I have a 2013 Mazda CX-5 with Skyactive transmission. It has 118,000 miles. Should I drain and change out the transmission fluid? Should I do a do a complete drain and replace the transmission filter? Should I have a Mazda dealership perform this service?
Thank you
Clarification: How does the fluid look? Does it smell burnt? Or any metallic particles embedded? Any issues with shifting?
It’s definitely dark colored. No obvious metal particles. It doesn’t smell burnt. The shifting has always been a little frustrating especially when I need to accelerate to pass or move quickly. I used some Shudder Fix and that helped.
Mazda recommends replacing both the fluid and filter every 50,000 miles (the English owners manual imo is misleading)
I usually recommend doing it every 37,500 miles so that the transmission will reach its full potential and last the owner upwards of 200,000 miles.
failing to do so usually usually cause the central bearing to fail at around 125,000 (200,000km) miles (you’ll hear a humming noise, I do not recommend replacing it preemptively)
I am not sure if you should replace your oil and filter at this point, judging by your description your transmission seems to have been significantly worn out and it may slip with new fluid.
as a rule of thumb, when your transmission is jerking or misbehaving, replace your automatic transmission fluid and inspect the magnets so that they don’t have “hedgehogs” (that would indicate very severe damage).
most owner's manuals will recommend changing the transmission fluid every 90,000 miles or so.
The owners manual and everything I have read online claim the transmission fluid is good for life.
No modern automatic transmissions in existence can last 90,000 miles between oil changes. Most transmissions recommend about 50,000 miles but that can not be used as a rule of thumb because some weaker transmissions, be it a jatco CVT or a Getrag DCT (any many others) may need the oil replaced every 20,000 miles to extend their lifetime.
Never do a flush. If you don't feel confident doing it have the dealer or better yet a trusted mechanic change it. Don't buy the garbage of lifetime fluid. Anywhere between 40 to 60 thousand interval is good.
Should I replace the filter?
No filter change needed
I appreciate the advice, thanks!
You should flush if it’s a Subaru or if you’re working on an EGS hydraulic unit or many more exceptions.
(as a matter of fact something we do on automatics is take out and clean the valve body to free up friction particles and other junk)
Also the oil filter on conventional automatics is placed right on where oil the valve body, always replace the filter on a conventional automatic!
(On some DCTs you can replace the filter every 2 times you replace the oil. But again, that’s not a rule of thumb cause for example on Volvo you have to replace the external filter every time you change the fluid and once in 4-6 oil changes you have to replace the internal)