Hey there,

I've had a bunch of people tell me that with a lot of cars it's a bad idea to change your transmission fluid if it's black...I guess build-ups form easily in automatics and when you put in new fluid that build-up stuff starts floating around and messing stuff up..

I know Nissan recommends the fluid be changed at 60k miles. My 97 Max has 69k on it and I just found out that it wasn't changed anywhere around 60k.

Are there any transmission experts out there that would lend me some advice if my fluid is black?

Thanks,
Zach

 

It is bad to change the fluid on a slipping tranny. If your tranny does not slip, and you have no metal shavings in it when you check the dipstick, change that fluid ASAP. Otherwise you will reach that point where it is too late to get it flushed. dark fluid =/= ground to write off a tranny as dead. And mileage has nothing to do with it. a tranny with 200000 miles can continue to be flushed if it was treated well from day 1.

 

The transmission fluid should be replaced at 30K and flushed at 60K, with the process repeated at those intervals thereafter. Perhaps your transmission fluid has never been replaced.

If you only have 69k on your car and don't know the work history, I don't know what you are hesitating for.

Get the transmission flushed.

I would also check the condition of all other fluids as well, eg. radiator coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid.

Not changing the transmission fluid on a routine basis is a sympton of other potential maintenance issues with the vehicle.

 

I asked a similar question a while ago (not that my fluid was black, but about being hesitant about doing a flush) and a member named Skyjumper was kind enough to enlighten me. I hope this helps.

by Skyjumper:
Either drain/fill every 15k or do a full exchange via cooler line every 25-30k. use DexronIII ATF. you live in relatively hot climate (during the summer) so a synthetic ATF would be a wise choice. heat kills ATF, and syn holds up better to heat.

to be clear -- a cooler line exchange is *not* the same as the "flush" the shops try to sell you -- that "flush" is a "T-Tech" power flush, and you should avoid it. the cooler line exchange is simply pumping old fluid out while dumping new fluid in -- no reverse-flow pressure or the potential risks that come with it.

a cooler line exchange is better than a drain/fill because it will get more of the old fluid out with less mixing.

you may also consider dropping the pan and cleaning the magnets. at 109k they will be coated in metallic goop. no need to change the "filter screen", it is not really a filter.

 

i say flush it, mine was not black or anything (i never seen black ATF in cars ive owned) but i got the car at 203 KM and it was normal pink/red fluid with no shavings that i saw. did a drain and fill at the dealer and everything is fine, i plan on doing this again in 48 KM

 

Why so many drain and fills?


Just do a full flush and get some synthetic(amsoil, mobil1) in there

 

i duno what manual u guys are reading, but my 97 book tells me its every 48.000 KM or 30Kml to replace the ATF fluid

 

My 96 manual says to change it at 24 months or 30k miles under the severe service schedule or when towing a trailer. Under the schedule 2 which is normal use age it says nothing about changing it. Up to 48 months or 60k miles it says only to inspect it. I change mine at about 40k and at 150k miles it still looks clean and red. I have never flushed a transmission on any of the cars I have owned and never had a trans failure.

 

dont mix the two schedules together its either one or the other, just stay with schedule 1 , its an old car and things tend to need replacement rather then just inspecting them

 

Well I'm in a similar situation Levine.. My transmission has never had the fluid changed either and it is beginning to slip from time to time but my fluid is red/peachy.. I asked our family friend and mechanic on what to do he said to have him flush it and he will add something to the fluid to clean it.. Not sure if that helps in your situation or not..

 

i dont think ur tranny needs cleaning, just drain and fill dont do any power flushes, and dont add any additives, its not like engine oil additives man

 

mine was golden brown, like a very light / transparent oil color. wasn't slipping but i had mad vibration issues. its smoother than a new ford escort tranny now!

 

what did you do?

Ford Escorts FTL

 

Thanks for all the replies.

I checked my fluid today and it was a healthy red after all. I was gonna go ahead and change it, but now I have a different question...what is it about the 4th gen screen? Some people say it's not really a filter and only needs to be cleaned...but if I'm changing out my fluid, should I definitely get a filter kit and do it at the same time?

Thanks again,
Zach

 

It is a metal screen. nothing more. clean it with brake fluid celaner adn call it a day.