Hey guys,

I just bought my '13 Maxima and wanted to make sure everything was good to go before I started tearing the roads up. So I had it taken to the dealer and one of the things I had done was a transmission fluid replacement. As soon as I got in the car when they were done I could smell the stench of the nasty CVT fluid inside the car. I thought maybe the mechanic had some on his hands and got it on the steering wheel...but the steering wheel didn't smell. I drove the car for a week hoping it would go away but it didn't .

It comes and goes, and the smell comes right through the vents and blows in my face. I don't really see the fluid leaking anywhere after I park the car. It seems worse when I park on hills and getting in and out and starting/stopping the car. I can smell it outside the car too...it's not a burning smell, it's fresh fluid.

I checked my fluid level and its right at the top of the fill line so I don't think it's leaking in any large amount anyway. I took it back to the dealer and told them and they said they couldn't find a single thing. This is frustrating the crap out of me. Has anyone had a similar experience? I was thinking maybe they slightly overfilled the fluid and its causing a problem? Thanks

 

Did they do a flush or a drain and fill. If it was a flush that is one of the worst things you can do to a CVT. On the smell are you sure you are smelling CVT oil? If it is they could have spilled al little on the engine when filling through the dip stick port. I've had my CVT oil changed and there is no smell of oil.

 

I asked the guy there at the dealership and he said "It's all done by machine." I assume that's a fluid flush? Why would the dealer use a method that's known to be bad for their vehicles?

 

So no smoking, leaking, dripping, just the smell? It is possible that some "spillage" occurred (as Richard66 mentioned) whilst they were refilling but I've not experienced your symptoms and I've done this 4 times on my 09 in 406,000 miles.

 

No smoking, leaking, or dripping as far as I can tell. It's driving me crazy, but I don't know how it could be making the smell without something coming out.

 

My guess is some fluid was spilled, and it's burning off the exhaust components and the smell is coming into your cabin via the air ducts.

 

How is the car since the dealer flush? I know everyone says to just drain and fill but I bought my car used and I'm not sure it has ever been drained and filled/also not sure if the dealer I brought it from used Nissan specific CVT fluid if they did any maintenance before selling the car. Currently at 82k and aside from fluctuating rpms at 60-70mph every 30-40 sec of about 2-400 rpms I feel like it's working fine. But that right there has me a little worried. It's like a slight jerk or slip feel. Could a dirty MAF be the culprit? Or CVT needs a changing. I don't know I'm just grasping at straws cause there are no codes no lights on dash nothing.

 

Mine has been doing that with the RPM fluctuating for ever, I brought it to Nissan and they said it's perfectly normal some do it once in a while others do it all the time and it doesn't affect the ride of the vehicle . Change your fluid drain and fill only and change the cvt filter and you should be good to go. Worry if it revs high on steady speed or you start to hear a whine upon acceleration or suddenly go into limp mode then the headache begins.