MX5 NA Miata - How to change your transmission fluid

[@Jombo1]

Dang, you made removing that fill plug seem easy lol. I stripped it with the wrench. I had to heat it up with a heat gun and get a nut extractor socket to make it budge. Just a warning for anyone else who wants to do this.

[@MiataMods]

Did you use the right socket or did you use a crescent wrench? It can strip easily because of its odd shape

[@Jombo1]

@@MiataMods I used a crescent wrench. I bought the right socket and a replacement plug after I stripped it.

[@MiataMods]

I guess the previous owner or shop tightened the bolt way too much.. good to hear that you fixed it tho!

[@bananachachen8068]

I tried to use what he said in the video but it kept slipping and rounding it so I tried to use different wrenches and a 14mm fit PERFECTLY and made it super super duper easy to take off and but it back on!

[@biggandon1479]

Brilliant mate, straight forward,to the point and covers the common problems you might run into i.e the differing type of transmisy and the washers. If only every KZbin guide could be this good! Please do more!

[@MiataMods]

Thanks for the compliment mate!

[@MiataMods]

Ow and I will! Diff fluid video is on its way!

[@tonyv5253]

Loooove your content. Wish you were doing this 20yrs ago when I was learning. But still enjoy brushing up, and even learning new tips and tricks. Thank you so much for the effort in translating as well, it IS appreciated!

[@MiataMods]

Well thanks Tony, that's always very nice to hear!

[@keithposter5543]

Really good, thanks, and helpfully including the socket sizes and torques, and the fact that the fill plug is a weird square. So many useless vids on here miss this. God knows why they made it like this (the diff has a 23mm and 24mm - WHY??). NB owners will find a second under tray will need to be removed first - a 10mm socket will be fine for this ;-)

[@MiataMods]

Thanks for the compliment, and thanks for sharing that additional info!

[@Arator272]

Pro tip: When using a shitty pump, its easier to heat up the new trans fluid in a waterbath. That's decreasing the viscosity so it will flow easier.

[@MiataMods]

That's a great tip Chris, thanks for sharing!

[@dannyvk5867]

Nooo bro your my fav miata tuber and i just had to do this without you very helpful instructions :(

[@MiataMods]

My bad Danny! If you're planning to do a fluid change of your diff, I would advice you to wait another week 😉

[@tjarkworthmann105]

He is back! One of the best Miata Content Channels! Nice!

[@MiataMods]

Thanks for the compliment 🥳

[@mysterytour5983]

Always good your video, i am doing so much myself now! The girl is now a mechanic semi-pro lol

[@MiataMods]

Nice job! 👍

[@mrg00dk4t]

Finally. We've waited for half a year.

[@MiataMods]

More content coming soon! 💪

[@Ashfielder]

Definitely a good job that’s worth doing, improved the feel of my gear changes a lot. Although now my box is leaking a bit so I probably need to inspect that.

[@MiataMods]

Did you install a new crush washer? Or is it leaking from somewhere else?

[@Ashfielder]

@@MiataMods I think somewhere else, but I did reuse the same washer so it might be that. I’ll have a check next time I’ve got it jacked up.

[@Revved_up_jb]

The legend has returned!

[@MiataMods]

Good to be back!

[@ariziv375]

Can you post video of changing oil for shifter and gearbox. Love your content thank you so much!!!

[@MiataMods]

Will add it to the list 😜

[@william-131]

Nice and informative video. But when is the sequel coming out where you replace the shifter oil and bushings ?

[@MiataMods]

Yeah that's a good one.. still on the todo list 😅

[@manuelncl1769]

Excellent video, thanks

[@MiataMods]

Thanks Manuel!

[@BuddhaOfDarkness]

Wow, he's back

[@MiataMods]

Yes I'm back! Back again!

[@Timmmehhhhh]

Hey man! It’s been a few months since this vid came out and you must have had some time driving the car with this GL5 type of gear oil.. How did it hold up and did it affect your shifting on the long term? I’m asking since I’ve done a transmission oil change (not my first) 6 months ago. I decided to go with the same oil you’re using for diff and transmission. I had some doubts about it being GL5 but went with it anyway because the Cabriohoeve was selling it and hey, if Mr. Miatamods is using it it can’t be all bad, right?😜 After the first month the shifting started to become increasingly heavy, almost to the point where a ‘pause’ moment in neutral was required between gears. Last month I changed it again for some Redline MT90 (recommended on a lot of Miata forums) and it made a big difference, the car shifts much lighter and with good feedback once again. It could’ve been the oil, could have been something else but from my experience I would advise against using this oil for the transmission.

