Overfilled CVT

[lk777]

2011 Nissan Rogue AWD SV

In my local auto repair shop they replaced a leaking transmission cooler and added Nissan NS-2 fluid about 3 quarts.
This is what I have now:


It seems that they have no idea on how to check the transmission fluid level.
I have changed CVT fluid and a filter myself, checked the fluid level following Nissan instructions and drove 17,000 miles after that.
So I know how it must be done.

I am aware of how dangerous the overfilling is in theory.
But what about my case?
How much of oil was overfilled?

[VStar650CL]

Was this taken warm or cold? On Nissan sticks, the notches are the cold level, the etched lines or cross-hatch are the warm level. You should basically never see fluid above the top notch when cold or the top hatch when warm. The sticks can be a little dicey to read if there's fluid on the tube walls, especially right after fluid has been added. Sometimes you'll see what looks like a high level on one side of the stick but the other side will be dry, that's from a wet tube. The level on the "drier" side of the stick will be the actual.

The levels don't actually mean much once you're above or below the measuring marks, but even a half pint overfilled can foam the fluid and cause serious damage. If there's any overfill at all, treat it seriously and drain the excess immediately.

[VStar650CL]

PS - When incompetent techs screw up, it's usually because they tossed in 5 quarts like a normal A/T. That will generally leave an RE0F10 transmission about 3/4 quart high.

[lk777]

This is from Nissan manuals:


And this video explains https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZR01yFuumU.

[casperfun]

This is one justification I try to convince myself it's not necessary to install a trans cooler because it will just be another pathway for it to leak with my bad luck.

Don't get me wrong, I probably wouldn't mind having one early on, but at my age, it's just too much pain in the behind to install.

Going on it's 13th year with the original cvt and decades of modding, I am just so happy I have a smooth running working machine with no problems.

Which is why I'm still hanging around this forum.

[macgiver]

My '14 Juke CVT dipstick even gets way up to bottom of that "S" part ( "S" bend is to keep a centered end - NOT touching the I.D. of the tube ). These CVT's seem to achieve a very high level as seen on dipstick as temps rise to the 'max'. We get up to 121 degrees ambient PLUS coming off 80+ mph freeway in summer , is when mine hits the "S" at the lower curve . Never the remotest signs of foaming.
Question :
Has ANYONE on this forum EVER pulled a CVT dipstick and actually seen foam ? Honestly ?

For I've seen and heard what I believe to be mostly problems of too LOW CVT fluid - so many say factory overfilled and then they go and put LESS fluid in when doing the CVT svc. themselves, and if memory correct - those people have the blown transmissions waaaaay more

I've NEVER seen foam , has ANYBODY EVER SEEN FOAM IN A CVT - be honest

[macgiver]

I also buy what Casper says , i'm ooold school , I know coolers help , PITA yes sir , I change CVT and blow screen 25-30kmi anyway ......do 80 - 110 mph to Cali summers - no prob .... so I'm shadowing Casper's philosophy
Time will tell IF I get a cooler NEXT YEAR ...........................2023

[VStar650CL]

You won't ever see foam on the stick, but trust your temp sensor if you think it's BS. Overfill your Juke half a quart and watch what the hot spots on the belt do to your fluid temperature.

Oh, but, umm -- I wouldn't get on it too hard while you're testing...

[lk777]

It was preinstalled on my 11 Rogue (a first owner).
It is quite possible that I can blame myself for the leaking external cooler. My first CVT fluid change I have done at 123,000 miles (myself). I am lucky that the transmission itself survived my negligence.

Check these TBs:

Nissan TSB #NTB14-002E
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Nissan/Ro ... 002e.shtml

Nissan TSB #NTB-12-057
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Nissan/Ro ... -057.shtml

Those marks/notches on the dipstick are for reasons. I take it seriously.

Hey professional mechanics, if you participate or monitor this forum, please do not let your lube guys to even touch transmission parts!

[VStar650CL]

Hey professional mechanics, if you participate or monitor this forum, please do not let your lube guys to even touch transmission parts!

Personally, our dealership has enough qualified personnel that nobody below Tech-2 needs to touch a transmission. Unfortunately, there's a growing shortage of technicians across the entire industry, so at many dealerships that isn't true, and the problem is likely to get worse and not better. My advice to everyone is, if you can do it yourself, then do it. It isn't rocket science, and the knowledge is here in the forum to do it right. If you can't do it, get an ELM327 adaptor and download a copy of CVTz50 or another package that can monitor CVT temperature. Learn your CVT's normal temperature behavior, then check it after service. If anyone screwed up, the abnormal temps will tell you. It's the proverbial "stitch in time".

[macgiver]

My 3040c Innova doesn't do CVT temps on my '14 Juke AWD ?? No advertized upgrades happening . I would have liked to know 4th July to Huntington beach the trans temps , w/ 80-110 hiway speeds ???

VStar I'm looking into good setup like mentioned CVTz50 and that ELM327 , good if it does an iphone .

Before this summer's CVT svc. I need some baseline temps ,ya .

[VStar650CL]

VStar I'm looking into good setup like mentioned CVTz50 and that ELM327 , good if it does an iphone

Yah, it's funky how lots of scanners that can talk to a CVT transmission, for some reason can't take its temperature. Lot of good phone scanners too, Torque Pro for example.

Go to the CVTz50 website before you buy anything, they have very detailed advice about what works and what doesn't.

[localTradey]

I extracted 3.7 litres from my Qashqai(rogue sport) and filled in 3.9 litres. The NS-3 comes in 4 Litre can.
I didn't want to get underneath the car to use the "overflow" method.
This was in June last year. Will do another this June. It was easy using an extractor.

[VStar650CL]

I extracted 3.7 litres from my Qashqai(rogue sport) and filled in 3.9 litres. The NS-3 comes in 4 Litre can.
I didn't want to get underneath the car to use the "overflow" method.
This was in June last year. Will do another this June. It was easy using an extractor.

With a CVT, the wages of laziness can easily turn into a blown transmission, and what's the point of maintenance if it's doing more harm than good? I'd certainly advise getting that extra 0.2L out of there.

Since you know you slightly overfilled it, I'd also advise using the leveling plug for your next change, to make sure the level is correct before going back to suck-and-swaps.