Let me first apologize if this is in the wrong section. But i have a 2003 auto 350z with 126k miles. I got the car with 111k on the clock and i changed the tranny fluid at 113k and again at 119k because it seemed as if the fluid got bak to a dark color. My neighbor keeps telling me if should look a rosy red at all times if not it needs to be changed. Well he thinks that i should get a transmission exchanged where they use a machine to drain and re-fill the transmission at the same time. The dealer said they wouldn't recommend i do that cause Nissan doesn't suggest they do that and that the fluid was a little dark but didn't smell bad. Thats cause it was just changed about 7k miles ago. They then say that the 350z has a non-serviceable transmission filter and that it doesn't ever have to be changed. My neighbor said i should do the exchange even though it says i shouldn't and that if i dont do that then i should at least check the filter and see waht kind of condition it is in. I do drag race alot maybe 5 times a week at the most. I was gonna add a tranny cooler over the winter to help the transmission fluid life, i just haven't gotten to it yet.
My question to you guess is what should i do about changing it or changing the filter? Or do nothing at all since i dont have any problems out of it.

 

no so easy to change the filter. you would have to remove the whole valve body to change it b/c it has 2 bolt that go into nuts on top of the valve body. dont really need to change it. drop pan and see how it looks first before doing.

 

ook so this is something the dealer should do that way i wont mess it up

 

The color of oil such as motor oil is not a valid reason to replace oil. Black oil, for example, shows that the oil is doing what it is suppose to do: suspend dirt.

 

If you decide to change the filter, just clean it instead The "filter" is actually made of metal (or aluminum?) and can be easily cleaned.

Otherwise don't bother as the filter is actually large enough to accommodate about 200-300ml of debris. That would take you about a decade of driving to get it filled up LOL.

Get the oil changed every 10-15k miles. That's what our local tranny specialist told me.

 

Thanks for the info so far guys. Anyone else got anymore info??!

 

this is the condition of the fluid now and it has about 7-12k(max) miles on it now. What do you guys think?

 

I wouldn't listen to your neighbor

 

it's perfect. nothing wrong with that.

make sure you're using ATF matic J though.

 

Well they replace j with s

 

 

there is no filter in the 5at transmissions. it's just a screen to catch large particles. you do however still have to drop the pan down to clean the magnets. these transmissions are good for up to 60k miles without fluid change but ideally you want to do a flush every 30k miles. 30k flush (not pressure flushing at trans shop) is great to prolong auto transmissions. the proper way to flush a transmission is to drop the pan, clean it, and bolt back up. fill the pan with 4-5 quarts and disconnect the return line from the radiator. put the line into a catch container and turn on the car. once it starts spiting air turn the engine off right away and top of the transmission with roughly another 4-5 quarts until it's at the proper level.

this technique of flushing does not damage the transmission like the high pressure flushes do. high pressure flushing with the machines force fluid and particles outside their normal tolerance and thus why so many complaints of high mileage owners having problems after.

 

Thanks power2rice!!

 

Can we tell the dealer NOT to do POWER flushing? The damn dealer close to us just tell us to bring in the car and leave it there until its done and they call us.