I am getting ready to go out and install my tranny cooler. What fluid do I need? I tried the search feature and didn't find an answer.

Thanks,
SHUMAX

 

Shu-are you auto or 5 speed? I'm assuming your auto since you wanted to add a tranny cooler. You will need any kind of Dex II/III trans fluid. The brand is up to you. If you use a Haydens 403x tranny cooler, get an additional of 1qt. That is about all you need. Oh wait, for teh tranny cooler, you will need another line. Take out the line that came with the box and have someone match up a hose that can take the heat & pressure and get the same length. The lines are usually about 4ft. That should be all you need. Just mount the tranny cooler in front of the a/c condensor.

 

What is the differance and which one is betteR?

SHUMAX

 

Most of the oil they sell now says "Meets Dextron II and III requirements" so you should be good.

 

Owners manual has the fluid recommendation: Dextron III or equivalent.

 

from looking at your sig pic, looks like you have a 4th gen? i have a 5th and the manual says to use dextron III. as for the brand, i wanted to get redline, but didn't have the time to look around for a place that sold it in time. i used mobil1 synthetic which cost me less than $6 a quart. i drained it and only got less than 4 quarts. the cheaper stuff you can get for less than $2, but i'm sure you won't be going that route w/ your max.

kafene.

 

I went to the store to look for ATF and I saw the Dextron III like you all suggested. I saw the Mobil One and the Pennzoil and the Quaker State. My problem is this: The Quaker State has a picture of an SUV on the bottle and says its formulated for todays HP SUV's. Now I am sure its a marketing tatic. Then you flip the bottle over and it says its for Ford and GM. Its doens't say ONLY, but it says formulated for GM and FORD applications. The Mobil brand was the only one that said it was for imports like Toyota, Nissan, Mazda...etc. Pennzoil said it was formulated for GM and Ford also.

So, if its Dextron III it will be fine even if its formulated for Ford and GM? Second, I want to put synthetic in, but I have dino oil in it now. Is it OK to mix? I have 67k on the tranny and have flushed it every 30k. I am concerned that switching to Synthetic will cause a leak, as I have actually seen this happen in a 94 Toyota Camry with 90k on it. Switched to Mobil One and the next thing you know, its leaking oil. Switched back to dino oil and 5k later it stopped....hmmm?

I know this has been covered before, but I am a bit nervous when it comes to the tranny.

Thanks,
SHUMAX

 

about changing fluids, i have also heard similar things on this board, but if your going to switch, you almost have to mix fluids because there is no way you are going to get all the dino oil out. even the dealers, when they do a flush, they attach a hose and keep pumping the ATF until it comes out clean. there's no way they would do that w/ a premium fluid like mobil 1 or redline cause they'd lose out big time (or charge you an arm and leg, but pointless 'cause they won't anyway). about leaks though, i remember it being mentioned that it depends on how long it's gone w/ dino oil. how old is your car?

kafene.

 

My car is a 95 se. I don't think it will matter if I switch to say Penzoil from the Nissan brand of DINO oil. The switch from any brand of DINO oil to Synthetic is what worries me. I think that I will stick to DINO oil and not chance it.

My questions still stands though: Why do makers of DEXTRON III fluid place a big label on the bottle that says its formulated for GM and Ford...etc. Is it OK to use that fluid as long as it says "DEXTRON III?" I would assume yes, but I am not willing to gamble. Right now I am about to buy the Mobil One DINO oil for $1.45/qt and be done with it!

Thanks,
SHUMAX

 

n/m

 

I think you have it confused. As far as I know, Dextron III ATF is synthetic. Redline D4 ATF (Dextron 4???) is also synthetic, just a better synthetic. I don't think ATF is ever "dino oil."

Unless you are getting a full flush, it's not worth it to get the expensive ATF. For the tranny cooler, you will need maybe one or two extra quarts, so just get the normal Dextron III (all brands are fine). I got the full T-tech flush at Jiffy Lube and brought my own Redline D4 ATF. Total cost for full flush with Redline was $200. ($120 for fluid, $80 for flush).

As for the "formulated for GM and Ford", I believe GM and Ford came up with their own specs which are similar to Dextron III. I believe Ford was called Mercon or something like that. As long as it says "Dextron III" it will be fine for your Maxima's automatic transmission. And you are right, anything that says "heavy duty" or "formulated for SUV and trucks" is all marketing hype.

 

I am not sure...

The ones I saw by Mobile One were NOT synthetic as they made no mention of it on the bottle and the price was only $1.45. The Quaker State version was definitely synthetic because it indicated so on the label and was $3.50/qt. I am not saying you are wrong, just that the ones that were synthetic were marked accordingly on the bottle and reflected in the price.

For now I am getting the Mobile One Dino oil for $1.45/qt. I think I will do a drain and fill so I should figure on about 4qts, right? Will I need any more because of the cooler?

SHUMAX

 

Dexron III is not synthetic. 4th gen, and newer Maximas should only be using Dexron III, which is equivalent to Nissanmatic D (the stuff called for in the owners manual). If there is no fluid leaking with the ATF you have now, it shouldn't leak with synthetic. It's different with transmissions than engines, because synthetic ATF has a slightly higher viscosity than conventional ATF. If you do a drain and refill every 30k miles, and have a transmission cooler conventional AFT will be fine.

 

That's what I thought. I am satisfied now! I am sorry to have taken this thing to the extreme, but the transmission is one thing I don't want to mess with. I have completely restored a 1.5litre CRX engine out of an 85', and done several clutches, but I have never even touched an automagic transmission and would rather not either

Just playin' it safe! Thanks for all the replies!

SHUMAX