Miata Mailing List: February 1994, Message #56
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   From: sling@dseg.ti.com (Steven Ling)
Subject: Bra, Redline Gear Oil, '94 R
   Date: Fri, 4 Feb 1994 10:18:34 -0500

>In response to Craig Blakely 

>I'm probably going to get a front end mask (bra for those who prefer that 
>label) to keep the texas bugs off the paint.  I had looked at the Mazda 
>accessories option (the one that just covers the front bumper cover) but am
>inclined to opt for the one that comes up over the headlights instead.  What 
>kind of comments do ya'll have about the relative advantages or
>disadvantages of these two options.

Don't buy the bra from Mazda. I tried theirs, and I couldn't get it to fit 
right. It would leave marks on the paint where it was rubbing. A fellow 
Miataer (Miateer?, Miater?) said he had the same experience. He switched to
the aftermarket bra that has a section that fits on the hood and had no 
problems. I'd buy one, but I'm spending all my money getting my car ready
for autocrossing/road racing. (Just ordered the Hard Dog Sport roll bar...but 
that's another story.)

                                  ****

>In response to JCG 

>Hi all, I'm changing the rear diff fluid in my 91 and have the limited slip.
>I was wondering if red line had a diff fluid I could use instead of the stock
>Mazda fluid.  Please reply dirrectly to me, for I'm not presently on the list.

OK, I'm going to reply to him directly, but I wanted to post this too. A few
months ago I changed to the Redline gear oil in the trans and LS diff in my
'93C. No more crunch going into second gear. Shifts as smooth stone-cold (OK,
a Dallas stone-cold of 25 degrees *above* zero) as it does warm. No problems 
with the LS. The viscous LS always had a little windup (if one tire loses 
traction it takes just a second for the LS to stop it), and the windup didn't 
get any worse with the Redline, maybe a little better. The specific Redline 
products that I used were recommended for the Miata by the Redline factory rep 
in Martinez, CA (510) 228-7576. The NS means "no slip" and is used in the 
trans to help the synchronizers work faster. Using NS in the LS diff would not 
be recommended unless you want to drag one tire around corners. (Apparently 
some racers like to use this.) The diff oil is a little lighter than the Mazda
recommendation, but that's what Redline said to use.

              Qty        Redline       Owners Manual
            ---------  -------------  ---------------
   trans     2.1 qts    75W90NS GL-5   75W90 GL-4/GL-5
   LS diff   0.7 qts    75W90 GL-5     80W/90

Mazda was nice enough to put a drain plug on the diff (my Corvette sure could
have used one) so it's pretty easy to do. All you need is a little hand 
operated oil pump to put the new oil in. And you need a spare $9 *per quart*.

                                 **** 

Finally, a friend of my is waiting *impatiently* to buy a '94R. Has anyone 
seen one for sale yet?
                                  [][][]
     Steve Ling                                Texas Instruments, Inc.
     sling@dseg.ti.com                         P.O. Box 655012, m/s 31
     214-995-1378                              Dallas, Texas  75265