Hi guys, Just got done changing the CVT fluid and filter on my wife's 2012 Nissan Maxima, I changed it the first time at 36,000 miles and today at 72,000 miles and the fluid was very dark and it's concerning me. The car runs excellent absolutely no problems, After pouring in the new fluid and checking the fluid levels I'm noticing the color is a yellowish green when I know the color should be very light green. I'm wondering if something is going on with this transmission and there's a problem waiting to happen or is it just the fluid doing it's job as the mileage adds up? The car does 60 miles per day M-F.

 

1. Are you using Nissan NS-2?
2. If you are doing a drain and fill method you are only getting out about a third of the oil so the color wont be the same as in the bottle. If it were mine I would do another change after driving on it for the week.

 

Yes NS2 and yes drain and fill I changed the filter as well. This CVT fluid is expensive you think it would definitely be necessary to do another drain and fill in a a week?

 

You were concerned of the color after the change, with another change the color would be more normalized. Is this necessary? I really don't know. I would think the cleaner the oil looked to normal the better. Another change would help in this. As I said if it was my car I would change. A drain and fill only gets out a partial and I've known people to change it out at 60K miles then after each engine oil change until they had three change outs. A little excessive, probably but the oil is newer and the cvt will work better with fresh oil. You said the oil was very dark which is concerning for me that's why I would do another change.

 

CVT drains exactly 4.5 quarts. It holds 10.8 quarts total.
Drive for 2 weeks then do another drain and refill. That's what I did
beelineparts.com makes very good discounts on NS2 fluid
https://www.beelineparts.com/p-genui...-cv0ns2-pkns25

PS: Changing the filter mke a big impact on fluid color as it holds all impurities inside the filter letting only clean fluid pass by.

 

Makes perfect sense I think that's what I'm going to do is give it another change in about a week or so and then do another one at the next Oil Change and see if that helps, I appreciate your time and input! Thank you

 

Thank You for your input, I think I'm going to give it another change in a week or 2, Was your fluid really dark as well before you changed it?

 

My car had first cvt fluid change at 60k at a Nissan dealer by the original owner, I did another fluid change at 82k also at a Nissan dealer, had then showed me the fluid that came out and WAS dark. I also had them change the filter too.
Last round of fluid change few weeks later at 84k miles (done myself) and fluid came out very clean, likely because of the new filter. I had a small sample of the last fluid in one of the empty Nissan bottle and it is difficult to distinguish the old fluid from the new. I had to label the bottle writing used on it lol.

I bet the filter change is even more vital than the fluid itself.

 

How much did your dealer charge for the CVT fluid and filter change ? Thanks

 

$230, with filter change.
If times come back I'd bring them the fluid myself, or do it myself all together.

 

That's a great price, mine wants $239 and I'm pretty sure that is without the filter. Local shop wants $175 for the fluid, $220 for the filter................an extra $220...crazy

Make sure you get the old filter from them

 

Don't accept "if"s and "mights".
Buy the fluid and filter. And shop around for labor.

That always worked for me. I learned that the hard way several times, from not changing something really needed changing, to over charging for parts, to using mediocre parts to name a few... If I can't do something I collect what's needed for the job and look for an "installer".

 

Yes , that is why I'm asking for the old filter. How many miles do you have ?

 

That filter is $15 and more importantly its a matter of taking the wheel off, removing the splash shield on the transmission side and removing 3 bolts. It takes an extra 15 mins to do so that quote is nuts.

 

Sorry I know this is an old thread, but did you change the filter outside or the one inside the pan? Is there even a filter inside the pan? I work at advance Auto parts and we only sell the filter attached outside, but I see online there's options for a pan filter, and I don't know if that's an aftermarket item or not.

 

I replaced the external filter once about 40k miles ago, the measurements above are for the drain and refill without filter. The external filter holds less than half a quart if replaced. There's a screen (or a stainer) inside the pan attached to the valve body. It can be replaced too but you have to open and drop the pan.

 

Is that interior filter a feasible thing to do? I mean like is that something you yourself had thought to replace often? I find that even the auto parts stores don't sell that interior filter.

 

You'll need a new pan gasket and new bolts (14 or 15 of them I don't know how many on top of my head), and you'll need the screen all from the dealership this is not something I'd trust AutoZone for. YouTube how. I'd say it's a medium level job not entry. And you'll need precise equal torque on the bolts. The housing is tricky because it's aluminum and can in no time be junk if you round the bolt holes
See this:
https://youtu.be/pcQdgrf7Ejc?si=ryWQqY_wTQXZN4A8

 

Thank you, I will keep all this in mind and possibly leave it for a time when I feel more confident in handling that job.