Transmission fluid

heath22 · 07-13-2006, 06:41 AM

Is the transmission fluid used in the Titan special? The dealer told me it was some kind of special blend and therefore it was much more expensive than conventional transmission fluid. Is there any truth to this or are they just using "special" fluid?

bestatchess · 07-13-2006, 06:49 AM

Valvoline says its MaxLife ATF subs for Nissan Matic J.

http://www.valvoline.com/products/Maxlife%20ATF.pdf

Nissan says that using anything other than Nissan Matic J will void your warranty.

WYSIWYG · 07-13-2006, 04:52 PM

I had a garage use this http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp...ehicle_ATF.pdf on a simple drain and fill in mine and I didn't like it, so I had it completely flushed with Matic J. Matic J just plain works and I don't feel it's worth messing with. I had one dealer tell me that my warranty on the transmission was now void, but I don't believe it. If I have problems, I'm pretty confident Castrol will go to bat for me, but it's not worth it, IMHO.

-Chris

Louis@mynismo.com · 07-14-2006, 12:49 AM

Matic-J (around $7 a quart) is what Nissan calls for in Titan. IMHO I don't think it's worth trying anything else at this point in time. Doesn't mean I won't change my tune later when they make one that adds 10 horsepower and has enuff R&D in it, haha.
Plus if something goes wrong with tranny, it's easy for the dealer just to say "Oh we can't warranty it because you don't have the correct fluid blah blah blah!! Although I don't see how they would tell the difference, taste test? I hear so many dealers just finding an excuses not to do warranty work, which is beyond my comprehension. So stick with oem stuff for now, just my opinion.

heath22 · 07-14-2006, 06:06 AM

Oh, I did stick with it but I just wanted to know what was different. The service writer was giving the dooms day act about how the fluid is more expensive and Nissan requires "special" fluid and my warranty would be void otherwise and blah, blah, blah. It was $250 for the flush.

Thanks for the responses, I now know something else about my Titan.

TitanTech659 · 07-16-2006, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WYSIWYG

I had a garage use this http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp...ehicle_ATF.pdf on a simple drain and fill in mine and I didn't like it, so I had it completely flushed with Matic J. Matic J just plain works and I don't feel it's worth messing with. I had one dealer tell me that my warranty on the transmission was now void, but I don't believe it. If I have problems, I'm pretty confident Castrol will go to bat for me, but it's not worth it, IMHO.

-Chris

You could just take it somewhere else. They would never know.

fiveyoungs · 09-07-2006, 06:21 PM

I just had mine done today at the dealer. The truck had 26,500 miles and it and I wanted to do it berfore hauling snowmobiles this winter.

It was 160 dollars.

Ramon · 09-07-2006, 06:27 PM

My dealer offers transmission flush and refill with BG synthetic fliud. There fluid has been tested to drop temps by 20 degrees. My dealer uses alot of BG products.

TitanTech659 · 09-07-2006, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramon

My dealer offers transmission flush and refill with BG synthetic fliud. There fluid has been tested to drop temps by 20 degrees. My dealer uses alot of BG products.

We use all of BG's products at our dealership as well. Great stuff.

rtapia · 09-26-2006, 07:24 PM

What is BG?

KYDeepwater · 09-27-2006, 08:10 AM

Nissans Matic-J is made by Castrol. Castrol Transmax J fluid, made (or formulated) in Germany. I haven't been able to identify if it is made here by Castrol, but likely would be. Transmission fluids have about 16 additives in the fluid, the Transmax J is a synthetic ester base "oil". The additives are put in to be compatible with the plates, gears, stick slip parts, etc. Using the wrong fluid can do some major damage, usually over time.
Anyone have any contacts with Castrol to see if it can be purchased from a distributor in 5 gallon pails? Likely would be half the price of the quarts from the dealer.

Yellomantis · 09-27-2006, 08:42 AM

Sorry to beat a dead horse here, but isn't there some law that says that the manufacturer cannot specify a specific type of part to use or else the warranty will be void??? Doesn't this tactic make it unfair to the consumer? Requiring the consumer to buy dealer only parts is unethical.

WYSIWYG · 09-29-2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KYDeepwater

Nissans Matic-J is made by Castrol. Castrol Transmax J fluid, made (or formulated) in Germany. I haven't been able to identify if it is made here by Castrol, but likely would be. ... Anyone have any contacts with Castrol to see if it can be purchased from a distributor in 5 gallon pails? Likely would be half the price of the quarts from the dealer.

I have been looking for it for over a year. My mechanic has a very good Castrol rep and even he can't get the Transmax-J. The only place I've been able to find it is in Australia. My post above has a link to what Castrol is pawning off in the US as a Matic-J equivalent and, as I said, I wouldn't use it.

-C

bergice · 12-22-2006, 07:50 PM

The 2003-06 350Z owner's manual states: "Currently available exact equivalents to Nissan Genuine ATF Matic Fluid J are Castrol Transmax J or IDEMITSU ATF HP."
Castrol never marketed the Transmax J in the USA, so don't bother with that one. The IDEMITSU product is what Subaru sells as their Genuine Subaru ATF Fluid, and while I haven't checked the price at my local Subaru dealer, I read somewhere that Subaru sells it for about $5/qt. I own an '05 Outback, and my owner's manual lists the recommended trans fluids as: Genuine Subaru ATF, IDEMITSU ATF HP, Castrol Transmax J, and Pennzoil ATF - J.
Sidenote: Pennzoil product was never marketed, to my knowledge.
Note: The Idemitsu product is conventional fluid; whereas, the Castrol product was a synthetic blend (described on Castrol Australia website, but no longer sold there; interestingly, described as full synthetic on Castrol Germany). The Idemitsu product is only available if you have your trans serviced at a Cottman Transmission Center (MSRP price of $4/qt), or if you belly up to a Subaru parts counter. Hope this helps.

**loufish** · 12-24-2006, 08:39 AM

I had a tranny service done at about 35000, and went to the dealer...I chickened out.

People keep talking about running synthetic fluid, I'd be VERY suprised if the Nissan factory tranny juice wasn't already synthetic! Fords Mercon V is, and I keep laughing at guys who talk about running an aftermarket "synthetic" in their Ford trannys...The good news for Ford guys is that several manufactures make fluid that meets the Mercon V spec, while not the case for Nissan.