Advice needed on fluids -- '97 Pathy

[ntwrkguy1]

So.....I picked up the black '97 SE 5-speed (102k miles) for my son today. The good news is that the previous owner recently replaced the clutch, as well as the timing belt/water pump (along with the coolant flush). The bad news is that the rear differential fluid and the transmission fluid haven't been changed for quite some time (at least 50,000 miles).

 

 

The previous owner never used the 4wd, which I'm not sure is a good or a bad thing. Since he never used it, he never saw fit to change the diff fluid. My first question on this is: Should I change that fluid immediately, and if so, is there any particular brand of fluid recommended? Also, what other 'service' should be done to the 4wd? Any particular brand of transmission fluid?

 

 

Since I'm not the ace mechanic, I'm going to leave this all up to my mechanic. If there any other gotchas that I should be aware of (to tell him), I'd greatly appreciate hearing about them. I figured it was best if I started my son out with a completely prepped Pathy!l

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Ntwrkguy1

[kmgar99]

Have the mechanic check the rear upper and lower control arm bushings....especially the lowers. They usually fall apart around 80k and can cause the rear end to "wobble" and can be cause a very unstable feeling while driving if left unrepaired.

 

Rear Bushing Install

[kmgar99]

If you topic search the 96-04 Pathfinder section for "rear bushings" you'll see a lot of postings on this subject.

 

BTW....Welcome to the NPORA Forum

[Slick]

a lot of guys are running the red line tranny fluid, which is what i will be using once i get the fundage to change it... hopefully my motor will leave me alone long enuff for this to happen

for the rear,d epending if you have LSD diff or not is depending what gear oil to put in there.

 

there have been a LOT of posts about the red line tranny fluids.. search around cuz i am too lazy to find it right now

 

tranny: API GL-4 (tho imma go with the red line next time around)

if you do get the tranny fluids changed, ask the mechanic to put an EXTRA QUART in there... due to minor technical nissan design..

 

Diff oil: API GL-5 **IF YOU HAVE THE LSD you MUST put gear oil with the LSD (NOT posi) additive in there or oyu can munch your gears over time.

 

T-Case: Dexron II (ATF fluid)

power steering: same as t-case

 

 

and i lost my piece of damn paper with ALL the fluids... damnit.

 

oh.. i have the LSD and use the mobile 1 gear oil

[sw]

slick is there a reason you put auto trans/power steering fluid in the t-case or is that an r50 thing?

:confused:

[Slick]

slick is there a reason you put auto trans/power steering fluid in the t-case or is that an r50 thing?

:confused:

hey.. i lost my reliable piece of paper and was reading the manual in the dark..... i don't have an R50....... maybe i need to turn the light on?

 

hey... i got that straight outta haynes.. 1991 and later transfer case oil 4wd models Dexron II (ATF).. i crap you not that's what it says

i lost my piece of paper i have all the fluids n stuff (things i have collected off NPORA) on so i just picked up teh manual and that's what it said.

 

it says THROUGH 1990 API GL-5

1991 and later Dexron II (ATF)

 

don't ask me.. and this time i have the light on -study-

Edited March 15, 2006 by Slick

[Guest neck]

diff oil:

 

does mobil 1 gear only only come in synthetic?

how many qt's does the front and the rear diff take?

[lewisnc100]

97 Pathfinder calls for Dexron in the transfer case and takes 2.375 qts.

 

Rear Diff = 5 7/8 pints

Front Diff = 4 3/8 pints

[94extreme]

the gl4 and extra quart only applies to wd21s as far as i am aware..

 

the dextron ii in t-case is what they call for. i put in gl5 in mine long time ago and so far so good. have wheeled a bunch.. i had a funny gl smell for a while but that went away and everything seems to be working

[lewisnc100]

the dextron ii in t-case is what they call for

97 Pathy calls for Dexron in the transfer case, not Dexron II.

[94extreme]

well, good luck finding either.. i think we're up to dextron4 now anyway.. lol

 

dextron 2 is what's called for 94 so i don't see how they can call for an older fluid in a newer truck.. hmm?

[lewisnc100]

I had no problems finding several brands of Dexron in local auto parts stores when I replaced the fluids in my 97.

 

Dexron II and III are both supposedly backwards compatible, but the owner's manual is pretty specific about Dexron in the transfer case and Dexron II or Dexron III in the power steering. No idea why but its in both the owners manual and the FSM that way. :confused: