[Ernie]

This is a bit of a sound-off thread. Got my car back after a harrowing experience in a gen1 mazda3 (this hooptie made my old SL1 look like it was loaded with features) . . . After $112 a lighter wallet I got:
Nothing.

What I want to know is this:
What alternative fluid have you tried in your gen 2?

Also, please note if you were trying to remedy any particular problem.

I'll start:
very hard to get into gear below 40 degrees F -- changed to RedLine MT-90 (Synthetic 75W-90; GL-4) at 25k miles

Results:
Nicer than stock for the first 3k, after that, about as good as stock, occasionally have 2nd gear 'bouncing' when I try to shift.

Brought it into the dealer at 41k miles . . . can't reproduce.

-----------------
I'm curious if anyone's gone down to something like 70W-90 or even 80/85. I don't live anywhere even REMOTELY cold, but it seems (to me) from the complaints of others about the same thing that this wasn't tested anywhere outside of Virginia, Cali or Arizona.

I'm considering Amsoil (within owner's manual specs) first, then possibly considering Royal Purple, which someone said wasn't good for Mazda's about another vehicle.

Anyone tried RedLine MTL? Seems sort of extreme, or even possibly Smurf's Blood . . . their high-shock gear fluid.

------------------

I'm considering (at this point) writing Corporate for a refund on my extended warranty; it seems like . . . if it isn't something my wife and two of my non-gearhead co-workers would notice AND something that could be fixed by Midas, the dealerships aren't prepared to deal with it . . .

Sound off Gen2 M/T owners

-Ernie

 

[turdmagnet]

I'll support you on that - I've got about 2k on my "second" transmission - getting that special feeling once again !!! They replaced the original after 18k because the shaft bearings failed. It goes in tomorrow for its 1 year service and I've complained about the tranny once again. I have to admit though, my dealer has been great for service so far - we'll see what they have to say this time.

I too have been considering some additives like Lucas or such - I swear it feels like there's not enough lube either getting to the synchros, or staying there.

I put a 5 speed out of an S10 in my 51 Pointiac - was surprised when I found out they use automatic tranny fluid in it - and it shifts 100x smoother than my 6 !!!

 

[Ernie]

Well, GM trannies (1988+) were garbage. Like something I put together in my garage by myself. Japanese transmissions are a load better (smoother) . . . I just think that the Mazda trannies are extra tight.

Honestly, I don't think we're far off from seriously slick rides . . . corporate just isn't on board.

If I could find a reliable shop, I'd pay $3k to have the gears redone at custom ratios and have a special built clutch put in. No one is in the business of custom at a reasonable rate here though.

I've got a place that'd build me a furai right down the road for me . . I'd just have to pay twice as much as Mazda did to develop it.

 

[Trippp]

Bump.

Ernie - what fluid are you using? I was about to change the brake and transmission fluids and was considering upgrading the transmission fluid. What are you using now?

 

[Ernie]

Haven't changed it again -- wanted to give it another 5k miles.

Have redline MTF in it --- that made it a touch better in the cold, but may have caused the 2nd gear issue which hadn't surfaced before.

I'm going to go with Amsoil next.

 

[Ford Freak]

How far off are you from putting the additional 5k on the car? I've been wanting to put a good synthetic in my MT.

 

[turdmagnet]

Had mine back in for service last week - again complained of the 1-2 and 2-3 shifting "clunk". This time Mazda came back with having them drain a litre of gear oil and replace with auto tranny fluid. Switched cars with the service advisor so he could test it further (they put over 150 kilometers on the damn thing !!) - now they think its something in the shifter gate. Change in oil hasn't made any changes though. Mazda wants them to compare it to another 6 with standard - they won't be getting one till next week.

Only good thing is now the service advisor and tech both agree there is something not right with it - hopefully the hardest part of the battle is over.

Will let you know how things turn out !!!

 

[Ernie]

How far off are you from putting the additional 5k on the car? I've been wanting to put a good synthetic in my MT.

