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View Full Version : How To: Change your Auto Transmission Fluid


cruisinblackp5
August 13th, 2003, 02:20 AM
Required tools:
Rag
19mm box wrench.
Catch pan
3-4 L of Automatic transmission fluid
Long bendable funnel
Amount of time required: 15 mins on a cool engine.

Before attempting this you need to know when to change your ATF and what to look for. Your ATF dipstick is located beside the battery on the throttle body side below the intake. Its a little difficult to get at but easy enough. ATF is generally a dark redish colour and has just a faint odour. When your ATF is no longer working at its fullest it will become black and thicker as well it can have a distinct burnt smell to it. At which point I recommend a change as well as at all intervals in the manual. Check regularily for those who drive their cars harder and those with performance mods as well as during warm temps.

Note: You will not be able to intirely empty the transmission as a lot of fluid is in the torque convertor. Every third time the fluid is changed will be similar to changing it all once.

Here we go.
1. Make sure that your engine is not overwhelmingly hot or else you may risk getting burnt.  

2. You must now jack up the car enough so that you can get under the oil pan comfortably.  The AT pan is located under the car, under the engine slightly off to the driver side of the car (more or less opposite of the oil pan.)  Its painted black and has a 19mm bolt in it that faces towards the rear of the car.

3. To jack up the car look underneath for a ‘bump’ that is on the reinforcing member that runs parallel with the length of the car.  Use this ‘bump’ as a jacking point.  Once the car is jacked up use jack stands to bear the weight of the car.  Two stands can be placed on the ledges just behind the front wheels, make sure you rest the car on the reinforced part of these ledges.

4. Remove the dipstick

5. Get under the car (legs sticking out towards the front of the car) with a 19mm wrench, an catch pan and a rag.  Locate the AT pan.

6. Place the catch pan underneath and 8 inches behind the actual drain plug as the fluid will drain out on an angle towards the back of the car.  Use the 19mm wrench and unscrew the 19mm bolt. Turn counterclockwise to remove it. Make the last few turns with you hand and do it quickly to make the job cleaner.

7. Get out from under the car and pour roughly a half litre or so through the system. You need to fill it where the dipstick is .

8. Get back under the car and put the 19mm drain plug back in.

9. With the drain plug back in you can proceed to fill up your ATF. Remeber to do it very slowly as the fluid is very thick and flows through a small opening. Check it to make sure you are at the correct level while filling as to ensure you are neither too full or too low and replace the dipstick when finished.

Eds mp5
August 13th, 2003, 07:39 AM
Good right up mark..

Ed

taxmasta
August 13th, 2003, 08:41 AM
i cant find the dipstick http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

ChopstickHero
August 13th, 2003, 10:56 AM
nice write up mark. I was about to do this using a simple hand pump (as somebody suggested on the protege5.com board). drain it like you said, and then using a hand pump, to pump the ATF into the drain opening. when it begins to overflow, that's when you know it's full.

so let me get this right, you just pour the ATF through the tranny dip stick opening? also, what ATF did you use? I got some Mobil1 ATF at CanadianTire for $6.59 (on sale).

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">i cant find the dipstick[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

it's to the left of the battery, small black rubber handle. if you have an intake there, it may block it a little when you pull it out.

ChopstickHero
August 13th, 2003, 11:05 AM
oh yeah, for those that don't know, the capacity is of the auto tranny is 7.2L.  But like Mark said, there is alot of fluid left over in the torque convertor, so 3-4L should be enough.  Check the ATF level every so often while you are filling up.

http://members.rogers.com/mickle/ATF.jpg

cruisinblackp5
August 13th, 2003, 12:34 PM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ChopstickHero @ Aug. 13 2003,11:56)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">i cant find the dipstick[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

it's to the left of the battery, small black rubber handle.  if you have an intake there, it may block it a little when you pull it out.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Tax has manual http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

I just use regular Dexron III because recently I've been changing it every 3000-4000 kms. I found with synthetic that the shifts were actually slower and kinda sluggish. You can use one of those pump things t try an get the rest out but I found that you only get a little more for quite a bit of work. Since I change it every oil change I don't bother.

