[TR] [6pack] ATF Fluid..... non Triumph

[Bob Danielson]

Very interesting..........Time to learn something new about ATF.  I just 
went and checked, again, and the color is a brownish/translucent color which 
I was automatically assuming was black seeing as it wasn't red.

The AT dipstick is also marked "ATF-MV" and according to Mazda, their ATF-MV 
is the equivalent to Mecron V. And the dipstick opening is so small that you 
couldn't add fluid from there.

A little Googling turns up all sorts of confusion in the Mazda Forums about 
ATF fluid and compatibility with Mecron V   i.e. be careful what you mix 
with it as you mismatching ATF fluids can damage the tranny. Reminds me of 
brake fluid confusion on the Mail Lists.

And......... Mazda does not specify any ATF service interval.

None the less, I'll give the service manager a call tomorrow.

Bob Danielson
1975 TR6 CF38503U
Running w/ Throttle Body Injection,
Toyota 5 speed & Nissan LSD
http://tr6.danielsonfamily.org




From: luichinger at comcast.net
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2010 3:12 PM
To: Bob Danielson
Cc: triumphs at autox.team.net ; 6 pack
Subject: Re: [6pack] ATF Fluid..... non Triumph


Bob   Not sure about 07 but 09  Mazda3 do not have red colored  ATF 
installed at the plant.  They use a brownish to translucent colored ATF that 
meets mercron V spec..  My daughter ran into the same issue with a quick 
change outfit and got me involved because her owners manual said nothing 
about changing the fluid. Check the fluid yourself.  take some off the 
dipstick put it on a clean white towel.  If it appears clear with a  golden 
to light brown hue and  it dose not smell burnt it is most likely fine.  If 
it smells burn the clutch packs have been damaged and changing fluid is not 
likely to help unless you plan on quickly  passing the problem on to some 
one else.  IMHO the the oil change boys made an honest mistake or you need 
to find someone else.  A fluid change at these shops or any shop can be 
risky..  The machine may not get maintained and most people do nothing 
untill something happens which means there is a lot of crap that can be 
transfered from the last fluid replacement to your trans.  If its not broke 
do not fix it applies here. If you have to do it have it done manually.