Valvoline EP ATF in a Mazda Skyactive?

[Drew99GT]

Anyone tried it? It is the correct viscosity compared to Mazda FZ and while not explicitly meeting FZ it’s recommended for it per the Valvoline PDS. I’ve already done 2 full fluid changes on my 2016 CX-5 (as in 3 drain and fills each time to get as much fresh fluid in it), and that’s expensive with FZ at $20/ quart. I also add a bottle of Lubegard Platinum and the trans is butter smooth. I’d like to keep it that way.

Thanks for any insight!

 

[Lilliston]

You're already not using FZ (because you altered it with the Lubegard), so I'm not sure there's much difference between doing that and trying the fluid Valvoline recommends for it. To elaborate a bit, if the addition of the lubegard product changed shift feel vs the Mazda FZ fluid, then you know you're outside Mazda's target frictional characteristics already. How much 'worse' in terms of being off-spec frictionally do you think the Valvoline would be? What makes you think Valvoline's off-spec (is it in fact off-spec? I don't know, do you?) nature will be more detrimental than Lubegard's off-spec product?

I should add that I love the shift and TC clutch feel of my son's SkyActive 6 on fresh FZ fluid. Are you not happy with it?

 

[dubber09]

Imho, first ATF change will remove the most contamination and if you did full or near full exchange that's a huge head start.
Then just do D/F every 30-40k miles and that's it. Not sure where you bought FZ fluid but I bought some here at a Canadian Mazda dealer paying (iirc) about C$12 per liter, that's less than US$10 per quart.
Also, if the car were mine I'd use MaxLife.

 

[panthermike]

Sorry no personal usage from Valvolines product. At 60k, I did 3x drain/fills on our CX-9 using Ravenol FZ, as well as LG. 26k miles later, I am happy with it's function.

Most of the Mazda FZ i've seen is 17-22/qt. FWIW, you can get Aisin FZ on Rockauto for $9/qt.