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CVT Fluid Change

186K views 31 replies 18 participants last post by  Qais  
#1 ·
I wanted to change the CVT fluid on my '13 Sentra myself , but unfortunately it looks like a complicated procedure because it's not a simple drain and refill like in previous models. Draining is simple, but to refill it requires using a charge tube to pump CVT fluid back into the drain hole and resetting the computer.

Nissan didn't put a transmission fluid dipstick under the hood, so the theory is they didn't want anyone messing with the CVT fluid. My dealership quoted me a price of $200 to do the CVT fluid change.

My questions are: should I change the CVT fluid at 50,000 miles? Also, does anyone know the CVT fluid capacity for the 2013 Sentra? It's not listed in the owner's manual (it has a dashed line in the specifications for the CVT capacity, but no number).

I'm thinking of buying the NS-3 Nissan CVT fluid off ebay and asking the dealer to charge me for labor, anyone done the CVT fluid change yet? Let me know how you did it or if you went to the dealership (and what they charged).
 
#2 ·
Even though I no longer own my 13' Sentra, had I kept it I would have been contemplating the same thing as I was getting up there in mileage for time to change it.

Nissan has had a history of designing things to make it proprietary so that only Nissan can fix it. This was another reason I'd never buy another. Try your local oil change chains like Valvoline or Jiffy Lube. Sometimes there are independent mechanics that work on Nissans.

Their CVT's are very complex and problematic. I'd recommend not doing it yourself.
 
#3 · (Edited)
I was also planning to change the CVT fluid earlier than what is required but $200 for the complete service? I wish by the time I reach 40-50k mi, someone already figured out how to do it properly. So post detailed pictures and instruction guys.

BTW, Nissan's CVTs are made by jatco that also supplies the same (or very similar) cvt to other car manufacturers.
 
#6 ·
I bought a 2012 a few months ago with 60k and my first CVT. While looking into the servicing of the Altima I noticed everywhere I looked it discourage you from tampering with the CVT, it's top secret! I change the fluid (or half of it maybe) and I drained 4.3 qrts, replaced same amount and all done, very simple. But that procedure for the 2013 might just keep me from doing-it-myself.
 
#7 ·
Unfortunately, it looks that way. Nissan designed it in a way to prevent us from doing CVT fluid changes ourselves :angry2: :angry2: . Here's another thread someone created about the newer CVT transmissions that don't have dipsticks:

http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/ne...new-member-forum-introduce-yourself/393754-changing-cvt-transmission-fluid.html

The dealer said I can bring my own CVT fluid, but it has to be the official Nissan NS-3 one that is compatible for my '13 Sentra. $100 for labor, and if I decide to buy the CVT fluid from them it'll be $200 total.

The only question I have is how many quarts should I buy from ebay? CVT capacity is unknown.
 
#11 ·
I just came from the dealer and paid $100 for labor. They wouldn't let me see them change the CVT fluid, some BS about liability or something, so I can't really verify that the fluid is new by checking a dipstick. But I brought my own NS-3 fluid, they used 5 quarts. Parts cost me $62 total on ebay. I recommend insisting about viewing the change while you're making the appointment.
 
#13 ·
I would be careful about buying on e bay. Especially fluids china copies things exactly. they can fool even a expert that is not attentive there are no patent laws in china basically anything with a name brand is copied I would only buy fluid from a large well known dealership! I have seen side by side package comparisons and most people even a dealer technician would not notice the difference!
 
#17 ·
Hi guys, you can download the official Nissan service manuals from this site: Nissan Service Repair Manuals
Find you correct car model and year and download the file.
The files are downloaded as RAR archives so you need to extract them with WINRAR if you use Windows, or RAR Extractor Free is you use Mac.
After you extract the file, you will see about 50 different documents, open the file named "MA" (Maintenance), and you will find official fluid capacities and other technical details.

As for the CVT fluid, I contacted Valvoline and Amalie support and they both have the NS-3 specification (check the files I attached). These are the fluids:
Valvoline CVT Full Synthetic Fluid
Amalie Universal Synthetic CVT Fluid

I am currently changing the fluid on a 2013 Nissan Sentra with CVT, I'm using the Amalie fluid mentioned above. I'll let you guys know how things turn out.
 
#22 ·
I have been checking everything. I get a decent amount of vibration on the highway mainly. Noticeable at 45mph but not that bad. I have bought new rims/tires/wheel balance/alignment etc. Tried rotating the tires and everything. I always have a vibration in my seat no matter what I do and today I started to get it in the pedal. I'm seriously changing out everything and getting the transmission service done next Tuesday to see if that helps.
 
#24 ·
Maybe Fluid Color And Price...

I Used MOTUL CVTF (BLUE COLOR) Valvoline Is Green.!

I Have Nissan Altima 2015 And Change Trans Fluid Is Very Simple.! Is You Drop 4Qt Put 4Qt And This Is Done.!

2015 Nissan Altima CVT Fluid Change!! How To! - YouTube

2012-15 Versa Sedan (N17), 2013-15 Pathfinder (R52), 2013-2015 Sentra (B17), 2013-2015 Altima Sedan (L33), and 2014-15 Rogue (T32), 2014-2015 NV200 (M20), 2014-2015 Versa Note (E12), 2013 JX35 and 2014-2015 QX60 (L50) vehicles equipped with CVT do not have a fluid level gauge.*
 
#25 ·
2009 Altima 2.5s 140K miles

I'm the 2nd owner of an 09 Altima with 140K miles, I confirmed with the previous Nissan shop that they never changed the CVT fluid. I brought this to the attention of the Nissan shop I go to in NJ and they said leave it alone since it was never done. I checked the fluid and it is honey colored, similar to motor oil and from what I've read that is not a bad thing. The CVT runs fine, any thoughts/opinions?
 
#27 ·
2009 Altima 2.5s 140K miles

I'm the 2nd owner of an 09 Altima with 140K miles, I confirmed with the previous Nissan shop that they never changed the CVT fluid. I brought this to the attention of the Nissan shop I go to in NJ and they said leave it alone since it was never done. I checked the fluid and it is honey colored, similar to motor oil and from what I've read that is not a bad thing. The CVT runs fine, any thoughts/opinions?
In 2017 bought a used 2015 Sentra SV with 27k miles on it. It now has 97k miles and was thinking of having the CVT flushed. I found this at transmissionrepaircostguide and it confirms what your NJ shop told you...

"Flushing and changing the filter are important preventative maintenance procedures, they are not a solution for ones that already have problems or are on the way to a problem... Getting a flush when you think there might be a problem can do more harm than good and make it fail faster than it would have otherwise. The same applies for higher mileage vehicles that have never had their lines flushed.
By that time the damage has already been done and there is likely a lot of sludge and varnish built up inside. The fresh additives from the new fluid attack the deposits, causing them to break off and jam valves, clog passageways, etc. In that case the tranny is doomed anyway, so your best bet is to do nothing to it, set aside some cash, and drive it for as long as you can."

So I guess I will leave my CVT alone.
 
#29 ·
Hi- I did this last summer and posted about it in another thread. I used the AMSOIL NS-3 equivalent fluid and replaced a filter and o-ring for the CVT valve body.The filter was filthy on my car. Here are the part numbers for the valve body filter, filter housing o-ring and crush washer in order:
31726-3JX0A Filter
31526-3JX3A O-ring (buy 2 cuz you will probably wreck the first one getting the filter housing to seat.)
11026-JA00A Drain plug crush washer.

The filter can be easily accessed by removing the front left tire and removing the liner