Shift flare using Castrol Import ATF in my Nissan

[MaximaGuy]

DexVI won't cut it. It will slip further, that is what happenend in my maxima and when I drained the soup was like red wine. Super thin, nothing like a fluid that is supposed to be viscous.

I will stick with DexIII if you intend to do something dramatic, but give the Castrol ATF to settle down the irritated transmission!!.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Dex VI is backwards compatible, very advanced fluid.

I'd be real careful with any flare on the upshift, that's usually a sign of impending doom for any auto. No transmission fluid has ever repaired a damaged slushbox!

 

[Carzzz]

Nessism, how bad are the flares?
I notice my parents' 2005 Quest has 100-200rpm flare from 2nd gear to 3rd gear when the car is warmed up (4 speeds transmission)... I drained and refilled with Nissan maticD and nothing changes (still flare)
My Villager doesn't flare (knock on the wood)and it has a 4 speeds Nissan transmission... but it shifts harshly 1st to 2nd shift when cold! Recently, i did a drain and refill with Motomaster DexronIII ATF (Formula Shell DexronIII ATF). The shift quality remains unchange

 

[NightRiderQ45]

Sheesh...the writting is on the wall! Obviously the mixed aft is causing your issues so dump it and put in ONE brand of aft. DexVI WILL NOT harm the transmission! I have it in my Infiniti and it runs perfectly! MaximaGuy, stop recommending the guy to purchase DexIII. They do NOT sell that formula anymore since that license is expired! You will NOT find any DexIII on the shelves anywhere anymore. You will only see Dex/Merc versions. To the OP, dump that Castrol junk and put in a good Dex VI asap! There is no way that transmission should be slipping at 26k!

Also MaximaGuy...show me where you have sufficient proof all aft is "spent" after 15k since you always state that. Thanks.

 

[BearZDefect]

Shift flares scare me, as in fear of transmission failure.

Just another opinion here from a non-professional:

In a Nissan transmission that specifies matic-D I would prefer Mercon V to Dexron VI because Dexron VI is a low viscosity ATF whereas Mercon V is a regular viscosity ATF like matic-D and Dexron III.

I can imagine Castrol Import MV exhibiting shift flares in an older transmission designed for Dexron III type ATF because clutch engagement is smoother and (IMO) takes longer with these newer spec HFM fluids.


Originally Posted By: Carzzz
... but it shifts harshly 1st to 2nd shift when cold! ...
I think that is common in the RE4F04A 4-speed transmission used for some years in Nissan Maxima, i30, and Quest, and does not suggest impending failure.

 

[NightRiderQ45]

Hmmm Bear...so you would use Mercon V over Dex VI? I'm in the process of doing multiple drain & fills with Dex VI but it has Mobil 1 mercon V syn (69%) left in the transmission now. So you think it would be better to trade out the Mercon V over Dex VI? Could you show me some viscosity numbers between the two? My Q45 is Matic D rated.

 

[BearZDefect]

NightRider, I am only writing my opinion based on my limited experience. My sample is too small to generalize very far.

Your Q45 is rear wheel drive, a different transmission entirely from those I am familiar with. It might work flawlessly with Dexron VI.

It isn't hard to find viscosity numbers for some ATFs. Generally, Dexron VI is about 6 cSt at 100*C and Mercon V is about 7.5-8cSt, which I think is similar to Dexron III.

I've seen claims that Dexron VI is shear stable, so it will stay near 6cSt for its service life. Maybe so, but in my case its viscosity went down by 5,000 miles of service, to the point that my transmission whined with it. Previously Dexron IIIh with well over 10,000 miles in service didn't cause any such symptoms in my transmission.

On a side note, the reason I'd choose Mercon V over Import MV for a matic-D transmission is these transmissions do not require HFM fluids. Where they are not required these HFM fluids make the shifts too soft (longer clutch engagement) for my liking.

Again in my limited experience, Dexron III, Dexron VI, and Mercon V aren't very far apart with the friction modifiers. Castrol Import MV is *very* different in the friction department. It works very nicely in newer transmissions that require such characteristics.

 

[Nessism]

Been away for a couple of days and come back to find all kinds of new posts in this thread. Thanks to all that have contributed.

The shift flare is not "too" bad, but it's there. I can live with it but don't like it.

Started to do some research about viscosity for the various fluids, I'm thinking that thinner is not good for this model trans. Dex IV seems to be quite thin so don't think that's best for this unit. Seems like Castrol Import is one of the thicker fluids so now I'm even more confused.

 

[NightRiderQ45]

Originally Posted By: BearZDefect
NightRider, I am only writing my opinion based on my limited experience. My sample is too small to generalize very far.

Your Q45 is rear wheel drive, a different transmission entirely from those I am familiar with. It might work flawlessly with Dexron VI.

It isn't hard to find viscosity numbers for some ATFs. Generally, Dexron VI is about 6 cSt at 100*C and Mercon V is about 7.5-8cSt, which I think is similar to Dexron III.

I've seen claims that Dexron VI is shear stable, so it will stay near 6cSt for its service life. Maybe so, but in my case its viscosity went down by 5,000 miles of service, to the point that my transmission whined with it. Previously Dexron IIIh with well over 10,000 miles in service didn't cause any such symptoms in my transmission.

On a side note, the reason I'd choose Mercon V over Import MV for a matic-D transmission is these transmissions do not require HFM fluids. Where they are not required these HFM fluids make the shifts too soft (longer clutch engagement) for my liking.

Again in my limited experience, Dexron III, Dexron VI, and Mercon V aren't very far apart with the friction modifiers. Castrol Import MV is *very* different in the friction department. It works very nicely in newer transmissions that require such characteristics.

