Hi all,

I'm new to cars in general. 2012 Maxima S. Issue is, everything I've read on CVT says change it every 30k miles. I don't know when last the test was done. Dealer says leave it alone until it breaks down (sounds like stealership advice to me because then i'd have to do a whole transmission replacement - I'm broke as it is).

My thinking is, LAB TEST, my transmission fluid for metal shavings. IF there aren't any outside of normal range (im guessing their should be some sort of metal reading but not actual physical deposit) then I can change the fluid. Does this make sense?

How/Where Can I Test CVT Fluid for Metal

I've always been Toyota guy, I actually like this car even tho I discovered the SV later on and wish I had that but I like this car and I wanna keep it. My only major concern now is the CVT because I don't get $10k laying around to get a replacement CVT (I'm in the NJ/NY/PA area, labor costs are stupid over here).

I also need this car as my daily driver so it is in my best interest to maintain this car.

Any special advice for maintaining this car specifically in the rust belt of the North Eastern USA

 

Save yourself the expense of a lab test for your CVT fluid. Just change it and the filters and be done with it.

 

Maxnewbie24.if you really want detailed
granular information about the CVT on
your Maxima.

Buy yourself an OBDII Bluetooth scanner
And the CVTz50 App..

If you have these tools at your disposal
you can get live information about your CVT
anytime you want.

Check your App store for the availability
of the CVTZ50 App. $5.70

Find a Bluetooth scanner on eBay for
Around $45.00

I hope that helps.

 

If you want to have an oil analysis done Blackstone is where I send mine. Go to their website and they'll send you a free sample kit with all the instructions. Once you send it in for testing you'll get a report back, cost is about $40 bucks. Blackstone Laboratories.

Here's what a report would look like.

 

I can can get the same detailed
information from CVTz50 App
for a one time fee of $5.60 , as many times as I want.

Why am I paying $40.00 ?

​​

 

For me it would be peace of mind. The results from a physical lab analysis would be my base report for comparison on all follow-up readings from the cvtz50 app, which I would have no idea if it is truly accurate.

 

How do you know their process.

They could be using the CVTz50 App.
Ha..Ha.

But. Go ahead. Give them your $40.00

 

The process they use, as stated on Blackstone's web site, has no mention of a CVTz50 App for any of their testing.

 

I'll keep my $40.00, CVTZ50 App
and a healthy CVT, and great running
2014 Maxima.

Peace out.

 

This is what i was looking for exactly because the report lets you know whether they find the metal findings outside of the normal range or not so I know whether or not to go ahead and mess with it because I don't want to change it all and start having it slip so I want to test first just to see, if it's even suspicious to the lab. I will leave it alone and begin saving for a replacement tranny, however, if it is within the range then i'll do my regular changes from now.

Thank you so much!