mazda m5od
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Joined: Aug 2003
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mazda m5od
was this tranny designed for use in a f150 or was it a carryover from the mazda pickups? why is automatic trans fluid used in it? better fuel milage maybe? will it hurt to use regular gear lube? is this tranny durable in long term use? why can you tow so much more with an automatic? thanks
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
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From: BC, Canada
As far as I know this transmission was designed and built for Ford by Mazda and not used originally by Mazda. Ford also uses this transmission in the Ranger though so the newer Mazda pickups would have it too. They also used the same basic transmission in the T-Bird SuperCoupe.
I believe the transmission uses Dexron in it for better fuel mileage and easier shifting, especially when cold.
From what I've seen the synchros in these and in the heavy duty ZF dont like regular gear oil. It seems to cause the blocker rings to stretch and wear.
Overall they are a pretty good transmission. The early ones wore out shift forks regularly but by the early to mid 90's they seem to have cured that. The early ones leaked quite often too but the later ones arent as bad.
An automatic transmission is way more forgiving which is why it can tow more. You dont have to worry about dumping the clutch and blowing anything up or smoking the clutch when you try to take off with too much load or in the wrong gear. There is a lot less shock to the whole driveline with an automatic.
I believe the transmission uses Dexron in it for better fuel mileage and easier shifting, especially when cold.
From what I've seen the synchros in these and in the heavy duty ZF dont like regular gear oil. It seems to cause the blocker rings to stretch and wear.
Overall they are a pretty good transmission. The early ones wore out shift forks regularly but by the early to mid 90's they seem to have cured that. The early ones leaked quite often too but the later ones arent as bad.
An automatic transmission is way more forgiving which is why it can tow more. You dont have to worry about dumping the clutch and blowing anything up or smoking the clutch when you try to take off with too much load or in the wrong gear. There is a lot less shock to the whole driveline with an automatic.
