MS6 Fluid Notes & DIY Pictures

TiGraySpeed6

Member
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2006 Speed6 #3476
Notes on fluids & associated part information for the MS6

Please do post corrections or suggestions-
I'll integrate to this post as appropriate

This was mostly copied & pasted from dozens of posts,
or taken from the '06 MS6 owners manual
-notes gathered mostly just to make my life easier.

based on US dollars, quarts or gallons
=============================================

> Fuel Tank
'06 MS6 Manual - 15.9 us gal


> Power steering fluid
'06 MS6 Manual - ATF M-III, M-V, or equivalent (e.g. Dexron II)
dry fill- 1 quart


> Brake/Clutch fluid
'06 MS6 Manual - SAE J1703, or FMVSS116 DOT-3
system flush- 1 liter


> Coolant
'06 MS6 Manual - 8.5 us qts (2.25 us gallons)
Type- Mazda FL22
Mazda OEM - part# 0000-77-508E-20

It seems that only mazda has coolant called "FL22"
Whatever, per their own service bulletin-
"FL22 coolant is compatible with current (Green) ethylene glycol coolant."
Bulletin No: 01-033/07
http://www.mazda6wiki.com/w/images/7/72/01-033-07-1830b.pdf



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> Engine:

5.5 - 6 qts
7 quarts with Balance Shaft removed

'06 MS6 Manual - 5W-30
There's a strong argument being made that 5W-40 or even 10W-40
is better as the slightly thicker viscosity will not seep past the seals
in the turbo and may help prevent the smoking turbo syndrome.

Oil Filter - cartridge style

Oil Filter Part Numbers:
FL-2017B - Motorcraft/Ford OEM cartridge oil filter
L321-14-302-9U - Mazda OEM cartridge oil filter
7203 - Napa Gold cartridge oil filter (made by Wix)
57203 - Wix cartridge oil filter
L15505 Purolator Premium Plus cartridge oil filter
PL15505 Purolator Pure One cartridge oil filter
GL15505 O'Reilly's/Microgard cartridge oil filter
P7313 - Baldwin cartridge oil filter
HP-7013 - K&N cartridge oil filter (made by Champion Labs)
84203 - Carquest cartridge oil filter (made by Wix)
LF594 - Hastings cartridge oil filter
CH9641 - Fram cartridge oil filter
P960 - Champ cartridge oil filter (Champion Labs, makes oil filters for other companies)
S9641 - STP cartridge oil filter (made by Champion Labs)
M1C153 - Mobil1 cartridge oil filter

Oil Filter Wrench - 76mm/14 flutes

Crush Washer-
Mazda OEM - part# 9956-41-400


**NOTE - Short interval oil changes- fuel shear from DISI is bad mojo

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> Tranny:
'06 MS6 Manual - API Service GL-4 (SAE 75W-90)

3 qts - GL-4
2.5 us qts actual fill

-Amsoil
Synthetic Manual Transmission and Transaxle
Gear Lube 75W-90 API GL-4 (MTG)
$12.90/qt retail

-RedLine
MT-90 (75W90 GL-4 Gear Oil)
$11.49/qt retail

-Motorcraft
Ford Manual Transaxle fluid # XT-M5-QS (75W-90 GL-4 Gear Oil)


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> PTO & Rear Diff:
'06 MS6 Manual - API Service GL-5 (SAE 80W-90)

3qts - GL-5
'06 MS6 Manual - pto - 1.3 us qts actual fill
'06 MS6 Manual - r.diff - 1.1 us qts actual fill

-Amsoil
SEVERE GEAR Synthetic Extreme Pressure (EP) Lubricant 75W-90 (SVG) GL-5
$13.25/qt retail
Long Life Synthetic Gear Lube SAE 75W-90 (FGR) GL-5
$11.20/qt retail
**NOTE: My amsoil rep no longer stocks Synthetic Gear Lube SAE 80W-90 (AGL), and states the SVG is substantially better. I have heard from a few folks happily running the SVG in the MS6 rear dif without adding the SlipLock additive, seems it's not needed for the MS6. I removed the AGL from this list, but if you find it locally it will be fine to use.**

-RedLine
75W-90 (75W90 GL-5 Gear Oil)
$10.95/qt retail
**NOTE: Not recommended to run RedLine 75W-90NS - doesn't contain the friction modifiers for limited-slip rear diff**



(retail pricing from maufacturer websites september 2008)



DIY Pictures:

Trans:
both plugs 24mm (note: you will need a box wrench or similar to get at the fill plug)
MT.jpg


Transfer Case/PTO:
drain plug is 24mm and refill plug is 23mm
Transfer.jpg


Rear Differential:
drain plug is indeed 24 mm. and the refill plug is indeed 23 mm.
Rear_diff.jpg


helpful hints:

the plugs are all either 23 or 24mm (see above for specifics)

the crush washers (if you are replacing) are part numbers:
Trans oil plug washer - A601-17-117
T-case oil plug washer - 9956-21-800
Diff oil plug washer - 9956-41-800

A pump of some kind is highly recommended for all three locations.
-Basic, inexpensive hand pumps can be had from almost any parts store
 
Last edited:
good info. i'm looking to do my transfer case and rear diff sometime real soon.
 
