average life for the M50D-R2

[FL_forlife33]

? i know this is super vague, and there's no definitive answer.. but is there a generally agreed upon lifetime for these trannies? are they reliable? i have one, i'm thinking it's gonna take a sh*t soon. miserable to drive, could just be a clutch though. horrible drive-line noises, nasty shifting, i mean my truck is driving so poorly, i have no idea where to start. not the engine though, engine runs fine. i shift into neutral and rev, she purrs just fine.

so anyone's opinion/s would be awesome.

also, do any tranny additives help at all? i've heard nothing but good things about all lucas products, do the lucas tranny additives do anything for manuals?

 

[superds]

The Mazda M5OD-R1 found in Rangers is very reliable. Many people on here have attested to several hundred thousand miles on them. I have an R1 tranny but I'm unsure of the miles on it, it is a replacement for the original transmission many years ago, after the first tranny went bad (I assume from being low on tranny fluid). They like to leak from the top breather plugs, so make sure it is properly filled with fluid (ATF, not gear lube). You can stop this problem by replacing the breathers with new ones or plugs (there's a doorman plug part number floating around here in several places), check the tech section for more info: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/shift_rail_plug_maintenance.htm

EDIT: I assume you're actually referring to the Mazda R1 tranny. But many of the same principles apply to the M5OD-R2 found in F150s.

 

[FL_forlife33]

yes

R-1, my bad, i have a 99 3.0 liter 4x4, 5-speed

the fluid is fine, i've always checked it. i've heard that "shocking the system" by flushing any tranny with over 70,000 original miles is just a bad idea, to just leave original fluid in is a better bedt? however, i know there's a ford tsb about switching to mercon V for my truck. should i flush, and replace fluid? there's never been any leaks, i check often. i'm thinking i just need a new clutch or something, or pinion bearing. i need a serious drivetrain tech. to diagnose it, i love my truck, and don't want it to screw me on the side of the road one day.

 

[superds]

Well, I'm certainly no drivetrain technician so I won't be able to help you very much.

But the myth that you shouldn't change tranny fluid after xx miles generally has been meant for automatic transmisions, not manual transmissions. This myth is believed to be false by many knowledgable people.

If the fluid is dirty or has reached its regular change interval you should be fine changing tranny fluid to whatever is specified either in the owner's manual or in the TSB, if there is one for your vehicle.