Pure MPS. Mazda MPS forum.

As this is a UK based site, I thought that I could raise the subject of gearbox oil in the MPS.

My 6MPS car's gearchange is excellent. However Aussie site members complain about their gearchanges and how the stock oil is cheap rubbish and how replacing it with Redline at huge cost transforms their gearboxes. How do 3MPS owners find their gearboxes. Have any changed the oil for "something better". What have been the results?

Any comments?

If I'm honest, I can say it's the worst gearbox I've used. My problem is mainly 2nd/3rd, the rest of the gears go in ok, but should 2nd make a "clunk"sound when selecting? I'm interested to see the out come of this post, as I would like to improve things also!

I cannot change up into 2nd smoothly at all, no matter how hard I try it always seems to result in some jerkiness. Don't have this prob with other gears.

Heard on the Ausie sites that a duff engine mount can cause poor gear selection. Some have replaced the original with a superior aftermarket version.

I only have trouble when the engine is cold. Once its up to temp it seems ok.

Neilo..

Is that on OzMazda? I'm not a member on there - I don't suppose you have a link.
The jerky 2nd gear is the most annoying thing about the 3MPS, if I could fix that the car would be perfect!

There are a number of threads on OzMazdaClub.com to do with rear engine mounts collapsing because they are not up to the job. The aftermarket ones (possibly not available in the UK) reduce wheel hop, improve gear cange and reduce vibration. Join up and have a read.

Never had a problem with it in nearly 36k miles. Ideally, it should have a slightly shorter-throw, and more of the mechanical precision of a Honda CTR/S2000 box, but it's still basically a nice gearbox to use, with sensible ratios. It reacts well to sympathetic changes and rev-matching when cold, then more positive shifts when fully warmed up.

I find that 1st to 2nd is very notchy indeed on the early part of a drive and as soon as all is warmed slightly the whole feel of all of the gears improves dramatically.

Disicap.

+1

It's all about working with the box rather than hauling the stick around the gate. I find short-shifting slightly going up from 2nd to 3rd helps and if you can heel-and-toe down from 3rd to 2nd, that's a boon too. The 'box has got to deal with a boatload of power and torque so it's no wonder its not quite got the finesse of the CTR/S2000 box which only has to deal with half of the twisty force!!