Mazda Miata 5 Speed Transmission Fluid Specs
by Mike Southern
Mazda Miatas are not just fun to drive -- they are also relatively inexpensive to operate and maintain. Regular replacement of the fluid in your five-speed manual transmission helps keep your Miata running dependably.
Gear Performance Spec
Automotive gear lubricants must handle all the power demands placed on them by rapidly-turning gears without breaking down. The two-gear performance specifications that Mazda recommends for use in its five-speed manual transmissions are API Service GL-4 and API Service GL-5. Either is acceptable.
SAE Spec
Miatas use a multi-viscosity fluid for better performance in climates where temperatures may change significantly. This allows a single type of fluid to be used all year. Mazda recommends SAE 75W-90 multi-viscosity transmission fluid.
Capacity
Mazda lists the five-speed manual transmission sump's oil capacity as 2.1 quarts, which is the same as 1.8 imperial quarts or 2.0 liters. However, it is not unusual for the transmission to be full with only 1.8 or 1.9 quarts.
Change Frequency
All lubricants eventually break down. Even if you use the correct fluid in your transmission, it will not do any good if it is used for too long. Mazda's standard maintenance schedule calls for the transmission fluid to be changed every 30,000 miles.
References
- "MX-5 Miata 1999 Owner's Manual"; Mazda Motor Company; 1997
- MX-5Miata.net: Maintenance
- Lubrizol: API GL-5 Clearing Up the Confusion
Writer Bio
North Carolina native Mike Southern has been writing since 1979. He is the author of the instructional golf book "Ruthless Putting" and edited a collection of swashbuckling novels. Southern was trained in electronics at Forsyth Technical Community College and is also an occasional woodworker.
