RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

I called Pep Boys because I sort of know the manager who is actually a very nice guy and really does watch over the shop and make sure the guys he hires to service vehicles know what they're doing (at least the one by my house).

I don't have the time right now to do this myself.

Anyways, if I bring my own oil/fluid:

$39.99 for manual transmission oil change.

$33.99 for rear differential fluid change.


I plan on bringing Redline for both the transmission and read differential.

I think these prices are fair. Thoughts?

I plan on changing cabin air filter myself, air filter myself, and coolant myself.

Dealer wanted $220 for the manual trans oil change and rear differential fluid change (w/out a credit for me supplying the redline).

Edit -Dealer also wanted $445 for 30k mile service, which the service manager at a Mazda Dealership said DID NOT include rear differential fluid change because, and I quote, "Unless you drive your car extremely hard, it's not necessary."

I told him it's part of the service interval in the factory book and he didn't have much of a response.

PSTNLSS

iTrader: (3)

I remember my first interval service after getting my car used. I got a tranny flush at like 34,000 miles. That tranny was smooth man.

I mean see what the 30k involves. It's prob oil change for like $50 bucks. etc etc

CarAndDriver

Any Mazda shops around you? Sounds like the dealer is an idiot.

You should also change out your spark plugs every 30K. Amazon.com has the cheapest prices.

I am late for my 30K and am having Rotorsport in the Bay Area doing it. It'll just be labor since I'll be supplying the fluids so around $250ish.

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

There are only two Mazda dealers. I haven't called the other one yet.

If I can get brake fluid change, rear differential fluid change, manual trans oil change, supplying my own oil/fluids (redline), I think $100 or less for the labor is a fair price.

I am comfortable doing the spark plugs myself at what? $20 each? The DIY makes it seem really easy.

That just leaves the air cabin filter which I will do myself whenever.

Did I miss anything?

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

BTW, I'm going to order Redline MT-90 Transmission Fluid 50304 (2 Quarts) for the tranny, and Red Line 75W90 Synthetic Gear Oil (2 Quarts) for the rear differential w/LSD.

Is that right?

TIA.

CarAndDriver

Have you thought of using AMSOIL? I decided to go with AMSOIL. The user reviews for AMSOIL have been a bit better than Redline.

J wind

I just did my trans/diff fluid swap yesterday at a local rotary shop here in the bay area, Ricks rotary performance.

I told em to use my bottles, the redline 90 for trans and 75w90 for diff. took em about 30mins and they charged me $64.00. Even did a full check up for me too, free no less lol.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Yes Redline MT-90 and 75W90.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

btw: I did mine at 20k miles (and four years from manufacture) myself, just because.

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

Thanks guys. As always, this forum is the most helpful place online I've ever come across. Never disappoints.

In fact, NYCops and some others offered to change my fluids for free a while ago - typical of this board. First class.

Car&Driver - I don't think I'm going with Amsoil b/c when I did a search on here, a lot of people said the Amsoil was too 'heavy,' and they weren't getting real good feel after using it.

cogsNsprockets

For what they actually do.. mechanic prices are outrageous and shows you what our priorities are. I do all work myself. I know its done right. You really aren't paying for the service, you are paying his insurance, E.P.A bills, utility bills and his rent.

128 dollars an hour for what? Are you kidding me? AND you provide the fluids??

No Thanks!

CyberPitz

I've been trying to think ahead myself for the 30k change. I'm sitting just shy of 15k atm, and have been thinking of doing it early just to get it out of the way, and if not..just do the transmission change to some redline. I wish I had a shop around here I knew well I could get a good deal at

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

Well, to be accurate, it's $74 to change the manual trans oil and to change the rear differential fluid.

I may go to another guy who is a retired Ford Mechanic who does a bunch of work out of his professionally set up garage (at his home).

He's cranky, but he'll probably do everything, including the manual trans oil change, rear differential fluid change, brake fluid change, coolant flush and fill and spark plug change (if I supply oil, fluids, coolant and plugs) for $100.

I don't have jack stands and am not that experienced with this stuff, so to pay $100 or even $150 for all 5 of these things and get them out of the way is worth it. I'm sure it will take him at least a couple hours to do all five of these things.

shaunv74

The fluid changes in the diff and trans. are pretty basic. Any mechanic can do them as long as you provide them the right fluids and mark which fluid goes in which.

If you spent $30 on a jack and stands, plus the right socket, and a fluid transfer pump top (looks like a liquid soap dispenser top) you can do it yourself. It's literally take the bottom bolt out and let the oil drain in to a pan. screw it back in, then take the top bolt out and pump in 2 quarts of fresh oil. Easy as pie. Just make sure the fill bolt is loosened before emptying the oil out. You don't want to get caught with a rusted bolt and not be able to fill your tranny once it's drained.

