anybody know how to change the automatic Transmission Fluid? and what kind of fluid is the best or worth the money? drop a post or e-mail me at gotrize168@aol.com

 

The ATF drain plug is located on the drivers side almost underneath the battery (just look under, you will see it, it is a big plug).

You can do a drain and refill of Dextron III ATF, and it will take approx 5 quarts. A lot of people here like to use Redline D4 ATF (it's Dextron III equivalent). I use it and notice slightly smoother shifts. Don't confuse it with normal Redline ATF, which is Dextron IIE equivalent, not what is recommended for your Maxima.

If you take your car to Jiffy Lube they will do a T-tech total fluid exchange for $100 (with normal ATF). What I did was have a T-tech service and brought my own Redline D4 ATF. Took 12 quarts...very expensive at $8 quart! Normal ATF is $1 quart.

 

You said it needs 5 quarts. Then why does u said u put in 12 quarts.

 

Drain and refill (ie. 5 qts) does not change all the fluid...just a fraction. You need a machine to change almost all of it, hence the 12 qt figure. Some drain and refill on a more regular basis, some get it changed in it's entirety every 30k or so.

 

Transmission flush exchanges ALL the fluid. You cannot drain all the fluid out by a "drain and refill" since that replaces only the fluid in the pan but not in the torque converter. If you change ATF every 15k, drain and refill is fine. But if you are like some people who never change it, then the flush is better. Drain and refill = 5 quarts. Flush = 12 quarts. Total capacity of the transmission is 10 quarts, but to get all the old fluid out and all the new fluid in, you need 12 quart for the T-tech.

 

i can do a flush myself? if so. how? because i was told to put in mobile 1. it cost 5 bucks a quart. already i dont want to pay the guy more money to get it done.

 

soo is it possible to do the flush urself or not?

 

Possible yes. Economically feasible, no.

 

requires a machine that fills and drains at the same time(or at least that's how it was explained to me). It could make your driveway very messy.

 

Im having a hard time find the auto tra fluid. WHat exactly is it, soes it look like the type of thing that you fill when you need windshield washer fluid? Help Me out because this might be the reason whyi am having very hard upshifts all of the time!! Im happy i found the problem

 

the dealer told me that i should change my ATF. I bet it has never been changed before and i'm at 70k miles. I was wondering if i frequently just do the drain and refill myself ..say every 5k miles until 80k. would that be sufficient enough? or should just go to the dealer and do the flush? wat do you guys suggest?

 

Doing it your way should clean it out pretty well. There could be some older stuff still but by the time your done you have mixed in 10 new quarts. It should work pretty good.

SuDZ

 

If you're ambitious you could drain and fill every week for two or three weeks.

 

I call up one of my mechanics and asked if I can flush the tranny. He said no because you need a machine and to bring it to like a jiffy lube. That would be one of the cheapest places to go he said.

 

I think Penske auto at Kmart does it for $79, I have no idea about their quality of work.