I changed my fluid to motorcraft in my 2002 Miata 6 Speed and it’s really helped with second gear grinding. Also it shifts better period. Gets better after you run it awhile. I highly recommend changing it.
I just bought my first Miata. It's a 1993 Mariner Blue Base edition. I'm in the process of ordering the Shifter Kit and will need to replace the transmission fluid soon. Thank you for making these videos!
The easy way to fill Miata manual transmission is from the engine compartment using a inch diameter clear hose from Home Depot run the hose from the engine compartment all the way to the fill hole then attach a funnel on that clear hose and start pouring that gear oil till it overflows on the side of the transmission and is full
Big Tea that’s awesome! Thanks for watching. Most of my videos are for much needed maintenance on the NA, so feel free to use my channel as a reference. I’m sure you’ll love that little car like the rest of us. 😎
Thanks for the informative video! Just bought my miata and did and oil change on it the other day but figured I should change the trans fluid as well since it sat for years so this helps a ton!
@@BecauseMiata Yeah, I'm torn between buying a cheaper NB Miata, or buying something more expensive like an S2000 or a C5Z. It's a second vehicle so not super worried about reliability and what not. The ND Miata I drove was fun but the roads here in KS are super boring, and I haven't ever Autocrossed, so I am not sure a Miata would scratch my itch!
@@jg9774 If you like the NB Miata, look for a Mazdaspeed edition! It comes with a turbo from the factory! Watch some comparison videos between Miata and S2000. Some people actually prefer the Miata over the S2000 even though it has less power. They just liked the way it feels to drive. Bottom line is test drive everything you can, and then decide. If you like the NB styling, look for a Mazdaspeed edition. Good luck!
Great video. If the trans fluid is even marginally better, I will absolutely go out of the way to get it even if it's just my daily. If it's 20 extra bucks and 20 extra minutes for me to get it, that is worth it for a 5% increase in longevity over 50k miles until the next change. Trans/diff/engine oil are three things I will never cheap out on.
I feel so stupid. I always struggle with filling the transmission back up again since my pump doesn't reach the bottom of the fluid bottles. Then I saw you attacked a tube to it so it reaches down all the way. Genius!
I saw where you jacked the car up that almost made me stop watching the video then realized you were running full synthetic in your trans I instantly paused typed this out and am now leaving good luck!
The motorcraft fluid is worth it but I didn’t really notice until about 1000 miles later. Just fyi. It will continue to improve over time. Strangely enough, I only needed just under two bottles before mine was filled up. Don’t flush the transmission. Just drain and refill.
teutonalex you have a 1.6 man? I don’t know if I should buy 2 or 3 qts because motorcraft is kinda pricey. Was it enough for transmission and shifter turret?
Flyindingy Ya a 1.6 na6. You only need two quarts and the shifter turret doesn’t need anything fancy and anything will do. It only takes like three shot glasses full.
I'm hoping that you have plans for replacing the rear window & top fairly soon... When my rear window started doing that brown "burn" a few years ago, it lasted another 6 months or so before becoming totally opaque and cracking. We spent a weekend replacing the entire top (including a new rain rail)... Definitely a do-able project. Keep up the good work! :-)
Yes, I am planning to replace the top within the next few months. About 2 weeks ago I found a 4 inch slit in the middle of the window, so I have clear packing tape on the outside and inside to keep the rain out. It's wild how fast the window has started to brown and deteriorate. It was almost overnight that I noticed it changing. So yep...that will be a new video when I decide to pull the trigger on that project. I have about 3 more projects in line ahead of that though, so stay tuned ;)
If I could politely point out that your description should read...'Today I replaced the transmission fluid on my '97 mazda Miata...' 'changed out' makes no grammatical sense whatsoever. :) Video was very helpful though. Many thanks.
Tu video es muy educativo para mi solo tiene un inconveniente puedo entender tu idioma muy poco pero se compensa con la tradición pero esta va demaciado rápida para mi vista ya que tengo problemas en esta .Pero estoy muy satisfecho con tu explicación me a resultado de mucha utilidad solo baja la velocidad de la tradición suerte
Unfortunately i have an automatic transmission {yeah I know, why would anyone put an automatic transmission on a sports car} and can' find any videos to tap up and replace the fluid, do you have any recommendations as to where i can go to find that?
