Hey guys/gals, just brought my 04 G35 Coupe into the dealership for a ATF fluid change (I had brought it to Mr. Lube and they told me that my car didn't have a dipstick to check the level after they do it so they wouldn't do it for me).

Brought it to the dealership today to get it done and found out they charge $295 CAD...

Did I get hosed or is this a common price point because of the no dipstick and synthetic fluids involved?

Joe

 

Synthetic Fluid is very expensive. Not sure if your local Nissan dealership would have charged you less or not. Also, it this for a drain and fill or a flush?

 

You can buy the dipstick at Nissan for $10. The J-Matic fluid (the only stuff you should use) is $9-10 QT from Nissan. You'll need 11 QTs for a full flush.

 

It was a full Flush...

Invoice says "Complete Trans Fluid Flush & Exchange with Matic J Fluid, Cleaner & Additive with seal conditioner"

It was 194 for fluids and 101 for labour.

 

The BG Machine requires 14 quarts to compensate for machine and line precharging and any minor cross leaks within the transmission itself..........yes it probably wastes a quart but better to be 100% sure than to leave any decomposed ATF in system to start the degradation like a cancer cell after an operation.

The critical part of process is the PREEXCHANGE use of a solvent to loosen crud and get it in suspension in old ATF this thakes a 15-20 minute [thru all gears] circulation BEFORE you start replacing ATF.

Timing the exchange process is critical because it shows the condition of AT pump and seals. 3.5 minutes is ideal more than 4.5 indicates internal problems beginning.

After you do a few hundred for each model and brand you and transmission become one.

 

Awesome, thanks for the information guys... I never realized there was so much involved.

I feel a lot better knowing it wasn't a 2 minute thing.

 

i thought tranny flushes were bad for our cars.

 

It's a huge debate, with some mechanics telling you that the flush machines force high pressure cleaning solvents back through the engine and transmission and clean out some of the accumulated junk that has formed. The problem is that this junk can be forcefully lodged into tiny galleries and valves, causing blockage, which then cuts of normal flow of tranny fluid, which can cause expensive repairs. But then again, my understanding is that not all flush machines use pressure, they use the car's own torque converter and input shaft (engine is turned on) to self flush by moving the fluid thru naturally. There is another type of flush machine, it's also does not use pressure, but I've lost track of what kind it is.

Final thought-- I think that most car manufacturers do not recommend a tranny flush (Nissan doesn't)- dealerships do and so do those who manufacture flush machines.

 

Its a huge profit center for the dealers. why wouldn't they recommend it??

Drain and fill is all that is necessary IMO, but authentic nissan fluid is the only one that you should use, ever.

 

I only use NISSAN matic-s but i know people who are using other fluids with no problems so far.

No sense in doing a pressurized flush - the FSM recommends just turning the car on. It uses the trans pump to flush fluid out. You are supposed to add new fluid while its pumping out the old. Manual also state 11 qt is full capacity but that 13-14 quarts is normally used in a full fluid exchange.