The gearbox in the 350z calls for 75/85w gl-4 when I first investigated the use of other oils, my oil seller said "that is a special weight and use oil not available to them, only from the car dealers." The dealer said any of them oils from a parts store will work. I did what redline reccomended and used 1/2 MTL +1/2 MT90. This gave me cold grinding of second gear. All this took place in December. Mid March my local Nissan dealer gets a case of oil shipped to them. It is 75/85w gl-4 for use in the trannies of Nissan and Infinities. If you look on Nissans Tech info site one of the TSB's now has their oil to be used when servicing the trannies on the 350Z.
I put the factory oil ($9.95 a Quart) in the car and it shifts better than the Redline did and is back to like new conditions for smoothness and lack of grinding.
Check your local dealer for this oil.
part# p/n/ 999MP-MTF00P

 

very interesting information, I was thinking of switching to Redline, but now I will probably stick with the stock fluid.

 

That is interesting. I switched to Redline MTL + MT90 about 2 weeks ago and so far I love it. The shifts in 1,2,3rd gears are great. No grinding at all.

Overall I would say it shifts faster, smoother, easier with redline then the stock fluid.

My car has 7500 miles on it when I changed over however and the morning temps have only been around 35 degrees and not seriously cold.

 

wait a minute why did you switch the gear oil to redline in the first place?

So your saying you switched to redline, then got grinding, swicthed back to what you had originally, then it felt like new.. Am I missing something?

Also, what is the Nissan tech informatino website? Address please?


Then we have another user who swears when switching to redline, the grinding went away. You both negate each others claims!

 

Just to clarify, I never had any grinding to start with on my tranny.
I switched to Redline oil because I have done this with every car I have owned and always had good results with better shifting and increase MPG.

Others on this forum have switched to Redline as well and have had good results.

 

I posted about this a while back, but not in a new thread. Thanks for doing so, John.

After starting to have problems with my second tranny, I took my car back into the dealer.

When I went to pick it up, he mentioned this notice they had received to be certain that when doing any tranny service, they must use the Nissan fluid and not the alternate brand fluids that they had been using. When they installed the second transmission, they had used the alternative brand fluid and not the Nissan brand. Therefore they switched the fluid out with the Nissan brand.

I have no imperical data that it was better or worse. My un-scientific reaction was that it shifted slightly better initially. But now I have had the tranny grind a couple of times. I don't think the majority of the grinding is related to fluid specs specifically. This second tranny is definitely getting worse, and will need to be replaced eventually, it is just a question of it getting bad enough that the dealership can recognize that which I already know.

 

My 350 shifts much better with the Redline mix than the Nissan fluid.

From taking delivery, the tranny was very notchy, especially in colder weather (Low to Mid 40s here in So. Cal). Changed the fluid on the 6MT to Redline at 1200 mi. and noticed a tremendous difference in smoothness and it eliminates the notchy shifts.

Now, at 4400 mi. it's still shifts like silk.

The Redline blend may not be the optimal fluid for colder weather. You may want to consult with the Redline tech. They may have a different blend for colder weather.

 

Most of us here in Nashville use Redline Super Light Shockproof (no mix). It perfroms great for us. None of us have had any problems.

 

When I had my fluids changed I asked the tech if he had heard of any tranny problems and he said yes. In the early run production they had a grinding issue that has been resolved in the later production runs. Mine was built in Jan 03 and so far it's been ok.

 

I have tried Redline Shockproof, Redline MTL / MT-90, and now Royal Purple MaxGear... I think MaxGear works the best... but since I have to take my car to the dealer for 3rd gear grinding, I have to put Nissan OEM oil back in.. Don't want the dealer to have any reason to void my warranty.

This is what they recommend: 999MP-MTF00P

 

No one has had more tranny problems than the 300GT/Stealth AWD TT. I have one. The Redline MT/MTL blend works great in that Getrag. The difference is amazing.

My 2004.5 350 is sometimes a bit notchy and has had a 1st gear grind maybe 2 x. I will be going to the MT/MTL this weekend.

