Bought a 94 Q45, how can i keep it going strong?!

[jasinatra]

Just bought a 1994 Infiniti Q45 with 140k....it's my third q45 and i love these cars...this one recently had the ignition coils, and knock sensors replaced and it's running great. My question is, what can i do now to make sure this car lasts as long as possible? Should i switch to synthetic oil, synthetic transmission fluid? Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks!

[elwesso]

Welcome to NICO!! Glad to see a long time Q owner that has had good luck so far..

Overall, once these cars are well sorted like yours seems to be, they stay going good. I personally am not a huge fan of synthetic products. I do agree they have some advantages, but I would rather change the fluids twice as often compared to synthetic and spend the money. Financially its a wash, but I feel better about always having fresh fluid in the systems, even if its a lesser quality..

I recommend changing oil every 90 days, and all other fluids every year. That includes ATF, PS, DIFF, BRAKE, COOLANT and so forth..

Main thing is as soon as you notice something seems wrong, address the issue so at least you know whats going on.. You can post things up here, because there are some issues that can wait whenever you get around to it, but there are other issues that if left alone will affect other things and end up costing you more money in the long run..

Other than that, theres really nothing special with keeping these old beasts going.. When they're sorted well, they require only basic routine maintenance!

[BadQ45t]

I will respectfully disagree with elwesso, Synth fuilds are vastly superior in every way. Now, if your religious on the oil and you use a good quality product then great, but for an older car transmission, brake, power steering etc, Synth is vastly superior. I noticed a much smoother shift with Redline in my transmission.

Given it is an older car and not everyone has the time for the exact timing, spend the extra money for Redline or Amsoil....I run in all my cars.

[qship96]

I agree, I have used Redline products in my engine, transmission, deifferential. and steering for almost 200,000 miles and M1 synthetics before that and at 265K all components operate like new.

[jasinatra]

Thank you all for your replies, and its nice to be on this forum and be able to communicate with people that love Q45's as much as i do....265K is alot of miles, i love to see that...I think i am going to change the fluids to synthetic...redline is on my list of things to buy...thanks again...

[goody90q45]

....265K is alot of miles, i love to see that...I think i am going to change the fluids to synthetic.....

Hold yer horses there. My 90Q has 254k miles and I run all dino fluids except the differential. I also drain and fill the transmission fluid with every 3000 mile engine oil change and suck fluid out of all the reservoirs at least yearly and top off with clean fluid.

Use whatever fluids you like, just keep them clean.

[qship96]

Goody, is that 254K on the original transmission?

[jasinatra]

I will respectfully disagree with elwesso, Synth fuilds are vastly superior in every way. Now, if your religious on the oil and you use a good quality product then great, but for an older car transmission, brake, power steering etc, Synth is vastly superior. I noticed a much smoother shift with Redline in my transmission.

Given it is an older car and not everyone has the time for the exact timing, spend the extra money for Redline or Amsoil....I run in all my cars.

How would i got about draining the Transmission fluid and oil correctly, when i switch to synthetic? Do i just run ATF through it until it appears to be as clear as the new fluid....will there be any left in the filter? Same with the oil change, just empty and change? I should probably change the filter too right? Thanks.

[maxnix]

I will respectfully disagree with elwesso, Synth fuilds are vastly superior in every way.

How would i got about draining the Transmission fluid and oil correctly, when i switch to synthetic? Do i just run ATF through it until it appears to be as clear as the new fluid....will there be any left in the filter? Same with the oil change, just empty and change? I should probably change the filter too right? Thanks.

Look for a BG or Sun (SnapOn) machine for a mechanical fluid exchange.

Fill and drain means you are just diluting 60% of the remaining contaminated fluid with new fluid. ATF color change from new tells you a lot about ATF degradation.

www.bgfindashop.com

[qship96]

Oh brother, not this "contaminated" fluid talk again!!!!! Just do 5-6 atf drain/fills and enjoy the same benefits of a "machine" exchange without the possibility of the grease monkeys screwing up your car or risk introducing "contaminates" from a dirty flush machine!!!!!!!!!!! The $100+ you save is icing on the cake, which can be put to other more beneficial uses on the Q.

