transmission fluid very dark

[miata007]

At 60k, drain and refill our G35 (2005 auto) for the first time. The fluid is still very dark compare to new red fluid.

Is this normal? I understand I have only replaced 1/4 of the total capacity.Should the fluid be this dark at 60k?

thanks!

007

[smockers83]

Yeah, it'll still be dark. If you don't want it to be dark, you'll have to drop the pan and the whole 9 yards to drain it completely and get a brighter color.

[Poyzinous]

I am very very against a drain and fill. You're mixing 5 quarts of fresh clean fluid with 7 quarts of filthy dirty fluid, so you're just contaminating your 5 fresh ones with the crappy fluid in it. You should get a full flush at a dealer or a shop with a full flush machine.

[miata007]

Well in the past, my cars don't get any types of transmission fluid for over 100k and had not issues (Honda, Toyota). So I was thinking drain and fill would be sufficient. That is also what's recommended in the owner's manual.

I am of course being cheap not doing a flush.

Thanks for the help!!

007

[miata007]

Another options is to do a complete fluid replacement by removing the return hose (at radiator). That will also require good # of quarts of this matic J. ($$$$$).

007

[Poyzinous]

like your honda and toyota, most modern trannys, nissan included, can get to 100k on original fluid, since they run cleaaner and more efficiently. Many people wait till 100 to do that, the plugs, and their differential(s). Since I am a technician and work at a dealer, I can tell you that I will be doing it every 30k since I can get fluid much cheaper, and even though at 30 its still pretty clean, I do it because I can. The more mileage you put on the car the dirtier it gets, no doubt. I see it all the time. And Matic J has been replaced with Matic S. see this thread. I did a lot here. and had fun doing it. http://forums.g35club.org/zerothread/402966

[tollboothwilley]

If you're gonna do a drain/flush I recommend doing that every 30K miles. This way you will replace about half the fluid every 30K miles. It will keep your fluid much cleaner. I've done this and my fluid, although not a bright red, is very red.

[miata007]

Thanks for inputs. I will change it more often now. 30k interval.

007

[Road Ruler]

Another options is to do a complete fluid replacement by removing the return hose (at radiator). That will also require good # of quarts of this matic J. ($$$$$).

007

This is what I want to do at home (don't trust dealers or shops).

Is there a more detailed outline somewhere that I can follow step by step?

Thnxs for any information.

[tollboothwilley]

FSM for the 5AT page 13 starts the Fluid change...

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/G35/Sedan/2003/at.pdf

[pfarmer]

Well in the past, my cars don't get any types of transmission fluid for over 100k and had not issues (Honda, Toyota). So I was thinking drain and fill would be sufficient. That is also what's recommended in the owner's manual.

I am of course being cheap not doing a flush.

Thanks for the help!!

007

Personally I think if you were to centrifuge the fluid it would probably last much longer than your 100k unless you drive it very hard. What you want to do is remove foreign particles. To me the best time to do this is earlier in the life cycle of the device, in this case the transmission. So I would do a full drain and flush. After that simple drain and fills would probably be good for a long time.

My plan is at 20 k I will do a full drain and flush. About every 30 k or so I will do a drain and fill until about 100k.

I agree if you can afford it or have easy access to what you need then do a flush, heck do it every time you change your oil if you want, just not necessary and not cost effective.

Perry

[Q45tech]

The first time an owner gets to spend $4500 for a new transmission, they suddenly begin to appreciate the 2 year 30k change interval for ATF. Even if it only adds a year or two to AT life.

I always warn new buyers to think of an AT as a $500 per year expense. You either save the cash for the expense or you try to trade before it happens.

Why 9 year old vehicles are only worth 10-12% of new MSRP.

In 24 years of Nissan/Infiniti ownership I've never had a RWD AT last more than 8.5 years [or 200k] even with ATF changes.

[Poyzinous]

We have 2 customers here with Q's almost at 200. Original transmission. And my old job, my manager had 300k on his 94Q, original transmission. My friend has a 96 J30. original trans.

[pfarmer]

We have 2 customers here with Q's almost at 200. Original transmission. And my old job, my manager had 300k on his 94Q, original transmission. My friend has a 96 J30. original trans.

I don't have experience with Infiniti AT, however I have never had any other AT fail, ever, with at least one going to 315k+ before I dumped the whole rig due to rear axle bearing failure being the straw that broke its back.

Perry