[Steve9430]

Hello Folks,

There is much discussion here about transmission flush vs. drain/fill with the 5th gen 2.5 models, but I can’t seem to locate much discussion about the 5th gen 3.5 V6 models.

I can’t find answers to this in the User’s Manual either. All I know is that the transmissions are different between the 3.5s and the 2.5s.

Is it recommended to get a flush, or just a drain and fill on these particular 3.5 model transmissions?

 

[VStar650CL]

There's nothing special about the '10E tranny, it's a standard CVT with a heftier belt than the '10D used in the 4-bangers. Never flush any CVT, especially not a back-flush. If you're worried about tranny trash, drop and clean the pan and flush the cooler only.

 

[Steve9430]

There's nothing special about the '10E tranny, it's a standard CVT with a heftier belt than the '10D used in the 4-bangers. Never flush any CVT, especially not a back-flush. If you're worried about tranny trash, drop and clean the pan and flush the cooler only.

Thanks for the input. Much appreciated. 👍

 

[VStar650CL]

 

[Steve9430]

Just curious - why should a flush never be done?

 

[VStar650CL]

Fluid in a CVT isn't very fast moving, so they all tend to accumulate their trash as a black scum on the bottom of the pan, with the magnets picking off metallic debris. Power flushing forward tends to break the scum loose and spread it around, so you're safer just dropping the pan and cleaning it out. I don't think a forward flush with a known-clean pan would do any harm, but I also don't think there's any point. Regular A/T's make soup out of spent clutch material, and that's really what a flush is primarily removing. CVT's never make soup because they have almost no clutch material, so it's a bit of a pointless exercise. Back flushing is a big no-no because it forces all the shavings in the paper filter back through the pump and into the Valve Body.

 

[Steve9430]

Fluid in a CVT isn't very fast moving, so they all tend to accumulate their trash as a black scum on the bottom of the pan, with the magnets picking off metallic debris. Power flushing forward tends to break the scum loose and spread it around, so you're safer just dropping the pan and cleaning it out. I don't think a forward flush with a known-clean pan would do any harm, but I also don't think there's any point. Regular A/T's make soup out of spent clutch material, and that's really what a flush is primarily removing. CVT's never make soup because they have almost no clutch material, so it's a bit of a pointless exercise. Back flushing is a big no-no because it forces all the shavings in the paper filter back through the pump and into the Valve Body.

Aah, wow - thanks very much for taking the time to explain this. Cheers!

 

[VStar650CL]

 

[allansc2005]

Hello Folks,

There is much discussion here about transmission flush vs. drain/fill with the 5th gen 2.5 models, but I can’t seem to locate much discussion about the 5th gen 3.5 V6 models.

I can’t find answers to this in the User’s Manual either. All I know is that the transmissions are different between the 3.5s and the 2.5s.

Is it recommended to get a flush, or just a drain and fill on these particular 3.5 model transmissions?

This is something I discussed with the dealer a few weeks ago after I took my 2016 2.5 SV in for transmission service.

The shop super said "Flushing the transmission or the transmission cooler is not required unless the customer expresses some concerns about transmission issues..the CVT has no gears or cogs, and therefore there isn't really anything to clog up the filters..

So basically I paid $249.95 (before military discount) for approximately 5 quarts of Nissan CVT transmission fluid, and about 30 minutes of labor.

Q. Does the owner's manual for a 2016 Nissan Altima specify what a transmission service consists of?

I couldn't find it!

 

[VStar650CL]

Q. Does the owner's manual for a 2016 Nissan Altima specify what a transmission service consists of?

I couldn't find it!

No, and the extensive procedure in the FSM is completely unnecessary for routine service. At least your dealership was honest about it, many (including the one I work at, grrrr ) call it a flush even though it isn't one. In any case, the only thing that should ever be flushed is the cooler, power-flushing the CVT itself is a no-no. The advantage to having a dealer do it is that they know how to get the right level quickly using the leveling plug, with no risk of overfilling. Overfilling is the biggest threat to any CVT. I've personally seen a quart over kill a Sentra tranny in under 1K miles. On the other hand, I've seen plenty of them run tens of thousands a quart low with no obvious ill effects.

 

[tico007]

I don’t think the word flush is appropriate today. A flush used to be forcing cleaner chemicals through the transmission during fluid replacement. Today it’s known as an exchange of fluid. A machine that pumps in fresh fluid as fast as it drains the old. I do my own exchanges through the oil cooler return lines turning on and off the engine. My recommendation would be if the transmission has never been serviced and you’re over 100K go with a drain and fill, which is a blend of less than 50%. Drive around for a bit and see how it behaves. Then do another drain and fill in a few months. Then a drain and fill every other year forever.