Moderator: volvite
smj999smj wrote:I think you are confusing the transfer case with the transmission pan. The transmission pan has a 19MM drain plug and uses a Nissan 11026-01M02 crush washer. You won't lose a lot of transmission fluid doing the bypass...maybe not even enough to have to top the fluid off. If you want to drain the transmission, then remove the drain plug and replace the crush washer. When you reinstall the drain plug, torque to 26 ft/lbs. Doing it this way, you will replace about one gallon of transmission fluid. If you want to replace more than that, you can do a flush by draining the ATF out of the outlet cooler line (plug off the inlet side line) with the engine running while installing new fluid through the AT dipstick. To do this, you'll need about 12 quarts. It's a little trickier, but does change out more of the old fluid, however, you will never get "all" of the old fluid out. That said, the ATF is synthetic and unless the fluid is extremely dirty or contaminated, a flush shouldn't be necessary. Also, NissanMatic "S" and "J" tends to drain a dark, almost brown color; this is normal. It also tends to look a bit clear on the dipstick. After using Valvoline Maxlife ATF, my ATF drains a cherry red color and shows up on the dipstick looking more like ATF normally does. Walmart sells Valvoline Maxlife in one gallon jugs for $17.50, which is probably the cheapest you are going to find. Castrol Transmax Import usually runs about $6/quart and NissanMatic "J" and "S" run about $9/qt.
The transfer case, both the standard and "AUTO" mode units, have drain plugs that require 10MM hex sockets (so do the diffs). They use an aluminum crush washer, Nissan 11026-4N200. They also have a torque spec of about 26 ft/lb. The transfer cases take NissanMatic Type "D" ATF or Dexron III/Mercon, but I use Valvoline Maxlife ATF in that as well. The "AUTO" mode transfer case was used strictly in the "LE" trim Pathfinders in the US and takes a lot more fluid...almost 5 quarts if I remember correctly. The standard transfer case takes about half that much. For the transfer case, as well as the diffs, I recommend using a fluid transfer pump.