DIY: Transmission and Differential fluid replacement
06-26-2010, 07:14 AM
#327
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im about to do my trans/diff fluid change in a few days just waiting for my amsoil to come in. just wondering how crucial it is to buy new drain/fill plug washers. the only place i can find them is the mazda dealer but they charge like 5 buck each. thats 20 bucks worth of washers... seems insane. does anyone have a better source for these? ive tried looking around online but no one has'em. any help?
06-28-2010, 12:19 PM
#329
^ I reused my washers at ~20k miles as well, even tho' I had spares. They looked fine and I was too lazy to get up from my nice nap under the vehicle. 
The 1 qt hand pump does take awhile but not too bad. Four leveled outboard jackstands provide enough clearance even when using a breaker bar on the nuts. I didn't bother to taste the Redline, so will take your word for it.
The 1 qt hand pump does take awhile but not too bad. Four leveled outboard jackstands provide enough clearance even when using a breaker bar on the nuts. I didn't bother to taste the Redline, so will take your word for it.
06-28-2010, 05:07 PM
#330
Super Moderator
/\ lol...
07-12-2010, 01:51 PM
#331
Gonna try this diy on next paycheck. car almost at 60k mi and have no clue when the last of the maintence has been done.
Maybe this will fix my 3rd to second down shift and make it easier to shift.
at least this shoudl be an easy change for me as i work security for a dealership so all i have to do is get one of the janitors to let me in to use a lift
oil change and spark plugs done
spark plug wires, ignition coils
trans and diff fluids
coolant replacement.
damn u 60k mark
Maybe this will fix my 3rd to second down shift and make it easier to shift.
at least this shoudl be an easy change for me as i work security for a dealership so all i have to do is get one of the janitors to let me in to use a lift
oil change and spark plugs done
spark plug wires, ignition coils
trans and diff fluids
coolant replacement.
damn u 60k mark
Last edited by marcx987; 07-12-2010 at 02:24 PM.
07-13-2010, 12:03 PM
#332
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Anyone have any experience with Castrol SYNTEC Full Synthetic Gear Oil, API GL-5 and MT-1, SAE 75W-90 formula ? I wanna change out the fluid of the tranny and dunno if this will do since I got like 5 bottles as a gift.
09-07-2010, 04:53 PM
#333
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I did this change today, and while I can notice the difference between the old and new (I don't think the old had ever been changed after 71k miles), there's a new error in that the electrical in my car won't shut off, even if I take the key out of the ignition. I wonder if this has something to do with the new oil, since this happened immediately after I changed it. I didn't fill it up to the point of overflowing since I filled it through the shifter hole, so maybe it's related to that. Anyone ever had this problem?
10-18-2010, 12:28 PM
#336
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Me too..lol
10-18-2010, 01:19 PM
#338
Super Moderator
I can't be sure, I can't see 'why not', but I am not a fan at all of filling tranny oil through shifter.
I do not like bringing/pouring ANY oils inside my cabin, let alone removing boots , etc, etc.
Unnecessary hassle to me,
I hoist my car up on 4 Jack stands, so it is about 8 inches off the concrete level floor, and drain fluids (when hot) and fill though the "filler plug" until it starts to drip out...small hand pump.
This IS the correct procedure.
I do not like bringing/pouring ANY oils inside my cabin, let alone removing boots , etc, etc.
Unnecessary hassle to me,
I hoist my car up on 4 Jack stands, so it is about 8 inches off the concrete level floor, and drain fluids (when hot) and fill though the "filler plug" until it starts to drip out...small hand pump.
This IS the correct procedure.
10-18-2010, 01:27 PM
#339
Yea i know, i only have 2 stands so i didn't want to deal with the hassle of up down up down up down to level and drain. Maybe i can just use the scissor jack to lift up the driver side a bit and get a good reach. I guess we will find out.
