Just because a manufactuer claims their fluid is "compatiable" does not mean it's the correct fluid for the transmission. ATF is something you don't want to skimp out on. You use EXACTLY what the automakers says. There is very good reason why our 5ATs have warning labels under the hood and in the manual specifying the need for Nissan J-matic ATF. It does not say "Nissan J-matic ATF or similiar". Nissan owns Jatco, the company that makes the 5AT. They have a specific ATF formula with additives, friction modifiers, etc. You're walking on egg shells if you go with any other sort of ATF in these autos. It's no hype or a marketing ploy. With engine oil, you can vary between makes as long as you stay within the specified visocity range and service intervals. Make of oil is not important. ATF on the otherhand is very different and in many case proprietary to the make of the transmission.

In the past two years, Nissan phased out J-matic and developed S-matic. This is the new required ATF for the Jatco 5AT-7ATs. As far as I can tell, there is no major change to the fluid other than it's designation as S-matic. My car is running S-matic and I didn't notice a lick a difference in terms of shift characteristics.

 

^ at 39k when I flushed with 13 quarts of Matic-S I noticed smother shifting but that is probably just because of the fresh fluid.

I would love to see a VOA of Matic S and Matic J, does not seem anyone has done that before.

 

swapped my fluid at 60k from J to S....I didnt notice any change at all

im sure on paper I gained 3hp and maybe .0009 of a second shifting, but I didnt feel any major changes

shifts were smooth before and the same after

 

Where did you get Matic S for $4 a quart? That's a deal since it's normally over $10/Qt.