Thanks for your reply. I've been researching since my last post about visocity levels of Dex VI. Dex VI does remail at 6 cSt through out the life of the atf. Look at this GM link I found http://www.sandyblogs.com/techlink/2009/05/dexron-vi.html After looking at this and many other sites, Dex III shears almost immediately, so it seems that the higher starting viscosity number doesn't matter.

Last question...is the new Mercon V shear stable like the Dex VI? Does it stay in the same viscosity range?

 

[NightRiderQ45]

Originally Posted By: Nessism
Been away for a couple of days and come back to find all kinds of new posts in this thread. Thanks to all that have contributed.

The shift flare is not "too" bad, but it's there. I can live with it but don't like it.

Started to do some research about viscosity for the various fluids, I'm thinking that thinner is not good for this model trans. Dex IV seems to be quite thin so don't think that's best for this unit. Seems like Castrol Import is one of the thicker fluids so now I'm even more confused.

It isn't about THICKER fluid, its about putting the best fluid for the transmission. Mercon V or Dex VI should work for your transmission.

 

[qship1996]

Redline D4 works excellent in Nissan/Infiniti transmissions calling for Nissanmatic D atf. I have over 242,000 miles on my q45 transmission using it, and it shifts and operates like new.

 

[MaximaGuy]

Originally Posted By: NightRiderQ45
It isn't about THICKER fluid, its about putting the best fluid for the transmission. Mercon V or Dex VI should work for your transmission.


Absolutely wrong. The line pressure is paramount for an auto transmission, and line pressure is propotional to the viscosity of the fluid. Without the right pressure, the transmission WILL slip -- why are folks on BITOG talking about viscocities so much, there is a reason right.

I stand by what I said about DexVI, it is not suitable for all vehicles that take DexIII.

 

[NightRiderQ45]

Originally Posted By: MaximaGuy
Originally Posted By: NightRiderQ45
It isn't about THICKER fluid, its about putting the best fluid for the transmission. Mercon V or Dex VI should work for your transmission.


Absolutely wrong. The line pressure is paramount for an auto transmission, and line pressure is propotional to the viscosity of the fluid. Without the right pressure, the transmission WILL slip -- why are folks on BITOG talking about viscocities so much, there is a reason right.

I stand by what I said about DexVI, it is not suitable for all vehicles that take DexIII.

I know that viscosity matters buddy, but you took my statement out of context. The main thing that matters is putting the correct formula in the transmission! That's number one! That is the issue the OP is having now. I can put a thicker viscosity T-IV fluid in my car, but it will damage my transmission because it isn't the correct formula.

I'm still waiting for PROOF from you that ALL transmission fluids are trash by 15K!!!!!

 

[SteveSRT8]

Transmissions are about more than just line pressure. More is not necessarily the best thing. And most trans have a regulator to maintain the pressure regardless of RPM.

If it's flaring, it's probably near toast anyway.

Dex VI is the future. I bet if your trans doesn't like it then it's probably already damaged.

 

[Nessism]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Transmissions are about more than just line pressure. More is not necessarily the best thing. And most trans have a regulator to maintain the pressure regardless of RPM.

If it's flaring, it's probably near toast anyway.

Dex VI is the future. I bet if your trans doesn't like it then it's probably already damaged.


Geeze, this car has 26,000 pampered miles on it, and the transmission didn't flare before changing the oil. "...it's probably near toast anyway." What's up with comments like this?

 

[JohnBrowning]

THink of it like a throttle blip on a manual trans. THe trans shift slows copared to the throttle and you get a flare in RPM dureing the end stage of the shift. I find all modern cars do this because people do not likehard shifts the degree can change some with each fluid.

I had my 700R4 built up so tight and my valve body reworked so that it would knowk your denture out....LOL I normaly shifted it manual. Hard shifts are better fore the transmission, maybe not so good for the rest of drivline and make drinking coffee on the way to work a chore...LOL Hence the smooth shifts we have today....

I agree with battery reset. On top of that while I amnot a fan of Castrol it should be working fine. So I am going to ask the un-asked question????? How was the trans working before the fluid change??? Was the fluid changed for a reason like poor shifting etc???????

 

[JohnBrowning]

I do not have a problem with brewing fluid on those applicaitons with drain lugs and 15-18K recomendations. The reason being it will not be long before all the fluid is changed. I do believe that when possable consistency with your fluids makes for better long life performance.

It is not practical for some to do a full on flush. SOme people would ruin their transmissions because they are too slow and ham fisted.One should always expect a difference in shifting when changing fluid even when useing OEM fluids as compaed to the shift feel from sheared used fluid in the application. IF all is ok only a tad different then no harm no foul.

I do not mind UNiversal fluids but I like to know what it is closest too when starting. So if it is closest to DexIII I want to know that if it is closest to DexVI I want to know. I do not like things with names like Castrol Multi-Import because it really does not tell you at what end of the spectrum it is starting at. Also very lttle track record for it on this site or any other's but I know a few hundren people that have used Maxlife and Walmart DexVI in TOyota's and other imports with no issues. SO a track record is important to me.

 

[fr96ss]

So this question is not transmission related but can i use the DexVI in my nissans power steering system. The manual says Nissan psf or equivalent. in canada Dexron 3/mercon. Thanks

 

[Eddie]

Why not use the factory recommended fluid and be done with it? Now you have a mix of two different ATFs that have slightly different chemistries and wonder whats wrong? As suggested, I would do a fluid exchange (not power flush) using the recommended fluid.

 

[unDummy]

Factory recommended fluids tend to be overpriced and under performing.

DexronVI should work well in a PS system. But, there are plenty of dex/merc fluids available at the local stores.