I have a 2010 M6 with a 6 speed transmission which I want to change the fluid. I have the stuff I need (oil, tubing, fitting). I cannot locate for sure what plugs are the fill and drain plugs. I can take a wild guess, but I want to make sure. Also, the plug I think is the fill plug is big, but I don't know the size other than it is bigger than the biggest socket I have which is 17mm.

Is this helpful
http://www.mazda-speed.com/forum2/index.php?topic=20351.0

Oh, and I am guessing the bolts are a 23 or 24 mm. Measure them. They should be the same.

Thanks for chiming in....

My transmission does not look like that. I will try to get some pictures of mine, hopefully today.

I have looked on the internet and even got a book from the library, but these two plugs seem to be some secrete, as if it were a matter of national security. I am so close to getting this done...

Thanks for replying....

Here is what mine looks like.



The picture is taken from the left front looking in the direction to the rear. I am guessing that 1 is the fill plug and 2 is the drain plug. Don't know about 3. Again, I am guessing at this.

Shadowden wrote:Oh, and I am guessing the bolts are a 23 or 24 mm. Measure them. They should be the same.

Visually, all 3 of the bolts are different sizes.

I'd say 1 &2. But since it is different than anything I've worked on I'd advise a shop book for it.

Just found this too:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=157260&d=1254546870

I believe shadow is correct your (3) looks like it might be the reverse detent plug. if you take it out there might be a "chase your face" spring and ball behind it. No harm in removing it just be ready for stuff to come at you!! It also may be a fork guide pin so make sure the car is in neutral if you pull it otherwise it might not line up right.

I went to Pep Boys where I got the oil for the change and asked them. Seems as though 1 is the fill plug and the drain plug is under the transmission not visible in my picture. The mechanic told me both plugs would be either 22 or 24mm. I put a 24 mm socket (left over from my 1988 VW Fox Wagon) and it was a little big, so I am assuming I am going to have to get a 22mm socket from Sears; Harbor Freight (* gasp here *) only sells in sets.

That makes sense. Look for aluminum or copper crush washers. That's a giveaway.

Check single wrenches at a hardware store. Probably get away cheaper unless you will be using them for other stuff.

Shadowden wrote:Check single wrenches at a hardware store. Probably get away cheaper unless you will be using them for other stuff.

Open and box end wrenches are fine for bolt 1. But the drain plug, as I am told, is inset into the transmission so the only way to it is by socket. Just love all those odd jump-in-size sockets in my tool box.

Sears is where I go for large individual sockets too. They have them in bins. Autozone has them too usually.

sfoshag wrote:Open and box end wrenches are fine for bolt 1. But the drain plug, as I am told, is inset into the transmission so the only way to it is by socket. Just love all those odd jump-in-size sockets in my tool box.

Easy solution to that is to buy all the in between sizes too

the socket is technically 23mm
every time I've done it I use the 24mm 12 point wrench and it works just fine, it's not suppose to be tight, I think the torque is like 23ft lbs. for the drain the wrench works just fine too, you just have to angle it a bit.
hopefully this helps. I use the 24mm because my wrench set jumps 21 and 23, but it works

lablue96 wrote:the socket is technically 23mm

I wish I revisited this a few days ago; I was told by a mechanic that the fill and drain plugs were either 22mm or 24mm. My 24mm that I already had was too big.

I went to Sears to exchange the 22mm socket for a 23; seems as though there is no 23mm sockets. The size jumps from 22mm to 24mm. So I got a 23mm open and box end wrench ($16 ).

I made sure I could get the fill plug open BEFORE I opened the drain plug. Once I drained the fluid, I put the drain plug back in and used a 5/8" tube with a funnel on one end and a fitting to go in the hole on the other. I held the fitting in place while Dad poured the oil in through the funnel. It wasn't until after the second quart that I removed the breather plug. (FYI the breather plug is 12mm) That makes the oil flow faster and cleaner.



When I was putting the used oil/fluid in the milk jug to dispose, I found the washer for the drain plug in the bottom of the drain tray. Long story short, I got the plug out, the washer on and the plug back in and put the remaining oil/fluid back in.

Many thanks for the help. In the end, it was an educated guess as which plug was which given the information.

I use brake cleaner to thinly coat anything that oil with come in contact with prior to using it, then using it to clean up.

If anyone is doing this in the near future, let me know. I want to do a DYI video on it since the infinite universe powered by the all knowing internet does not have it.

Contact me via e-mail; I don't visit this site often.

Motor on... zoom zoom.