DIY: Transmission and Differential fluid replacement
03-04-2007, 09:07 PM
#176
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Finally got to doing this today. Planned to put Redline MT-90 in trans, 75W90 in diff (the one with friction modifiers for LSD). Got one of those on/off tube thingies at Pep Boys. Put the car on ramps (my driveway slants just right so that if one end of the car is on ramps, the car will be level. With the rear "up" I have good access to the diff, with the front up, I have enough room to wiggle in to get at the trans.
However, I could not for the life of me position the bottle + tube contraption so that oil would pour into the diff. Boo... The tube was quite short (about 10 inches?), and all the suspention and exhaust components are in the way. I will have to get a longer tube and repeat the experiment. Fortunately I tested "flow" before I opened the drain plug.. Otherwise I would have been quite f**ked.. Anyway,
The trans was a little easier. There is not much room under the car in this position, but by cutting the tub even shorter (about 5 inches), and using a poland spring bottle (it is a tad thinner than normal soda bottles), I got a contraption that would actually stay wedged between the transmission and floor of the car. So all I had to do was fill the bottle, crawl under the car, insert the tube, then crawl back out and wait 5 minutes. Rinse, repeat (figuratively speaking, of course.
I also bought a siphon pump (useless for oil, way too thick, even if heated up), and a syringe (also useless, the thing was so poorly made it took way too much force to move it... I could do it, but if I pictured trying to do this on my back, trying to get the liquid to go into the tiny fill hole.. no thank you).
Impressions? The shifting is great! Before it felt notchy and sticky, and now it's smoooooth. I would like to draw a very graphic metaphor involving Astroglide, but I am afraid that might get me banned :-D
As always, thanks to the members of the forum for the great tips. Couldn't have done it without you. I think this job would have been alot easier with the car up on decent stands / a lift, but I don't even have a level driveway, much less access to a shop.
However, I could not for the life of me position the bottle + tube contraption so that oil would pour into the diff. Boo... The tube was quite short (about 10 inches?), and all the suspention and exhaust components are in the way. I will have to get a longer tube and repeat the experiment. Fortunately I tested "flow" before I opened the drain plug.. Otherwise I would have been quite f**ked.. Anyway,
The trans was a little easier. There is not much room under the car in this position, but by cutting the tub even shorter (about 5 inches), and using a poland spring bottle (it is a tad thinner than normal soda bottles), I got a contraption that would actually stay wedged between the transmission and floor of the car. So all I had to do was fill the bottle, crawl under the car, insert the tube, then crawl back out and wait 5 minutes. Rinse, repeat (figuratively speaking, of course.
I also bought a siphon pump (useless for oil, way too thick, even if heated up), and a syringe (also useless, the thing was so poorly made it took way too much force to move it... I could do it, but if I pictured trying to do this on my back, trying to get the liquid to go into the tiny fill hole.. no thank you).
Impressions? The shifting is great! Before it felt notchy and sticky, and now it's smoooooth. I would like to draw a very graphic metaphor involving Astroglide, but I am afraid that might get me banned :-D
As always, thanks to the members of the forum for the great tips. Couldn't have done it without you. I think this job would have been alot easier with the car up on decent stands / a lift, but I don't even have a level driveway, much less access to a shop.
03-09-2007, 11:13 PM
#179
No means yes
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Originally Posted by ucleadguitar
Pour the tranny fluid in through shifter....much easier!
03-17-2007, 07:57 AM
#180
Carbonormous
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Over the rear tire. I'm assuming when pouring through the shifter you're still leaving the "fill" plug open so that you don't overfill. Just wanted that to be clear for all.
05-12-2007, 05:53 PM
#181
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The pictures for this post were also lost, so here they are again.
---
With the car raised up, I used an inexpensive pump (first picture) to install the oil in the transmission (second picture). The same pump can then used to move the old oil into the empty bottles (third picture) for recycling.
The pump can be purchased at most auto parts stores. My local NAPA Auto Parts store has two types of these pumps in the $5-$6 range. You will find them in the Gear Oil section.
---
With the car raised up, I used an inexpensive pump (first picture) to install the oil in the transmission (second picture). The same pump can then used to move the old oil into the empty bottles (third picture) for recycling.
The pump can be purchased at most auto parts stores. My local NAPA Auto Parts store has two types of these pumps in the $5-$6 range. You will find them in the Gear Oil section.
First time I have changed the diff fluid, that magnet was caked, @ 15K miles. I have changed the tranny before so it wasnt so bad. Only changing it again cause I was hard on the tranny this winter getting up my hill.
05-26-2007, 03:56 PM
#182
Zo0mZ0om
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if all else fails in attemping to replace the tranny and rear diff...take your fluids to any jiffy lube and they can do it for you...i work there and i do it all the time..peace of cake..fyi they take the old fluids also no disposal fee
07-01-2007, 08:31 AM
#183
Limited
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Just did this yesterday with Mobil 1 (SAE 75W-90 GL-5).
