Opinion on Trans service

[Kestral]

So I just turned 30,000 miles on my 2012 Pathfinder and I'm not sure if I should do a trans service or not? I towed my camper only once this summer prob about 1,000 miles. I was thinking about waiting till spring I will have prob 40+ on it then. What do you think do it now or wait?

[skinny2]

I did my first around 60k and the fluid looked and smelled like new. I think it's overkill for synthetic but I've been doing drain/fills every ~30k miles anyway. It's not particularly expensive.

[smj999smj]

I would wait until 60,000 and do a drain and fill. As mentioned, it's synthetic. Nissan doesn't even give a service interval in its normal maintenance schedule; it only says to check it every 15000 miles.

[Kestral]

That sounds good I will do it at 60k then again at 120K

[JimsPath]

Is it a light tint of pink or a dark pink / red?

[jhg120]

I've been checking mine, and can not figure out how to properly read the dipstick. With the car cold, there is liquid on both cold and hot levels. Weird thing, the liquid is extremely hard to see, it's very clear, and only has a hint of pink when I wipe it down with a paper towel.

I just purchased a new pan gasket, going to drop the pan, clean and check magnet, and refill. Thought I'd throw this out because I have no clue if my level is low, high, or ok.

[smj999smj]

I wouldn't bother wasting the time or money dropping the pan unless the gasket is leaking. What little metal shavings are on the magnet aren't going anywhere.
ATF should be checked on a level surface with the fluid "hot." It's best to take a drive with the vehicle for at least 10 minutes before checking the trans fluid.

[jhg120]

SMJ,
Thanks for responding. I will be out and about, so will check upon returning home. Again thou, the color of the fluid, should it be almost clear, very very slight pink??

Also, I'm on "maternity" leave with our 2nd, so have plenty of time to drop the pan, enjoy doing the work too. Plus, dropped the pan on 2010 Explorer, only 40k miles, and holy clump of metal.....tranny is smooth as butter, but glad I cleaned the pan out. Wonder what I'll find inside Pathfinder.

I'll take pics and update, prob next weekend.

[dawgn86]

The fluid can be hard to read on the stick.

I changed mine at 75k and again at 130k. At nearly 150k now, the fluid is light to medium pink when on a white paper towel.

I use Valvoline Max Life ATF.