NC 2006-2014 Mazda Miata Transmission and Rear End Fluid Gear Oil Changes

[@TasteTheRambo]

Wow! I had no idea the second gear stiffness i was experiencing during cold seasons was a common issue. Thanks for posting!

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

It's a noticeable difference when you go this route, good luck

[@leewatkeys9065]

Thanks for a very informative video and the tip on making sure you can fill it up before draining it😱that would be a nightmare scenario. Cheers 👍🏻

[@skypresident3550]

Excellent Video; however, I had trouble finding info on Automatic Transmission fluid changes. On the Manual Trans. there are Fill and Drain bolt (top-Bottom 23mm and 24mm) BUT on an Automatic Transmission there is a 24mm Top fill bolt (on the side) and a regular Transmission Pan drain plug "under" the transmission with a 9/16 bolt. Also the Side Top Fill bolt has a "rubber" washer gasket (NOT a crush washer) so just snug it to keep it drain coming out (wouldn't torque it hard). My 2007 Car Manual calls for JWS-3309 Trans fluid and I found three types on EBAY/Amazon...Mazda Fluid, Aisin ATF-OT4 and Idemitsu ATF Type M. Also the Automatic Transmission takes three and 1/2 quarts to fill. The rear Differential has two bolts 23mm fill and 24mm drain (both with crush washers and torqued to 25-33 ft lbs). I used Redline 75w90 gear oil..took less than 1 quart.

[@ghalcomb]

Thorough with excellent background information. Nice job!

[@d.brekinridge5486]

Great video! I have been looking for someone to show how to safely get the car up on (4) jack stands. Also I noticed the only socket not in my tool chest is a 23mm and 24mm so thanks for that as well.

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

Glad it helped!

[@tamagrouchy1]

Thanks, well done video, will definitely help make the job go a LOT smoother.

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

Thanks for watching, hope it will save $$ by not paying someone else to do it.

[@tamagrouchy1]

@@SirFixAlotAutos I finally got around to doing this. Glad I reviewed the video again before I started so I knew to have a 23mm socket for the diff. Your video was spot on and I had no surprised when I did the job. This was by far the most accurate and informative version I've seen. Appreciate the work. One last thing, the Motorcraft trans oil definitely is the way to go, Always had a tough time with first and second when it was cold, now every shift is nice and crisp.

[@webchez69]

Thank you for this video... I have a suggestion for lifting up the car safely that I have used... I have 2 sets of portable ramps One for each tire. I drive the car onto the front ramps, lift the rear end or the car, and slide the other set of ramps under the rear wheels. Then you lower the jack onto the rear ramps. Instant, safe, level car to work underneath!! I really think it is worth the cost of the 2nd set of ramps....

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

Great point, thanks!

[@edsahara]

Webchez - I researched on the web and found that the parking brake on most cars only locks the rear brakes. Therefore, if you put the front tires on the ramps and jacked up the rear of the car, you might have the car roll off the front ramps.

[@johnk6837]

Yes, you leave the car in gear to lock the front. Common knowledge, but they did not specify. Cheers.

[@lukerinderknecht2982]

@@johnk6837 Miatas are rwd cars. Leaving it in gear will not lock the front.

[@therayngr]

So helpful thank you so much

[@Evansmustard]

Thank you for this video!

[@barcoo8483]

Why does the motorcraft change the label so much

[@richardreynolds8577]

Thanks Dan for making this video. I just got a 2006 Miata and starting checking and getting all the maintenance up to speed. Will the oil for the transmission work for a five speed? "Internet Intelligence" !

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

+Richard Reynolds Yes, it will work for the 5 speed also.

[@keremaraci7951]

Thanks for a great video. Any feedback how'd these fluids do for the notchyness?

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

Kerem Araci Yes the Motorcraft fluid definitely reduced the notchiness. It did not eliminate it, but it improved it at least 50%. It was noticeable. Good Luck!

[@SkandaTejasw]

Thank you for this! The NC miata owner's manual states that the manual transmission oil should be 2.2 US quarts. The video shows only 2 one-quart bottles - wouldn't the 0.2 quart shortfall affect the transmission? I ask because I'm thinking that I should probably buy a third one-qart bottle to have the full 2.2 quarts in. Thoughts?

