# Stymied by bad oil change **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 21, 2016, 4:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574 "2016-02-21T04:33:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/21 "2016-02-21T06:34:25Z")
It’s easiler to accidentally drain an automatic tranny than a manual, just b/c or where the drain plug is usually located, and what the case looks like. OP, is your car a manual tranny or automatic? ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/22 "2016-02-21T06:34:37Z")
Is there some reason that you won’t at least look at the ATF level? ---
**Author:** ![im1dermike](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/im1dermike/32/6578_2.png) [@im1dermike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/im1dermike)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 6:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/23 "2016-02-21T06:37:15Z")
Car is automatic. I will check the transmission fluid level tomorrow. I’m not currently with the vehicle. The plug was 3/4". The pan it was removed from was covered in oil. Not sure if it was steel or aluminum. Thanks again all. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 6:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/24 "2016-02-21T06:38:19Z")
I don’t know what model year you have On my brother’s 2010 Mazda 3, the engine oil pan is cast aluminum, and the drain plug is horizontal The transmission pan is stamped steel, and the drain plug faces straight down FWIW ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 6:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/25 "2016-02-21T06:38:34Z")
Here’s a prerty good _show and tell_ of the oil change procedure for a Mazda 3. OP, does anything look different than what you did? > **[Changing the Oil on a Mazda 3 2.3L](https://howtune.com/articles/102-changing-the-oil-on-a-mazda-3)** > > Changing your own oil makes you a self-reliant hero. It's easy, I promise. Official Mazda 3 Oil Maintenance Schedule: Change oil every 7.5k mi. / 12k km. Change oil filter every 7.5k mi. / 12k km. Mazda calls for 5W-20, and there are quite a few... ---
**Author:** ![im1dermike](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/im1dermike/32/6578_2.png) [@im1dermike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/im1dermike)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 6:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/26 "2016-02-21T06:46:32Z")
That link didn’t make it completely clear, but I did come across [this](http://www.mazda3forums.com/95-maintenance-care/331789-how-drain-flush-atf-fluid-atx-mazda-3-a.html) page and… I think I drained the transmission fluid. That guy’s fluid is dark too. I’m kicking myself at the thought of it. Again, I’ll confirm tomorrow, but I feel like a horses ass at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 6:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/27 "2016-02-21T06:48:03Z")
@GeorgeSanJose That’s a very good article you posted My brother’s car has an old school spin on filter, not a cartridge The author of that article said that lately, he’s not been replacing the cartridge housing o-rings. I’ve seen guys get themselves into trouble by not replacing them. They do get hard and flat, and may not seal properly a second or third time. And as for that belly pan . . . I disagree that somebody choosing to NOT cut a hole in it is a “sucker” That belly pan has more than one purpose. It’s a sort of splash pan to catch leaking fluid and prevent it from hitting your driveway. But it’s also a sort of skid plate. I prefer to leave belly pans unmodified ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 6:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/28 "2016-02-21T06:50:16Z")
Don’t beat yourself up. This mistake is not at all uncommon for newbies, especially on some vehicles. Unfortunately, it can damage the transmission and the engine both for different reasons. Hopefully once you get the fluids right the symptoms will disappear. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 7:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/29 "2016-02-21T07:12:15Z")
With the trouble the OP had with this oil change I hope he had the dealer service the new 2016 he wrote about in December 2015 ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/30 "2016-02-21T17:14:39Z")
@im1dermike: Even though this board is filled with an amazing depth of technical talent, each one of us has a story or two like yours in our past. ---
**Author:** ![im1dermike](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/im1dermike/32/6578_2.png) [@im1dermike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/im1dermike)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 10:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/31 "2016-02-21T22:52:11Z")
Buffoonery rectified. This morning I filled the empty ATF tank and did another oil change. Afterward, there was one or two instances of skipping and smoke out the tail pipe. I’m hopeful this little bit of smoking was just residuals from basically double filling the oil and the instance of slipping was just the transmission fluid working it’s way through the transmission. I’m going to keep an eye on it for a few days and pray no damage was done to the trans. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/32 "2016-02-21T23:08:15Z")
Hopefully you used the ATF that is recommended in the manual. Some models are very sensitive to that. ---
**Author:** ![im1dermike](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/im1dermike/32/6578_2.png) [@im1dermike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/im1dermike)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/33 "2016-02-21T23:16:29Z")
Indeed I did. M-V ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 11:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/34 "2016-02-21T23:38:32Z")
A few years ago I changed the oil in a 2000 Camry V6, my first time on that car. Indeed, when I went to move the car it wouldn’t go up an incline. Opps, when I check my work I had drained the auto tranny and not the oil at all. This is a pretty easy mistake on most FWD cars. I quickly found the real oil pan drain on the side of the motor. No harm done in my case but it had me going for a moment. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/35 "2016-02-21T23:49:56Z")
Glad you used the correct M-V fluid Believe it or not, a lot of guys mistakenly think that means Mercon V . . . not so And thanks for the updates ---
**Author:** ![im1dermike](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/im1dermike/32/6578_2.png) [@im1dermike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/im1dermike)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/36 "2016-02-22T00:06:36Z")
@db4690 : wait what? The guy at pep boys said M-V was Mercon-V. ---
**Author:** ![im1dermike](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/im1dermike/32/6578_2.png) [@im1dermike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/im1dermike)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/37 "2016-02-22T00:16:26Z")
Just called another location and was told the same thing ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/38 "2016-02-22T00:35:35Z")
Pep boys is **NOT** an expert on anything, except taking your money. From a Mazda PDF: (Bulletin No: 05-005/08) CORRECT APPLICATIONS FOR ATF M-V (TYPE M5) AND MERCON®V AUTO- MATIC TRANSMISSION FLUIDS APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS 2004 - 2008 Mazda3 A/T 2006 - 2008 Mazda5 A/T NOTE: Always be sure to use the correct automatic transmission fluid when replacing ATF. Using the wrong ATF may cause shift quality complaints or may even damage the transmission. ATF M-V (TYPE M5) IS NOT THE SAME FLUID AS MERCON®V ATF. Model Required Service Fluid Mazda Part Number Mazda3 ATF M-V (TYPE M5) 0000-77-112E-01 Mazda5 ATF M-V (TYPE M5) 0000-77-112E-01 ---
**Author:** ![im1dermike](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/im1dermike/32/6578_2.png) [@im1dermike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/im1dermike)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 12:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/39 "2016-02-22T00:57:16Z")
I’m sick to my stomach right now ---
**Author:** ![im1dermike](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/im1dermike/32/6578_2.png) [@im1dermike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/im1dermike)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 1:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574/40 "2016-02-22T01:05:01Z")
Tomorrow I’ll take it to my shop and have them flush the transmission and add the correct fluid. My main concern at this point is if there is any damage to the transmission. Should I have the shop see if there is or will they be able to tell without deconstructing the trans which I assume would be expensive? Then I guess I’ll take pep boys to small claims court. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stymied-by-bad-oil-change/92574.md?page=3)