ChopstickHero
August 13th, 2003, 01:02 PM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (cruisinblackp5 @ Aug. 13 2003,1:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I just use regular Dexron III because recently I've been changing it every 3000-4000 kms. I found with synthetic that the shifts were actually slower and kinda sluggish. You can use one of those pump things t try an get the rest out but I found that you only get a little more for quite a bit of work. Since I change it every oil change I don't bother.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
rite... it's DexronIII, but which brand? i use Mobil1 5w-30 in my engine and results have been good. i think Mobil1 is a good brand to stick with so i'll try using it in my tranny. i'll tell you if how the shifts feel once i change it ...

cruisinblackp5
August 13th, 2003, 01:19 PM
Let me know what you think of the Mobil, another really good brand is Royal Purple if you are going synthetic. Its called Max ATF

ChopstickHero
August 15th, 2003, 03:14 PM
Crazy ass blackout and nothing to do. So I just put in the Mobil1 ATF. It was as easy as Mark's how-to. Can't believe what a difference it made. Shifts are much smoother when regular driving. Pushing the car harder and the shifts felt very consistent and firm. I used to get a small vibration everytime the gears changed under hard acceleration. no more vibration now, just a good solid change. I have some pictures on the change in my online Fokti album: http://public.fotki.com/chopstickhero/atf_change/

xJethro
August 15th, 2003, 05:45 PM
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (cruisinblackp5 @ Aug. 13 2003,1:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ChopstickHero @ Aug. 13 2003,11:56)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">i cant find the dipstick[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Tax has manual http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
If you guys want the manual, you can get it at ***** its in .pdf format and you need
adobe acrobat reader to open it. I've printed this at work
which cost me 2000 pages on 4 binders http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif
its all good http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

ejedge27
June 22nd, 2010, 11:58 AM
do you guys have any DYI for a manual transmission or this one is close to similar?

ChopstickHero
June 22nd, 2010, 03:30 PM
do you guys have any DYI for a manual transmission or this one is close to similar?

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123756052

991.8l
May 30th, 2011, 08:38 AM
Anyone know the torque spec required for the drain plug?

How to you check the fluid when the engine is off when you are filling.. doesnt the car have to be running?

y2jay
May 30th, 2011, 02:14 PM
^ is there not a dipstick for the auto tranny fluid?

991.8l
May 30th, 2011, 03:02 PM
There is.. but I would assume you'd have to start the car to get an accurate reading as to how full it is.

Azi
May 30th, 2011, 03:17 PM
put in the 3L. Then start the car, let it run, cycle it through the gears, and then check the fluid. add as required.

cruisinblackp5
May 31st, 2011, 09:38 PM
Lol are you serious about tq spec on the drain plug? Do you do that when you change your oil? It's the same.

Hacker
May 31st, 2011, 11:08 PM
22 to 30 ft-lb as stated in the FSM.

J.

991.8l
June 1st, 2011, 07:57 AM
Thanks guys.

iJay
June 23rd, 2011, 12:15 PM
I wanna attempt this, Where is the fill bolt on 247, it shows a pic of the drain bolt. Where the heck do u fill it from?

Hacker
June 23rd, 2011, 03:48 PM
This thread is for autos. To add MTF, you need to pump the fluid by hand into the fill hole because it is angled downward at about 45 degrees. (I think you can also use a funnel with a long hose, but I've never tried that before.) Since there is no dipstick, you know it's full when fluid starts leaking out the fill hole. The plug faces the front of the car, closer to the driver's side. Remove with 23 mm socket.

J.

iJay
June 23rd, 2011, 03:54 PM
Thanks J!
Another newb question. P5 transmissions dont have filters?

1MAZDA
June 23rd, 2011, 04:23 PM
^that is correct