Yep, I have an automatic in my '01 Protege, and would like to change out my stock fluid to Redline synthetic ATF. I know it's not a "required" maintenance item in our manuals, but I'm over 35k miles and figure it's about time. That and I've heard the benefits of synthetic trans fluid spoken of before...smoother, quicker shifts, less wear on the parts, etc.

I have searched for a while on this topic and didn't come across much at all in the way of previous threads looking at this issue, so figured I'd start one up and see if there's any help people could give me. I don't know if anyone here has done this before on their 3rd gen Pro, or maybe you have the service manual (something I haven't been able to get yet!) and can point me in the right direction. Yes, I know where the trans is and even found the drain plug last time I was under there changing my oil. Where is the trans fluid filter and can I change that too? It looks like I'll need to buy 8 quarts of ATF if I'm going to flush out all my old fluid too; can I do this the standard way of using the return hose from the radiator to drain the old fluid? Do I fill through the tube that holds the dipstick, or is there a separate fill point? This isn't one of those newfangled "closed transmission" systems that is supposed to last for 100k+ miles and only to be changed by a Mazda technician is it?

Lot's of questions...looking for answers. Thanks in advance!!
-Josh

 

As for the tranny fluid change I am not aware of any 100k fluid change sealed tranny.
It is easy to do just make sure you warm up the tranny for a little drive and then do the work. Careful it will be hot, pull off the tranny Sump plate and make sure you have a new gasket and filter. Be careful not to bend anything inside the filter area ie: sump hose. You may have to take out the cross brace to get it out. I will look tonight and hopefully tell you the correct way.

IF you cannot find info on how to do this go to a local auto parts store and see if you can get the filter if you can then you can get the part out easily. Otherwise if you have to get it at Mazda then it may be the harder method you mentioned and or they just want to make money.

 

i emailed mazda a few month back regarding the auto tranny.
they did reply and in fact said that the protege5 tranny is considered a fill for life tranny but they said and i quote "but the customer would be advised to change the tranny oil at" and i don't remember what the interval was since i lost the email. go figure. personally if i were you at 35k miles i would change the oil. however you better call MAZDA and find out if the synthetic oil will work with the tranny. the reason i say that is b/c you had dino oil in it for a VERY LONG time. the switch might not be good for it. just like you might not want to switch engine oil to synthetic if you ran dino for 100k+ miles.

 

Where is the fill hole for the AT? I took a quick gander but couldn't find it. Also, what fluid did you end up using?

 

Car is in the shop right now and I still haven't done the ATF... One of these days I'll get around to it, but too busy lately working on my new bike. I believe that the ATF is filled very carefully (read "funnel") through the dipstick tube (make sure you're pouring it in the right one) for the transmission fluid.

I still plan to do it and will use Redline Synthetic ATF when I do.

Josh

 

I took a look at the Hayne's manual and it said to just fill it through the dipstick tube. Only way to remove all 7+ quarts is to remove the pan, filter, etc. I'm just going to change it 2 quarts at a time w/ every engine oil change.