500 miles to go -- going to put Amsoil in it this time. Honestly, I think it is a tolerances issue caused by the design. Mine isn't nearly as bad as TM's problem, but there's something there to it:
The 1-2 shift still grinds occasionally, I've gotten better at recovery (where I don't have to let the tach fall, drop it into 1 then back into 2).
The 'shifting cold' issue is actually where I get the opinion that it's tolerances; reverse dead cold is sometimes hard when the car is still off, putting it into other gears rectifies this, which leads me to believe it has to do more with one 'tooth' (for lack of better word) is narrower/wider than all the others by enough to make it rough and vice-versa on the other side.

TM actually has a unique setup, not in that he has a problem, just that the dealer gives half of a crap about it . . . I've given up, I'm sending Mazda a letter asking for my money back on the extended warranty based on the fact that they can't seem to fix even little things.

-Ernie

 

[Uh-Oh]

500 miles to go -- going to put Amsoil in it this time.

Maybe look for a gear oil with a low pour point, 40C viscosity, and low brooks (most gear oils have these in their datasheets); that may point you in the right direction especially if multiple 75w-90 oils are offered by the same company. Not sure if that actually works since a lot of other properties affect synchronizer performance but maybe worth a try.

reverse dead cold is sometimes hard when the car is still off, putting it into other gears rectifies this, which leads me to believe it has to do more with one 'tooth' (for lack of better word) is narrower/wider than all the others by enough to make it rough and vice-versa on the other side.

Forward drive gears are actually always meshed at the same time in most manual transmissions. When you select a forward gear you are usually engaging a clutch for that gear (called a dog) that locks the selected gear to the shaft while all the other gears spin freely on the shaft. For the reveres gear you do in fact actually mesh a gear in. The teeth on a gear must be made much thicker than the teeth of a dog because the teeth for a dog are engaged simultaniously while on a gear only a few are so the loading per tooth is much higher. That is why it is harder to mesh the reverese gear than dogs gears. It is common with many manual transmissions.

TM actually has a unique setup, not in that he has a problem, just that the dealer gives half of a crap about it . . . I've given up, I'm sending Mazda a letter asking for my money back on the extended warranty based on the fact that they can't seem to fix even little things.

If there is actually an issue with the first gear maybe shouldnt cancel the warranty since the risk is high that the problem will grow to the point that they wont be able to deny the issue. Instead get a quote for a repair from a shop for proof of problem and file with the BBB and your states attorney general; pretty effective.

good luck

 

[turdmagnet]

Had mine back in for service last week - again complained of the 1-2 and 2-3 shifting "clunk". This time Mazda came back with having them drain a litre of gear oil and replace with auto tranny fluid. Switched cars with the service advisor so he could test it further (they put over 150 kilometers on the damn thing !!) - now they think its something in the shifter gate. Change in oil hasn't made any changes though. Mazda wants them to compare it to another 6 with standard - they won't be getting one till next week.

Only good thing is now the service advisor and tech both agree there is something not right with it - hopefully the hardest part of the battle is over.

Will let you know how things turn out !!!

Another update !!

Well my dealer got another 6 manual in and gave it to me for the night to compare. Big time difference - whether I shifted at 1500, 3000, or at 5000, it shiftly very smoothly. No clunking, of notching feeling at all. Even my wife commented on how better a shift she was getting. It was a 2011 and I noticed a speed / rpm difference of about 200rpm less when driving at 100km/hr. Mentioned it to the dealer but he wasn't aware of any gearing changes in the 2011s - but it definitely seemed different.

Dealer reported back to Mazda and now they're wanting to pull the tranny again for inspection - Mazda's specifically requesting they pull the synchronizers apart and inspect. Goes in a week Monday - we'll see what they find.

 

[Ernie]

Okay, it was almost a done deal with Amsoil, then I did another search and decided on Motorcraft (Yes, Ford Synthetic). The miata crowd has a lot to say about it and found some chatter on bob the oil guy site -- only bad thing to say was it was costly. $18/quart.

