[Milkc3]

I have a 2004 Nissan Titan, which I purchased last year, She just hit 100k, and I have old service records. To my knowledge this truck hasn't had its tranny fluid changed ever, shifts smooth, never any problems. Question in hand, I'm thinking it would be wise to exchange the fluid out anyways as 100k is a milestone for any vehicle.

 

[HRTKD]

If you look in the maintenance manual, nowhere in the schedule of maintenance items does it say "Change transmission fluid". However, if you look elsewhere in the same manual it says to change your transmission fluid if the Titan is used off-road or for towing every 30,000 miles.

I'm proactive on my maintenance items so I changed my transmission fluid at about 35,000 miles. However, I do tow and have been known to go off-road.

 

[Milkc3]

Well to add some detail to this post, I live on a farm, so every day is a dirt/gravel road. And I tow weekly. Think its time to change the fluid!

 

[HRTKD]

Good plan. There is a nice write-up here on the forum on how to do a full fluid exchange yourself. Otherwise, be sure that if you take it to a shop that they do not use a forced fluid exchange. Nissan wants the transmission itself to pump the fluid out.

You can download the Nissan Service Manuals here: Nissan Titan Service Manuals - Nissanhelp.com

 

[nightowl]

Use only Nissan matic "S" in that tranny.

 

[Milkc3]

Since when was it changed from Matic J?

 

[nightowl]

Matic J is not made anymore it's now called matic S. Been a couple of years now since that change

 

[avmaldo]

I know it's been posted before, but I've been thinking of doing this myself too. Whats the short story on how long / hard this takes / is.

 

[Pale Rider]

can`t we use Amsoil`s T Fluid? I`ve used this in the Toyota as the WS replacement with no issues.

Signature Series Fuel-Efficient Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid
A fuel efficient automatic transmission fluid recommended for GM, Ford and Toyota transmissions where lighter viscosity oil is required. Provides the same excellent protection and performance as AMSOIL ATF. Recommended for vehicles requiring GM DEXRON® VI, Ford MERCON® LV and SP, Honda DW-1, Nissan Matic-S and Toyota WS fluid specifications.

 

[napz04SE]

Looking to do this on my 04 as well. 68k MIKES, no tranny issues but I want it to stay that way!

Anyone recommend a good trans cooler? I'm not towing or anything, but to me the less heat in the transmission the better

 

[Pale Rider]

look for a Tru cool bar and plate trans cooler. I`ve used these and they work...

Transmission Coolers at TransmissionCoolers.us - Best Transmission Cooler for Cars, Trucks & SUVS

 

[nightowl]

look for a Tru cool bar and plate trans cooler. I`ve used these and they work...

Transmission Coolers at TransmissionCoolers.us - Best Transmission Cooler for Cars, Trucks & SUVS

15* difference on my Titan! Well worth it. I would not use any tranny fluid other than Matic S. Guys have used others but Level 10 recommends Matic S only. This could be a $4000 mistake.

 

[CVTitan05]

I used the Valvoline full synthetic ATF that was compatible with the Matic-S in my last T, i did that at about 60,000 miles, and then every 20k from then on out (lots of off roading, big tires, towing trailers etc, i was just overparanoid), and i sold the truck when it had 110,000 miles on it, and shortly after the guy called me and told me the transmission went out. Who knows why, but maybe it was because there wasnt Matic-S in it?

 

[Pale Rider]

I used the Valvoline full synthetic ATF that was compatible with the Matic-S in my last T, i did that at about 60,000 miles, and then every 20k from then on out (lots of off roading, big tires, towing trailers etc, i was just overparanoid), and i sold the truck when it had 110,000 miles on it, and shortly after the guy called me and told me the transmission went out. Who knows why, but maybe it was because there wasnt Matic-S in it?

maybe, but with other unkowns who can really point the failure to the lubricant.

now if you put the wrong type of oil entirely, then yes, the clutch material will degrade and viscosity can cause erratic shifting.

I will say I`ve never had an oil, trans fluid, or rear go out from another brands fluids... and I`ve run a crap load of them...

I do not know if level 10 tested their modifications using Amsoil`s ATF, or if a customer said I used X fluid and it went boom...

I highly doubt the trans would pop or shift differently just bc you used Amsoil.

I could def say that the trans temps dropped 30-40° using a Tru Cool cooler and Amsoil ATF verified by my scangaugeII in the FJ cruiser with the 750F trans, which is also a finicky PITA when it comes to oil levels and correct viscosity.

