diff and gearbox oil change qs

[dabofoppo]

bought some redline oil for the diff and gearbox, and i've been doing some searching for how-to's online. i found these 2, which look useful:
http://www.techguys.ca/howto/differential_fluid.html
http://www.miata.net/garage/trans/everything.html

i have 3 questions about doing this job.
1. do you HAVE to replace the bolt washers when removing the drain/fill bolts from the gearbox/diff (and if so, where d?o i buy them?)
2. when filling the gearbox, do you need to take off the gear gator/shifter to top up the last of the oil? (see 2nd link)
3. can you get those cheapy oil pumps in motor factors? i've never seen them before (see 2nd link)

[dabofoppo]

also found another nugget or info here: http://forum.miata.net/vb/showpost.php? ... ostcount=6

Be aware of a few differences in procedure or the 6 spd and the 5spd.

The 5spd gets oil in the turret, the 6spd doesn't

There is a plug that looks like a drain on the 6spd, but isn't and will force disassembly & repair if it's removed.

Always remove fill plugs before drain plugs Just in case you can't get the fill plug out.

i guess that answers question 2. mine is a 6 speed, so no messing with the shifter removal

[Steve]

1) I didn't and they don't leak, Mazda will have them.
3) I found a draper hand pump in Woodies for 5e... does the job.

[dabofoppo]

job done. bought the pump in woodies, but didn't end up using it. i found this very useful how-to specifically for the 6 speed:
http://www.miata.net/garage/6mt_fluid/index.html