I'm sure this question has been asked many a time but for some reason I could not get my search function to work today. Does my 2012 V6 pathfinder have a transmission dip stick to check the fluid level? My 2006 Toyota 4Runner did not have one it required a scan tool to check the level is this also required for my Pathy?

Yes, it'd used to check fluid and add as well.

Look on the passenger side, closer to the firewall. It has a 10mm bolt on it.

Depending on transmission type:

MANUAL transmission does not have dip stick to check transmission oil level. You need to check it manually:


AUTOMATIC transmission however has dipstick to check ATF fluid level. But be aware that in contrary to all other oils and fluids check, ATF fluid must be hot and engine running when checking level! Also do not mix ATF fluids from different vendors or types, as you may ruin your trans! AFAIK only original Nissan Matic J or Matic S is the way to go.
Dipstick is located on LEFT side of engine (looking from forward, facing engine) at about half height of engine. It usually has yellow cap and is secured with a bolt:

AFAIK only original Nissan Matic J or Matic S is the way to go.

Nissan-matic J is nothing more than Castrol Multi-import ATF, only in a bottle with the Nissan name and a $3/qt. higher price. Most synthetic ATF's are fully compatible with Nissan-matic "J" and "S." I've been using Valvoline Maxlife ATF in several Type "J" type Nissan automatics and have never had a problem with it.

smj999smj wrote:Nissan-matic J is nothing more than Castrol Multi-import ATF, only in a bottle with the Nissan name and a $3/qt. higher price. Most synthetic ATF's are fully compatible with Nissan-matic "J" and "S." I've been using Valvoline Maxlife ATF in several Type "J" type Nissan automatics and have never had a problem with it.

Probably you are right, BUT still I would not take it so easy.

- First, if you go through R51 service manual, there's just a specification of liquid requirement for engine oil, brake and steering fluid, coolant etc...but when it comes to ATF, warning to use only original Matic J it is not only printed out in bold, but in bold red color. Indeed it's partly marketing, but still there's a lot of truth to be careful what you pour into your tranny.

- Second, Nissan MAtic J is really, as you say, semi-synthetic Castrol Transmax J (or Import Multivehicle in USA) ATF, so exact equivalent is just that particular ATF. There are many universal ATF on the market, but what you need to look for is JASO 1A specification. The Japanese standard of JASO 1A spec actually far exceeds the standards of most other ATFs that manufactures require for their trannys. Nissan adopted JATCO transmission and Castrol Transmax J ATF, tested it and that's what 100% fits. Also applies that any universal JASO 1A spec ATF will work just about the same as Matic J, but that does not mean any universal ATF is good for R51 transmission.

- Third, Nissan Matic S exceeds Matic J and is fully synthetic ATF, which is recommended for R51 tranny.

For the end I'd just add my 5 cents of experience when changing ATF fluid. Have fresh bottle opened, smell it and pour a drop onto white paper.
Then check ATF from tranny and pour another drop of it with dipstick on the same paper. Compare color, viscosity and smell.
If it is much darker (fresh ATF is pinky red, old is kinda yellow brownish, like fresh motor oil) and if it smells burned, then do not proceed with full ATF flush! Some say in such case it's better to leave it as is, because it's full of friction material, which provides at least some functionality to your tranny. But I guess it's safe to just drain most of ATF from tranny (leaving approx. 40% of it in torque converter and pump), which is approx. 5 litres out of 9, so it mixes with old ATF.
I've heard quite some stories of people instantly destroying their tranny after ATF being burned, they fully flushed it out, replaced with fresh...and after few weeks they needed new tranny.

labsy wrote:

smj999smj wrote:Nissan-matic J is nothing more than Castrol Multi-import ATF, only in a bottle with the Nissan name and a $3/qt. higher price. Most synthetic ATF's are fully compatible with Nissan-matic "J" and "S." I've been using Valvoline Maxlife ATF in several Type "J" type Nissan automatics and have never had a problem with it.

Probably you are right, BUT still I would not take it so easy.

- First, if you go through R51 service manual, there's just a specification of liquid requirement for engine oil, brake and steering fluid, coolant etc...but when it comes to ATF, warning to use only original Matic J it is not only printed out in bold, but in bold red color. Indeed it's partly marketing, but still there's a lot of truth to be careful what you pour into your tranny.

- Second, Nissan MAtic J is really, as you say, semi-synthetic Castrol Transmax J (or Import Multivehicle in USA) ATF, so exact equivalent is just that particular ATF. There are many universal ATF on the market, but what you need to look for is JASO 1A specification. The Japanese standard of JASO 1A spec actually far exceeds the standards of most other ATFs that manufactures require for their trannys. Nissan adopted JATCO transmission and Castrol Transmax J ATF, tested it and that's what 100% fits. Also applies that any universal JASO 1A spec ATF will work just about the same as Matic J, but that does not mean any universal ATF is good for R51 transmission.

- Third, Nissan Matic S exceeds Matic J and is fully synthetic ATF, which is recommended for R51 tranny.

For the end I'd just add my 5 cents of experience when changing ATF fluid. Have fresh bottle opened, smell it and pour a drop onto white paper.
Then check ATF from tranny and pour another drop of it with dipstick on the same paper. Compare color, viscosity and smell.
If it is much darker (fresh ATF is pinky red, old is kinda yellow brownish, like fresh motor oil) and if it smells burned, then do not proceed with full ATF flush! Some say in such case it's better to leave it as is, because it's full of friction material, which provides at least some functionality to your tranny. But I guess it's safe to just drain most of ATF from tranny (leaving approx. 40% of it in torque converter and pump), which is approx. 5 litres out of 9, so it mixes with old ATF.
I've heard quite some stories of people instantly destroying their tranny after ATF being burned, they fully flushed it out, replaced with fresh...and after few weeks they needed new tranny.

I never said anything about using "universal ATF." I said,"Most synthetic ATF's are fully compatible with Nissan-matic "J" and "S." One should always check to make sure the ATF is recommended for use in Nissanmatic Type "J" or "S" applications. Most synthetic ATF's do comply to the JASO A1 specification.
Nissan Type "S" is nothing more than Type "J" with friction modifiers, which is why it's replacing Type "J." It was developed for use in the Infiniti 7-speed automatic trans.

smj999smj wrote:AFAIK only original Nissan Matic J or Matic S is the way to go.

Nissan-matic J is nothing more than Castrol Multi-import ATF, only in a bottle with the Nissan name and a $3/qt. higher price. Most synthetic ATF's are fully compatible with Nissan-matic "J" and "S." I've been using Valvoline Maxlife ATF in several Type "J" type Nissan automatics and have never had a problem with it.

Is this the right one? http://www.amazon.com/Castrol-06814-Mul ... l_huc_item

that is the one. Decent price on Amazon.

I use this:

http://www.valvoline.com/products/brand ... n-fluid/37

Also states it is compatible with Matic J and Matic S. Have been using for 5 years now, towing in summer, with no issues whatsoever.

Because I tow, I do a drain and fill once a year. This stuff is $20-25 a gallon at Walmart, vs the Castrol which is $8/L, or Nissan OE which is $18/L. (I'm in Canada and we get hosed on the price of, well, pretty much everything).

Thanks! I use MaxLife on my 1991 Civic as well

How many quarts for a drain & fill???

The only thing I tow is my ATV. Nothing big and it's only a few times a year. I'm coming up on 30k miles, so I figure I'd just do a simple drain and fill this Spring.

4 qts is the standard.

The Walmart down by me sells the Castrol for $5.39/qt last time I checked but not the Valvoline. I get the Valvoline at Advance Auto Parts in the gallon jug for $22.