Transmission fluid to change or not to change?

[tommymonza]

Well I bought my 08 pathfinder with 74000 on it 4 years ago.

Life got in the way and I never got around to changing the transmission fluid.

I did the radiator bypass at 90000 and the fluid looked real clean that dripped out during the bypass.

So I am at 135000 now and went to do a total flush with the Max Life .

My buddies say I will have problems with the transmission if I do.

They called a buddy who used to wrench at Nissan and he said the detergents will swell the seals.

What if I just drain the pan and refill with the max life? What do you think of that?

Is it okay to mix max life with the Nissan fluid?

How many quarts does the whole system hold and how many in just the pan if I drain just that?

I know I'm a dumazz I should have done this 3 years ago.

[Gottcha86]

I have always used Nissan trans fluid and just did a drain and fill about 5 qts.( think it is closer to 4.5) and mine gets done about ever 60,000 and have had no issues for 160,000 miles. I have read about max life being ok but I also know a Nissan tech( going on 15 years in the field) told me not to mess with anything else. Its not that expensive and I would rather be safe than sorry.

[disallow]

Change it.

I and many others on the forum have had great success with Valvoline Maxlife ATF, available at Walmart for about $20/gallon.

http://www.valvoline.com/our-products/a ... ehicle-atf

[smj999smj]

I'm a former Nissan Master Tech and I've logged over 250,000 combined miles on Maxlife ATF between my two R51 Pathfinders. Both shift fine and Maxlife is perfectly compatible with Nissan Type "J" and "S" ATF. I do drain and fills every 50,000 miles and also use it in the transfer case. For those that say it will make the seals swell, all I ask is to show me the proof. I also have it in my '03 Frontier, as well. It takes about a gallon for an R51 drain and fill. The drain plug gasket is Nissan #11026-01M02. You could also use Castrol Transmax Multi-import ATF, which is exactly the same as NissanMatic Type "J," as Castrol makes it for Nissan.

[shanti.vt1]

Hello,

I will be changing my fluid soon. The Maxlife I picked up does not say full synthetic.

Looks the same and it is for high mileage cars. Did I get the wrong one ?

[smj999smj]

Hello,

I will be changing my fluid soon. The Maxlife I picked up does not say full synthetic.

Looks the same and it is for high mileage cars. Did I get the wrong one ?

This is the one you want:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Valvoline-Ma ... 3=&veh=sem

[shanti.vt1]

Thanks god I asked.

I will see if the Canadian Walmart here carries it.

Thanks

[shanti.vt1]

Do I just need one of the jugs or should I buy 2 of them.

[smj999smj]

One works for me.

[FLiPMaRC]

One works for me.

Planning on doing a drain and fill of the transmission and transfer case. Is one going to be enough?

[disallow]

You probably need about a quart more to do both transmission and transfer case.

[FLiPMaRC]

Thanks

[smj999smj]

Unless you have the AUTO mode transfer case, which takes a whole lot more!

[disallow]

Unless you have the AUTO mode transfer case, which takes a whole lot more!

Truth!

[FLiPMaRC]

I only have an SV. No Auto mode.