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2012 Nissan Altima, change CVT transmission fluid?
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:21 pm
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:21 pm
So my daughter (no pics) has Nissan altima with a CVT transmission. When we got it I saw online one of the main things you wanted to do is change the transmission fluid every 30 to 60k due to the CVT transmission. Most sites said 30, some said as high as 60k.
So she's put 30k on it since we got it, so I figured it's time. But the local mechanics are telling her changing it will/might screw it up.
Having her call the dealership and ask now.
Anybody have any input on this?
Thanks.
So she's put 30k on it since we got it, so I figured it's time. But the local mechanics are telling her changing it will/might screw it up.
Having her call the dealership and ask now.
Anybody have any input on this?
Thanks.
12
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:28 pm to NATidefan
How many miles total? When my old Grand Cherokee hit 120,000 or so, I asked my mechanic about changing transmission fluids and he said if you don’t feel or smell anything, not to worry. He said sometimes If you start fixing what’s not broken, you cause more problems than you solve.
Disclaimer- this was back in 2010-2011 for my 2006 Jeep.
Disclaimer- this was back in 2010-2011 for my 2006 Jeep.
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:30 pm to LSUGUMBO
God forbid I ever own another Nissan product. The Yugo of Asia.
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:30 pm to NATidefan
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:32 pm to NATidefan
quote:
So she's put 30k on it since we got it, so I figured it's time. But the local mechanics are telling her changing it will/might screw it up.
It's a Nissan CVT. It's going to fail regardless of how it's maintained. Just save money for the day when you have to replace the damn thing.
These things aren't imploding at 50-70k miles because of a lack of maintenance (although that's a contributing factor) or because the owner uses it to tow heavy trailers (abuse is a contributing factor as well). It's happening so early and frequently because of key design flaws from the JATCO designed/built CVT that are ignored entirely by Nissan's constantly changing leadership.
Subaru, Toyota, and Honda CVT's that aren't made by JATCO aren't not failing so early like the Nissans are. The Nissan ones are so bad that they are causing people to distrust CVT's made by entirely different companies.
I would seriously consider selling the car while it still has a working transmission.
This post was edited on 2/14/23 at 12:33 pm
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:32 pm to LSUGUMBO
quote:
if you don’t feel or smell anything, not to worry. He said sometimes If you start fixing what’s not broken, you cause more problems than you solve.
Was told something similar with a Tundra - bought it used, figured I would change the trans fluid & filter- mechanic said it is a sealed system, and if no issues, then to leave it.. he had no reason to mislead me - it cost him business to say no
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:32 pm to LSUGUMBO
Has 130.
Had 100 when we got it and the fluid was really clean, so didn't change it then.
I just planned to have it changed when it got to 130.
Had 100 when we got it and the fluid was really clean, so didn't change it then.
I just planned to have it changed when it got to 130.
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:33 pm to NATidefan
That Nissan Altima will have a CVT Transmission problem. I would go on the forums - they have it all
This post was edited on 2/14/23 at 12:34 pm
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:34 pm to NATidefan
My wife has a newer one with the same trans.
If your daughter is doing mainly highway miles, the CVT holds up just fine. Wife at 170k and car still gets 41mpg on the hwy with me driving it.
If she's in stop and go traffic, it's a time bomb anyways. May as well change it and delay it as long as possible.
Nissan has finally staratong to go back to Jatco traditional transmissions rather than the CVT bullshite.
300k on my truck and other than hoses and valve cover gaskets as preventative at 200k... No issues.
If your daughter is doing mainly highway miles, the CVT holds up just fine. Wife at 170k and car still gets 41mpg on the hwy with me driving it.
If she's in stop and go traffic, it's a time bomb anyways. May as well change it and delay it as long as possible.
Nissan has finally staratong to go back to Jatco traditional transmissions rather than the CVT bullshite.
quote:
yugo of asia
300k on my truck and other than hoses and valve cover gaskets as preventative at 200k... No issues.
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:35 pm to coonarse
quote:
it cost him business to say no
I’m reality it is better for business to point out unnecessary stuff. Then you come back and refer friends when a real problem needs attention.
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:36 pm to coonarse
This isn't a sealed system. I've watched videso on how to change it and was considering doing it myself.
There's a plate/pan you remove.
There's tons of stuff on the net about it needing to be changed regularly and youtube vids on how to do it.
There's a plate/pan you remove.
There's tons of stuff on the net about it needing to be changed regularly and youtube vids on how to do it.
