2012 Mazda 3 Transmission Maintenance

Since the Mazda 3 forums that are out there are only concerned with how to install HID's in your fog lamp housings and making mudflaps out of plastic tote lids, I'll post my actual maintenance questions here.

I have a 2012 Mazda 3 S Touring with the 2.5L/6MT that serves as my daily driver. I just hit 40,000 miles on it last week, and so far it's been a great car. In the past 5,000 miles, I've noticed that shifting has been getting noticeably sloppier and shifting into 2nd gear has been tricky. Most of the time, it's fine, but once a day it will grind into gear. At first, I thought it was a synchro, but after some Googling, I'm pointed toward both a transmission fluid change and replacing the rear motor mount with a a new one that has a ploy bushing.

Now I have a few questions.

First, is the mount on the regular 3 and the Mazdaspeed 3 the same? I know that there are a lot of manufacturers that make these mounts, an from what I see, they look exactly the same whether they are for the regular 3 or the MS3.

Second, who makes the best one? I see them ranging from $80-160, and I don't really care if the NVH levels raise up a bit. If anything, it will make the car better and more engaging. I just want the thing to last.

Third thing: Mazda says that the manual transaxle fluid is "lubed for life", which we all know is BS. Anyone ever change the fluid out on one of these? If so, what fluids are recommended?

Any and all help would be much appreciated.

i think that's an all-new tranny. good luck finding info.

oh wait, you didn't get the skyactiv. maybe someone will actually know.

In reply to belteshazzar:

It's not the Skyactiv 6-speed. This is the 2.5L/6MT that they have been using since 2010.

Well, I found the answer to one question, the mounts are the same.

Now, which one to get.

I'm liking the James Barone Racing chromoly dog bone-style mount. At 88a durometer, it will increase NVH, but whatever. I could actually use a little NVH to keep things interesting, and the benefits far outweigh the negatives. It seems to have good reviews, and the price is right. I was thinking of getting this and the shifter bushings they sell to eliminate any slop once and for all.

Anyone ever do business with James Barone Racing? I'm still a Mazda noob.

I have nothing constructive to add except that I would like to know this stuff as well for my Mazda5.

My 2012 mazda5 has he 2.5/6mt also and I've been wondering the same things. I bought the JBR rear sway bar and it was a well engineered piece so I will go to them when it's time for another purchase. The trans fluid will be changed in the next 10k, I'm at 49k now.

Now I'm trying to decide if I want to get the Chromoly 88a durometer mount or not. I'm afraid that if I get the soft "street" compound one that the issue will still be there.

Also, how effective could these shifter bushings be? They look like I could make my own out of some metal washers. I mean, there's no linkage to firm up (like on a Subaru), they just sit under the shifter assembly. Do they actually do anything?

1. Ask Redline what fluid to use in your transmission and use that.

2. I used a TRZ dogbone rear mount on my 3. No complaints. It is between 85-95 durometer, apparently.

3. No idea about the bushings.