[@MiataMods]

Hey Tim, MiataMods is sometimes a cheap ass so don't follow my advice blindly 😆 Haven't had any problems myself tho but thanks for the tip, I will use that fluid for my next oil change so I can see if it makes a difference

[@NorteMetin2]

Looks like you have Spanish accent 😝 Thanks for all those lessons😁

[@MiataMods]

Haha thanks but no, that's not it. I'm from The Netherlands!

[@litogames6153]

Could you make a video of the gearbox fluid change please?

[@sumskiv832]

Frrrr

[@MiataMods]

A transmission is a gearbox, right? I'm not sure what you mean

[@sumskiv832]

@@MiataMods he probably means the shifter

[@litogames6153]

My gearbox has fluid where the gear lever goes.@@MiataMods

[@tonyb76]

How much were your jack lifts? Very jealous you have the garage and the lifts.

[@MiataMods]

I bought this place with the lift already installed so I have no idea, sorry Tony!

[@robinforrest7680]

Great to see you back Mr MM! Do you have two NA’s now? As for transmission fluid, I changed mine shortly after getting the car in 2017. It made a big difference and I did the diff at the same time. 5years ago now, how time flies! Do you know the recommended service interval for these operations ? Maybe it needs doing again - getting reverse has started becoming a bit problematic recently. Also, do you have any plans to do a video on timing belt change? I have had the belt and water pump kit for a while now but have yet to summon up the courage to do it.

[@MiataMods]

The service interval is explained in the last part of the video haha but it's every 30.000 miles or every 50.000 kilometers. If you drive the car hard on a regular basis I would suggest doing this job every 15.000 miles or 30.000 kilometers. As for the timing belt change, it's on my todo list! To be honest, @TheCarPassionChannel has a great video which is a bit old but still covers that topic very nicely so you could use that video as well!

[@robinforrest7680]

@@MiataMods Thanks, that’ll teach me to watch until the end before commenting ! I’ve done 30000km since 2017, so I guess it’s time to do this again.

[@MiataMods]

@@robinforrest7680 after 5 years of usage that would be a wise choice!

[@robinforrest7680]

@@MiataMods I still love my NA ❤️. It’s still my daily all year round and never fails to put a smile on my face. With E85 ethanol at 0.75c per liter (I run 50/50 with 95 unleaded) it’s cheap to run too. Can you get E85 where you are? Or is it another French thing? BTW you didn’t answer my other question, is that another red NA in your garage?

[@MiataMods]

Unfortunately E85 is not widely available. The other NA is from a buddy of mine!

[@Bertgarrpin]

I was gonna do that tomorrow, are you a wizard or something? And one thing, is not a good idea to put a GL5 on a miata transmission, the components eat the bronze synchros and you eventually lose gears. Its my opinion. However, on the diferential you can put GL5.

[@MiataMods]

Hey Alberto, as far as I know the manual states to use "API service GL-4, GL-5" 75W-90 fluid so I figured that this fluid would be fine but thanks for sharing your point of view! I was not aware that GL5 fluid could damage to the trans. I'm curious if it's going to cause problems so I'm going to run this fluid for a while. It's only a 5 speed so replacing it is cheap, so we'll see 😅

[@Bertgarrpin]

@@MiataMods yeah, the manual says that, but as far as I know it tends to destroy the synchros. But maybe is a topic. But yeah, is cheap as fuck, so no problem replacing it. Thx for the video, it'll help me a lot!!

[@MiataMods]

Sure, and thanks for sharing your info as well my man 👍

[@danlewyy]

is it the same for automatic transmission?

[@MiataMods]

I'm not sure, never dealt with an auto before. I would just get under the car and check, It's fairly easy to see. If you see the drain and fill bolts it probably is the same process

[@danlewyy]

@@MiataMods thank you i love you.

[@MiataMods]

Love you too bro ❤

[@saltguzzardi]

random question should you leave the car in neutral or 1st while changing it

[@saltguzzardi]

Also i recently got my miata and the transmission started clunking lately and today i was going to drive it but after i turned it on and put it in gear, really thin smoke came out of the engine bay and i started to sh*t myself so j popped the hood and it was coming from the exhaust manifold/transmission area so i believe thats the problem which is why im needing to change the fluid soon. Also i was wondering if you think this might be something else because im unsure and you probably know a lot better than me. Last thing sry, since the engine bay starts smoking after i start it do you think it would be better off for me to drain the old fluid without starting it up to warm it. Any help would be greatly appreciated thank you.