Another choice that I have not used personally, but that many swear by is BG synchroshift or GM synchromesh (I Think). The BG is pretty hard to find, but you can order it online. Since I have had great luck with the Redline and can get it at Vic Hubbards near where I work (CA Bay Area) and at a speed shop near Napa, CA, I'll try Redline to begin with.

If I do not like that, I'll give BG a try, which I can get a an import speed shop in the Bay area.

I'll post what I find out.

Ray

 

The 50/50 MT-90/MTL mix is in the car. I have only driven it a bit, but second gear feels better already. It was notchy into second and downright cranky into first at slower speeds.

I put almost 100 miles per day on my car driving back and forth to work, so I'll wait a day or two and report back.

Ray

 

Guys... based on my experience with Valencia Nissan, by changing your trans oil to other brands will void your warranty.

 

I do not think that they can require you use Nissan oil to assure your warranty unless they provide it and all oil changes free of charge.

Ask yourself this:

Do they void the warranty on your engine if you do not use Nissan oil? Do you use Nissan oil in your engine?

Do they void your warranty of you do not use Nissan oil filters?

Do you think Nissan even makes oil?

If you had a problem and it was not covered under warranty because of the BRAND of oil you used, you got screwed. Of course, this assumes you followed all other warranty requirements like frequency of changes, and that you could document that you did them on time, and that the product you used met the standards that Nissan put in the manual (like API GL5, etc...).

Besides, just exactly how would the Nissan dealership know Nissan GL-5 gear oil from Penzoil GL-5 gear oil?

Lastly, if you were at all worried about this, just change the oil back before you take it in for the problem.

Ray

 

Dealer will find all kind of reason to void your warranty... I have been there... I don't want them to jack up the car, and about to remove my tranny and find out that the oil is not the same color as factory.. That would be a b1tch to explain..

I have switched back to Nissan factory tranny oil now, and for some STRANGE reason, it now shift better than before... I no longer have the 3rd gear syncho grind in cold... lets' see if it stays that way..

 

I filed a claim to Nissan of North American (NNA) on the comments made by Valencia Nissan.

Prior to taking my car to Valencia Nissan, I took it to Foothill Nissan to have 15k maintenance service. Foothill Nissan did not mention about my trans oil, which they should check it due to the requirements of 15k service.

In addition to 15k service, I also mentioned to Foothill Nissan about the noise on the trans when I started the car in the morning, especially when I released the clutch. Funny is when I pressed the clutch again, the noise dismissed.

Currently, NNA is investigating my problem. They promised to call me and get the solution. Promise is a promise.

Until now, there is no repair done on the car.

What Valencia Nissan did was replacing my trans oil with OEM oil for $54.00 and stamped Void Warranty on the bill due to mismatch oil.

Problem is still there...solution is NONE....

 

Well, this topic gets tricky... there is a part of the magnuson-moss act that covers this exact topic...

This is sorta my summary... Nissan would have to "satisfy" the FTC that the transmission will only function propery if their oil is used, and the commision would then have to come to the conclusion that the decision that for nissan to mandate the use of only their oil is in the public's best interest.


here is the exact wording...

"No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer’s using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name; except that the prohibition of this subsection may be waived by the Commission if – ((1)the warrantor satisfies the Commission that the warranted product will function properly only if the article or service so identified is used in connection with the warranted product, and (2) the Commission finds that such a waiver is in the public interest.” ((42 U.S.C.2302(C))


This is the same reason why we can buy any brand air filter... unless they can prove you over oiled it, in which case you were not following K&N's (or whoever's) directions, so you did not use it properly, so blah blah blah....

something else interesting... On a friend's Z06, it says Mobile 1 on the oil cap.... but I dont think it says in the owner's manual to only use mobile 1...

 

As of this moment, i'm experience grinding with the transmition (03). I replaced it with redline close to 1k miles ago, and for a while it was shifting very smoothly but the grinds started comming back.

As I understand it - If the transmition is to be worked on under warr. I will need to replace the fluid back to the original nissan transmition fluild, correct? sux to be up the creek with a problem like this and w/o warr.

 

After reading this thread, it almost sounds like it doesn't matter which brand of oil you use. If you have a bad tranny, you have a bad tranny, and eventually the problem is going to get worse and transmission failure will result.