Dingy towing
I presently own a 2000 Mazda Protégé 5 speed standard. This vehicle is a front wheel drive. I have heard from various sources that I can flat tow it and also that I can't flat tow it. Being a standar...
Forum Discussion
miski wrote:
I presently own a 2000 Mazda Protégé 5 speed standard. This vehicle is a front wheel drive. I have heard from various sources that I can flat tow it and also that I can't flat tow it. Being a standard transmission I do not see why it can't be flat towed. Any suggestions out there and an explanation. If this vehicle can't be flat towed does anyone have a suggestion as to what vehicles manufactured in the last ten years that can.
There are people who believe that ANY manual transmission vehicle can be towed four down.
Sorry, but this is just not true!
The problem, as always, is in the lubrication. SOME manual transmissions are splash lubed from the cluster gear. This gear turns ONLY when the engine is running and the clutch is engaged. With the engine OFF, there is no lubricant being splashed around inside the transmission, and the main shaft bearings will eventually dry out and be damaged. Depending on the design of the tranny, this could take many thousands of miles of being towed. Of course, every time the vehicle is started and driven, the lubricant is splashed around again. This is why my old 1963 Corvair specified that the engine had to be started and run with the tranny in Neutral for a couple minutes every 250 miles!
Will YOU be one of the lucky ones, whose transmission holds up to the abuse? We won't know until you try it.
Good luck!