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:38 pm to X123F45
She's doing mainly highway miles and should continue for the foreseeable future.
It's was used though, so don't really know the history on that.
It's was used though, so don't really know the history on that.
This post was edited on 2/14/23 at 12:40 pm
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:41 pm to coonarse
quote:
Was told something similar with a Tundra - bought it used, figured I would change the trans fluid & filter- mechanic said it is a sealed system, and if no issues, then to leave it.. he had no reason to mislead me - it cost him business to say no
I always do a full flush every 60,000 miles. Also do it for the diffs as well at the manufacturer's suggested intervals. I was particularly careful with the Subaru CVT we had and for the trucks we used for towing. I've never had to replace or overhaul a transmission in anything but one Ford truck - but that specific vehicle was a total lemon. Overall I'm a huge proponent of following the manufacturer's maintenance schedule as closely as possible with the exception of oil changes, which I do far more frequently than the manufacturer suggests.
I wouldn't touch a higher mileage Nissan with a CVT, and if I had one, I wouldn't pay to flush one out unless that transmission was brand new. IMO if you own one of those you should just consider the $6,000+ costs of replacement as a wear item that will hit you more frequently than traditional automatics.
I'd seriously consider trading the car in if the fluid looks rough.
This post was edited on 2/14/23 at 12:43 pm
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:42 pm to NATidefan
quote:
Has 130.
Had 100 when we got it and the fluid was really clean, so didn't change it then.
I just planned to have it changed when it got to 130.
Okay so you know the fluid was changed sometime between 90k-100k miles? Or was the transmission changed?
That might change my answer. I think I'd elect to flush it out if it's got a new unit.
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:44 pm to NATidefan
quote:
There's tons of stuff on the net about it needing to be changed regularly and youtube vids on how to do it.
Type of miles means they most. Lady at work is on her third transmission in here rogue.
Wife has a shite ton of miles
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:45 pm to goofball
I don't know for sure on either, just that it was really clean.
I suspect it had been changed at some point.
I suspect it had been changed at some point.
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:47 pm to X123F45
quote:
Type of miles means they most. Lady at work is on her third transmission in here rogue.
Wife has a shite ton of miles
Yep. The Nissans with the more powerful engines and the heavier cars (including the Altima, Maxima, etc.) go through them far more frequently than the Versas and Sentras. They even put them in the Pathfinder and slapped at 5,000 lb towing capacity on that thing.
Even the far superior Subaru CVT has a high failure rate in the turbocharged Outback and Ascent models - both of which are heavier, more powerful cars.
Toyota got around this in their Prius and Corolla by adding a first gear to get the vehicle moving. Then the transmission shifts into the CVT pulley. The wear on the CVT as the car moves is far less than the stress of stop/go movements. They also don't recommend towing with their CVT.
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:52 pm to goofball
quote:Truth. Drove a 2009 Altima for 160K miles. It was on transmission number 3 when I sold it, and it was ready for number 4.
It's a Nissan CVT. It's going to fail regardless of how it's maintained.
I drove that thing like it was made of glass. No racing. No winding out the gears. Obviously no towing. It still chewed through 3 CVTs before I sold it.
One of the (many) problems is that the Nissan CVT apparently cannot be rebuilt. At least not at any local shop. The only thing my transmission guy would offer (short of new replacement) was to pull one from a wrecked car and install it without a warranty. Otherwise, I did find a place in Dallas that specializes in Nissan CVTs. They were around $3,500, but you had to bring the car to them. Pretty sure they were rebuilding onsite.
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:54 pm to FCP
quote:
Truth. Drove a 2009 Altima for 160K miles. It was on transmission number 3 when I sold it, and it was ready for number 4.
The frustrating part is that the older Nissan 3.5L and 2.5L engines are otherwise very sturdy.
It's a shame that they are mated to such a weak transmission.
Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:56 pm to NATidefan
quote:
Has 130.
Had 100 when we got it and the fluid was really clean, so didn't change it then.
I just planned to have it changed when it got to 130.
You need to change it. You're already clear of some of the super premature failures that happen with it. If it fails after service, it won't be due to the service itself. Mechanics spout this BS because most people with higher mileage cars wait until there are signs of failure to change the fluid. They change it and it fails shortly thereafter. It was already going to. If you're not having issues now, then you should be fine changing it (and I definitely would). The Jatco trannys are problematic on their own for sure, but that doesn't mean you should just ignore maintenance.
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