I'm a brand-new member, first post here. I like to do regular maintenance, mostly oil changes, occasional transmission fluid changes, brakes, coolant. Hoping to listen and learn, contribute what I can.
I'd like to change the transmission fluid on a soon-to-be in-the-family 2018 Cx-5, even as early as the one year mark, 15~20K kms. And from then on, longer intervals, maybe even one more around 80K kms, and call it good. I've found the procedure here:
http://www.mcx5.org/automatic_transaxle_fluid_atf_replacement_fw6_a_el_fw6_ax_el_-1005.html
In the above, step 6 indicates a "resupply amount" of 3.5-4.9 liters. That's pretty vague.
Then, to get the fluid level correct, there's this "adjustment" instruction:
http://www.mcx5.org/automatic_transaxle_fluid_atf_adjustment_fw6_a_el_fw6_ax_el_-1003.html
In the above, step 3(a) indicates to: "Connect the M-MDS to the DLC-2 and display the PID TFT". Uh-oh: that doesn't bode well for the lowly DIY'r? I'm
guessing that this entails some Mazda proprietary software, that allow the engine to run in some mode, that's needed to stabilize the fluid level for the check?
Right now, my best bet, possibly only bet, would be to carefully measure what drains, add exactly the same amount, and pray I've got it right.
That's not the way I like to do it though. As a counterpoint, with my Prius, the drill is:
1. Remove fill and drain bolts, let the fluid drain out. (engine off)
2. Replace the drain bolt, and with the car raised
and level, fill fluid through the fill hole, till it starts coming back out.
3. Install fill bolt.
Toyota says the Prius transaxle fluid is "lifetime" too, fwiw. But the Repair Manual has the instruction, roughly per the above.