What's not to like? C'mon guys SUBSCRIBE !!! another great video my friend. Thank you. I don't recall the filler bolt being wierd like yours when I did my fluids on Mia last year. Maybe UK spec is different or perhaps it depends on the year. Mia is a 1995 model. As I remember yours is an early one isn't it?
Mine is a '97 and my personal favorite year of Miata (not just because I own one). One reason is that the 96 - 97 years have an OBDII port so you can scan it for codes. My filler bolt is a 4 point square head type of bolt. It's a 9/16th size, so if you have a 9/16 box wrench (spanner) or either a 4 or 8 point socket, you should be fine.
Yes, same 1.8 engine as yours; but some laws required all cars in 1996 to add OBDII ports under the dash. I believe the '94 - 97 cars all have the same 1.8 engine. I also believe the 1.6 was still an option over in Europe during those years, but not here in the States. So our engines are the same, but the 96-97 models had a few small tweaks made to the emissions and computer that gained a couple extra horsepower over the 94-95 models. That's funny that you named your car Mia. My car is an NA8...so I named him Nate. A good male name since he's got balls...LOL.
Please excuse my lack of knowledge/experience but I've just watched your video on rebuilding the shifter. On that video you drained it from within the car and also finned it there too. Is this a different part of the transmission? As you can tell I'm a complete beginner. Cheers from UK.
No worries mate, we all start learning somewhere. So yeah, there are 2 parts of the transmission to replace fluid. The turret section underneath the actual shifter inside the car (seen in my other video about shifters), and then the actual transmission housing underneath the outside of the car (seen in this video).
@@BecauseMiata Ah thanks for clearing that up for me! I ended up draining and rebuilding the shifter as per your other vid. When replacing the oil mine began to leak out of the bottom of the car, which is very worrying... When I felt around I couldn't feel any cracks or holes though so not sure what's going on there
I don't remember seeing any type of washer on the plugs. I did not use any sealant either. I just put it back the way I found it. Absolutely no leaks, no problems.
Great question. You are correct, it is a square bolt and many people do use an adjustable wrench. The main problem with that is these bolts are notorious for a few reasons...1) They're notorious for being on really tight and hard to get off, and 2) they're notorious for rounding off the bolt head with adjustable wrenches. The socket that I used alleviates any worry about this. You can put it on a breaker bar to easily get the bolt off with no worries of rounding off its head. I put a link in the description if you're unable to find one locally. The right tool makes all the difference.
You can use whatever you like, but since your '99 is pretty much the same as my '97 (mechanically speaking), I would go with the fluid I used in the video. It's been great so far!
Yeah, if you're doing the job only once, don't buy the socket. But if you're keeping the car for a long time and work on it yourself, that socket will come in handy. That bolt is notorious for its head rounding off.
I've never changed fluids on an automatic Miata, but generally speaking it should be the same. I would recommend jacking up the car and looking underneath. You need to look for a drain plug on the bottom of the trans case, and a fill plug on the upper side of it. Consult your owners manual (or look online) to see which fluid is recommended. Good luck ;)
Help! Is there a dipstick for the transmission fluid? It’s been a while since I’ve checked!!! Don’t drive it much (1990). If there is, where is it? I took it to the parts place and they were not able to find it. That’s how I found your video. I feel something is NOT right and it does have clutch fluid.😊
David Hill if you’re ever on the Miata forums, just about every poll on which is the best for this car, the Motorcraft is always on top. People swear by it, and I haven’t had any problems with it either. Any brand will work fine though. Use whatever you have access to. 😎
This video is specifically for people that want to watch a 20 minute video that walks them through all the details. If you want to watch a short video, there are plenty of those on UA-cam. There are also longer videos out there. 20 minutes seems to be just right based on all of the positive comments here. Thanks for watching!
Good call on loosening the fill plug before draining.
Just like outboard boat !😊
i bought a supercharged hardtop NA today and im binge watching your vids. definitely helpful
Congrats on the new ride! Yeah man, take care of all the maintenance first, and then enjoy the hell out of it!
