Best ATF for '97 103k Maxima auto trans?

[DirtyApe]

Looking for a recommendation for ATF fluid for a 1997 Maxima w/ 103k. I've kept the Max very well maintained and doesn't look a day over 3 or 4

I did a complete flush via cooler return line at 60k and feel like it is time to do it again at this point. No shifting problems or anything at this time.

As I'm being gifted the purchase at Walmart (I do some errands for someone who wants to help with the car), I need to choose from something at Walmart.

I see at my local one: pennzoil multi-vehicle ATF, supertech multi-vehicle atf, m1 multi-veh, and maxlife multi-vehicle atf. The M1 is somehting like 5.xx aqt, others from 1.77 to 3.xx per qt.

Most of the 103k is highway miles (this has been our 'long trip car for a number of years). I plan to drop the pan , clean the magnet. There is no replaceable filter than I can find, only a screen that seems to be inaccessible.

I do need to stick to what they offer, thanks!

 

[DirtyApe]

I should add I used Quaker state ATF (green bottle) at the 60k interval.

 

[VK56VD]

MaxLife ATF or Mobil 1 ATF. Maxlife is a synthetic blend, M1 ATF is full synthetic.

I have a 1999 maxima and asked a similar question a few days ago. I'm going to get the M1 full synthetic. Do you have a harsh/ hiccup from gear 1 to 2 and from 2 to 3 under ligh throtle that these Maximas are known for?

 

[DirtyApe]

I have the 1-2 harsh shift, never really noticed the 2-3, it might very well be there

thanks for the thoughts, the one thing I cannot stand after all these years is that inability of the trans to shift down to 1 unless you come to a complete stop. We have 2 max's with similar miles and they both do it.

I'll check out your thread, I thought I searched well enough, but will look at it too. thanks!

 

[VK56VD]

Below are the links from a few recent threads where I inquired about the Maxima. It is some what difficult for me to decide n fluid as well since Nissan recommends Matic-D fluid but says DEXIII will do. I've been doing my drain and refills with Matic-D fluid up to this point. I have read that the Nissan's shread the auto fluid quickly with the transmissions thus lead to synthetics which I believe will hold up better. I know Amsoil ATF is highly regarded here but it's too much $$$ for the frequent drain and refills I plan on doing.


BTW, I'm adding you to my address book on here as you are a fellow Maxima owner. I'll get in contact if I have any questions. Feel free to do the same.


http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/s...true#Post994877
http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/s...true#Post994889

 

[DirtyApe]

thanks, will do.

Just in looking it seems the maxlife multi atf is well-liked.. m1 is about 6/qt here, anyone with thoughts of who makes the supertech dex3/merc stuff currently?

 

[Donald]

Why do people care who makes a particular product. Any company can make it to spec, there is no magic. Large companies may manufacture for several brand names. I would assume Walmart gets stuff manufactured to their spec or an agreed upon spec every time. Could change at any time. But I assume the spec will be the same.

 

[unDummy]

For a partial drain, use the best fluid you can afford. I would definitely use the Mobil1. 4-6 quarts won't break the beer budget, will it?

The Pennzoil/Maxlife would be my 2nd choice, and affordable if you plan on pumping an additional 10 quarts through the ATF cooler.

I wouldn't bother with anything else.

And, almost any univeral/multivehicle ATF will help tone down that harsh shift when compared to matic-d or mineral dex/merc fluids.

Certain products don't have 'quality' blending. This means they vary. Some of the UOA/VOAs of supertech have been weak.

 

[DirtyApe]

Hi there

I'll be dropping the pan, replacing that and then going the cooler return line route. Hoping to get the majority out.

I misspoke on the pennzoil choice, it is a dexiii/merc 'clone' for some reason they can't actually call it "Dex 3 / Merc" outright anymore?

You say the universal / multi fluids will help smooth out the shift (mainly 1-2)versus mineral fluids. Seems only the maxlife states blend, or are all the universal/multi now a blend?

