The motorcraft stuff seems pretty popular, despite the cost. Redline and Amsoil also seem to be favorites. Depending on how you drive it anywhere between 30 and 60k is usually a safe bet for changes.
I was planning to run MTL in mine as well. It's used almost solely for autocross.
Redline's fluid for the Mazda2 would be MT85. Which is 75w85(Mazda factory weight).
MTL is thinner as a 75w80 fluid.
I'm not so sure I'd run a thinner than factory fluid unless you live in a cold climate, but if Derrick is having good luck actually racing it then it's probably not enough to matter in the real world.
I'll be putting MT85 in mine before the auto-x season starts.
The owners manual says 75w80 and the application guide on redline's site says the 2 should take MTL. Although I have seen online different people saying it calls for 75w85 and even 75w90.
Has anybody had experience with any easy to find tranny fluids such as mobil1? If not, I may just order the redline stuff. At over 30k, mine is way overdue.
1) Go to Ford dealer
2) Grab XT-M5-QS
3) Dump in gearbox
4) ??????
5) PROFIT!