Transmission took 2L - maybe because i used some the new oil to run through it... clean and reused original crush washers, no leaking. Differential took 1.5L did the same. Result, like everyone else... much smoother ;-)
Transmission took 2L - maybe because i used some the new oil to run through it... clean and reused original crush washers, no leaking. Differential took 1.5L did the same. Result, like everyone else... much smoother ;-)
07-19-2007, 04:55 PM
#184
Hooked on go-fast crack
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Just to add a data point on RP oil, my experience has been pretty negative. I was on factory oil for two winters and one summer, including a half dozen track events. This spring, I did two track events, then changed the trans and diff oil over to RP Max Gear 75W90. Shifting felt exactly the same on the street, but at the first track event, after about 10 minutes of running hard, it started grinding everytime I went into fourth. Yesterday, I ran another track event and got the same grinding. I suspect the RP oil gets very thin at high temperatures. I'm going to buy something else (Mobil, probably) and change again this weekend.
07-19-2007, 05:11 PM
#185
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Just to add a data point on RP oil, my experience has been pretty negative. I was on factory oil for two winters and one summer, including a half dozen track events. This spring, I did two track events, then changed the trans and diff oil over to RP Max Gear 75W90. Shifting felt exactly the same on the street, but at the first track event, after about 10 minutes of running hard, it started grinding everytime I went into fourth. Yesterday, I ran another track event and got the same grinding. I suspect the RP oil gets very thin at high temperatures. I'm going to buy something else (Mobil, probably) and change again this weekend.
07-19-2007, 05:13 PM
#186
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I also got my supplies at NAPA, including a marine pump for about $15. It is designed for syphoning fuel out of the tank, but it pumps gear oil just fine as long as it is not the middle of winter. If you live in an area where people own boats, they should have a marine section.
08-22-2007, 04:04 PM
#187
Stop Looking @ my Rotary!
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Just Finished my oil treatment too? Things go alot quicker if you have a friend help too? Shift is very smooth again.....sweet! thansk to all for the information to get this done! Not paying Mazda $180 for it!
09-07-2007, 09:40 PM
#189
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Bet Snap-On has these sizes, but if you can afford Snap-On you can afford to pay a master mechanic to do it for you.
Ken
06-30-2008, 02:36 AM
#192
Shonen
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Can anyone tell me which direction to unbolt both the differential and transmission bolts? If you are on your back and looking at the differential chamber, am I cranking clockwise/counterclockwise to unbolt it? I tried to use just my muscle and that didn't budge it from either direction. Only thing to consider is getting an impact wrench and wacking it with a rubber mallet. But, before making things worse, which direction to loosen this? Photos with directional arrows would be nice 
06-30-2008, 05:28 AM
#195
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Torque specs from the shop manual:
27-48 Nm (2.8-4.9 kgf/m, 20-35 ft-lbs)
Best to replace the washers as appropriate when you reinstall the drain and fill plugs.
06-30-2008, 09:38 AM
#197
dizzy snake pilot
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it shouldnt be that tight. make sure you are unscrewing the right one. a friend of mine was unscrewing something else before i noticed!
and - righty tighty, lefty loosey as noted above.
and - righty tighty, lefty loosey as noted above.
06-30-2008, 09:45 AM
#198
No means yes
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That's why I like ratchets.. You can test it in the normal orientation to make sure you're tightening or loosening as appropriate, then once you put it over the bolt it doesn't matter if you are upside down on your back or whatever..
Mine were on a lot tighter than the torque spec.. I guess the same gorilla that worked on the oil filter got to these too..
Mine were on a lot tighter than the torque spec.. I guess the same gorilla that worked on the oil filter got to these too..
08-31-2008, 04:51 PM
#199
I bought the washers from the dealer.
When I bought mine, they had to be ordered, but came within two days.
I've heard of people resuing them also, but is it really worth taking a chance doing that? Not for me. The cost of the lube, my labor, and potential damage caused by leaks is just not worth risking a couple of buck.
Don't rush to do it this weekend if you cannot get all the right parts and don't have the right tools.
rx8cited
When I bought mine, they had to be ordered, but came within two days.
I've heard of people resuing them also, but is it really worth taking a chance doing that? Not for me. The cost of the lube, my labor, and potential damage caused by leaks is just not worth risking a couple of buck.
Don't rush to do it this weekend if you cannot get all the right parts and don't have the right tools
.rx8cited
So when you went to the Mazda dealer, what did you ask for (noob question), were you like " i need some crush washers for my tranny" or??? cus im a little confused, are the crush washer sizes different?
09-01-2008, 12:50 AM
#200
No means yes
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I've heard them referred to as crush washers or gaskets. You need the ones for the drain plugs on the diff and trans (the fill plug ones you can reuse most of the time). IIRC there were part numbers posted earlier in this thread also...