I noticed from reading the maintenance info on the 6-speed that it's manual transmission oil capacity is listed as 4 and 7/8 US pints.

The spec for all 4th and 5th-gen Maximas with the 3.0 liter engine is virtually twice that - 9.5 to 10 pints (roughly = 5 quarts).

Anyone have any ideas on why the drastic change?

 

My 95 5spd only needed something like 2.3 Quarts. I think that's what my repair manual siad too. I know it's definatly less then 3 quarts on my 95.