Quote:

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For a partial drain, use the best fluid you can afford. I would definitely use the Mobil1. 4-6 quarts won't break the beer budget, will it?

The Pennzoil/Maxlife would be my 2nd choice, and affordable if you plan on pumping an additional 10 quarts through the ATF cooler.

I wouldn't bother with anything else.

And, almost any univeral/multivehicle ATF will help tone down that harsh shift when compared to matic-d or mineral dex/merc fluids.

Certain products don't have 'quality' blending. This means they vary. Some of the UOA/VOAs of supertech have been weak.

---

 

[DirtyApe]

Also I see Havoline Dex III in quarts, how is their reputation in ATF? Never realy seen that much before around here.

 

[unDummy]

If the Pennzoil is the Dex/merc clone, and not the multivehicle, then M1 and Maxlife are your choices.

Most universal/multivehicle ATFs are blends. This includes the Mercon-Vs. BTW, ANY Mercon-V is also a choice.

I'll recommend in this order:
Mobil1
Any namebrand uni/multi ATF
Any MerconV
Maxlife
Any storebrand MerconV, uni/multi ATF.

Since your mainteance intervals aren't impressive, I would bother with any Dex/merc mineral ATFs. This rules out he QS, Pzl, Hav, SprTch.......

 

[DirtyApe]

OK thanks for the choice list, I basically follow the manual recommendations on the intervals. Served it well for 10 yr/103k so far. I'll check for the M1 first. I'll post back with what I end up doing. thanks!

 

[Donald]

Quote:

---

OK thanks for the choice list, I basically follow the manual recommendations on the intervals. Served it well for 10 yr/103k so far. I'll check for the M1 first. I'll post back with what I end up doing. thanks!

---

Do the intervals in manual say a complete replacement (flush) or just a drain & refill? What do they say about the filter?

 

[BearZDefect]

Let us know what you find in your pan when you drop it.

Put up a photo if you can.

I would take unDummy's recommendations over those in the owner's manual for AT maintenance.

 

[DirtyApe]

Quote:

---

Let us know what you find in your pan when you drop it.

Put up a photo if you can.

I would take unDummy's recommendations over those in the owner's manual for AT maintenance.

---

First let me add that I looked through my maint. logbook and found that at 60k I did a 'drainplug/cooler line' operation, I DID NOT drop the pan and clean magnets, etc as I thought. My very bad there.

Upon dropping the pan today I found not even ONE chunk of metal in the pan. A few silvery bits that I could not feel with the fingertip in the pooled atf in the bottom recesses of the pan. The two magnets were coated in a gray/black metallic 'mud', somewhere between 1/8th" and 1/4" thick. No muck of any kind in the bottom, I was really expecting much worse.

Pretty good I'd say for 10 years and 103k miles. I was pleased.

On the ATF... I was given an Autozone gift card by her for $50 since I had not gotten anything at walmart, so I came home w/ 12 Castrol Import Multivehicle Synth blend. on sale for 3.49/qt and it seems to get very good reviews over on maxima.org so what the heck. I plan to do a drain plug drop every 25k or so with this, about 1/3 getting changed with that each time.

I did look at the M1, but it was 7.89

/qt.

Letting it 'drip dry' now and button up in a bit, pull the cooler line and hope to be done in an hour or so.

anything else I'll post, hope I did well with the choice...

 

[DirtyApe]

After about 150 miles and a couple of days, shift quality (incl. harsh 1-2) is pretty much identical. Hmm. At least this Max doesn't care if it is dino or synth blend.

Anyway, all done and it still runs!

 

[VK56VD]

I did a drain and refill on my 99 Maxima yesterday with Mobil1 ATF. It took 5 qts. The total amount is 10 qts. I have not noticed much difference, if any in shift quality. The prior fluid to this was Nissan D-Matic. The car has 117k miles on it. I've also switched over to a full synthetic Pennzoil Platinum in the engine, but that is for another thread.