It should be no more than 1 hour's labor for both fluid changes.

CarAndDriver

If you're willing and can buy from eBay. Seller "morethantires" has Redline MT-90 for $9.75 and Gear Oil for $9.95 with very reasonable shipping and can combine orders.
http://myworld.ebay.com/ebaymotors/morethantires/

Even though I chose AMSOIL for my 8, I was thinking of trying MT-90 for my 97 Sentra 5M. So I looked all over the Web for the best overall price (including shipping). Some of the Web stores have low prices but get you on that shipping. In particular, I get annoyed with online shops that make you go through 80% of the ordering process before they tell you shipping.

If you ever do go with AMSOIL for anything, try to find a seller willing to sell you at their or member cost. I was able to find someone in my area willing to do that and saved a few bucks. I wasn't really interested in joining their "organization" for the member prices.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Exactly. Very easy to do once the vehicle is leveled up with the front wheels on a pair of Rhino ramps and the rear end on a couple outboard jack stands. The rear jack point is right on the diff'l fins, so pretty easy to find and safe to do.

And do loosen the upper feed bolts first just to make sure you can before you drain out of the bottom bolts. You don't want to drain fluids and then discover you've got a frozen feed bolt!

An 18" 'breaker bar' is handy to get enough torque in a limited space and of course you need a 24mm hex socket. And the quart size ['soap dispenser like'] fluid pump is a must have. Pep Boys has it for small money (but strangely Autozone only has the gallon size pump head). It's the same hand pump used to fill the oil in outboard boat motors, so Bass Pro Shop has it too.

Here's what the pump looks like (but I wouldn't pay the ludicrous Porsche 928 club price!):

http://www.308sc.com/parts/images/OilPump1.jpg

Two excellent Fluid Change DIY's here:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=35115.html

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

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

I forgot where you live but.

if you're within NYC area. Bring the oil, coolant, and oil filter, come to my house I change it for you, Just buy me couple bottles of Tsang Tao beer , it could be done in about an hour or 2.

J03K1LLARX8

iTrader: (1)

RR: do not take it to the dealer, you will easly spend up to 650 to 700 bucks for something you can DIY for max of 150 for everything.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

If you're like me you only drink Tsing Tao beer when eating Chinese food, so make sure Roto brings some take-out as well.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

take outs taste nasty, for me at least :P

I can make my own chinese food and it will be better than those take outs ... ANYDAY

I drink Tsing Tao only cuz I kinda think that it has more pure taste. thats just me tho. I tried like all kinds of beers including Bud, coors, heinken, blue ribbon, etc etc ... still like tsing tao more.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

The only way to become experienced is to do things yourself. Whatever happened to rugged self-reliance in this country (man I must be getting old to have said that!)?

The RX-8 is actually a very easy car to work on, especially for routine maintenance items, which I would deem is all that you have cited.

Armed with the bountiful knowledge here and elsewhere on the 'net, jump in like you know what you're doing, and very soon you will!

If you do opt for the home-mechanic at least watch him and better yet assist him.

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

Guys, I'm currently without jack stands and a lot of my tools, which are behind because of the move.

I talked to a friend who's brother works at a shop - reputable one - and I talked to his brother and he said he'll do the brake fluid change, manual transmission oil change and rear differential fluid change for $75 if I bring all the fluids and oil.

I think that's fair.

As far as doing it myself, I wouldn't have any problem I don't think If I had my jack stands and my full socket set.

This is not something I am going to attempt with a jack, if it's even possible.

nycgps - thanks for the offer man, but I'm a good 8 hour drive from you. If you like Tsing Tao, you'd like Pilsner Urquell (more expensive) or Kingway (cheaper and also Chinese).

The stealership is on crack. I told them I can get everything done for less than they want to charge just for the differential fluid change.

Huey - I would've brought a damn keg for nycgps, just because he's a helluva guy. I've seen him offer to help people on here on at least a half dozen occasions.

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

Ahh, Murray's had Royal Purple but not redline, and it was only $13.99 a quart, which is pretty cheap for RP as I understand it.

CarAndDriver

Don't put RP in the transmission. GL-4 only and that leaves Redline and Amsoil as the most easily available candidates.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

Fair enough. I wouldn't attempt this maintenance without jackstands or tools.

As others, I would stick to Redline over Royal Purple.

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

Okay, just read up on the GL5 versus GL4 affect on synchronizers and such.

Thanks yet again, guys.

It's amazing that people who work for a living in auto part stores (not all, but many) don't understand basics like this and the uninformed consumer gets no benefit from talking to them (and may get a car injury as a result).