mazda disciple

Well since I'm so new to this car what kind of fluid does the 90' lx pro transmission use, mtf,10w30 or some thing else. And yes I dubble posted this no one will answer me in the tune section and no I don't have a repair manuel yet sorry.


thanks for the input

temrich

I went throught this same dilema when I bought my car, and the answer is: either one! To find out what you've got, drain a little out and take a look. ATF is bright red, 90W is golden (or black if it's old), thick, and smells like crap. Whichever comes out, replace with the same.

BTW, mine car had ATF and I replaced it with AMSOIL synthetic ATF and it shifts very sweetly now. Drops into first gear on those tight hairpin corners like a knife through butter.

tom

protejay

I emailed Redline about this and they recommended using their synthetic D4ATF - Ibelieve its a Dexron III....so, that's what i'm going to try...

zenilder

I have heard people rave about Redline oil, but I haven't used it myself, so I can't say much about them. Right now, I'm using B&M ATF. It seemed nice when I first put it in, but it's since turned to ****. Sometimes, it won't come out of second gear without really pulling it. Though, I did put in some tranny sealer with it. I guess I should drain it all out and put in some more B&M to see how it handles when it's the only thing in my tranny.

Although, from what temrich said, I just may switch to AMSOIL.

You can use gear oil, as recommended for manual gear boxes, but ATF will do the job and provide a better shift than gear oil. Plus, you don't have to smell that **** when you change the oil if you use ATF, which is always a plus.

Ever get gear oil on your face?
It's not fun smelling that **** the whole day. No matter how hard you wash, you always get a wiff of it here and there.

mazdaspeedwest

When i swapped my driver side axle, i used Valvoline Dura-Blend gear oil, as i use Dura-Blend oil in the engine as well. I have a 5sp and i must say the shifting is nice a smooth and i felt it right away. It made me think of getting a short shifter a whole lot sooner. But i did get that in a pinch, as i when i change out the pass. axle whenever, but i gather pretty soon, i will use Redline.

zenilder

Ahaha. I'll have to try that as hand cleaner sometime just to see how it does.

Hrm. Sound like Redline oil kicks ***.
I'll have to try it then, rather than putting B&M back in. Yes, keeping the tranny in good shape is always a major plus. Anything to keep the synchros in good condition...

Davard

I'll add my endorsement of Redline MTL. I first tried synthetic gear lube (wouldn't shift cold - <40 deg), and then synthetic ATF, when a friend suggested the MTL. I've been happy ever since, and have put it in a few friends Proteges as well.

zenilder

What's the best way to flush the tranny before putting in any kind of MTL, so that there isn't any ATF mixed in?

Also, I had planned to put in a tranny oil cooler. If I use MTL, would I still be able to do this? Isn't MTL thicker than "oil"? I would be concerend about its ability to be sent through a small line easily.
Any suggestions?

Thanks.

turboge

There is no need for a tranny cooler, the fluid is designed to run at certain temperatures and will not shift properly if those temperatures aren't maintained.

I use Redline MTL in my tranny, best fluid available for this weak transmission. Buy 4 qt, drain your tranny, add 3.75qt and put the speedo gear back in. All done, happy shifting.

zenilder

Do you do any autox'ing or hard driving (I don't mean drag'in)?
In a days worth of autocrossing, I'm sure fluid temperatures are going to be pushed beyond the limits with a stock setup. Already, pushing my engine hard for about one-half of an hour, I notice the engine will become louder. It's as though the oil thins out. I simply think about how the heat generated from the engine block can be conducted to the tranny, increasing the temp there, too.
Even 15 degrees increase in tranny temp will reduce the overall life of the tranny.
Sure, making sure the engine is kept cool by making sure the cooling system is in top shape, putting an oil cooler for the engine, or putting in a dry sump, will keep temps down. Although, if you put an oil cooler for the tranny, you now have a fail safe, which can regulate the temprature of the tranny. It doesn't have to operate all the time to cool the tranny. If you have a oil temp gauge, it can trip a pump for the oil cooler on the tranny into high gear, which will keep temps in the optimum range. (I forget what manufacturer it is that makes the gauge I'm thinking of. I'll go home tonight and check again, and then post it.)

I'm thinking along the lines of endurance racing and autox'in. I'm simply wanting to be prepared.

Later on.