How critical are ATF changes towards durability?

[radiometer]

John Browning: This thread was about automatic transmission longevity and fluid changes and I want to go back there for a moment, if I may. On my 99 Nissan Sentra the owner's manual does not call for any fluid change of the ATF. It calls for inspection (checking level?) every 15k miles. However It does specify Nissan Matic'D'for this unit. I have done 5 drain and refills with Mobile 1 ATF. Could I have gone wrong on this? I haven't noticed anything different. I attempted to change the filter, which looks more like a strainer to me. One of the bolts holding the original filter (strainer?) is stripped and I couldn't get it to back out and I ended up leaving the old one in. How would you have handled that?
Do you think I would be better off leaving the Mobile 1 ATF in? Would a Redline ATF be more suitable? Or, should I go back to the overpriced Nissan Matic 'D'?

[ December 25, 2003, 10:27 AM: Message edited by: krholm ]

 

[JTK]

krholm- My 2001 sentra 1.8L recommends "matic-D" ATF as well. I changed it out- 3 drain/fill cycles- with advance auto brand ATF (BP/amoco) at 25Kmi. That was about 10Kmi ago. Absolutely no change in tranny performance or shift quality. I does say in my owners manual (in tiny print) that dextron III ATF can be used if no "matic-D" is available.
G/luck
Joel

 

[Bryan_1NZ-FE_Mobil 1]

quote:

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Originally posted by Spector:

quote:

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Originally posted by Bryan_1NZ-FE_Mobil 1:
Use what is only recommended though. For my Toyota, it is specified that ONLY Type IV is to be used. Even the authorized agent used an aftermarket "Arrow" brand for my Corolla and it had rough shifts. After I changed to factory fill, the tranny became smoothe again.

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You must have a newer Toyota. Mine says Dexron II and I have been using Amsoil ATF for ten years now. However, this is one reason I will never buy another Toyota or Honda. I hate manufacturer specific fluids and refuse to buy into them. Had the coolant changed on mine (it came with the green ethelene glycol) and the dealer put in that **** Toyota Red Long Life (which is not compatible with anything else) without informing me that is all they sell. I complained to no end but they said that is all they stock reagardless of when the car was built. As a result I now have three different coolants on the shelf for top offs. Never again!!!!!!!

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I am driving a 2002 Corolla and yes, you right in saying it's a ***** to have manufacturer speced fluids. No choice but to obtain it. Thank god there are wholesale suppliers...

 

[radiometer]

JTK: Thank you for your response to my question. I just saw it this morning. krholm

 

[mike1qaz]

Sometimes regular fluid changes are not enough if the manufacturer has a part defect.

Having heard about the premature failures of lots of 6th Gen Accord autotrannies, I've been draining/refilling my fluid at 15-20K intervals with the Honda ATF-Z1. Normal recommended service for the 2001 model year is 60K and severe service is 30K, but now at 112K my carrier bearings in the differential are shot and the seals are leaking like a sieve.

This is on an 01 Accord which has done 90% of its miles cruising on the interstate at a constant 70mph. Honda extended the tranny warranty to 100K, so they knew they had a defect. I spoke with a Honda master tech and off-the-record he acknowledged this to be a problem with this series.

It will be interesting to watch the ~2 million 6th Gens as they pass the 100K mark.

I'm currently shopping repair/replacement options.

BTW, this all happened about 2 weeks ago during an unusually long cold snap for our region. I had been under the car the week before changing the engine oil and everything was bone dry and the tranny was shifting as well as it had since day one. Check those bearings before you reach the 100K barrier.

 

[Kestas]

Mercedes makes fluid changing a snap... drain plugs for the pan and torque converter change about 90% of the fluid.

 

[road_rascal]

quote:

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Originally posted by Kestas:
Mercedes makes fluid changing a snap... drain plugs for the pan and torque converter change about 90% of the fluid.

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Too bad all auto manufacturers didn't do that and use a spin on filter for the trans.

 

[manualman]

The old Saturn S series is the only car I know of with a drain plug and spin-on trans filter.

Any others?

 

[Sin City]

quote:

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The old Saturn S series is the only car I know of with a drain plug and spin-on trans filter. Any others?

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I had a 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage with the 1.5L motor and automatic transmission and it had a drain plug and spin-on filter for the transmission.

[ January 14, 2004, 11:31 PM: Message edited by: Sin City ]