Im tryin to change my own tranny fluid in my auto rx8. Cant seem to find the drain and fill plugs. Might be able to fill thru the dipstick but dont kno if thats right.
In my honda changin the tranny fluid is a piece of cake but wats wrong with the rx8 or is something wrong with me..haha..please help..need to do it asap thanks

I think the owner's manual has a section about how to do this. Did you look there?

dont think it says anything about how to do it...or does it..didnt see any directional type stuff....

http://www.5cats.org/rx8/trans_diff_refill/


Try this link if it works or go to DIY 09/26/2005 Transmission and diff fluid replacement

For the automatic: The shop manual says to drop the transmission oil pan to drain the fluid. Need new gasket for install. Refill thru dipstick.

when u say shop manual..do u mean the manual the mazda techs use...just want to make sure...b4 i do it...thanks..by the way im not questioning your intelligence..just want to make sure b4 i mess anything up..haha..thanks

You mean the manual the Mazda techs SHOULD use (but probably don't). Yes, the official, genuine, factory written, and supplied service manual says you have to drop the automatic transmission pan to drain the fluid. It's not hard, just messy. You'll need a new gasket to put the pan back on. You refill the transmission through the dipstick - but lots of cars are like that.

I have a PELA oil pump that I been using to change engine oil, it pumps oil/fluid thru the dipstick. I pulled out the engine oil plug after pumping it out to check if it works and only little drips came out of hole. Maybe it will work the same on the auto tranny oil.
It is about $30-40 at amazon.com.

why are you changing it? maybe it doesn't have a drain plug cause it uses life time fluid??? if you do change it...make sure to fill it back while the engine is running.

i really really appreciate the info..the reason im changing the fluid is because it seems to hard shift sometimes and just time to do it i guess..my local mazda service recomm. i do it every 30,000. and i have like 37,000 miles on it already..haha. and why do i fill it while my engine is running..wouldnt that ruin the tranny...thanks

I would NOT refill it with the engine running. Refill it first, then start the engine (there's a reason for LOW and HIGH markings on the transmission dipstick). It's not that hard. The car must be parked on a level surface. Drop the transmission pan and collect the fluid in an appropriate container (usually a large pan). Without a dran plug, this can be messy - be prepared. (Sucking it out with a pump works, but then you need a pump - saves dropping the pan but you don't get a look at the inside of the transmission). Replace the transmission pan using a new gasket (torque to 63-78 inch-pounds; DO NOT use foot-pounds. You should not be deforming the pan). Measure the amount of fluid that came out and replace with an equal amount, refilling through the dipstick (this assumes that the fluid wasn't low or high to begin with - it should be OK from the factory). Start the engine, holding your foot on the brake, move the transmission lever through all the gears. Put it back into park and apply the hand brake. When the engine's been idling about 2 minutes, read the level on the dipstick (while the engine is idling). It should be in the HOT range. Do not rely on the COLD range for fluid level - that's only a guide. Only the HOT level when idling counts. If the engine's been running more than two minutes (or after being driven) the reading is not accurate. It got to be up to temp but not too hot (150 F)- 2 minutes is it. Keep in mind that with a drain and refill (as described above) you're NOT replacing all the transmission fluid. About half the old fluid is left behind in the torque converter and the rest of the transmission - that's just how automatic transmissions are. Going to a shop and using a professional flush machine replaces all the fluid.

thanks alot for the info ericok...appreciate the help...

is there any schedule time/mileage - to change the ATF ? I tried to search and read the owners manual and Mazda workshop manuals but didn't find anything...

Sorry, flush machines just mix new fluid in with old. It's well known in the industry that auto trans flush machines are just a marketing gimmick to get more of your $$$

sounds like you fell for it hook, line, and sinker ...

Sorry, flush machines just mix new fluid in with old. It's well known in the industry that auto trans flush machines are just a marketing gimmick to get more of your $$$

sounds like you fell for it hook, line, and sinker ...

thats MAYBE partially true... at least for the Goodyear I worked at in High school. The machine we had had 2 tanks. new fluid went in one, and the other was empty. The empty one would fill with the fluid from the transmission cooler line from the transmission(to the trans cooler/radiator), while the new tank would pump fluid into the return line from the cooler/radiator to the transmission... eventually all fluid was replaced. There was a view-tube that allowed you to eye-ball and watch the old fluid come out (usually a different color than the new fluid). While it may not replace 100% of the fluid, it would definitely do more than just "mixing new and old fluid."

EDIT: sorry for the necro.... just wanted to toss my .02 on ATF flushes. Additionally, best thing about dropping the pan is that you can change the filter if its a filter inside the pan..

Here is the page from the service manual on how to check the transmission fluid level - no more dipstick! :rant:

After installing an extra transmission cooler and an in-line Magnafine filter I looked and looked for the place to add fluid. I expect adding the cooler caused the level to be at least one quart low but the car drives fine now so this will have to wait for cooler weather (110 today & tomorrow).

so I take it the only way to do it on the 4AT is to drop the pan and fill it through the dipstick hole, or take it to the dealer for them to flush it with their machine?

i would like to know too.. i have about 50k on mine.

This is exactly how my mechanic did mine and he's not a mazda mechanic, charged me $80 dealer wanted $180...took pan off drained, filled to low started car and filled the rest oh ya and replaced gasket

car running soooo smooth at 50k

Okay, I also have an auto RX-8. The owner's manual says to CHANGE the fluid at 100K miles...Mine's at 111,xxx, and it's slipping during shifting and idling hard, so I know it needs changed. Now, my question: According to Mazda, they only flush the system and replace the filter. So, is the filter external? Because they said they DO NOT replace the pan gasket. I just don't want the spend $260 for them to do it if it's a pretty easy diy job and if they are going to gyp me out of money.