Help!!!! My 98 GXE have 30000 miles on it and I want to do my first transmition oil change, is it is as easy as changing engine oil, just drain and refill????? My one is automatic, do I need to remove the "pan" ??? If it is easy , should I use synthetic transmition oil??
I just do not feel paying $50 to the dealer if it is only "drain and refill".

Any help will be appreciate..

 

I would go with a professional change, changing transmission oil requires a pan under the engine to be removed. Flushing it is an option, which is a good decision if you don't change it that often.

Dhumil

 

yeah - u gotta have a pan under the car to change your oil - u could use synthetic......but its an extra cost.

 

Look in your owners manual. It should say something like inspect your auto tranny fluid every 30,000 miles and change it at 90,000 miles.

BUT your owners manual is a good tool to have. If you do not have one.. get one.. or a Factory Service manual or chilton/haynes manual

 

i checked mine at 30k.. it was fine.. i checked it at 60k.. it was ready to be changed....

 

Did anyone think to look at the Oil/ATF analysis spreadsheet thread at the top where recommendations for this question are addressed....


And it's been lab proven that 30k is the maximum interval for Nissan ATF.....you probably took tens of thousands of miles off the transmission's life waiting until 60k.....

 

Bill,

Don't you know most people here would rather spend money on lighted windshield washer nozzles than preventive maintenance? If it doesn't say you have to do it in the manual, they won't. It doesn't matter that Nissan, and other makers, don't care what happens to the car after 100k miles. How many people to you think have changed their brake fluid?

 

We have brake fluid in our cars?










Yes, unfortunately I know........

 

I changed mine @ 38000km

 

opps.........

i meant to say i checked it at 15k and changed it at 30k.. not what i said...

you are correct bill... that would kill the already weak link in the car.......

 

So I suppose since my car is up close to 80,000 that i might need to change it out then huh? Ive had the car since 25,000 and am yet to change the auto tranny fluid. Bout how much does something like this cost?

 

i'd have to agree with this. unfortunately, i bought my Max at 53k and just did a drain this weekend (now at 61k). i checked the fluid a couple of times before and it looked fine (reddish, no bubbles), BUT it was more of a reddish-brown when i drained it. now i know why the transmission slips slightly from 2nd to 3rd. also, i'd bet the prior owner drove the car like some of the "race car drivers" on this forum

 

I change mine every 5,000 miles regardless (DRAIN/REFILL)! Once a year i will clean the pan, replace the gasket, drain plug, and screen filter. Also i flush out the system once a year as well. I use Amsoil ATF Synthetic fluid. I don't have time to be frugal with a vehicle, if appropiately cared for will carry you for several hundreds of thousands of miles! 96se 161,500 miles, excellent shifts, I literally feather my gas pedal! Oh and draining is as easy as an oil change. Go to Walmart and pick up a 15 qt basin. Just drive it, but don't beat the Sh*T out of it. Even if you are late and just changing it at 60,000 you should be o.k. granted you did not beat the **** out of it. Good Luck!