My 98 Max has nearly 30,000 miles. The problem is that I never changed the tranny oil before. I just realized that I have to change the oil every 15,000 miles when I came onto this board. I plan to change the fluid before or after Thanksgiving. But the question on my mind right now is: will my tranny go bad or show signs of wear in any way since I didn't change the oil 15,000 miles ago?

 

not too difficult to pull out and check your tranny fluid level. look at it and smell it..if its' not black and burnt your fine =)
Vic

 

Yes do change it. I personally think its best for any guys with auto to get a trans temp gauge. This will really tell when you need to change it. This is how:
At 180 degrees = 100,000 miles
At 190 degrees = 50,000 miles
At 200 degrees = 25,000 miles
At 210 degrees = 12,500 miles
At 220 degrees = 6,250 miles
At 230 degrees = 3,125 miles
And so on. You get the idea. Get a trans cooler too.

 

Your posting did not specify whether your Maxima has a 5-speed or automatic transmission. This response assumes you have an automatic.

Nissan does not specify any required replacement interval for Automatic Transmission Fluid if the vehicle is used for normal driving. However, it is prudent to change the ATF at 60K intervals. If you race the car, tow a trailer, or frequently drive in mountainous terrain you might want to (1) install an auxiliary transmission fluid cooler, and (2) change your ATF at 30K intervals.

If you prefer to pay a shop for this service, make sure they use the "magic sucker pump" which will remove all of the old fluid. Expect to pay about US$80 for this service. An ordinary drain-and-refill replaces only one-third to one-half of the fluid. The drain-and-refill ATF change costs less and is okay if you do it more frequently than 60K.

 

Sorry about that. I forgot to mention my tranny is an auto.