New to me 92

[coolen]

Good day to all. I am a long time "back yard mechanic" who has just bought his first Mazda. It is a 92 MX-3 Precidia. I got a good deal on this vehicle, I am the 3rd owner of it, and the paper history of the car was passed along to me.

It seems to work pretty good, seems to me though that it should have been a 6 speed instead of a 5. It is a 1.8 24v V6 engine. On hwy speeds it certainly likes it's RPM's. At around 100km/hr she revs at approx 3200!

It needs a small amount of body work around the wheel wells, but certainly nothing serious.

My main questions pertain to oil and MTX fluid. I doubt that the MTX fluid has ever been changed, so I'm kind of curious as to what the popular choice is? The same goes for the motor oil. Oh, and I forgot to mention, it has 230 000km on it. Oil changes were always done, (according to the paper work, and stickers on the windsheild).

I've searched around this site a bit to find quite a bit of debate. I will not be racing this car or anything like that, I just want a fun, reliable car to drive. Any suggestions would be great!

Thanks in advance.

[Ryan]

Yup, those RPM's are typical.

Where do you live?

A solution to the RPM's is an MX-6 transmission, or a 626 sedan 4 cyl 5th gear.

If you live in a place where you get winter, use ATX fluid in the MTX transmission.

If not, use 75W90.

[coolen]

Thanks for the reply. I live in Nova Scotia, and we certainly do get a winter.........brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

The fluid change seems pretty straight forward, big a-- bolt on the bottom of the tranny (drain), and big a-- bolt on top (fill). Fill er' up to the top. I believe I read it was Dex 2?


Thanks!!

[Daninski]

NO!! Not the bolt on top, DO NOT 'fill er up'. There's a bolt on the front side, you fill only to that level. Check the on line manual for fill quantities. Here it is. http://www.mx-3.com/manuals/showimg.php ... TD-017.gif

[coolen]

thanks for the reply. I plan on picking up some fluids today. Also, thanks for that chart!

[dmac]

im new to this so sorry for the noob question. Is there a time on when to replace the transmission fluid? And why would someone replace it? Thanks.

[Nd4SpdSe]

I love how people think a 6th gear is the magic key. In the Mx-3, in 5th gear I was revving around 4000rpms doing about 120km/h, in the Rx-8, in 6th gear, at 4000rpms, I'm at round 125km/h. High RPM's doesn't not mean bad fuel economy, and low revs doesn't mean better economy either, but there of course is a limit. It's all about the leverage, the torque made by the motor at a certain rpm and the work required to move the vehicle combined with it's aerodynamic drag at that speed. Mazda as with all car companies, have all done the math on this, and the revs are right where they need to be.

[Ryan]

It is indeed a good setup. Cruises at 3k, powerband starts at 4... excellent for passing power, either via a downshift if you cruise at 100 kph, or just stomping it if you cruise at 120. It was even in their design criteria

[Nd4SpdSe]

It is indeed a good setup. Cruises at 3k, powerband starts at 4... excellent for passing power, either via a downshift if you cruise at 100 kph, or just stomping it if you cruise at 120. It was even in their design criteria

Oh indeed. My ZE revving at 4000 at 120, man, she was just itching to go. Felt nice to cruise on the highway and have the motor feel like she was ready to go at anytime.

[burgess]

what part of nova scotia are you from coolen?