How to Add Transmission Fluid to Nissan Cars

by Contributing WriterUpdated June 12, 2017

If you look up the transmission fluid section of the Nissan car manual, you'll see that Nissan car strongly suggests that you bring your car in for authorized service to check, add or change transmission fluid. For those do-it-yourself drivers who would prefer to add their own, they'll have to bypass a little security feature that Nissan car has added to lock the transmission fluid cap closed. Other than that, it's just like adding fluid to any other car or truck.

Under The Hood:

 How to Add Transmission Fluid to a 2002 Altima

Start the car and let the engine warm up for approximately five minutes.

Open the hood and locate the car's automatic transmission fluid dipstick. The dipstick is a T-shaped handle located just to left of the battery. The car should still be running.

Remove the dipstick and wipe it off with a clean cloth. Replace the dipstick and remove it again. The fluid level should be between the two small dots marked "Cold." If the fluid is at this level, proceed to Step 5. If not, proceed to Step 4.

Insert the funnel into the dipstick tube. Add approximately 1/4 qt. of transmission fluid. Recheck the level and continue to add fluid until the level reaches the "Cold" mark.

Replace the dipstick and close the hood. Drive the car for approximately five miles.

Leave the car running and open the hood. Remove the dipstick and wipe it off with the rag. Replace the dipstick and remove it. The fluid level should now be between the two dots marked "Hot." If not, add fluid as described in Step 4. When the fluid is at the proper level, replace the dipstick and close the hood.

Items you will need

  • Funnel

  • Rags

 How to Put Transmission Fluid in a Nissan Titan

Park the truck on level ground and apply the emergency brake.

Start your Nissan Titan and allow it to run for a few minutes.

Lift the hood and prop it open. Pull the transmission dipstick from its well and wipe it clean with a rag.

Put the dipstick back into the well all the way and let it sit for a few seconds.

Pull out the dipstick and take note of the "FILL" line. If the fluid falls below this line, you must add more.

Place a funnel in the transmission fluid well. Slowly add more fluid a little at a time.

Check the fluid level again and add more as needed. Continue until the fluid is at the proper level.

Put the dipstick back in the well. Close the hood and shut off the engine.

Items you will need

  • Rag

  • Funnel

 How to Put Transmission Fluid in a Nissan Armada

Start the vehicle and take it for a little drive. Aim to drive for about ten miles or twenty minutes, and try to spend at least some of the time driving on a highway or high-speed road so that you can cycle through all of the gears.

Park on a flat, level surface, but leave the Armada running. Pop the hood release, then open the hood and prop it up.

Locate the transmission fluid dipstick cap lock. This is located just to the left side of the engine and directly behind the engine oil cap. It looks like a small plastic cylinder with a little square hole on the side.

Stick the end of a small flat head screwdriver into the little square hole on the cap. This part can be a little tricky, but you must wiggle the screwdriver around in the hole while pulling straight up on the cap with your other hand. There's a small locking mechanism inside the cap that must be released. When it comes loose, start pulling on the cap and you'll see that it's actually the handle to the transmission fluid dipstick.

Pull the transmission fluid dipstick all the way out, wipe it clean and put it all the way back in. Then pull it out once more to read the level on the dipstick. There should be a line marked "WARM FULL." Measure the transmission fluid level by this line, and only add more fluid if you're sure it's low.

Add more fluid approximately one ounce at a time. To do this, set the transmission fluid dipstick aside and pour about an ounce of transmission fluid directly into the small dipstick hole using a plastic funnel. Once you pour in the first ounce, you must wait a minute or two as the fluid cycles through the transmission.

Measure the fluid level with the dipstick after each small amount you add. Be sure to wait for the fluid to cycle through for a couple of minutes before taking each measurement. It is very important that you take your time here, adding only a small amount at a time and measuring constantly throughout the process, because overfilling the transmission fluid reservoir can cause major transmission and engine problems.

Replace the dipstick when you're done filling, and push it all the way down onto the dipstick tube to lock it back in place. Close the hood.

Items you will need

  • Nissan Armada

  • Small flat-head screwdriver

  • Rag

  • Long, narrow funnel

  • Transmission fluid

 How to Put Transmission Fluid in a Nissan

Open the hood to access the engine compartment. Locate the transmission fluid dipstick, located next to the motor. The handle is red.

Pull the dipstick out of the tube. Wipe the end of the dipstick off with a clean towel. Insert the dipstick back into the tube and allow it to sit for a few seconds. Pull the dipstick back out of the tube

Check the level of the fluid; it will be indicated by the marks on the dipstick. There will be two separate sets of marks--one will indicate for a cold engine, the other for a hot engine.

Place a funnel in the dipstick tube. Pour the transmission fluid in the funnel at half-quart intervals. Check the dipstick each time you pour fluid.

Insert the dipstick tube. Close the hood of the Nissan.

Items you will need

  • Clean towel

  • Funnel

  • Automatic transmission fluid

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