Transmission flush. What type of fluid and how much?

I'm around 85K miles on my Q45 and thinking of doing a transmission flush.    I've called Infiniti and they are asking around $200.   They also said that I "must" use the Jmatic fluid that Nissan has.  The parts guy looked it up and told me the 2002+ models changed to Jmatic from the old fluid on the previous models (y33?).  They also quoted me $14 a quart for Jmatic. I called a couple places that specialize in transmissions and some say that it is a just a name Nissan uses for regular GM dexron III.   The transmission places offered $170 for "dropping the pan" and changing/clean the filter and I believe hooking it up to a machine to flush.    I believe this place I called was an Aamco.  Then I called a Infiniti specialist and they said there is no need to drop the pan because it uses a mesh screen and that they do use Jmatic fluid and would cost $129.    

I'm sure dealer has done tons of these and they go by the book.  Well most of them.   Do you guys think the Aamco people are just full of shit and just want to take your money?    I'm probably going to do it this week but not sure which to go with.

i would always use oem approved fluids...especially when its something vital like the tranny...even if the fluids cost a grip...i'm sure you can call a jobber and get the same shit as almost half the price...but if you can't, i would be on the safe side and just buy from the dealer...

If you want to double check, just go to Nissan/Infiniti and look at the back of the bottle. Sometimes it says if it is Dexron III. But it says on my database, use only Nissan Jmatic fluid. $129 sounds cheap. Go ask AAMCO how much it would be to do it with Jmatic fluid or sometimes since they are independently owned and operated you can try to see if they'll match the price you got for $129 w/o dropping pan.

I Just went through this on my 2003 M45. Everywhere I read it was really specific to use the jmatic fluids. I being and aftermarket enthusiast was thinking that it was just them trying to make you pay for the OEM stuff. So I did a bunch of looking and found that there were too many warnings about this and went with the OEM. Try the nissan dealer for the fluid it is usually a bit cheaper there. 
 
No need to drop the pan with our style motor. It was a pretty simple process. You run the car for a little to warm the fluid and drain and fill. The service manuals say to drain and fill at the same time which was a little tough to do. We just drianed, filled and checked levels. 
 
Any service shop should be able to do it.

did the service manual recommend this method of just drain and fill?   You're right I called the Nissan dealer after speaking with Infiniti and they quoted me about $10 a quart.   I'm still not sure if I should just do this myself or pay to get it done.

The service manual I downloaded said to run, pull the plug and pour in fluid until the color of the fluid coming out matched the color of the fluid going in. My friend who is a certified honda tech thought that was a little wierd so we drained it and then re filled it with the ammount that was reccomended ( i cant remeber but i think it was like 6 qts ). Then we started the car and checked the fluid levels and added until it was in the right spot on the dipstick.
 
Worked perfectly and the tranny is great. From what i read there is no need to do a full flush on the system which would then require you to fill it with like 10 qts.

It depends on what they are doing. If they offer to do a full flush, then let them do it. If they are doing just a drain and fill, then do it yourself. Drain and fills are like changing oil. You drain the oil out of the pan, then re-fill it up with the same amount of oil.

they are charging different prices actually for a simple drain and fill vs. a flush.

[quote=Caoboy;155531]It depends on what they are doing. If they offer to do a full flush, then let them do it. If they are doing just a drain and fill, then do it yourself. Drain and fills are like changing oil. You drain the oil out of the pan, then re-fill it up with the same amount of oil.[/quote]

I was told that power flushing the tranny could be harmful with the tranny in our car. It was from a tech on another forum. They highly reccommended staying away from jiffy lube type places as their machines and techniques for doing a flush can be harmful.

my tranny is now slipping, and im checkin the fluid and it looks dark so its either this method or rebuild
 
 
WHO KNOW's OF A SHOP IN MIAMI THAT REBUILDS FOR CHEAP OR SELLS IT FOR CHEAP?

ASE certified tech signing in here....don't bother doing the drain and fill unless its a newer car...the flush method is much better as if you just drain and fill you are really mixing old fluid with the new.As for the fluid there are blends available from the aftermarket which are much cheaper,just make sure if you drain and fill to use original style fluid and if you flush use one fluid and stick with it.

[QUOTE=ricky cash;155880]my tranny is now slipping, and im checkin the fluid and it looks dark so its either this method or rebuild
 
 
WHO KNOW's OF A SHOP IN MIAMI THAT REBUILDS FOR CHEAP OR SELLS IT FOR CHEAP?[/QUOTE]

Flushing that will make it worse if its slipping and the fluid is black

[QUOTE=Blitz;155584]they are charging different prices actually for a simple drain and fill vs. a flush.[/QUOTE]


I would def say go with the Jmatic.  The flush is going to cost a lot more bacause of the ammount of fluid and time it takes.  I am a nissan tech and our machine takes 16q to flush, or about 3-4q for a drain and fill.  We do have quite a few customers that prefer aftermarket fluid, all of them are running AMSOIL fluids in their trans and i have not seen any problems from them yet.

[QUOTE=ESPROJIM;156733]Flushing that will make it worse if its slipping and the fluid is black




I would def say go with the Jmatic.  The flush is going to cost a lot more bacause of the ammount of fluid and time it takes.  I am a nissan tech and our machine takes 16q to flush, or about 3-4q for a drain and fill.  We do have quite a few customers that prefer aftermarket fluid, all of them are running AMSOIL fluids in their trans and i have not seen any problems from them yet.[/QUOTE]


Do u recommend the flush or drain and fill?

took my car to a tranny shop and they gave me a free diag. told me there wasn't anything wrong with the tranny, it was the engine missing, i guess it was from that bad hess gas

[QUOTE=Blitz;156819]Do u recommend the flush or drain and fill?[/QUOTE]

Id say go with the flush.  The price should be less at a nissan dealer, less for labor and less for fluid.  The fluid is the same, and the techs go to the exact same training, so you will get the same thing and it should be less.

no no, drain and change/clean the filter and then fill and then flush, esp. for  q45 tranny's if you have searched around the forum you woulda found that out. thats what ima bout to do next

[QUOTE=ricky cash;157104]no no, drain and change/clean the filter and then fill and then flush, esp. for  q45 tranny's if you have searched around the forum you woulda found that out. thats what ima bout to do next[/QUOTE]

Yeah if you want to change the filter go ahead, most people dont do it every flush but if you want to do it, this is true with most cars, i havent heard esp. for the Q45 trans.  Most people dont do it because its more labor time.