2016 Mazda 6; maintenance suggestions?

[DCDG]

What makes you say the Aisin fluid is crap?

Based on the Mazda forums I browse, any ATF which states compatible with the Mazda FZ fluid should work fine: Aisin, Castrol, Valvoline, Shell, Mobil etc all make compatible fluids.

There's also a guy who runs AC Delco Dexron VI (with lubeguard additive) in his 6...he's done so for well over 100,000 miles...

It's not crap Aisin transmission fluids are blended by top suppliers.

 

[TheMAN]

What makes you say the Aisin fluid is crap?

Based on the Mazda forums I browse, any ATF which states compatible with the Mazda FZ fluid should work fine: Aisin, Castrol, Valvoline, Shell, Mobil etc all make compatible fluids.

There's also a guy who runs AC Delco Dexron VI (with lubeguard additive) in his 6...he's done so for well over 100,000 miles...

because it goes bad faster than the mazda fluid? that makes the small cost savings not worth it

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

IIRC, the deterioration and UOAs of the aisin wasn't as good as the mazda... if you're able to find a good discount, the mazda stuff doesn't cost a lot more than the aisin

or do the "buy once cry once" thing like I did... pay the dealer to flush out all of the factory fill and put in ravenol... afterwards, you can do a drain and fill with extended drain intervals without problems... the ravenol shifts way better than even a brand new off the showroom transmission with the factory fill... no TCM relearn trick needed... on its worst days/weird conditions, it shifts the same as the mazda fluid, but otherwise it normally shifts better

It may be where I live, but the dealer last time I went wanted close to $30/quart if I remember right. Rock auto aisin was nowhere near that even factoring in shipping. It doesn’t seem to deteriorate or get dirty any quicker. I follow no set intervals, I just drain and fill when I happen to have the time and I’m near 15-30k since my last service. I think my first drain/fill was around 30k, then every one after that is just sort of when I feel like it and have an order I’m making already so I add some fluid to the order.

 

[Hall]

It may be where I live, but the dealer last time I went wanted close to $30/quart

I bought 3 or 4 quarts of Aisin fluid from Rockauto and then got indication that I might need 4+, depending what drains out. A bottle + shipping from RA was just as much as the dealer cost, which was around $15/quart. This was for FZ fluid, to be clear.

 

[lmdshepherd]

because it goes bad faster than the mazda fluid? that makes the small cost savings not worth it

That certainly hasn't been my experience (on any fluid I've used, not just Aisin fluid). Hopefully you don't experience any more issues in the future...

 

[PandaBear]

What makes you say the Aisin fluid is crap?

Based on the Mazda forums I browse, any ATF which states compatible with the Mazda FZ fluid should work fine: Aisin, Castrol, Valvoline, Shell, Mobil etc all make compatible fluids.

There's also a guy who runs AC Delco Dexron VI (with lubeguard additive) in his 6...he's done so for well over 100,000 miles...

It is probably the friction tune / match. This is basically what happen when you use aftermarket fluid of any type instead of OEM on a clutch plate style ATF. You really are at the mercy of how close they tune it for your transmission vs another. Some people don't care, some transmission don't care, but some do. It doesn't mean they won't last, just they aren't dyno tuned to match the OEM behavior (or OEM tune their shift behavior for a specific ATF in mind).

I highly doubt any of the name brand ATF that has the specific transmission type in the "recommended" list on the label would go bad before the expected drain and fill cycle is finished. They may just not shift smooth but still shift and didn't overheat, deplete detergent / additive, or turn into sludge / varnish.

If I am that picky, I would just only use OEM. They are not that expensive and you only do it like, every 30k?

 

[E150GT]

I have a 2016 I bought new. Still has original belt and tensioner. 135k
So far I've done
Blower motor- failed right at 40k
Brakes all around. Still it original front rotors
Radiator- leaked last year
Mass airflow sensor- had really positive fuel trims
15% +
Currently needs:
Motor mounts
Valve cover gasket
Catalytic converter- keep getting po421
Front seat electrics make noise. Some kind of little piece that needs replacing
Brake fluid flush/clutch bleeding
Overall been a very good car. The catalyst kinda ticks me off but what can you do?
I'm about to take it on a 1500mile round trip next week.