[steve500]

My frontier's got an automatic, going to bypass the radiator based cooler cooler here quick.

What is a recommended synthetic fluid? I don't mind spending $$$ to get the stuff, I just don't want to deal with a crapped out transmission within the life I expect out of my truck. Is synthetic the best route to go ?

There's lot of threads with lots of different views from the past many years, what the latest and greatest news when it comes to auto tran. fluids?

thanks guys

 

[1stNISSAN]

nissan matic S would be your best bet.

 

[colin123]

don't waste your money on nissan fluids, for starters they are made by nissan anyway, just purchased with a price mark up added. get one of the synthetics made by amsiol or M1 which both highly exceed the Jaso A1 spec that our tranny was built to. people will tell you that if you don't use the nissan fluid it will void your warranty or hurt the tranny but thats all crap. first off any fluid that meets or exceeds the jaso a1 spec is perfectly fine for the tranny and if they do decide to void warranties for it they legally have to provide proof without a doubt that it was caused by your choice in fluid per the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. also per that act if matic j or s were the only fluids that could be used in the tranny and seeing that they are carry the nissan label they would legally have to provide it for free. get whatever name brand syn atf that meets jaso a1 and don't waste money on nissans fluids and sleep easy knowing your protected by law if you choose to do so

 

[D189379]

Frequent fluid changes will make your tranny last.

 

[dubie2003]

Nissan uses Matic S now (was matic J). It is rumored that the S is now synthetic while the J was not.

Like Colin said, Nissan just re-badges another companies fluid and jacks up the price.

I am running M1 and it is fine. Others spring for Amsoil which is also fine. Heck, I think O'rileys sells a store brand that is synthetic and some of the Titan guys run.

The key is to change the fluid sooner then later. Also, never do any kind of reverse flush or pressure flush. This will either cause debris issues or seal issues.

Side Note: I had a dealer flush at 30k and am now doing my own D/F with m1 every 15k. It only takes 4-5qts each time so it isn't that bad. Just stock up on fluid when it is on sale.

 

[davidapplewhite]

I'm trusting my transfer case and transmission to Amsoil.

 

[atroader]

I am running M1 and it is fine. Others spring for Amsoil which is also fine. Heck, I think O'rileys sells a store brand that is synthetic and some of the Titan guys run.

The key is to change the fluid sooner then later. Also, never do any kind of reverse flush or pressure flush. This will either cause debris issues or seal issues.

Side Note: I had a dealer flush at 30k and am now doing my own D/F with m1 every 15k. It only takes 4-5qts each time so it isn't that bad. Just stock up on fluid when it is on sale.

So did you switch to M1 entirely or are you slowly blending it in with the stock Matic S? I'm wondering if it generally would be fine to just purchase M1 fluid for my first D/F at 15k? Engineering says yes but I hate having 2 different fluids mixing around...

 

[rcr_kx250f]

its the same ****ing fluid. nissans use what's called multi vehicle atf. it's made by every manufacture the same way, same additives, that's why it's multi vehicle. the 2.95 a quart napa atf is just as good as the 9.95 a quart stuff AMSOil sells. when it comes to gear oils and upgraded synthetics then price matters.

as for the cooler, you must have a water cooling the atf, air alone is not enough. it WILL cook the fluid. best solution is to get the upgraded nissan radiator. if you don't like that, be prepared to change atf every oil change or blow the trans.

 

[dubie2003]

So did you switch to M1 entirely or are you slowly blending it in with the stock Matic S? I'm wondering if it generally would be fine to just purchase M1 fluid for my first D/F at 15k? Engineering says yes but I hate having 2 different fluids mixing around...

I have the flush done with the Matic J and then 15k later, did the d/f with M1. I am at 56-56k right now so at 60, it will be another d/f with the M1.

I would do the cheap mans flush but I don't have a job right now (know anyone hiring Mechanical Engineers in the Melbourne/Orlando area).

 

[4floored]

After reading articles and tests from numerous sources in many fields of Oil uses as well as lab studies and now seeing the results first hand from my own oil tests Amsoil will be used permanantly, period.

 

[Avplayer]

its the same ****ing fluid. nissans use what's called multi vehicle atf. it's made by every manufacture the same way, same additives, that's why it's multi vehicle. the 2.95 a quart napa atf is just as good as the 9.95 a quart stuff AMSOil sells. when it comes to gear oils and upgraded synthetics then price matters.

as for the cooler, you must have a water cooling the atf, air alone is not enough. it WILL cook the fluid. best solution is to get the upgraded nissan radiator. if you don't like that, be prepared to change atf every oil change or blow the trans.

whats the "upgraded nissan radiator?"

 

[Clint]

must be the superceded part number.

Clint