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DIY: Transmission and Differential fluid replacement

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Old 10-23-2010, 11:36 PM
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Did yesterday on a series I. This thread was great. Things to note:

1: be absolutely certain that you have the crush washers before you fill the transmission. Because, if you find one in the bottom of the pan you drained the oil into, it is 99.8% likely to be the drain one, not the fill one.

2: the little ebay oil evacuator pump is not only outstanding for pumping oil out of the engine, it will do a very quick job of pumping MT-90 and 75w90 into the transmission and differential. It gets a little mad at pushing the 75w90 through the little tube, but will still empty a 1 quart bottle in about a minute. Even with what you lose to the tubes, you still have enough to fill the trans with a little bit left over.

3: car shifts dramatically easier with MT-90 over whatever the mazda dealer put in last year for the 60K service. down shift is dramatically improved, or I spontaneously got lots better at heel and toe.
Old 10-23-2010, 11:51 PM
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/\ You will find that the MT-90 settles in and the "dramatic" feel/change is not so dramatic, you can even change it again with fresh MT-90 and is still the same.

Not an expert, But it is almost like once all the internal parts are coated with MT-90 the smooth or easy feel goes away??...don't get me wrong it is still very good.

Dunno how to explain it...but you will see after a few thousand miles..
Old 02-09-2011, 02:22 AM
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So What would be the best Product to use in changing my transmission oil?
Im reading all different kinds, but I'm not sure what to use?
What would be the best?
Old 02-09-2011, 06:55 AM
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Do you drive an auto or standard? MT-90 by Redline for standard transmission will be fine. I cant quite comment on auto trannies but I believe Redline D4 ATF is favored.
Old 02-09-2011, 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by paimon.soror
Do you drive an auto or standard? MT-90 by Redline for standard transmission will be fine. I cant quite comment on auto trannies but I believe Redline D4 ATF is favored.
I have a Standard, 06 so MT-90 would be good then?
Old 02-10-2011, 07:01 AM
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Given this thread is 15 pages long now, but if you had actually read through same you wouldn't be asking this question.

Yes, Redline MT90.

Originally Posted by TacoMan
I have a Standard, 06 so MT-90 would be good then?
Old 02-21-2011, 03:17 AM
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Hi all. I am sure this has been answered somewhere in the 15 pages....
I changed my engine oil yesterday with good results, and I was planning to change the transmission oil as well (but god, there is so little space underneath the car when I have it on my jack stands and I am slightly claustrophobic). However, a quick check of the workshop manual says the 5-speed transmission needs 2.5 liters of oil, and BOTH drain plugs removed. The DIY here only indicates a single drain plug to remove. Also the fill plug has no washer, apparently. Do I have the odd one out here?

B.
Old 02-21-2011, 12:22 PM
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You need close to two quart bottles of MT90 for the manual transmission (~1.9L).

There is an upper fill hole and a lower drain hole. What they may be advocating, which is a good idea, is to make sure you can remove the upper fill plug BEFORE you remove the lower and drain the oil. You don't want to be stranded without any tramsmission fluid.

Originally Posted by toQDuj
Hi all. I am sure this has been answered somewhere in the 15 pages....
I changed my engine oil yesterday with good results, and I was planning to change the transmission oil as well (but god, there is so little space underneath the car when I have it on my jack stands and I am slightly claustrophobic). However, a quick check of the workshop manual says the 5-speed transmission needs 2.5 liters of oil, and BOTH drain plugs removed. The DIY here only indicates a single drain plug to remove. Also the fill plug has no washer, apparently. Do I have the odd one out here?

B.
Old 04-08-2011, 12:13 PM
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Don't forget, that if you're pumping the fluid up into the tranny/differential with a plunger type pump, you may not be able to get the entire quart in from a quart bottle. The suction tube, in general, will not function very well when the bottle is nearly empty.
Old 04-08-2011, 07:11 PM
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OK, I hit the 60k miles so I changed the transmission and differential oil yesterday. I used Royal Purple Max Gear.
But then, after changing it, I saw all the horror stories regarding RP (for some reason I didn't find those threads before selecting the oil to use). Was there ever a consensus on this? Is it RP just bad for the transmission? or was it just a batch or oil or a specific RX8 model?

If RP was the cause, I'll just change it again this weekend to redline. Does anybody know?
Old 04-08-2011, 07:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Maui
OK, I hit the 60k miles so I changed the transmission and differential oil yesterday. I used Royal Purple Max Gear.
But then, after changing it, I saw all the horror stories regarding RP (for some reason I didn't find those threads before selecting the oil to use). Was there ever a consensus on this? Is it RP just bad for the transmission? or was it just a batch or oil or a specific RX8 model?

If RP was the cause, I'll just change it again this weekend to redline. Does anybody know?
Based on what I've read on various car forums, Royal Purple Max Gear is not compatible with many different transmissions, not just the RX-8. Just go with either Red Line or Amsoil. Those two brands are the most popular among auto enthusiasts. I went with Amsoil for both of my transmission and differential fluids.

If you've read this thread more thoroughly, you'd at least avoid RP Max Gear.
Old 04-08-2011, 07:48 PM
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There is never a true consensus on this board, but Royal Purple doesn't have many defenders left. I've never run it, but I was happy with Redline MTL/MT90 mixed. I developed a slight grind coming out of third after a while, so I just switched to Eneos. Seems great so far.
Old 04-14-2011, 10:17 AM
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Any pics of were I put the tranny and diff fluids..? I'm a noob sorry guys.
Old 04-14-2011, 10:20 AM
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there is a DIY for it. very easy to do. its on the driverside of the trany
Old 04-14-2011, 10:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Youwonder
Any pics of were I put the tranny and diff fluids..? I'm a noob sorry guys.
Seriously?

Go to the first post in this thread... most people would think to read that before asking questions....
Old 04-14-2011, 10:20 AM
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I wonder where that DIY could be.............hmmmmmm
Old 04-14-2011, 10:23 AM
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jo3killa and i did this on one balmy summers eve no probs
Old 04-14-2011, 10:23 AM
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J your on to me...
Old 04-14-2011, 10:25 AM
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google the pixs if you have too but there are two giant plugs ont the side of the trany you cant miss. top and bottom. you do the math.
Old 04-14-2011, 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Youwonder
Any pics of were I put the tranny and diff fluids..? I'm a noob sorry guys.
These pics have been posted in this thread like a gazillion times, but, since those were not enough, here they are again :

http://www.5cats.org/rx8/trans_diff_refill/
Old 04-26-2011, 04:44 PM
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I have read the 1st post but I didint see the drain/fill plug
I thought it said drain plug didnt see the slash lol...
Old 04-26-2011, 04:55 PM
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There are 2 plugs.
Old 04-26-2011, 05:16 PM
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Originally Posted by J8635621
There are 2 plugs.
Yea I seen it thanks
Old 04-26-2011, 08:21 PM
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I spilled/didn't get in about 5 ounces of the 2 qts of MT-90. So I have about 1.8 QTS in there. Is that OK Ihope? (I have an S2)


BTW, shifting is certainly no better than the stock fluid.
Old 05-16-2011, 06:33 AM
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I tried searching this thread but cant find how long does it normally take to change out the oil from tranny and diff?


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