with Amsoil, in not just the MS3. BG Syncroshift is popular in the DSM world. It's a synthetic fluid and is really designed for FWD trannies. Next time I change my Redline out, I'm gonna try the BG stuff. Redline seems to be working fine for me however. As far as when to change, it's gonna depend on how you drive the car. Every 6k? Wow. Overkill, but I guess if I didn't pay for the fluid, I'd change often also. Theoretically, the tranny should be a sealed system. It's not like motor oil that gets dirty when you use it. Aside from some wear metals (hopefully not a lot unless you can't drive a manual tranny), there should not be the chemical reactions and stress on the tranny oil like there is on motor oil. The only thing you deal with is heat and I really think you've gotta beat the living shit out of the tranny to break the oil down enough to change it even every 12k miles, nevermind 6k. If you track the car and/or autocross all summer, I'd probably change it at the end of the season, but for a daily driver, I think every 24k miles is fine.

If decide to use redline, Might want to check with dealership. If i remember correctly a buddy of mine blow his tranny in an redline and dealership void his warranty it for the cause of that. None to less Redline is the SHIT, but idk how mazda dealership are when it come to warranties.

[div2]

Originally Posted by fbpem1 the esm contridicts the owners manual

Yep.

[div2]

Today I drained the Synlube and filled the transaxle with the Ford Full Synthetic MT Fluid. The LSD groaning has already diminished a bit and the shift action is greatly improved. I expect the LSD to quiet down completely over the next 100 or so miles. The Ford fluid may be a bit expensive, but I think it was worth every penny.

[BlackT5]

Do we know what the factory fill is?

[div2]

Originally Posted by BlackT5 Do we know what the factory fill is?

No. I assume that it's a conventional 75W-90 GL-4.

[meatball84]

im still on my factory oil at 6700 miles. maybe ill change mine next week

[meatball84]

ill go redline

[gsrtype1]

Why is eveyrone so worried about changing it? It doesn't get that hot in there and its a sealed container so it can't get dirty...

[08cosmic3]

MT-90 here.

[bykeryder4life]

why would you change it a 6700 miles? waste of time and money unless you are really unhappy and want to try different lubes for different shift feel. Tranny fluid can be changed at like 30k and it's totally fine. Unlike motor oil it's in a sealed area and stays good for awhile. On a car thats driven hard change it every 15k to play safe if u want

[gsrtype1]

Originally Posted by bykeryder4life why would you change it a 6700 miles? waste of time and money unless you are really unhappy and want to try different lubes for different shift feel. Tranny fluid can be changed at like 30k and it's totally fine. Unlike motor oil it's in a sealed area and stays good for awhile. On a car thats driven hard change it every 15k to play safe if u want

Why even change it at 30k? manuel tranny fluid is basically motor oil isn't it? It doesnt get that hot in there and its it a sealed envirment. There not combustion going on in there.