So I bought the gasket at Nissan about 2 years ago lol thinking I would drop the pan to do the flush which I never did...

Well now I am goin to be taking my car into firestone and they will do the flush drop the pan clean the magnets etc...
I would like them to use the gasket that I still have...
So my question is.. Is this gasket still good? It has been laying around in my garage for 2+ years. It is still in its covering but some corner came out of the covering and were exposed to air or whatever for 2+ years. Is it still good enough?

And also I would like to get my own tranny fluid for them to use. They said they would use some weird named one (Dextron 3 and some other additive?) Any suggestions? My car has 80,000 miles I bought it new and only did a flush at 30,000 w/o dropping the pan.. I am now doing all the maintenance on it ie: changing spark plugs etc.. So Im doing all the research since I want to have this car until 200,000 miles. Thanks everyone for your help.

 

the gasket will be fine
the fluid they use will be fine. dexron III is the kind...not the brand.

 

I would use Nissan D Matic fluid

 

exactly
thats nissan's version of dexron III.
made for the car

 

thanks guys. But I am thinking of getting some Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF. Is that not a good idea? Would I be able to get more miles and protection from the Mobil 1?

 

If you flushed at 30K that is the best investment u ever did to the tranny. Buy the gasket from dealership and if I were you I would drop the pan and see how much has been collected in the pan and magnets since there will be quite a lot of grime from 80K miles.

Now, Mobil 1 is a MV ATF and I would use it without thinking for a second. Mobil1 line of products are top grade!!!

 

Thanks! I actually bought the gasket from the dealership but I kept it in the garage for almost 2+ years so I was scared if it would dry or something...
Also I took it to the mechanic at 30,000 to "flush the tranny" but I believe he only drained the pan!

So I should be good with Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF?

*EDIT* Aghhh I just realized! 2+ years ago I also bought 10 quarts of Mobil 1 Syntheitc ATF!!! It was also standing in my garage along with the gasket for over 2 years! Guys can I still use this oil for my flush? It has been in the garaje which is not heated so it gets really cold in the winter and very hot in the summer. I am not sure if it is expired or spoiled this way. can I still use it now?

 

You should be fine using the old stock, as far as I know there is no expiration dates for fluids.

Offcourse u have a problem if you put SL fluid in a new vehicle engine that is speced for SM, but then that is engine oils not ATFs.

 

It is not like milk. It only loses viscosity from use. If they are still sealed you will be fine.

 

Hopefully your trans is not slipping yet. Since you're a little over due changing out the fluid, it might be prudent to add Transmission Fix by Lucas Oil.

 

Not recommeded, over look this suggestion.

 

thanks again everyone. The transmission is not slipping and is actually pretty smooth. Good to know that I can still use this oil. Last question...

I wil be doing the flush at firestone and they hook it up to a special machine. I just read somewhere, that it's actually bad to do it through pressured machine?

I spoke with the mechanic that will be doing my flush and he said that he will drop the pan and clean out the magnets etc... Now my question is... Should I also buy the self-sealing bolts from nissan for this job or is it okay for them to re-use the bolts? I called my delaership today to get a quote and they said $.99 each but also said that I do not need to replace them... Any thoughts?

 

You don't need to get the bolts from the stealership, the gasket is only needed. BTW, I wouldn't trust anyone other than myself when dropping the pan, the aluminium is real soft on the tranny and cross-threading is a real possibility (I actually cross-threaded 3 bolts myself), these mechanics are in a real hurry. My 2 cents, beyond that I leave it to u and ur mechanic.

Now, power flushes will mess up ur tranny big time, the flush I was referring to is via the return line. Read the thread in the fluids section.

 

oh wow! So it is definitely a big no no to have it done by firestone? I believe the mechianic said that he would hook it up to a special machine and flush sll the fluid out and also clean out the pan etc... He sait hat is a standard tranny flush... Is this not a good thing???

Also one more thing. I just checked in the garage and realized that I have exactly 10 bottles of mobil 1 synthetic ATF and it says it is Dexron 3... So I figured I would go out and buy one more quart just in case...

Well they did have Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF But no-where does it say Dexron 3. It actually says Mecron V on the new bottle and the design of the bottle is a little different. So is it okay to mix this with the other bottles of Mobil 1 syntheitc ATF that I had or is this formulation different now?

 

comon guys I was planning on taking it to firestone this weekend so I would really like to know ASAP if it is bad for the tranny.

 

do not use the machine to flush it since it can cause more problems)
the best way to flush it is by using the line to the radiator as mentioned above.

drain the tranny
disconnect in and out lines to tranny (where they connect to radiator)
stick line that goes to tranny in container of fresh fluid
stick line that leaves tranny in the container of drained fluid
start the car and let the new fluid run through and then out.
make sure to stop the car before you run out of the clean fluid

 

hmm I guess I am going to have to do the flush myself after all. I have never done this before. I havent done a search yet but is there a how to with picture of what everything looks like underneath? I have no idea what the hoses look like and where they connect to the radiator which side, etc...

 

do it yourself.. follow my link on How to.

 

Lontar, awesome write up but still missing a few things...

When I put the new gasket back on to the pan. Do I need to put some kind of gasket sealant between the pan and the gasket to have it stick better? Maybe dab some oil around it? Or is that bad?

Also are all of the bolts the same size? And I read somewhere that if you re-use the same bolts that it is a good idea to put some loctite on them. Can you guys recommend which one?

 

i have a 100k on my tranny(2002) and i dont think its ever been drained and filled or ever serviced in its life(bought it with 71k). Would it be ok to perform this method? Im pretty skilled with my maxima so im not scared to take the tranny apart

 

I didn't use any....... and no leaks