Help with CVT Fluid change on 2008 Rogue

[jbroda]

The factory service manual instructs to "delete CVT fluid deterioration date with CONSULT-III after changing CVT fluid." Is it necessary? Who has changed their own CVT fluid? Did you delete the CVT fluid deterioration date? Thanks!

[kerrton]

So far no one that I know of has reported replacing their own CVT fluid, primarily because the fluid has a very long life, minimum of 100,000 miles and most likely much longer. The fluid does not need to be changed until the computer calculates that it's time, or a sample of the fluid is taken by a Nissan tech for analysis. Also, there is one and only one type of fluid that is compatible with your CVT and it can only be purchased from Nissan, if you use regular transmission fluid you will destroy your CVT in very short order, and the warranty will be voided.

If you do change your fluid yourself I would think it is quite important to reset the CVT fluid deterioration date, otherwise the computer will be calling for a fluid replacement before it is necessary.

[philipa_240sx]

Another interesting tidbit...

Spoke to my local dealer and discovered they have yet to do a CVT fluid change on any Nissan. They haven't found one with a 'past due' date when they check the transmission computer. Some of the vehicles had pretty high mileage too.

This is not surprising. There are some conventional automatic transmissions that have 'lifetime' fluids for a few years now. They don't require any periodic fluid changes either.

[psfod3]

I have a 08 Rogue with 61,000 miles on it. At 30,000 miles my dealer advised me to change the cvt fluid which I declined. Now I have 60,000 miles and I was told that if I dont change the cvt fluid I will most likley void my warrenty if I have a problem with it. The service manuel does not give any milege to change it but just says to inspect it on regular inetervels. The dealer has never offered to read the computer on cvt fluid condition. I do know that they charge $90 to hook up the diagnostic computer on other occasions. I went into another dealer who told me that the fluid is good for 100,000 to 120,000 miles and they never had to change one earlier. I do feel my dealer does excellent work but I really do not want to just through $300 away for nothing but I do not want to risk voiding my warrenty if I have a problem. Unfortunatly I do not know if there is any way for me to check the condition of the fluid myself. I wish they put a dash board light to go on when it was time to change it. I do not see a dip stick to check it and the book says only a nissan dealer should check it.

[jbroda]

It's a scare tactic from your dealer. There's a dipstick to check the condition of the fluid. It has a black cap that says "CVT" on it. It has a locking tab that you need to push with a small flat-head screwdriver. It's near the lower middle of the engine compartment. The service manual says:

Check CVT fluid condition.
• If CVT fluid is very dark or smells burned, check operation of CVT.
Flush cooling system after repair of CVT.
• If CVT fluid contains frictional material (clutches, brakes, etc.),
replace radiator and flush cooler line using cleaning solvent and
compressed air after repair of CVT. Refer to TM-204, "FLUID
COOLER : Exploded view" (with fluid cooler), TM-162, "Cleaning".

If it's clear than it's fine.

[Pescakl1]

Now I have 60,000 miles and I was told that if I dont change the cvt fluid I will most likley void my warrenty if I have a problem with it. The service manuel does not give any milege to change it but just says to inspect it on regular inetervels. The dealer has never offered to read the computer on cvt fluid condition. I do know that they charge $90 to hook up the diagnostic computer on other occasions. I went into another dealer who told me that the fluid is good for 100,000 to 120,000 miles and they never had to change one earlier.

First thing: It seems that you found your new dealer, the second one. At least, it seems he doesn't want to screw you.

What I would do since you seem worry about that is to ask the second dealer, the one you want to deal with for now, to plug their computer on your car and check the CVT fluid condition for you. If they are nice and smart, they should do it for you for free, especially if you go over there for something else, like an oil change for example.
Ask for the result of the test and the interpretation of it (at least the result, someone here is probably able to interpret the result for you if the dealer doesn't).
act on your car depending of the result.

Definitively, don't go back to the first dealer, but you may want to phone them to tell them why you don't want to see them again, especially with the CVT fluid result on hand.

[kerrton]

That sounds like good advice from Pescakl.

[psfod3]

I fully agree thanks