Drain and Fill Questions

[BTLew81]

I'm going to be switching my 2007 Mazda3 auto over to Amsoil. It has about 6k miles on it. Trans capacity is about 8.5 qts. I am planning on using the drain plug, and from what I have heard, this will remove almost half of the fluid. So, I plan on replacing that with Amsoil, driving the car for a day, and doing another drain. I figure this will get a good amount of Amsoil in.

So..my question is...would I be smart, say 1k miles later, to do one more drain and fill to get the trans over to all Amsoil?

I am planning on pulling the drain plug every 10k thereafter. How does that sound?

Car is driven 60 hwy/40city. About 20k miles a year.

Thanks so much.

 

[unDummy]

Yep, it would be smart but not needed.
Don't fool yourself into thinking that Amsoil is a 100k fill for this transmission. It is not a fill and forget transmission.
You're be better off doing drain/refills every 10k with whatever Full Synthetic you choose.
With your driving style, 2 drain/refills a year would be great. Start now.

 

[wagsg]

Likely a little less than 1/2 (more knowledgeable BITOG'ers will chime in I'm sure). The following calculator will tell you how many drain/fills to reach a desired percentage of new ATF.

Transmission Calculator

 

[wagsg]

Forgot to give proper credit to turbochem.

Here's the link to the original post. Transmission Calculator Post

 

[Donald]

You have chosen wisely for an ATF. I think you could go to once a year drain and refill. The Amsoil ATF is rated for 50K for severe and 100K for normal service (but that assumes a total fluid replacement). However unDummy knows his stuff and will not steer you wrong. Also you could consider a used oil analysis at 10K miles. You might want to do the first drain and refill at 10K and then in another 10K do a used oil analysis and decide what to do. You want to make sure you have a high percentage of Amsoil ATF before doing a used oil analysis or extending the interval.

 

[BTLew81]

UnDummy...I suppose by a good syn, you mean M1, or a Valvo. Any other suggestions for an easily available good syn?

 

[BTLew81]

One more stupid question...when you say a drain and fill every 10k...just once? For example..10k, do one drain and fill...20k...same...etc.

 

[BTLew81]

Anyone on this? Want to try and start tomorrow!

 

[unDummy]

Yes, with 10k intervals, a simple SINGLE drain/refill is all that is needed.
Amsoil, Redline, Mobil 1, Valvoline, Amalie,....any full synthetic ....are all good choices.

UOA would be the best way to choose interval. But, UOA costs as much as a drain/refill. Why not just drain/reill it? New fluid is always better then old fluid regardless of what UOA tells you.

 

[BTLew81]

UnDummy...which off the shelf fluid would you choosE?

 

[unDummy]

Mobil1!!!!

I haven't found Valvoline marketed as a full synthetic MerconV around here. Still nothing but 'blends' on the shelf. If the bottle at your store says 'full synthetic', flip a coin or 'weigh' the wallet.

 

[Pablo]

Quote:

---

I'm going to be switching my 2007 Mazda3 auto over to Amsoil. It has about 6k miles on it. Trans capacity is about 8.5 qts. I am planning on using the drain plug, and from what I have heard, this will remove almost half of the fluid. So, I plan on replacing that with Amsoil, driving the car for a day, and doing another drain. I figure this will get a good amount of Amsoil in.

So..my question is...would I be smart, say 1k miles later, to do one more drain and fill to get the trans over to all Amsoil?

I am planning on pulling the drain plug every 10k thereafter. How does that sound?

Car is driven 60 hwy/40city. About 20k miles a year.

Thanks so much.

---

I would do the double change, then yes 1 K later repeat. I just think the more Amsoil ATF the better, I'm not saying these "blends" will hurt anything, but they certainly are not ideal. The sooner you get 100% of whatever fluid you are switching to the better. Better for seat of the pants feel decision making, better for UOA, better to get the FULL benefits of the synthetic ATF, better for the car.

 

[unDummy]

50k flush using 15 quarts vs. 1 drain/refill using 3 quarts every 10k miles can be argued forever.

If you decide to full flush with a synthetic, or multiple drain/refills to increase the percentage, then you should install a full flow filter kit.

With each timely drain/refill, you remove a percentage of accumulated wear. That wear has been trashing valvebodies in various transmissions that do not have real filtration. Your doesn't. A filter is a must if you don't want to perform regular drain/refills.

But, I don't see the need for the initial investment(flush) if you want to perform the single drain/refill every 10k miles. I just don't see the cost/benefit to EVER start with a Full Synthetic when you have decided on a reasonable regimen.

If the OCI regimen was unreasonable, then by all means flush it out. But, the cost would be the same.

 

[Tones]

Check me on this. I think Mobil 1 would be OK for the 4-speed transmission, but if that has the newer 5-speed or 6-speed transmission, then Mobil 1 would not work. Amsoil will though. Since you are starting new, periodic drain-n-fills is all you need. I just did a drain-n-fill on my Toyota Truck with the Amsoil and it is working great.