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Hi everyone, yesterday I got a 2016 Nissan Maxima Platinum. The car has 80,000 miles but is in great shape, no accidents, 1 owner...In March, the dealer (Infiniti) had it listed for $20,500. They got a new manager who wanted it out and they dropped the price a lot, I walked out of there a touch over $18,000. Being a new vehicle owner who usually performs my own maintenance, I immediately started researching what should be done. The below are questions that I researched but am finding mixed answers on.
CVT - I've heard many have issues with these every 60-70k or so. I did not buy the warranty and am a little concerned. How is it on the 16? I figure I better change the fluid and read to only use Nissan or Amsoil fluid. It looks like the 7th gen had an easy to change filter but the 8th gen is different, cannot find much info on the filter. Any good tutorials? Anything else I should know about the CVT?
Engine oil - I've read many use 5W-30 and others 0W-20, what's the consensus? I live in MN so cold winters and hot summers. I have used Amsoil fully synthetic 25k oil for years, any issues continuing?
Any other maintenance items I should be concerned with at 80k and 3 years old?
Thanks for any info, I'm looking forward to many years with the vehicle, they are quite fun to drive!
With that many miles, ideally it has new tires, fresh brakes, and the CVT fluid should have been replaced at 60,000. If the dealership didn't do that as part of their checklist (the CVT fluid) I'd get them to throw that in for free, since it should have been done before they sold it. You didn't do to bad on price, I wouldn't normally pay that much for that many miles, but you're still just below the retail bluebook per Edmunds...so at least you didn't pay too much.
You are just the person we need on the site. With a higher mileage vehicle it will be good to get your experiences with the Maxima. One thing often over looked is changing the brake fluid. Nissan says to do this every 20,000 miles so I would have the dealer do this. I'd also let the dealer do the CVT fluid change this time too. The oil is a judgement call but 0-W30 might be right for the northlands. If you use synthetic, there could be some leakage around the seals iif sythetic was not used before. I always used the Nissan 5-w30 dino oil since the oil change recs are every 5000 miles respective of the type of oil. Had no oil usage on my 2016 upon trade in @ 42000 miles. I must sound repetitious but a coolant flush and change should be done now as well.
You might check to see if the battery is an original. If so replace it now. Mine went at 36000 miles and had lots of corrosion around the teminals.
You are in a great car and the numbers are right to invest in resetting the fluids to new condition.
PS Bet the cabin air filter needs a change too. Hopefully this car was maintained at a Nissan dealer. If so there should be records.
Finally, the dealer can check for all outstanding recalls of which there is a braking master cylinder fix.
Keep in mind the price was $20,500 dropped to $16,500. After title, tax, tabs I got it for a little over $18,000 OTD.
The tires are Pirelli Cinturato Strada All Season, looks like 9-10/32". They did rear pads and rotor resurfacing. Oil change I want to say they did brake fluid but I forgot the papers at the dealer, they are mailing them to me... Every 20k, that is kind of nuts! Battery looks original
i checked open recalls by searching the VIN and the brake one is open, made an appointment for next week.
Went to check CVT color and smell and see they eliminated the dip stick, have to use a pump I guess.
Calling Nissan dealerships to try and get past maintenance records.
Thanks for all the tips, I really hope this lasts. I've had Lexus most of my life and never had any serious issues. My 98 LS400 has 165,000 and still rides better than a lot of my friends new vehicles.
Last edited by DK SPL Audio; 04-10-2019 at 03:34 PM.
With that many miles, ideally it has new tires, fresh brakes, and the CVT fluid should have been replaced at 60,000. If the dealership didn't do that as part of their checklist (the CVT fluid) I'd get them to throw that in for free, since it should have been done before they sold it. You didn't do to bad on price, I wouldn't normally pay that much for that many miles, but you're still just below the retail bluebook per Edmunds...so at least you didn't pay too much.
Nissan does not call for replacing the CVT fluid at 60k miles.
There are always two schools of thought on the CVT fluid changes. For me at 80,000 miles, I'd want to unbutton the pan, change the fluid and filter as a pre emptive way to get the tech to look over the valve and the overall condition of the CVT.