[maxnix]

Oh brother, not this "contaminated" fluid talk again!!!!! Just do 5-6 atf drain/fills and enjoy the same benefits of a "machine" exchange without the possibility of the grease monkeys screwing up your car or risk introducing "contaminates" from a dirty flush machine!!!!!!!!!!! The $100+ you save is icing on the cake, which can be put to other more beneficial uses on the Q.

Sorry, but there is only one way to replace 98% of the fluid.

Sad but true. Exactly what would you call the remaining fluid? One thing for sure, it isn't new.

[qship96]

98% ? prove it, I say????? where did you get that number from?????? SOURCE please, Even IF accurate {I HIGHLY doubt it}, 98% vs 90+% doing multiple drain/fills MAKES NO DIFFERENCE in the life of your transmission..........As my 266K mile original transmission can attest to........concept of "diminishing returns" applies here.....the $100 plus you save by not having Bubba mess with your cooler lines and possibly INTRODUCE contaminates from his filthy machine and leftover different{wrong} type type of atf from the last use of the machine still stuck in his machines lines is PRICELESS!!!!!

Here is my suggestion, go out and buy 15 quarts of Redline D4 atf { about $135 for the BEST atf on the market} and do 5 drain/fills {running the motor for 2.0000 minutes at idle between drain/fills}, then simply perform 1 drain/fill using 3-4 quarts of Redline D4 {total cost $30-40} every 10-15K for as long as you own the car....... if the above procedure is followed ,fluid condition remains soo good, it is completely taken out of the equasion of your transmissions lifespan.......

[elwesso]

That's what I would recommend too. After the fluid is fresh just do a drain and refill once a year

[OwnerCS]

One of the most helpful accessories that I purchased for my Q was a "Consult" compatible USB cable. The cable allows me to plug the Q into a USB port on my home computer. Actually the cable cost me less than buying Mobil 1 required for an oil change. Popular cable suppliers are ecutalk/blazt/plms that produce a good product. There are some “free for downloading” software diagnostic products that work with any Consult compliant cable.

Usually the need for a Consult cable comes at the worst time. I wish I had bought my Consult cable as soon as possible after I purchased the Q. When I really needed the tool for troubleshooting, I had to wait several days for the cable to arrive. Also, some of the diagnostic packages display engine sensor readings that will provide advance notice for weak or dirty sensors that will allow you to deal with replacement on your terms. That advance notice usually results in a lower cost because you've had time to shop around for the best price.

[maxnix]

98% ? prove it, I say????? where did you get that number from?????? SOURCE please,.

BG.

You have evidence to the contrary? I have seen the fluid exchanged by both machines. They work.

Drain and refill is a half-assed measure, but better than doing nothing.

[qship96]

If BG truly got ANYWHERE NEAR 98% then one would not need to prepare to have it done twice in a row as your mentor q45tech so often preached about here,who by the way, was already on his THIRD transmission in less miles than I currently have on my FIRST transmission so far.



If drain and fill is a "half assed method", explain why my transmission is operating so well at 266 thousand miles{note- no aftermarket cooler ever installed either, another heavily pushed item around here}, and what would I have gained by falling for the BG bullcrap?????? I know I have SAVED over $1000 by doing it myself. Maybe it is truly time for you to learn instead of just parroting what you have read here {especially from one that was PROMOTING a shop and services and receiving personal benefit from doing so}????? I cant make a stronger case than my real life experience with my Q transmission longevity, which I bet is in the top 1% { if not #1} of every single q45 owner EVER on this board.......whats your experience, 60,000 miles, 100,000 miles? NEWBIE


Brian, might want to look at this thread regarding a BG process, then maybe you wont believe all the propaganda they promote.........

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ub ... ost1840778

[goody90q45]

Game on. Welcome back Brian.

[elwesso]

Game on. Welcome back Brian.

LOL!!!!

wouldn't it be nice to have a transmission where you could drain all the GEAR OIL out of at one time and replace it...?

[qship96]

Had that in my G20 and 300zxturbo!!!!!!

[yodawill2000]

You had a z Turbo ??
Lucky Dawg !!!!!

Not to add fuel to any fire but I'm about at 200K in my J with the half A$$ drain and refill method and it pulls like a Tractor !!
I do have a cooler , but I'm "Deep in the Heart of Texas".. lol
Stop and go traffic on Loop 12 in 100+ temp made that a necessity

Good to see you Back Max ,, now where the heck is Dennis ??
Man I hope he's OK.
Nothin' but respect for that brainiac.