Ok, I got an 04 6 speed manual. I am coming up on 30K and want to flush the tranny fluid. I went to a shop this weekend and they said I need some special type of fluid ATF/CVT8. I find that hard to believe. I could have sworn the Z's use a light viscosity ATF, and that that CVT8 crap is for the Murano's with the CVT tranny. Am I wrong here? What does the manual Z use?

 

I've been using Royal Purple, Max Gear, 75W90 in my 6-speed tranny and differential. Great stuff, eliminated grind going into 2nd gear under WOT.

All Nissan recommended fluids, capacities and weights are in your owner’s manual if you are ever unsure of what to use.

 

Your shop told you wrong. Nissan calls for GL-4 75w85 or 75w90 gear oil in the manual transmission. You can buy Nissan's own 75w85 from your dealer for about $10/quart, or you can choose from the myriad 75w90's available elsewhere. Be sure your oil is GL-4 or specifically designed for use in manual transmissions with yellow-metal synchonizers. Some GL-5 oils that are used in differentials etc. contain high levels of additives that will degrade bronze synchros.
Mika

 

Ya, I've only checked the service manual. I'll take a look at the owners manual when I get hime. How much that Royal Purple stuff cost? I want to get the best stuff for my baby.

 

Thought they told me wrong. Unfortunately when I went, the usual guy I go see was not there. Found out he is no longer working there. So some guy I dont know told me all this. I was pretty sure he was full of it, but I wanted to verify. Thanks for the info. So the Z's dont use a light ATF, they actually use gear oil?

 

I think it was around $9.50 a quart. Check out their website: www.royalpurple.com they have a distributor list so you can find a place close by to buy it.

 

If you're considering 'boutique' synthetics like Royal Purple, you should also consider Redline (they offer MTL (70w80) and MT-90(75w90) which can be mixed 50/50 to create a weight that is very close to 75w85) or Specialty Formulations MTL-P. The latter is the only synthetic 75w85 oil I am aware of that is specifically designed for use manual transmissions. (Castrol does make a 75w85 GL-4 oil called Syntorq LT, but is designed only for use in the NV4500 transmission that appears in Dodge and Chevy trucks)
Good luck,
Mika