My Toyota is happy with 185k miles with 30k miles transmission drop and fill every 30k miles.
Dealer doesn't recommend filter change Nissan Frontier 9 speed
- Thread starter steve c
- Start date
Six years out of my 22 with the AF.
Does that Nissan transmission even have a pan to remove? The ones without pans are too labor intensive to split transmission for filter change.
I know this is a Mercedes designed transmission but Nissan I don't think has every recomended filter change on multi speed automatics (non CVT). I have one in my driverway with 420K miles nothing but fill and spill every 30K. Second in driveway with 230K only fill and spill. It depends on the transmission / filter.
What does the manual actually say?
I would maybe get a new filter and peer inside with a borescope or something. If its simply a mesh screen I would not be in a rush?
What does the manual actually say?
I would maybe get a new filter and peer inside with a borescope or something. If its simply a mesh screen I would not be in a rush?
dnewton3
Staff member
If your underwear were made of a thin mesh material with 1" holes, you probably wouldn't bother.
Most OEM transmission filters (the typical ones, of which I speak) are nothing but rock-catchers. They are so porous it's laughable. They are they just to prevent large chunks from being ingested, which is kinda moot because if stuff that big is in the fluid, it's already too late ...
The greatest risk a fluid presents to a transmission is the small particulate causing wear or sticking a solenoid valve in the valve body. No OE internal filter is going stock that from happening, no matter how old or new the filter is.
I have no doubt that if a dealer services a vehicle using their "BG" machine and fluids, if there was a problem and the manufacturer asks about service history, fluids, etc, the dealer will lie and say everything was maintained on schedule and proper fluids used.
Had a 2006 Forester doing weird things. Had a fluid change and it still did weird things. Brought it to an independent mechanic who was concerned but said trying a full pan drop, new filters and cleaning internal screens might help if it's never had a pan drop. Issue went away after that. Shifted silky smooth.
Not sure if we just lucked out or how often that's the issue and "transmission rebuild" as recommended by a place is just the easy diagnosis?
I hated dropping the transmission pan for a filter replace on my GMC canyon (because you have to disconnect part of the exhaust pipe to access). But I will continue to do so to replace the transmission filter as this truck is a keeper
Dropping the pan is always better. The filter is secondary, the primary concern is getting the pan and magnets clean.
Change the filter if you don't know how old it is or if it looks / seems loaded.
Change the filter if you don't know how old it is or if it looks / seems loaded.
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- Feb 27, 2026
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That's crazy, I called Valvoline customer service and ask which fluid I could use in my 21 Nissan Titan. They were actually rude and told me they did not have a fluid for that transmission . I'm going to follow your lead and use Maxlife. Thank you
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