Updated the engine oil section with notes on the use of thicker viscosity oils, quantity increase due to balance shaft delete mod and additional oil filters & their part numbers.
 
Thanks for the info.

One question though. Which AMSOIL is better for MS6 transmission fluid.

Amsoil SEVERE GEAR Synthetic Extreme Pressure (EP) Lubricant 75W-90 (SVG) GL-5

or

Amsoil Synthetic Manual Transmission and Transaxle Gear Lube 75W-90 API GL-4 (MTG)

Not sure I'm doing right comparisons though.
 
Use the GL4, which is designed to be gentle to gold metals like brass synchros.

Many a parts counter guy will do their best to sell you the GL5, saying things like "supercedes the GL4" and/or "replaces GL4 for all uses". Nevertheless, there is a reason Mazda specs GL4 for the tranny and GL5 for the rear diff. In my reasearch this was backed up by my Amsoil rep, who suggested the same GL4 & GL5 package as spec'd above. Wasn't even a question for him, it was as simple as "Lube for a manual tranny, you need GL4."


Edit to add:
For the pto & the rear diff - The Severe Gear is the s***. Highly recommended for them!

Quantities needed for all three locations are listed in the original post above- that is, 3 qts of each....
 
Last edited:
Use the GL4, which is designed to be gentle to gold metals like brass synchros.

Many a parts counter guy will do their best to sell you the GL5, saying things like "supercedes the GL4" and/or "replaces GL4 for all uses". Nevertheless, there is a reason Mazda specs GL4 for the tranny and GL5 for the rear diff. In my reasearch this was backed up by my Amsoil rep, who suggested the same GL4 & GL5 package as spec'd above. Wasn't even a question for him, it was as simple as "Lube for a manual tranny, you need GL4."


Edit to add:
For the pto & the rear diff - The Severe Gear is the s***. Highly recommended for them!

Quantities needed for all three locations are listed in the original post above- that is, 3 qts of each....

Thanks dude. I'll definately keep that in mind. By the way, When do you think it's the right time to change the fluids for rear diff? I wonder if it is in our MS6 manual schedule?
 
was hoping to do this today, just a quick question, do i need a pump for all three/any of these? i bought mobil 1 products (availabilty/price), and they came in the longer skinnier bottles.

and I added pics to the first post, since I had to search for them. I credit "misa" on another board for these. Hope you don't mind.
 
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No prob & thanks for the assist!
I didn't want to replace exisiting "how-to" posts, just compliment them, so didn't add any pics originally. Those are "the" pics to use tho, same ones I used the first time I change fluids.

As for where to use a pump, you'll need to be mighty creative to get away without one at all three locations- tranny, pto & rear diff....

I got, and was quite pleased with, the Amsoil one, but decent pumps can be had for dirt cheap at almost any local parts store...


Also- If you would reply with or pm me the Mobil1 details, I'll add them to the list above. Did you follow the GL-4 & GL-5 mazda reccomendations?
 
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Oh, and- (just looked....)

HOLY CRAP I'VE BEEN STICKIED!



hmmmmm
ya know, when typed out that reads kinda gross....


nevertheless, much coolness & thanks!
 
i bought a $8 pump from autozone, hopefully it will do the trick. didn't have a chance to do this today, as i was installing christmas present goodies (Stage 2 SS and rear seat fold down stuff) and then i just got sidetracked.

and yeah, figured with the addition of the pics it should be stickied.
 
next question is how often should they be changed?


manual says for the rear diff and transfer case:

If the vehicle is operated under any of the following conditions, change the rear differential oil every 45,000km {28,100 miles}
a) Driving in dusty, sandy or wet condition
b) Extended periods of idling or low speed operation
c) Repeated short trips of less than 16 km {10 miles}

If this component has been submerged in water, the oil should be changed.

I take that to mean about every 30k.
 
Epic Write Up

Sorry for bringing up a dead post but this maintenance is something everyone should do. Does anyone have torque specs for the plugs? My 6 only has 22k on her and I was quite surprised by the layer of gunk on the magnetic drain plug. Also does anyone have a theory on why only the pto and rear diff have magnetic drain plugs while the trans and oil drain plugs do not have a magnet. I figure the engine filter will catch most particles and that you wouldn't want a huge glob of gunk coming off the plug up through the engine at once. But the trans on the other hand has me scratching my head.
 
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