Btw, how are you with jack standing up the front of the car? I am always nervous because the hats of the jack stands put a little pressure on the plastic around the lift frame. I have some rubber pads to pad between the hat and the frame but maybe i need to pad it a bit more
I have these exact ones
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-piece...rce=googlebase
Btw, how are you with jack standing up the front of the car? I am always nervous because the hats of the jack stands put a little pressure on the plastic around the lift frame. I have some rubber pads to pad between the hat and the frame but maybe i need to pad it a bit more
I have these exact ones
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-piece...rce=googlebase
10-18-2010, 01:53 PM
#341
Super Moderator
I use 4 "pole" stands with my made to order high strength steel tube I had made and welded to the 4 stand tops, so I use them where the factory scissor jack goes, my stands have the same top on them like the OEM scissor jack...works well...only cost $30 to have 4 made and welded on.
Car must be level when filling...
Car must be level when filling...
10-18-2010, 01:56 PM
#342
This.
So much easier and less hassle than doing it by a pump unless you have spazzy, Parkinson diseased hands and worry about pouring oil all over the place; tip, use a funnel. Plus first time you ever do it, just remove the top plug to verify that it's full if oil comes out using the proper amount and you're fine. For the average car, you don't need more than 2 quarts.
So much easier and less hassle than doing it by a pump unless you have spazzy, Parkinson diseased hands and worry about pouring oil all over the place; tip, use a funnel. Plus first time you ever do it, just remove the top plug to verify that it's full if oil comes out using the proper amount and you're fine. For the average car, you don't need more than 2 quarts.
10-18-2010, 01:58 PM
#343
Super Moderator
OH, I do Diff and Trans at same time, engine oil if I want to also, all Tyres OFF if I want to (rotate), great for me, ...so no mess and NO smelly Tranny Oil inside car..YUK!..no chance of inside spill.
No Hassle to me and just as quick.
No Hassle to me and just as quick.
10-18-2010, 02:03 PM
#344
Super Moderator
So how do you do your Diff, Remove your GAS TANK...lol
Until I came here, I never heard of doing Tranny this way, my techs heard about it, but advised against it and naturally they don't do it because they have proper car hoists.
Each to their own..
Until I came here, I never heard of doing Tranny this way, my techs heard about it, but advised against it and naturally they don't do it because they have proper car hoists.
Each to their own..
10-18-2010, 02:07 PM
#347
Super Moderator
****
So after doing all that you then Remover the Filler Plug to check that the level is OK??..
Who is the Spazzy?!!
So after doing all that you then Remover the Filler Plug to check that the level is OK??..
Who is the Spazzy?!!
Last edited by ASH8; 10-18-2010 at 02:09 PM.
10-18-2010, 06:45 PM
#348
I see you take things personally easily not to mention have reading issues
This.
So much easier and less hassle than doing it by a pump unless you have spazzy, Parkinson diseased hands and worry about pouring oil all over the place; tip, use a funnel. Plus first time you ever do it, just remove the top plug to verify that it's full if oil comes out using the proper amount and you're fine. For the average car, you don't need more than 2 quarts.
So much easier and less hassle than doing it by a pump unless you have spazzy, Parkinson diseased hands and worry about pouring oil all over the place; tip, use a funnel. Plus first time you ever do it, just remove the top plug to verify that it's full if oil comes out using the proper amount and you're fine. For the average car, you don't need more than 2 quarts.
There is no oil smell left that I've ever noticed changing my tranny oil thrice doing it this way. Whatever floats your boat.
Last edited by Vlaze; 10-18-2010 at 06:49 PM.
10-19-2010, 04:31 AM
#349
ill try dumping it in thought the shifter next time i change damn smell in the cabin got me for a couple weeks and still on the shirt i changed the oil in(no matter how many times i washed it)
10-23-2010, 08:37 PM
#350
I chimed in on the other thread but also wanted to make it clear in this one. You cannot pour fluid into the hole on the S2. Tried today, ended up using the fill hole per standard instructions. Not sure the mechanical and architectural differences between the S1 and S2 trannys but if you try to pour the fluid through the shift hole it will not drain into the transmission.