 

[Milkc3]

If you aren't towing, then an additional trans cooler, or in some peoples case larger pan is sort of over kill in my opinion. Many Titan owners don't think about it as explained by my father (Nissan Master Tech going on 20 years). These trucks were built with all of these things in mind, when it comes to towing, speed, and a cooler transmission. They built this Titan based on what it takes to keep it cool enough to tow 10,000lbs and still keep the transmission in the proper operating range for temperature (These Nissan Engineers know what they're doing, much smarter than us). So if you don't tow, an additional trans cooler, or trans pan to increase the already capacity of (11 quarts) is somewhat over doing it.

To do a fluid exchange, its rather easy. You will need two people and several quarts of transmission fluid (Matic S, capacity is 11 quarts). While the truck is running, one guy will continuously pour transmission through a funnel into the transmission fill tube. The other guy will have the cooler line going out of the radiator, pouring this fluid into a catch (or bucket). The man aiming the cooler line will keep an eye on the fluid, once it looks clear with strong red tint, and without seeing any particles, he will then plug the line back in, telling the guy pouring the fluid to stop. He will then check the fluid level, adding small amounts until the fill line is reached. Fluid exchange complete, saving you a couple hundred bucks, and owing your buddy a few beers.:wink:

 

[jbawden]

If you aren't towing, then a larger pan is sort of over kill in my opinion. Many Titan owners don't think about it as explained by my father (Nissan Master Tech going on 20 years). These trucks were built with all of these things in mind, when it comes to towing, speed, a cooler transmission. And they built this Titan based on what it takes to keep it cool enough to tow 10,000lbs and still keep the transmission cool enough (These Nissan Engineers know what they're doing, much smarter than us). So if you don't tow, a trans pan to increase the already capacity of (11 quarts) is somewhat over doing it.

Overall your (fathers) logic is sound, but you're leaving out a critical accounting element that in the name of cost cutting scales back desirable design attributes to the point of being barely adequate. Containing costs is a fact of life that forces clever engineering solutions and keeps vehicles affordable. On the other hand, as a result every vehicle has compromises that can be improved upon in the name of durability/longevity/performance. Ask any transmission tech, heat kills transmissions and more fluid capacity increases the opportunity to pull heat out of the tranny as well as out of the fluid once it reaches the cooler. The oil to water cooler is extremely efficient at this and I prefer to increase fluid capacity (particularly because 11qts isn't much in a truck) rather than add a cooler.

 

[nightowl]

One of the main reasons to do the SR4588 external cooler is to prevent the coolant from cracked radiators from contaminating the transmissions. Bypass the radiator all together and this inturn will drop the tranny temps 15* and insure no coolant in the tranny. Many have been burned from this catastrophe

 

[AZPRO4X]

If you aren't towing, then an additional trans cooler, or in some peoples case larger pan is sort of over kill in my opinion. Many Titan owners don't think about it as explained by my father (Nissan Master Tech going on 20 years). These trucks were built with all of these things in mind, when it comes to towing, speed, and a cooler transmission. They built this Titan based on what it takes to keep it cool enough to tow 10,000lbs and still keep the transmission in the proper operating range for temperature (These Nissan Engineers know what they're doing, much smarter than us). So if you don't tow, an additional trans cooler, or trans pan to increase the already capacity of (11 quarts) is somewhat over doing it.

To do a fluid exchange, its rather easy. You will need two people and several quarts of transmission fluid (Matic S, capacity is 11 quarts). While the truck is running, one guy will continuously pour transmission through a funnel into the transmission fill tube. The other guy will have the cooler line going out of the radiator, pouring this fluid into a catch (or bucket). The man aiming the cooler line will keep an eye on the fluid, once it looks clear with strong red tint, and without seeing any particles, he will then plug the line back in, telling the guy pouring the fluid to stop. He will then check the fluid level, adding small amounts until the fill line is reached. Fluid exchange complete, saving you a couple hundred bucks, and owing your buddy a few beers.:wink:

Or go to the dealer wait 45min and pay $200 including the ATF to let them hook it up to the Exchange Machine. No mess & no wondering if everything was done right.
Time is money

 

[nightowl]

Or go to the dealer wait 45min and pay $200 including the ATF to let them hook it up to the Exchange Machine. No mess & no wondering if everything was done right.
Time is money

I did exactly that while under warranty and just a drop and fill when the trans-go kit went in at 130k.

 

[Pale Rider]

Or go to the dealer wait 45min and pay $200 including the ATF to let them hook it up to the Exchange Machine. No mess & no wondering if everything was done right.
Time is money

that`s for people who can`t do it. nothing wrong with that, But I`ve also "heard" horror "stories" about the exchange method. also depends on the facility and your trust.