M5OD Aluminum crush washers for Fill & Drain plugs = NAPA replacement #704-1974

[fixizin]

Does FoMoCo still support our fave reliable Mazda stick-shift tranny? And if so, at what price?

No worries, NAPA Part # 704-1974 will do the job, cheaply, AND... Made In The USA! The NAPA version is both thicker and has larger O.D. (but same I.D.) as the OEM crush washers, but there are zero fit or interference issues.

I torqued them both to the recommended 36 ft-lbs., and 14 months and 5,500 miles later, both are still leak-free. Given that the tranny case is aluminum, and the washer-gaskets can only be crushed so much, best to always stick with that modest torque.

{Pics to follow... if you want...}

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Does FoMoCo still support our fave reliable Mazda stick-shift tranny? And if so, at what price?

No worries, NAPA Part # 704-1974 will do the job, cheaply, AND... Made In The USA! The NAPA version is both thicker and has larger O.D. (but same I.D.) as the OEM crush washers, but there are zero fit or interference issues.

I torqued them both to the recommended 36 ft-lbs., and 14 months and 5,500 miles later, both are still leak-free. Given that the tranny case is aluminum, and the washer-gaskets can only be crushed so much, best to always stick with that modest torque.

{Pics to follow... if you want...}

.....that thing has a torque spec?

And it has a lifespan?

Who knew.

 

[fixizin]

.....that thing has a torque spec?

And it has a lifespan?

Who knew.

I sure as heck didn't know! So the one time I pulled the Fill plug with the OEM gasket (to check the fluid level with mah pinky), I just cranked it back in place "'til it felt right", but it must've been too much, as it leaked slightly (probably during right-hand turns, lol...) until I replaced it with the beefier NAPA part... 36 foot-pounds ain't much, esp. if you were doing lug nuts or leaf-spring hangers earlier in the day!

 

[sgtsandman]

The last time I installed new OEM washers and torqued them to spec, they leaked. I needed to give them a bit more in order to get them to stop.