In this quick video tutorial I’ll be showing you how to change Mazda Protege5 transmission fluid. Now before you freak out or get too intimidated, I promise you, it’s not as hard as you think. If you can change your cars oil, you can do this no problem.First let’s lay out the supplies you’ll need:
Gear oil (FSM suggests either SAE 75W-90 or 80W-90 depending on climate)
Funnel
3-4 feet of vinyl tubing to fit the funnel
WD-40
Drain pan
Jack with jack stands or ramps
Impact wrench (preferably) or or ratchet (I recommend either 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch because you’ll need some good leverage)
10mm socket (with a ratchet that will fit it or you can use an adapter to go from a larger ratchet size to the size you’ll need for the 10mm)
23mm socket
First things first – if you happen to have 4 jack stands laying around (or bricks or whatever you use) I would recommend jacking the front and rear of the car up evenly so you get an accurate reading on your transmissions fill oil level. If you only raise the front, keep in mind that the higher you jack the car up, the more inaccurate the reading you’ll get because the transmission oil will be pushed to the backside of the transmission.Once you’ve raised the car you’ll need your 10mm socket and ratchet to remove the plastic splash guard under the car covering the transmission. There are 5 of these bolts (the last 2 are up near the break line behind your wheel). You do not have to take your tire off for this. In my opinion, that just adds a very unnecessary step. The splash guard is very flexible and can slide right over your wheel assembly.Once the splash guard is off you’ll be looking at the transmission. Both the drain and fill bolts are 23mm (this is where I recommend using the WD-40). The fill bolt is toward the front of the transmission while the drain bolt is aimed straight down. *Note: DO NOT remove your drain bolt first! Why? If you drain your transmission of fluid without removing your fill bolt first and you end up having trouble getting the fill bolt off, you’re not going to be a happy camper because your car will be inoperable due to the fact that there would be no transmission fluid in the transmission.Once you’ve removed your fill bolt, check your fluid level. Or if you’re changing your transmission fluid completely, remove the fill bolt then remove the drain bolt to drain the transmission fluid. Once it’s drained, go ahead and put the drain bolt back in. *Note: Both the drain bolt and fill bolts have metal washers on them. Don’t lose them. If you see that they are damaged, replace them before proceeding.Now, with the help of someone else, you’ll connect your vinyl tubing to your funnel and fish the tube down to your fill bolt (you shouldn’t have to remove your air intake, but that’s up to you. Another unnecessary step in my opinion). Push your vinyl tubing into the fill bolt hole and have someone else hold the funnel up while pouring the gear oil into the funnel (I recommend staying under the car and holding the tube in place so it doesn’t accidentally pop out). *Note: If you are replacing your transmission fluid, the car takes approximately 3 quarts. If you are just adding more oil make sure you keep an eye on your fill level by periodically stopping the flow of oil and peeking into the hole.Since gear oil is much thicker than traditional engine oil it will take a few minutes for the oil to make its way from the funnel to your transmission, so be patient. Once you’ve put in the specified amount of oil, double check the fill level to make sure it’s within specifications. If it is, replace the fill bolt (along with anything else you may have taken off ie the front of your intake), lower the car and let it run for a few minutes to verify there are no leaks. If you don’t see any signs of leaks, then you’re good to go! Shouldn’t take you more than 10-15 minutes and most of that will be spent watching the oil slowly make its way through the funnel.If you liked this tutorial or found it useful, subscribe to my Youtube channel where I’ll be posting more “how-to” videos for the Mazda Protege5. Below you will find the 2 pages in the FSM (Field Service Manual) that show the process of changing and/or checking your transmission fluid level.
