I purchased a 2008 Mazda 6 GH1 with 67000 miles/108000km.

The service history has been maintained at least every 6000 miles/10000km of the cars life through the stealership, but it appears the ATF may never have been changed. The colour of the fluid is still translucent, but has turned a more browny colour than red. It doesn't smell burnt to me. Currently the transmission seems to shift fine.

I found numerous unofficial recommendations online re ATF change intervals around 30-50k miles, however there is no information in the service manual for my ATX, only for MTX. So I'm not surewhat source has been used to produce these figures.

Every forum and thread I visit, there is a different opinion on which ATF replacement option is best (Flush via transfer machine, Flush using transmission cooler return line, drain and fill, pan drop and filterchange or NOT).

1. Is there likely to be damage already to the transmission?



2. What type of ATF change would be best advised for my car given age, km and ATF appearance.



3. What is the recommended service interval for Mazda M-V ATF, when none is quoted in the manual?



I want to change it as a matter of urgency but not sure how best to approach it. Hence this thread.

 

This may be considered an official recommendation for ATF servicing.
ASE (Certified Master Automotive Technician +30 years, Engineering Performance transmission Parts since 1980)
Empirical data can be seen via oil Analisis: See Black Stone oil Labs
Blackstone Laboratories Blackstone Laboratories (blackstone-labs.com)

Service recommendation most all automatic transmissions.
ATF filter and pan fluid change intervals every 30-50k miles

If the fluid is discolored, then an oil analysis is strongly advised.
See Black Stone oil Labs
Blackstone Laboratories Blackstone Laboratories (blackstone-labs.com)


I prefer and use Castrol oil ATF for myself and all my customers.
I also recommend an OIL DRAIN PLUG MAGNET (Brand preferred DIMPLE)

If you have not yet experienced any shifting issues that it is not likely any damaged has happened. However, you will have a varnish that has started to build up which may likely be the cause of the slight discoloring of the fluid. (GUESS) Until you drop the pan and do a visual inspection and or get an oil analysis you will not really know what is in your fluid.

The old School ways of visually examining ATF fluid really no longer apply and frankly with all we have learned over the decades never really worked as claimed most of the time. Dropping the pan on any automatic transmission is the first line to determining a proper state of health.


ASE

 

Thank you. Gues I'll organise a mechanic to do a pan drop to assess the condition of the fluid and how best to replace it, either with a drain and fill or flush using cars own transmission to pump fluid out via return cooler hose. Mechanics have susch different opinios though. If they have an exchange machine, they are inclined to recommend that. If not, they will say drain and fill. Not sure if they routinely iuse the cooler return exchange and dipstick fill method. And often they will just recommend whatever brand of ATF they have an affiliation with, regardless of its specs. It's really hard tto know whats best when you lack experience with transmissions like me.

 

FOR YOUR FIRST SERVICE …a reputable shop should recommend as I indicated pan and filter service. They should look carefully at the residual on the valve body as well when they clean the pan what settled and what materials are on the pan magnet.

You should also be able to ask for and ATF you want . Again I recommend Castro. Most any service shop will have that easy access at their parts wholesaler . Even in your country.

I do not recommend at your miles paying for a fluid replacement
without getting your oil analyses first.
There is no logical argument to have it done .


Yes “mechanic” may differ with opinions , and this is why finding a shop with at least a trained and current mechanic is to you benefit. Anything less and they are often suck in a time warp of when they learned how to work on vehicles .

.