My 2001 I30 has ~67500 on it, and the records I have from Infiniti don't show the transmission fluid having been changed. When I bought the car last August, the Toyota dealer that sold it to me said the transmission fluid checked out fine. That being said, I was thinking of having the Infiniti dealer check the transmission fluid with the next oil change and doing a drain/fill done if necessary. So my questions are, am I due for a transmission fluid change? And if yes, can anyone comment on the traditional drain/fill/filter change vs. the machine fluid flush for changing the fluid?

 

At your mileage, with every 30k a good choice do a drain and refill.

 

I've always performed the simple drain/refill on our Nissans every 30K with AMSOIL synthetic ATF. Some of these cars now have in excess of 200k and i have never had a transmission issue...no leaks, no seeps, no mechanical problems. I agree with teksurv in that a drain/refill should do you fine...if you're going to be doing it yourself, you can do it a few times at short intervals to raise the concentration of new fluid. Based on my experience, you will replace anywhere from 4.5 to 5.5 quarts with the drain/refill method.

 

What about the pan drop and clean? I'm 99% sure that has never been done on my car.

 

It just depends how much time/effort you want to put into it...it certainly can't hurt. If you're going to go thru that trouble, I would you recommend you do the at-home flush as well. Drop/clean/refill the pan first then do the flush...the procedure is very well documented (with pics) in the stickies.

 

Why does the dealer want $200 for a drain and fill? Is Nissan transmission fluid that expensive?

 

Matt, I went to my local mechanic with a case of Amsoil ATF. With the part numbers given in the fluids section, which consist of tranny gasket, new screen, and bolts, he dropped the pan cleaned the magnets, and then did a flush via the radiator return line (writeup also in the fluids section). I can say that my shifts have never been smoother, and total cost was ~$90 for ATF (IIRC) and $75 for labor. If you are going to change the tranny fluid, may as well as use the best.

 

Cause the dealer just likes to fucc people in the @ss... plain and simple.

 

If you drop the pan you might as well change the filter in there as well.

 

As far as the pr$ce of transmission fluid goes, I have found that a Nissan dealer may sell the same fluid for about half of what the Infiniti dealer does!

 

I bought 9 qts for a little over 50$. Nissan matic D. I change mine every 15k

 

wow, I definitly only payed $65 at quirk when I wanted an excuse to get a G35 loaner for the day. Where did you go, norwood or that new place prime? Prime seams pretty gay, it's actually really really whack compared to quirk, SOOO much smaller. If your willing to make a 45 minute drive I'll only charge you $20 labor for a drain and refill.

 

It's always nice to have trusted mechanic. Considering all the procedures, $75 is a steal. I paid $90 for just a full flush (labor).

 

my canadian dealer charged me $90 + tax CAN for a drain and fill

 

So with the drain/refill method. Just pull the plug drain, refill?

It says it takes 9 qts. Will it all drain out for just half?

 

friend, you need to invest a small $ amount and get yourself a copy of Haynes Repair Manual Nissan Maxima 1993-2001, it will tell you everything you need to know

 

I have a few of them on my other cars just haven't gotten around to buying one yet. I just got the car the other day