Originally Posted by sschumer
Mason Hatcher, appears Nissan actually recommends replacing first at 30,000 miles and then again at 60,000, no?
The inspecting/testing starts at 60k, what is the interval, 100k? can't hurt to get it checked and swapped at 80k. But in harsh driving conditions, depending on the condition of the fluid, it may still be overdue at 60k. Let's face it, if previous owner dawged it all the time, fluid is likely burnt up...
If towing a trailer, using a camper or
car-top carrier,or driving on rough or muddy roads:
● For these vehicles with a CVT transmission, cube, Murano (ex-ceptHEV),Altima,AltimaCoupe,Juke, Maxima, Rogue, (exceptHEV), NV200, Sentra, Pathfinder(except HEV), Quest and Versa,replace the CVT fluid every60,000miles or request the dealer to inspect the fluid deterioration data using a CONSULT.Ifthede-terioration data is more than210000,replacetheCVTfluid.
Originally Posted by Mason Hatcher
Nissan does not call for replacing the CVT fluid at 60k miles.
Keep in mind the price was $20,500 dropped to $16,500. After title, tax, tabs I got it for a little over $18,000 OTD.
.
$18k out the door, you pretty much stole that car...nice job! Most people never state out the door, they just tell you what the purchase price was, not counting stiff dealer fees or TTT.
If towing a trailer, using a camper or
car-top carrier,or driving on rough or muddy roads:
● For these vehicles with a CVT transmission, cube, Murano (ex-ceptHEV),Altima,AltimaCoupe,Juke, Maxima, Rogue, (exceptHEV), NV200, Sentra, Pathfinder(except HEV), Quest and Versa,replace the CVT fluid every60,000miles or request the dealer to inspect the fluid deterioration data using a CONSULT.Ifthede-terioration data is more than210000,replacetheCVTfluid.
Where did you source that? The Maxima manual does not allow for towing or car top carriers.
Look man, we can go back and forth about when a subjective interval should be considered maxed out (pun intended) or we can agree, that after 60k you should at least have the fluid tested to determine if it needs to be replaced. That said, If it was the OP's car from mile 1, he'd know the kind of conditions that the car has been through, and can make the personal assessment on his own. Reality is 80,000 mikes on a 3 year old car is a boat load of miles, means that this previous owner was taking long trips, which can be considered excessive or arduous conditions for a transmission, no different then when you add tow weight to a vehicle. 26,666 miles a year for 3 years straight. If it were my car, I'd replace the trans fluid regardless. What is the service like $200??? Is it really worth the extra 20,000 miles or is piece of mind better?
$18k out the door, you pretty much stole that car...nice job! Most people never state out the door, they just tell you what the purchase price was, not counting stiff dealer fees or TTT.
That's the reply I was looking for! Haha, I thought it was a really good deal. I tried negotiating a little and they would not budge. He showed me appointments setup from people calling to see it, a third of them were out of state. I called on my way home from work and bought it the same night.
Originally Posted by MadMax07SL
Look man, we can go back and forth about when a subjective interval should be considered maxed out (pun intended) or we can agree, that after 60k you should at least have the fluid tested to determine if it needs to be replaced. That said, If it was the OP's car from mile 1, he'd know the kind of conditions that the car has been through, and can make the personal assessment on his own. Reality is 80,000 mikes on a 3 year old car is a boat load of miles, means that this previous owner was taking long trips, which can be considered excessive or arduous conditions for a transmission, no different then when you add tow weight to a vehicle. 26,666 miles a year for 3 years straight. If it were my car, I'd replace the trans fluid regardless. What is the service like $200??? Is it really worth the extra 20,000 miles or is piece of mind better?
I definitely will change it. The dealer did service on the car that added up to over $1,000. I forgot the papers at the dealer so they are mailing them to me. Hopefully, CVT fluid change is on there. I still would like to replace it with Amsoil someday though, looks like it beat NS2 out of the water. Should have no problem mixing with NS2, over a few years and a few drains/fills, it will mostly be Amsoil at that point. I may buy a pump and pump it out of the dipstick tube and refill with the same amount, should be really easy that way. I am still concerned with the CVT filter though, cannot find anybody commenting on changing it, let alone a tutorial.
04-10-2019, 10:57 AM