I changed my fluid to motorcraft in my 2002 Miata 6 Speed and it’s really helped with second gear grinding. Also it shifts better period. Gets better after you run it awhile. I highly recommend changing it.
What about the 5 speed I'm thinking about doing my first fluid change with the unicorn tears
@@chasemoore1281 Try it
I just bought my first Miata. It's a 1993 Mariner Blue Base edition. I'm in the process of ordering the Shifter Kit and will need to replace the transmission fluid soon. Thank you for making these videos!
Wolfenscheid I’m glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching!
You have great videos. Good sense of humor, practical knowledge and good presentation. Thanks for putting it out there.
I know this was posted a while ago, but it walked me through the fluid swap on my NA! Thanks so much! 💕🔥
The easy way to fill Miata manual transmission is from the engine compartment using a inch diameter clear hose from Home Depot run the hose from the engine compartment all the way to the fill hole then attach a funnel on that clear hose and start pouring that gear oil till it overflows on the side of the transmission and is full
Just tuned in. Picking up an NA that’s been sitting for two years and that’s going to be a fun project. Thanks!
Big Tea that’s awesome! Thanks for watching. Most of my videos are for much needed maintenance on the NA, so feel free to use my channel as a reference. I’m sure you’ll love that little car like the rest of us. 😎
Thanks for the informative video! Just bought my miata and did and oil change on it the other day but figured I should change the trans fluid as well since it sat for years so this helps a ton!
I don't even own a Miata and just watched this in its entirety. Great video my dude!
Thanks, man! I love Miatas because they're super fun to drive, but also very affordable and easy to work on. Great project cars!
@@BecauseMiata Yeah, I'm torn between buying a cheaper NB Miata, or buying something more expensive like an S2000 or a C5Z. It's a second vehicle so not super worried about reliability and what not. The ND Miata I drove was fun but the roads here in KS are super boring, and I haven't ever Autocrossed, so I am not sure a Miata would scratch my itch!
@@jg9774 If you like the NB Miata, look for a Mazdaspeed edition! It comes with a turbo from the factory! Watch some comparison videos between Miata and S2000. Some people actually prefer the Miata over the S2000 even though it has less power. They just liked the way it feels to drive. Bottom line is test drive everything you can, and then decide. If you like the NB styling, look for a Mazdaspeed edition. Good luck!
Great video. If the trans fluid is even marginally better, I will absolutely go out of the way to get it even if it's just my daily. If it's 20 extra bucks and 20 extra minutes for me to get it, that is worth it for a 5% increase in longevity over 50k miles until the next change. Trans/diff/engine oil are three things I will never cheap out on.
I feel so stupid. I always struggle with filling the transmission back up again since my pump doesn't reach the bottom of the fluid bottles. Then I saw you attacked a tube to it so it reaches down all the way. Genius!
You can use a 16 mm metric socket for the fill bolt no need for special 8 tooth sockets
only if it's a 12 point.
I saw where you jacked the car up that almost made me stop watching the video then realized you were running full synthetic in your trans I instantly paused typed this out and am now leaving good luck!
R u okay that’s where you jack almost any car lmao
@@devintower2021 😅😅😅😅 I Jack my miata there no issues
Thanks for the video!
Thanks for the vid, tutorial and your thoughts. Love the vids and those intros are just great. Top work
Thank you so much for watching! I appreciate the kind words.
Very informative. Thank you.
Appreciated the info, and smiled at the t-shirt!
Excellent video. I am about to do this and you gave some great tips, especially with the socket sizes. Just subbed
Thank you so much for this informative video. I am now going to try it out on my MX5 NB (Miata)
Are those baby unicorns "_Free_ _Range_ ", " _Grass_ _Fed_ ", " _Humanely_ _Raised_ " and "_Sustainably_ _Farmed_ " uncorns, or Evil Capitalist, Industrial Farmed, Cruelly Reared veals?
The motorcraft fluid is worth it but I didn’t really notice until about 1000 miles later. Just fyi. It will continue to improve over time.
Strangely enough, I only needed just under two bottles before mine was filled up.
Don’t flush the transmission. Just drain and refill.
teutonalex you have a 1.6 man? I don’t know if I should buy 2 or 3 qts because motorcraft is kinda pricey. Was it enough for transmission and shifter turret?