[@MiataMods]

That’s really hard to tell but I think a fluid change is not going to help. Sounds like something is leaking on your downpipe. Do you experience the same problem with a cold start? Do you have any smoke in the engine bay when the engine is still cold?

[@mliler1405]

Could you just fill it in from the dipstick on the top?

[@MiataMods]

The dipstick on top? Which one? Do you mean the shifter?

[@mliler1405]

@@MiataMods I just meant the dip stick doesn’t that check oil form the trans

[@MiataMods]

@@mliler1405 The trans does not have a dipstick my guy

[@MiataMods]

@@mliler1405 The dipstick that is located in your engine bay checks the oil level of your engine, not your transmission fluid

[@Marc-hl9md]

What could be the case with the 2010 Mazda miatia fuel emissions leak that is not the gas cap ,what else can it be

[@MiataMods]

No idea man, sorry. I don't have experience with the newer models

[@TheWoundedNinja]

I was working in the dark and accidentally set the drain plug torque to 50. Is my car going to explode?

[@MiataMods]

No you'll be fine

[@keithposter5543]

Yes.

[@Ctank3p_94]

I just bought a NA miata and Im loving the car but Im curious If I should use GL-4 or GL-5 grade fluid.

[@MiataMods]

Welcome to the club! Do you what’s in the car right now? I would stick to the same fluid

[@keithposter5543]

GL4 for NA and NB, GL5 is too slippery for the synchro.

[@mrg00dk4t]

How long did it take you using the hand pump. I'm looking for one since it took me almost 4 hrs to get the fluids for transmission and differential in with my old hand pump.

[@MiataMods]

4 hours? Haha I did not have that problem.. I guess it took me like 5 minutes of pumping?

[@mrg00dk4t]

@@MiataMods I will order one of these hand pumps then... I will never go thorugh that again.

[@MiataMods]

@@mrg00dk4t Where are you located? In the EU or outside the EU?

[@mrg00dk4t]

@@MiataMods Duitsland.

[@MiataMods]

@@mrg00dk4t What's good my neighbor! I've added the Amazon link in the video description so you can order the same pump!

[@daigosaito888]

Who doesnt drive their Miata hard on a regular basis? We should arrange crowdfunding and save those Miatas LOL. Life is too short to drive a fun car boringly!

[@MiataMods]

The purists with the garage queens

[@user-rf1po7vw5t]

Is this automatic gearbox?

[@keithposter5543]

No.

[@MiataMods]

No it's not

[@robertmccomb6480]

9/16” DOUBLE SQUARE

[@MiataMods]

For the fill plug you mean?

[@seabeeeff]

I've put 3 quarts in and nothing is dripping out of the fill plug. Where's it going??

[@MiataMods]

Are you sure you've added that much? It can't go anywhere else so when the transmission is full, it will overflow the fill hole

[@seabeeeff]

@@MiataMods I was an idiot and didn't have the car level.

[@yunggoulash]

rear main seal leak huh? we've all been there haha

[@MiataMods]

I think it’s every seal to be honest 😂😂😂

[@yunggoulash]

@@MiataMods my miata leaked from every seal . Front main , rear main , oil pan , oil cooler , valve cover , cam shafts , and cam angle sensor ….. I fixed them all but weeks later oil pump gasket started leaking ….. if you ever do a seal overhaul don’t forget that one !!!

[@MiataMods]

Thanks for the tip! 💪

[@keithposter5543]

Just found one on mine 😳

[@slyonme]

if your gearbox is full...no need to change fluid,that could lead to problems you dont need..

[@MiataMods]

So you're saying the official owners manual is wrong?

[@roelandzw1846]

I can agree with that. I did a preventif transoil change and eversince getting from reverse to first gear is very stubborn. I wish i never did the change.

[@MiataMods]

@@roelandzw1846 I've owned this car for 6 years. Since a couple of years I also experience a stubborn first to reverse and visa versa. I did not change the oil so that can't be the cause of the problem. Maybe the oil change will help, we'll see. My question is this; What is the alternative? Never change the trans fluid? That doesn't sound like a good idea to me

[@12kasper21]

@@MiataMods I've heard that mixing new fluid with some of the old fluid can lead to better results, but since I've never actually changed the fluid myself I'm not much of a authority on that :P