Nissan 'J' Trans ATF?

[nick778]

In Nissan's new cars that have the new 5 speed automatic, they spec a new Nissan 'J' type fluid that must be used with no equivalent. They further say the fluid cannot be added to or changed except by the dealer and go as far as bolting the ATF dipstick closed so you can't even check the ATF.
Does anyone have an idea of what this new 'J' fluid is or equivalent to?

 

[Malibu]

Nick, Toyota, BMW and other top quality automakers do the same
thing. They have unique coolants, brake fluids, filters and auto trans fluids. Sometimes even engine oils (e.g. BMW has a 10W-60 oil it recommends for the M series). The outstanding levels of reliability,
durability and refinement these vehicles provide can only be
preserved if the owner is willing to maintain the vehicles
using the factory original fluids, filters and parts.

If you want to service the transmission of your $30,000+ new Nissan
then it pays to invest $150 in a factory service manual. You can
buy genuine Nissan parts, fluids and filters for a 25-30% discount
by doing a Google search for "Nissan discount parts"

By the way on Nissans website (www.nissanusa.com) there is a
section called "premium maintainance schedule" that lists the
services and servicing frequency required to maintain
the vehicle in the best possible condition.

Now if you don't mind if your Nissan is only as reliable,
durable and refined as a Lincoln or Cadillac, then go ahead and
purchase all the parts, filters and fluids it needs at Autozone, Pep Boys or
from other non-Nissan sources.

 

[nick778]

I am aware of all this and do mostly do use Nissan OEM parts for the various Nissans I own or have owned and where to get them at a good discounts. However, for oils and ATF, I do not use Nissan OEM oil or ATF; I use Mobil 1 or Amsoil which I feel are much better than the OEM Nissan dino based lubes. For this reason and from a technical perspective, I was wondering what this new 'J' ATF was. Is it a Mercon V or synthetic already? If it is just a dino based ATF, I would rather change it out and run a higher temp resistent synthetic ATF that meets the 'J' frictional specs.

 

[Malibu]

Nick, the short answer to your question is genuine Nissan 'J' Transmission fluid and Toyota Type T-IV fluids are unique and equivalent fluids are not available from any of the site sponsors here or from your local auto parts store.

 

[unDummy]

Automakers are making a comeback. F$%^ the magnuson-moss act and come out with proprietary fluids and force the consumer to use them. Use the wrong fluid, bye bye warranty!

First it was antifreeze, now it is every fluid the OEM could possibly force you to buy.

I too have a feeling that it is just a groupIII based synthetic type fluid that lasts longer(like Mercon5 and ATF+4). Nothing special.

From Nissan "Currently available exact equivalents to NISSAN Genuine ATF Matic Fluid J are Castrol Transmax J or IDEMITSU ATF HP."

Transmax "Z" is a high quality synthetic transmission fluid.
I am wondering if the "J" is just to supercede "D" matic, or for "J"atco, or "J"apanese transmissions that Nissan uses.

 

[nick778]

I looked at this at little further. The vehicle is question is the new Nissan Murano. The transmission is a new one for Nissan, the CVT. So, maybe this is why they are so guarded about the matter. However, as more OEMs install constantly variable tramsmissions, perhaps we will see more 'equivalent' fluids.