Transmission Fluid

[Orlando Titan]

Originally Posted by kmonto

Apparently when they say, "Only use Nissan transmission fluid" they really mean it. Warranty voided if failure and they test the oil and find something different.

BS
You can use any equivelant oil you want. It is illegal for Nissan to only allow their products for replacement products. (The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act)

Acceptable substitutes are
Castrol Transmax J or IDEMITSU ATF HP (who makes it for Nissan).

Now, you do have to go to Japan to get them

[azxr]

If you look at this URL, which happens to be from one of our sponsors, on the 350Z, you will see what Orlando Titan just stated. I assume the Nissan J for the 350 is the same we would use for the Titan. So 1 of those substitutes should not be a problem.


http://www.courtesyparts.com/350z/capacities.html

[Brons2]

The NissanMatic J is a highly friction modified ATF, not unlike the Honda ATF and Chrysler ATF+4. All these fluids mentioned are high dollar dealer items.

However, in the case of the Honda and the Chrysler +4, you can make this fluid by adding the proper friction modification additives to synthetic Dextron III in the case of Honda or synthetic ATF +3 in the case of Chrysler. Lubeguard sells these additives over the counter.

I emailed Lubeguard and asked them if it was possible to make NissanMaticJ. They responded with this:

Brons2,
Thank you for contacting us!
You can use a good grade full synthetic ATF such as Mobil 1, Redline, Amsoil est., with Lubegard Platinum to make an equivalent to Nissanmatic J ATF.
Please let me know if I can do anything else.
Warmest regards,
Elise Haviland
Customer Service

International Lubricants Inc.
7930 Occidental South; Seattle WA 98108
T/206-762-5343 or Toll Free/800-333-LUBE (5823)
F/206-762-7989
www.Lubegard.com

Now, I don't plan on doing this under warranty, but I may try it down the road. I may try it for a few thousand miles and drop some of the fluid for an analysis, and if everything seems normal keep using it. The downside to this is that the synth ATF's are not cheap, therefore the price delta between them and NissanMatic J may not be worth it in the future.

[edit] corrected for spelling

[billaku]

Originally Posted by Orlando Titan

... Acceptable substitutes are
Castrol Transmax J or IDEMITSU ATF HP (who makes it for Nissan).

http://www.petroretail.net/npn/archives/0310/0310ss%5F1.asp

Castrol's new Transmax® J is a premium, part-synthetic, automatic transmission fluid that is specifically engineered for use in Japanese vehicles.
Nissan has approved Transmax J for use in all of its vehicles with automatic transmissions.
This product meets the requirements of the Japanese JASO 1A standard for automatic transmissions...


Now where to buy - calling Castrol's 800# tomorrow.

[kmonto]

Well I called Nissan customer care thingy and they stated that you should not use anything other than their Transmission fluid. I asked about the other items like transfer case and diffs and so forth since I am an AMSOIL dealer. They stated, that those are exempt from demanding Nissan specific oil. Why the trans... No freakin clue but when she said if I have a failure they will most likely test the oil to ensure it's their oil that was in there.

Don't ask me... But when it comes to voiding warranty I don't want to touch it. However, they stated that everything else can be substituted. I asked three seperate individuals there on the call to confirm.

Why such a stickler on the transmission? People can call it BS but when it is specifically mentioned in the owner's manual and they state nothing other than... I will follow it till told something else.

Now I also asked about my Sentra. She stated that are not demanding pure Nissan transmission fluid. I can substitute of equivalent type. Go figure...

[Brons2]

Nissan may be doing with the NissanMatic J what Chrysler is doing with the ATF+4, they are not licensing it out to third party lubricant manufacturers. Transmission fluid used to be pretty much Dextron III. Now everyone is working towards their own specs, Ford has Mercon V, Honda has ATF-Z1, etc, etc. This is not the way the industry should be going as it's confusing and expensive for the end user.

This is also happening to a lesser degree with motor oils, especially with European vehicles, are getting a narrower and narrower range of specs. Same with antifreeze.

**sigh**

[azxr]

Originally Posted by Brons2

This is not the way the industry should be going as it's confusing and expensive for the end user.


**sigh**

You are probably right. My guess is that is exactly what they want.

[Javierkc]

I had contacted Valvoline and they told me that they had done a lot of testing in new cars using their Valvoline Max life ATF designed for high milage vehicles and they approved to use in cars where Nissan Matic J is reccomended. Anyway they ststed that Nissan had not approved yet their oil as a replacement. My problem is that my Titan has already 12K miles and I am planning to change the oil and filter at 15K (about three more months) I had called about four Nissan dealers and about three service centers and NONE of them had a single quart, also none of them had the trans. filter and gasket. How I will make this change without oil and parts? Honestly I am considering a 4 quart oil change with Valvoline Max Life to see what happend. Anyway any of you can provide a Phone number from a dealer that had the oil, filter and gasket?

[dpzimmy]

Hello There!!
I changed my Tranny fluid at 10k with syn Mobile1 and Lubegard. Of course I called lubegard for the go ahead first. I now have almost 15k NO PROBLEMS. In fact it shifted much smoother with the new mix. I replaced with 4 quarts Mobile1 and I bottle Lubegard.

[Optimist]

Dpzimmy. You are the 1st that I am aware of to do this. Nissan is implicit regarding the use of only Nissan Matic J ATF, & further in the case of any automatic transmission failure during the use of non specified, Nissan will void any transmission repair. I have used Mobil ATF in two other cars but I encountered this same issue with a Mitsu 3.0, & this is true for any Chrysler 3.0 mated auto as well. Ref. 8-11 in your owners manual. I’m not suggesting it wont work fine but if you do have a problem, well the discretion is all Nissan’s.

[Brons2]

Originally Posted by dpzimmy

Hello There!!
I changed my Tranny fluid at 10k with syn Mobile1 and Lubegard. Of course I called lubegard for the go ahead first. I now have almost 15k NO PROBLEMS. In fact it shifted much smoother with the new mix. I replaced with 4 quarts Mobile1 and I bottle Lubegard.

Interesting, I'm glad that I wasn't the first. Lubeguard is a good product but I don't want to mess with the warranty.

Shifts smoother, you say? I would prefer mine to shift firmer, it's as smooth as a baby's butt right now after 1300 miles.

[dpzimmy]

Optimist -- thanks for your mechanical, legal, and chemical professionalism!!

[Optimist]

dpzimmy, thanks, but I’m no pro, actually in any area…
I would just hate to see Nissan give you a hassle.

Good luck, I’m glad it’s shifting the way you like.

[BIGT56PA]

In my 2000 frontier, they specifically call for using GL-4 manual gear oil. The only one who sold that was REDLINE MT-90 GL-4. I have to use that in my 92 sentra 5-speed also. Nissan says you must use that gear oil for the syncros becuse they are brass and GL-5 corrodes them. So, if Nissan specifies Using Nissan only fluid, then use the Nissan Fluid. I will ask my uncle who is a master Nissan tech for 25 years why they use this J fluid now. Chris

[KenedyTXTitan]

My local dealer has the Nissan Type J for $9.40 a quart. has anyone found it cheaper??