Hello all. '07 auto has 39,000 miles and the trans fluid looks dirty. There is no mention of a service interval in the owners manual. Would it be ok to just have the fluid changed for now and not change the filter? I feel ok with the "quick lube" place changing the fluid but not with dropping the pan to get to the filter. Spelled LEAKS. Opinions please. Thank you.

P.S. Thanks Knucklehead. I am assuming there is a filter. Not sure.

 

Not 100% sure about the automatic trans, but my manual trans has no filter... just simply a screen.

 

Fuild is dirty because it should be changed at 30,000 mile intervals. My 06 has a filter. A couple shops told me that Mazda uses screens in their automatic transmissions, I wanted to be sure so asked a Tech at the service dept and he showed me the filter kit for the Mazda 3.

 

I had mine changed at the dealership at around 28000 miles cause it was brown too. Not cheap for them to do it.

 

Since we're on the topic... what's the recommended interval for a manual trans? And the recommended interval for a flush for the manual trans?

I have over 62,000 miles BTW (yeah, I know, for a 2008... I drive too much )

 

I've heard different opions on this topic, when I owned a 00 Chevy S-10 (Manual trans) the dealer recommed it be changed at 60k intervals. After the first service I didn't change it again because the dealer was charging $18 a quart for the special synthetic fuild.

 

depends on your luck, supposed to be every 30k mi, i myself have not even flushed it nor changed the belts....i have 93k mi on it and im always using the tiptronic, no issues. the only time u wanna change the filter is if its its black of metal shavings in it.

 

Your right 30k for auto like I listed earlier, Knucklehead11 also asked about Manual trans and thats the one I stated 60k in my post

 

As far as I know, no manufacturer in the world even remotely recommends manual transmission oil service prior to the 100,000 mile mark, and even then they are few and far between. The only reason why I might ever change the oil in my Mazda3 transmission is to replace the factory stuff with a high quality synthetic oil that makes for easier shifting when the temperature is south of the 0°F point.

 

Have caution before you let "Quick Lube" change your transmission oil. Our transmissions take M5 or MV transmission fluid. Not to be confused with m5 mercon that you can get at a parts store for cheap. Read the manual. Tells you there in black and white. Also, I drove 60,000 kilometers (whatever in miles) and mine was still pink before I changed it. If yours is brownish with a smell. It's done. You should consider draining, flushing and changing the filter. Can be done in a house garage with patience. There is a wild write up with pictures on how to do this. I suggest the filter cause my little magnet was covered in liquid metal. Normal. That's it's job. However, if your fluid is brown. Perhaps there is too much covering the magnet and making it ineffective. Possibly gunking up your filter. You will need about 10 litres for flushing. See the write up. If you only do a drain and fill, your only getting rid of about 3 litres. It holds more then 7 litres. (I know, gallons right!)
See this link.
http://krystmsgarage.com/?p=250

Good luck.