Flyindingy Ya a 1.6 na6. You only need two quarts and the shifter turret doesn’t need anything fancy and anything will do. It only takes like three shot glasses full.
I appreciate your video
1:36 - did anyone else noticed the stands were only on 2 of the 4 feet each?
I'm hoping that you have plans for replacing the rear window & top fairly soon... When my rear window started doing that brown "burn" a few years ago, it lasted another 6 months or so before becoming totally opaque and cracking. We spent a weekend replacing the entire top (including a new rain rail)... Definitely a do-able project. Keep up the good work! :-)
Yes, I am planning to replace the top within the next few months. About 2 weeks ago I found a 4 inch slit in the middle of the window, so I have clear packing tape on the outside and inside to keep the rain out. It's wild how fast the window has started to brown and deteriorate. It was almost overnight that I noticed it changing. So yep...that will be a new video when I decide to pull the trigger on that project. I have about 3 more projects in line ahead of that though, so stay tuned ;)
If I could politely point out that your description should read...'Today I replaced the transmission fluid on my '97 mazda Miata...' 'changed out' makes no grammatical sense whatsoever. :) Video was very helpful though. Many thanks.
Good video! Thanks for the tip on the 9/16 eight point socket. Did you have to use all 2 quarts of the unicorn tears?
I didn't use all 2 quarts, but I'd rather have a little extra than not enough.
Advanced got me with 2 larger bottles and I only needed one. Actually a little less. Lol. But I have more for later
Great instructions I really appreciate it!
Tu video es muy educativo para mi solo tiene un inconveniente puedo entender tu idioma muy poco pero se compensa con la tradición pero esta va demaciado rápida para mi vista ya que tengo problemas en esta .Pero estoy muy satisfecho con tu explicación me a resultado de mucha utilidad solo baja la velocidad de la tradición suerte
Life saver
Unfortunately i have an automatic transmission {yeah I know, why would anyone put an automatic transmission on a sports car} and can' find any videos to tap up and replace the fluid, do you have any recommendations as to where i can go to find that?
Awesome videos man. Very informative and fun to watch. Maybe speed up (time lapse) those slow moments when messing with the nuts and bolts though.
Thanks for watching, and for the constructive criticism! I'll keep that in mind next time :)
What's not to like?
C'mon guys SUBSCRIBE !!!
another great video my friend. Thank you.
I don't recall the filler bolt being wierd like yours when I did my fluids on Mia last year. Maybe UK spec is different or perhaps it depends on the year. Mia is a 1995 model. As I remember yours is an early one isn't it?
Mine is a '97 and my personal favorite year of Miata (not just because I own one). One reason is that the 96 - 97 years have an OBDII port so you can scan it for codes.
My filler bolt is a 4 point square head type of bolt. It's a 9/16th size, so if you have a 9/16 box wrench (spanner) or either a 4 or 8 point socket, you should be fine.
OK so she's a 1.8 then? Like Mia.
Yes, same 1.8 engine as yours; but some laws required all cars in 1996 to add OBDII ports under the dash. I believe the '94 - 97 cars all have the same 1.8 engine. I also believe the 1.6 was still an option over in Europe during those years, but not here in the States. So our engines are the same, but the 96-97 models had a few small tweaks made to the emissions and computer that gained a couple extra horsepower over the 94-95 models. That's funny that you named your car Mia. My car is an NA8...so I named him Nate. A good male name since he's got balls...LOL.
For taking off the filler you can use a 15mm wrench
9/16 is equivalent to 14mm
Please excuse my lack of knowledge/experience but I've just watched your video on rebuilding the shifter. On that video you drained it from within the car and also finned it there too. Is this a different part of the transmission? As you can tell I'm a complete beginner.
Cheers from UK.
No worries mate, we all start learning somewhere. So yeah, there are 2 parts of the transmission to replace fluid. The turret section underneath the actual shifter inside the car (seen in my other video about shifters), and then the actual transmission housing underneath the outside of the car (seen in this video).
