Transmission fluild question

jjanak79 · #1 12-24-2009, 08:12 PM

Well i got a mazda b4000 with the 4.0 MANUAL TRANS just like the ranger but has mazda logos. I have owned it for 2 years and i changed out the tranny fluid once a year. I put in valvoline max life dex/merc in it. in the winter it shifts really hard when sitting for awhile. It has 63k on it right now. Would it be a good idea to switch to synthetic? i got synthetic in everything else. besides the transfer case and tranny. help?

Jp7 · #2 12-24-2009, 08:47 PM

I changed mine w/ a 3.0 manual at 42K, didn't notice a difference. I used the regular fluid though.

jjanak79 · #3 12-25-2009, 02:23 PM

all i want to know if it would be a good idea to switch to synthetic. it does have 63k on the tranny. i dont want it to leak.

Fx4wannabe01 · #4 12-25-2009, 02:54 PM

I used to have that issue...hard winter shifts. Then I switched to synthetic. Havn't had that issue when I was running synth. but recently, being cheap, I used regular old ATF when the rebuilt trans went in and guess what? That hard winter shifts are back again. Can't wait for synthetic again.

Do it.

jjanak79 · #5 12-26-2009, 02:07 PM

what kind of synthetic did you use? mobil 1?

Fx4wannabe01 · #6 12-26-2009, 07:31 PM

I run Royal Purple in everything but the brakes. lol.

jjanak79 · #7 12-26-2009, 11:17 PM

haha i'm not made of money. Mobil 1 is like 8 bucks a quart.

Fx4wannabe01 · #8 12-26-2009, 11:40 PM

see why I don't have royal purple in my trans right now? haha. $15 a quart for RP atf. lol.

jjanak79 · #9 12-27-2009, 08:50 PM

try mobil 1 synthetic it did wonders to my subaru svx.

racsan · #10 12-30-2009, 11:53 PM

i like pennzoil syncromesh fluid for the trans, its about 7 a qt at autozone, its not a syn, but i dont have any shifting issues.

Johnbaum13 · #11 12-31-2009, 12:09 AM

I used Royal Purple syncromesh in mine, and it worked great. Since the rear seal is leaking right now, I've been topping it off with regular Motorcraft atf and the hard/sticky shifts in cold weather are back. It needs to warm up enough to get under there and change the rear seal.

jjanak79 · #12 01-01-2010, 08:14 PM

if i would put full synthetic in my trans will it start leaking over time? i use full synthetic for oil in my truck and it leaks from the oil pan.

racsan · #13 01-01-2010, 10:14 PM

it shouldnt, if the seal is bad, its bad no matter what fluid is in the case. i have heard a theroy that with conventionol oil, you could get build-up by the seal and once switching to synthetic the syn oil could clean whatever material build up and a leak appear, but ive personally switched back and forth before and not had a problem. and my truck is a '93 with all original engine oil seals and 128,000 miles.

jjanak79 · #14 01-02-2010, 11:14 AM

ya my engine leaks a lil but not enought that i ever have to worry about it. I just want better shifts in the winter.

DrIftKi7Vg · #15 01-06-2010, 11:23 AM

Yea I'm thinking Royal Purple, but at my Autozone, there are so many choices for synth. And I am getting hard kick backs when I start and drive here in winter time. Oh and it's a auto trans. Not to hard of a kick but only kicks at me once when backing up and leaving driveway...