Well, $80 for fluid and $30 to have someone do it (I don't have the time lately) and I took her for a spin. A touch less notchy, but that's what the redline did on the first few thousand. We'll see. One positive note is that I hit first what I knew was incorrectly with the clutch as soon as it did it and it bit with no trouble, which I found (pleasantly) different.

The real trouble is finding out how it performs ultra-cold won't happen until October/November, but at this point (50k miles), I feel that the cash was well spent, since the dealer would have undoubtedly bilked me for more than what I paid.

TM -- keep us posted, and KEEP YOUR DEALER -- it's the first halfway decent Mazda dealership I've heard of with regard to service.

-Ernie

 

[Ernie]

Two bad 1st-to-2nd shifts in 300 miles . . . it's mechanical, not fluid.

Both went in without trouble, but sounded like a 1988 Oldsmobile.

 

[turdmagnet]

Ok - update on transmission #2. Dealer pulled it out and dis-assembled as per Mazda's instructions. Mazda wanted measurements checking clearances and backlash on the synchros this time. I was told everything was in spec and the only thing they noticed was the surface of the cone portions of the synchros were dull. I asked if it was due to lack of lubrication to these areas, but the dealer said Mazda won't say, they've just be intructed to "REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY !!"

Original tranny replaced at 18k and now 12k later, the second one gets replaced. Does this mean #3 will go 6k next time ? When can I argue the "lemon" act and get a new car ??

So they've ordered another one out of California, and I'm without my 6 for several more days - but my dealer did agree to let me have a CX9 in the interm. I must admit I am very pleased with the dealer's service - just really disappointed in the quality of product from Mazda.

Will let you know how I make out once I get it back next week !!!

 

[Uh-Oh]

Lemon law depends on your state.
Here in Michigan the same part must break 3 times within the first 90 days of owning the car.

 

[fornetti14]

Interesting thread since I want to change my manual trans fluid ('05 Mazda6).

I've used the special Ford fluid in my Contour SVT's back in the day. Those cars originally came with auto trans fluid in their 5-speed manuals and the new Ford expensive fluid replaced the auto stuff. They always shifted real nice and I remember something about it being 15W-40 Diesel oil + some other stuff (someone had an analysis done).

I'm going to order some Motul 300 (75W-90) from Amazon and give it a go. The Valvoline full synthetic 75-90 just isn't working very well after 12,000 miles. Cold performance wasn't that great this past winter either.

 

[Ernie]

Interesting thread since I want to change my manual trans fluid ('05 Mazda6).

I've used the special Ford fluid in my Contour SVT's back in the day. Those cars originally came with auto trans fluid in their 5-speed manuals and the new Ford expensive fluid replaced the auto stuff. They always shifted real nice and I remember something about it being 15W-40 Diesel oil + some other stuff (someone had an analysis done).

I'm going to order some Motul 300 (75W-90) from Amazon and give it a go. The Valvoline full synthetic 75-90 just isn't working very well after 12,000 miles. Cold performance wasn't that great this past winter either.

I'm almost thinking of bleeding the clutch to fix the 1-to-2 issue . . . so far, I haven't had any better thoughts than changing the fluid again with the liquid-gold from Ford.

I really wish I had a short-shifter (that even my 2003 CR-V had) so it was less sloppy . . . I really feel like I could figure the problem out (or fix it) if I did.

 

[fornetti14]

Well, it's now winter time in Michigan and my transmission shifts beautifully!

I used the Ford Synthetic fluid that is about $21/qt !!
It is spec'd for the MTX-75 in the '98-'00 Contour SVT.
part #XT-M5-QS

 

[Ford Freak]

How have things been going? I am going to swap the fluid within a couple months. Will probably go with Royal Purple unless I can find Amsoil. I'm not sure if I'll going with 75w or 80w. It does get below 50, but not for long. Been having issues shifting into 1st so the fluid change might wait until after that is fixed.

 

[fornetti14]

I'm amazed how well the Ford Synthetic fluid works. I won't run anything else.

 

[Ernie]

I'm at a second change of the Ford Synthetic.

I didn't see any improvement on the last change, so I'm just going to keep this setup until I feel any change . . . I think this is pretty good stuff.