2 Questions: (05 GCoupe)
Does the tranny need to be flushed? Dealer said they don't do that anymore, Hmm!

Do I have to use the Nissan transmission fluid? Looking to change it myself

Thanks!

 

I am new also and just got a 2005 G35 coupe auto. Try another dealer. All automatic transmissions need to be flushed every 2 or 3 years and at least every 30 thousand miles and I am sure you must use the Nissan fluid. Check out www.bobistheoilguy.com for more information on this and any other lubrication issues. Many engineers and mechanics belong. I have been doing my own home automatic transmission fluid exchanges for years on my vehicles including Ford, Honda, Mazda, and Lexus thru the cooler lines. It is not that hard. You just have to figure out which way the fluid flows. I also always install a Magnefine inline filter and an additional cooler. When the weather warms up I will do so to the G. I also recall reading that the tranny does not have a dipstick from the factory and you have to buy it.

 

its a good idea to have it flushed about 30 or 40k just to be on the safe side of things IMO, however a drain and fill at that point would suffice as well.. also the 05 carries the j-matic transmission for which u can either use the oem nissan tranny oil, or use the Amsoil j-matic tranny fluid which is what i went with and it worked fine.. if your in southern cali i'd go to autobacs to have it done, they only charged me 130 bucks with the flush included.. i think it takes the g 10 quarts to flush if i remember correctly

 

Cool deal. Yeah the dealer wants to charge me $170 to change the fluid, but no flush.
On a good note they only are charging $55 for a rear differential oil change. Although fairly inexpensive I might do it myself using Royal Purple

Any objections to using RP?

 

nope, its good stuff... your pretty much going to be good going with anything synthetic just make sure ur using the right one

 

Technically a flush is a solvent chemical added to ATF to dissolve varnish and remove into suspension loose clutch material. Once suspended then the nasty stuff must be removed from ATF.
A Fluid exchange is what does this as you cannot leave the flush in ATF or it with continue to attack the loose clutch material until nothing is left. Smart companies like BG Quick Clean use solvents with low boiling/evap points so much will evaporate after 20-30 minutes of continuous use when tranny gets above 176F.........................Flush in Spring/Summer not in dead of winter!

Once the BG machine is in the ATF circuit we add BG Quick Clean, raise car off deck and spin tires in 1,2,3,4,5 and reverse forr 2-3 minutes each to 3,000 engine rpms in each gear to make sure solvent reaches every tiny component long enough.

Putting 10 ounces of cleaner in [10 x 32 =320 ounces] of ATF is only a 3% concentration so it takes time and heat [you let ATF warm up 10 minutes before you start the gear shift] so the cleaning takes 10+ 20 minutes = 30 minutes] BEFORE you exchange the ATF which only takes 5 minutes.

Driving on lift connecting machines doing 30 minute process, optimizing final fill then add 11 ounce of BG ATF Conditioner or LubeGuard Black/RED as appropriate, then raising up on lift again discoing BG Machine, lowering back doen, test drive 15 minutes.................takes about 1.3 hours to do perfectly and correctly................hopefully you can see where low paid technicans can take short cuts and do a half assed job.

A $20 in the hand usually compensates them for the real time you want them to spend doing it slowly and perfectly.

You always get so much more when the money goes to the guy who is actually doing the work.

Why dealerships make it hard to speak to techs, any extras done now just attack the future revenue...............Dealerships and shops make their profit fom selling PARTS not some breakeven labor.

 

Each failed tranny is examined by JATCO the manufacturer since they pay the warranty to Nissan.............since fluid substitutions are lethal they have a way to quickly spot this and refuse to pay Nissan, which eventually trickles back to a back charge to dealers who are very careful now about trying to spot phony ATF.

Jatco speced the ATF to match the 5AT dual lock up clutch, so old fashion 4AT Nissamatic won't shift as well and wears the clutches out faster.

After warranty owners are allowed to destroy AT anytime they chose and pay for replacement.

 

Flushes opens Pandora's box to more potential problems, well illustrated in Q45's prior posts.

1. The safer way is disconnet at the coolant lines, no solvents, and have a big clean vat of fresh fluid and another for the old fluid. Let the engine idle and until the fluid runs clean.
Turn off, reconnect lines, and top off.

2. Siphon out the old fluid through the refill port (will not get the torque converter) and refill.

3. Even safer, drain, refill, run the engine in all gears a few minutes, and repeat the process two more times. This will exchange more than 80% of the fluid, but costly in terms of wasted fluid.

4. Safest yet and very likely 'good enough', just drain and refill at more frequent intervals. Use only Nissan fluid in any case.

 

Local Infiniti dealer states recommended service policy is fluid exchange every 2 years or drain and fill every year for ATF. Only Nissan matic-J. I initially did the fluid exchange, for about $200. The drain and fill method is so easy though - with fluid costing $50 (7 qts at $7) - so that seems a better yearly option.

 

Safe changes and less money. Sounds good!

 

+1,000 on the drain and refill. Just keep that up and you'll be fine.