I planned to change my tranny oil this weekend, but I currently lack the plug washers for the transmission since no dealer in the Bay Area stocks them (yes I know, what the hell do they do when someone asks them to change their transmission oil?). I have three of the aluminum differential washers though so I can just use them instead of the transmission washers. I know the only difference is a different thickness. What are your opinions on substituting the differential washer for the transmission washer?

 

I just did mine last week.

They're ALMOST the same, but yep is the thickness thats the problem.

I suggest you to just go order it at the dealer, the most I would say 2 days ? cuz Im living in New york and I got mine in 2 days (I ordered it on tuesday morning at 8, and I got it at 12 on thursday)

Dont take the chance dude, cuz a transmission leak is not going to be funny.

 

While I understand that, the earliest I'll be able to do the transmission oil after this weekend is the first weekend of December. That's three weeks away with the Redline sitting on my frig the entire time. I think I'd get a bit antsy.

 

I know how u feel ... I got my RP thing for like a month something before I did the change ....

but still dont take the chance dude. I think u should just wait.

2 x washers = 4-5 bucks + couple of weeks of waiting.

is better than

2 washers and having a leak and fuxks up your tranny and you will stuck somewhere on the road and your warranty will not cover it and insurance going to go up.

 

If a local dealer won't order them Rosenthal Mazda lists them on their mail-order site:

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...nce_index.html

I presume the shipping will far outweigh the $1.13 for a washer. Order several, so you're set for next time.

Another possibility is to go to a regular parts store and buy a handful of various thicknesses. You might find an assortment on the "Help" rack at consumer-oriented places like Autozone. I'd be astounded if there was anything special about the washer, but (like any gasket) you should use the right thickness.

Ken

 

just reuse the old washer... it will be fine

 

yep, I have reused it for several changes, does not leak

 

+1

my car has 59k miles on it.....i've changed out the tranny fluid and diff fluid about...hmm...4 times maybe adn i use the same one. as long as the old washers weren't over torqued (thus making the washer deformed) you should be fine.

i believe the torque specs are like 59ft. lbs. for both the tranny and diff.....if i'm wrong some one please correct me (i don't have the specs in front of me)

 

Even if they are deformed, they are soft and can deform again ;-)

 

Well, but its only like a buck something isnt that a good investment, I know alot of people dont have problems re-using them, I resued mine once, but hey what IF it really leaks, theres almost no way that u would know if its a slow leak, and eventually ur tranny/rear diff is dry and dies.

A buck something + the trip to dealership + about 2 days of wait time I think its better than couple thousand bucks.

 

Well in the end it didn't matter as I ran out of daylight and so wouldn't have had time to change the oil even if I wanted to. Fresh washers it is.