@@BecauseMiata Ah thanks for clearing that up for me! I ended up draining and rebuilding the shifter as per your other vid. When replacing the oil mine began to leak out of the bottom of the car, which is very worrying...
When I felt around I couldn't feel any cracks or holes though so not sure what's going on there
@@Boqaj_ What year and 5 speed or 6 speed? I believe the NB model 6 speed transmissions don't have a separate turret to fill.
@@shakysliders1689 hi it's a Mk1 1991 5 speed eunos. Cheers
Bocaj did you use a funnel? Perhaps it dripped off the sides?
Im 8 and don’t even own a car, heck idek what a miata is but i watched your video
Thanks for watching! You're never too young or old to learn a new skill.
You need more subs.
Good stuff👍
Thank you for watching!
How many bottles did you use to refill?
Did your 5 speed hold 2 quarts ?
Were there any gasket washers for those plugs or did you need to add any thread sealant? Any leaks or troubles afterward?
I don't remember seeing any type of washer on the plugs. I did not use any sealant either. I just put it back the way I found it. Absolutely no leaks, no problems.
2:15
I thought the Miata had a pan that you just drop.
The Miata has an oil pan under the engine, but we're specifically talking about the transmission in this video, and there is no tray for that.
The magnetic plug is OEM?
Yes, my magnetic drain plug is OEM.
Nice but you take chances jacking the car this way!
The fill plus looks like a square, can’t you use just a adjustable wrench to get it off?
Great question. You are correct, it is a square bolt and many people do use an adjustable wrench. The main problem with that is these bolts are notorious for a few reasons...1) They're notorious for being on really tight and hard to get off, and 2) they're notorious for rounding off the bolt head with adjustable wrenches. The socket that I used alleviates any worry about this. You can put it on a breaker bar to easily get the bolt off with no worries of rounding off its head. I put a link in the description if you're unable to find one locally. The right tool makes all the difference.
Ur stuff is so dry.... my car if full of oil and gunk... man I wish I was blessed by the Miata gods to have less leaks
Subbed!
Welcome! Thanks for subscribing...I’ll try not to let you down. 😎
I like the video subscribed x3
linkastillo x thanks so much; I appreciate it!!!
What oil do I use for a 1999 miata 5 speed
You can use whatever you like, but since your '99 is pretty much the same as my '97 (mechanically speaking), I would go with the fluid I used in the video. It's been great so far!
Because Miata thank you
How many quarts of motor craft did you have to put in?
Nic Jacobs it says three quarts in the description
need 2 bottles, fa9tuning has there cheapest price.
Ion feel like buying a whole socket just to loosen a bolt 😂😂
Yeah, if you're doing the job only once, don't buy the socket. But if you're keeping the car for a long time and work on it yourself, that socket will come in handy. That bolt is notorious for its head rounding off.
Is this the same for automatic transmission?
I've never changed fluids on an automatic Miata, but generally speaking it should be the same. I would recommend jacking up the car and looking underneath. You need to look for a drain plug on the bottom of the trans case, and a fill plug on the upper side of it. Consult your owners manual (or look online) to see which fluid is recommended. Good luck ;)
Should the dipstick be out while draining?
No. The transmission fluid is separated from the engine oil as it stays within the transmission housing. The dipstick in or out does not affect it.
Help! Is there a dipstick for the transmission fluid? It’s been a while since I’ve checked!!! Don’t drive it much (1990). If there is, where is it? I took it to the parts place and they were not able to find it. That’s how I found your video. I feel something is NOT right and it does have clutch fluid.😊
Why Motorcraft MTF rather than the 8 zillion other choices?
David Hill if you’re ever on the Miata forums, just about every poll on which is the best for this car, the Motorcraft is always on top. People swear by it, and I haven’t had any problems with it either. Any brand will work fine though. Use whatever you have access to. 😎
Can't go wrong with motorcraft or redline, but from some of the more experienced racers I've learned to use amsoil
I live in san ysidro ca they sell em cheap at home depot
Why did you have to make this a 20 minute video...
This video is specifically for people that want to watch a 20 minute video that walks them through all the details. If you want to watch a short video, there are plenty of those on UA-cam. There are also longer videos out there. 20 minutes seems to be just right based on all of the positive comments here. Thanks for watching!