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

2.2 US Quarts is from dry. During a change there will always be some gear oil remaining. I used just about 2 quarts and my car was raised level during the change. If you want to be safe buy some more and see. Let us know. Good Luck.

[@SkandaTejasw]

Another question - I assume that your Miata has an LSD, as the 57904 diff oil is an LSD gear oil. Mine is a non-LSD differential, and I wanted to know if you had a specific recommendation of oil for a standard differential.

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

That's correct, I had a limited slip differential. I no longer have the car, but I would think it should be fine to use the higher grade. It probably only has an additive for the torque plates, but the rest is the same. If you want to be safe, give a call to your Mazda dealership's service department and ask if they differ with regards to differential gear oil.

[@mattmacd2009]

2nd gear stiffness on my 5 speed manual also. I think many have the same issue.

[@jgwin214]

Thank you.

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

Hope the video helped a little bit.

[@cloudjc22]

Good video and instructions. Zoom in way too much and poor focus (maybe due to too much zoom).

[@LysanderLH]

I have one problem with doing this. The car has to be level in order to drain all of the oil out and I need to learn how to safely jack up my car such that it's completely off the ground on stands. Changing fluids is relatively easy by comparison with this. Perhaps a how to video.

[@slingbart705]

Yes i too feel that a 6 min and 18 sec safety video on proper jacking of the car is in order, before a 1 min intermission on fluid pump sales to plug Ebay, before ever seeing the first bolt on the Tranny, all while feeling i lost my glasses somewhere?

[@Paintppa1]

How important is it to change fluid in turrent?

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

Not super important unless you feel there's an issue in the turrent. It's not like things are moving (spinning) like in the main case. I believe this only applied to the 5-speed, mine was the 6-speed.

[@JabbtheHut4653]

Hi Dan - can you provide a direct link for that fluid pump - it looks pretty cheap but effective but I cannot find it on Amazon or Ebay

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

www.ebay.com/itm/Fluid-Extractor-Pump-Manual-Suction-Oil-Fuel-Disel-Transmission-Transfer-Hand-US/254543537089?hash=item3b43fa23c1:g:cz8AAOSwYNpecDeH

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

They also sell it at your local Pep Boys, O'Reillys, or Napa auto parts store.

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

www.ebay.com/itm/Slippery-Pete-Fluid-Pump-for-Quart-Bottles-Transfer-Gear-Oil-Transmission/324077435621?epid=8017606231&hash=item4b74853ae5:g:MmQAAOSwKmVehMmC That's the one shown in the video

[@xXFIREWIREXx]

Does this affect the 5 speed also. My 2007 nc is notchy into 2nd, and slightly notchy into 3rd. Only has 27000 miles so seemed unusual that it would need changed.

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

Yes, I have used this gear oil for even BMW 5 speeds and it has helped, so it should work fine in the 5 speed. Good Luck.

[@CJS621]

Another good way to eliminate notcheness is to adjust the clutch. This involves adjusting the clutch biting point via a very simple process. There is a very good write up via google which gives a step by step process of how to do it ( Google: nc mx5 adjusting clutch). Basically it involves undoing a nut on the clutch shaft and turning the shaft 1 full turn at a time until the desired level is reached, then re tighten the nut and jobs a good un :)

[@amarumatters]

Is this the same for a automatic transmission

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

Jay, you can use the process for the rear end (differential) with the Redline but the fluid and procedure for an automatic transmission is completely different. For your automatic transmission, it's best to use Mazda's Automatic Transmission Fluid Type:M5.

[@richfjr1300]

so on the rear differential, you were able to use the same pump you used for the transmission? I take it there are different adaptors for the different sized bottles.

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

richfjr1300 Correct, there is a tube you adapt onto the pump and it can reach further into the Redline container and then you use the shorter tube to for the transmission oil. The pump should come with at least two different lengths to reach into different containers. Good Luck.

[@richfjr1300]

Dan Tsuchiya ok, got it. I got the same pump from autozone. so the torque settings...all the same? about 15 ft lbs for each bolt?

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

richfjr1300 Correct

[@iangeorge6409]

+Dan Tsuchiya But the Redline container cap looks smaller than the Motorcraft one. Optical illusion?

[@SirFixAlotAutos]

+Ian George There are different line length adapters for different height bottles. The reason why the redline cap looks smaller is just an optical illusion. Good Luck, Dan