Not so long ago, newly produced cars began to be equipped with completely new types of transmission - CVTs. The name comes from the English phrase Continuously Variable Transmission, which means “continuously variable transmission”.
This type of gearbox is often called by its abbreviation from its name in English - CVT. The very concept of this technical solution is not new and has been used on some types of equipment for a long time.
The technology of continuously variable speed control became widespread only when it was possible to achieve an acceptable service life of the CVT transmission.
The car, in addition to the standard automatic, was also equipped with a CVT gearbox. In this article, we will consider in detail the procedure for changing the oil in the variator of a Nissan Qashqai car.
When should you change the oil in a Nissan Qashqai CVT?
According to technical recommendations, it is recommended to change the oil in the Nissan Qashqai variator every 50 thousand kilometers, but there are cases when changing the oil in the variator is simply necessary.
To check the condition of the oil in the variator, it is recommended to perform the following steps:
- Pull out the dipstick and place a drop of oil on a clean cloth. Cloudiness will tell you that there are a lot of wear products in the technical fluid. In addition, the presence of a burning smell will tell you about frequent overheating of the working fluid, which happens due to a malfunction of the variator cooling system or a drop in pressure in the lubrication system
- In the operation of the ECU of the Nissan Qashqai, there is a mathematical algorithm for calculating the remaining life of the working fluid. The calculation takes into account the total operating time of the variator, oil temperature and operating loads.
The methods described above are the only ways to check the condition of the oil. But color, smell, consistency, and even more so the aging counter, do not allow you to check the real physical properties of the transmission fluid in the variator. Therefore, we recommend adhering to the following rules:
- change the oil in the variator after purchasing a used car. Repairing CVT transmissions is too expensive to rely on the words of the former owner and even receipts for payment of work orders for replacing the fluid at a service station. There are often cases when craftsmen neglect to remove the pan and replace the filter elements;
- adhere to recommended replacement intervals. It is possible that you will have to go against the car manufacturer. Many operating manuals indicate that the oil in the CVT box is filled for its entire service life and does not require replacement.
How often should the variator be serviced?
Nissan CVT
According to the regulations, the lubricant in the Nissan CVT must be changed after 60 thousand kilometers. So keep an eye on the meter. In addition, the following characteristic signs may indicate the need for replacement:
- Jerking when starting to move due to the accumulation of metal shavings on the pressure reducing valve.
- Jamming causes mismatched operation of cone-shaped pulleys.
- Increasing the operating temperature of the lubricant inside the continuously variable transmission.
- Extraneous noise while driving.
- Old oil and accumulated wear products contribute to bearing noise.
CVT design
The operating conditions of a continuously variable transmission (road surface characteristics, time of year, driving style) determine its service life - up and down.
In practice, it is recommended to change the CVT fluid every 30-40 thousand km.
In parallel with changing the oil, it is necessary to install a new fine filter and clean the pan. During the first maintenance, the coarse filter is simply washed and replaced. On used cars, it becomes necessary to clean the chip-catching magnets.
Consequences and symptoms of untimely replacement
If you do not change the oil on time, then serious problems with the quality operation of the variator cannot be avoided. The purpose of the lubricant is to lubricate the components of the box, and if it is not changed, the parts begin to rub against each other and their wear accelerates.
As a result, the transmission channels become clogged with metal shavings from the parts being ground in. This entails a drop in the pressure level in the variator, which subsequently negatively affects the functioning of the box as a whole.
Symptoms signaling the imminent failure of the variator:
- increasing the time period for warming up the box;
- drop in power plant power indicators;
- jerks and jolts when changing the position of the lever;
- drop in oil level.
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Consequences of underfilling
If there is insufficient oil in the box, metal shavings begin to form due to excessive friction of the parts. The oil pump becomes clogged, which easily leads to failure of both the pump itself and the variator. These problems can arise several years later when the warranty expires, but it is not uncommon for the transmission to need to be replaced within a couple of months after purchasing the car.
If, after checking, it is discovered that the oil does not reach the minimum permissible mark, it is necessary to urgently add the required amount, and not put the problem on the back burner. Delaying the time to solve the problem leads to wear of parts and breakdown of the variator, the replacement of which is expensive. However, you need to add it very carefully, since you cannot allow the oil to overflow.
Plug instead of the Nissan variator dipstick
Consequences of overflow
Even exceeding the maximum permissible level by one millimeter can cause many problems. During operation, the transmission fluid foams. This is the reason for the instability of revolutions (drop/increase) in mode D, the car starts moving with strong jerks.
Exceeding the oil level in the variator is not always a consequence of oil overflow. Often it rises due to antifreeze entering from a damaged radiator. This is easy to determine because the liquid changes color.
Foamed oil in the variator
The overflow problem can be solved quickly and easily. To do this, you need to pump out the excess with a syringe connected to a dropper hose, which is inserted into the variator.
What to do if the oil level is higher or lower than required?
If the oil level in the continuously variable transmission is below the permissible level, topping up will be required. In this case, only oil of equivalent characteristics is used. To test the product, you can mix a drop of old and new oils. Precipitation and a change in color indicate that the liquid selected for refilling cannot be used.
Excess oil can be pumped out through the dipstick hole.
Since overfilling is undesirable, it is necessary to check the dipstick when bringing the oil level to normal. If the level is higher than acceptable, pumping will be required. For this, a syringe with a rubber tube is used. The tip must be clean to prevent debris from getting into the box. Pumping is similarly controlled using a probe.
Which oil to choose for Nissan cars?
The original oil in the Nissan variator has the following markings: CVT NS-1, CVT NS-2, CVT NS-3. NS-1 is a first generation synthetic designed for Jatco continuously variable transmissions. It is poured into the boxes of Nissan cars produced before 2006 - Primera, Cube, March, etc.
NS-2 was developed for Hyper CVT gearboxes installed on cars after 2006 - Qashqai, X-Trail, Teana, Murano, Note, etc.
NS-3 will be required for 2012-2013 cars. release with continuously variable transmission. Used for the following Nissan models - Pathfinder, Teana, Serena, Altima.
Other manufacturers of CVT oil
Filling a Nissan CVT with non-original fluid is a risky undertaking. Incompatibility with factory lubricant, lack of necessary additives affects the service life of the box, and its repair is an expensive procedure. There are several analog options on sale that have proven themselves among Nissan car owners:
Idemitsu CVTF - designed for Jatco CVTs. In the list of relevant fluids, the manufacturer indicates the entire line of Nissan transmission fluids. Ravenol CVTF NS2/J1 Fluid is an oil of German origin, designed for use in JF010E and JF011E CVTs. A distinctive feature is green color. Nissan models for which the fluid is designed are Qashqai (Dualis), X-Trail, Serena, Lafesta. Febi Bilstein CVT is another German brand that is officially supplied to the Mercedes-Benz auto concern. The manufacturer claims the oil is compatible with original fluids for Nissan CVTs.
CVT Jatco JF15
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In this article we will answer the question: “What kind of oil to fill in the Nissan Qashqai variator?”
The CVT on the Nissan Qashqai is a rather complex unit, which is one of the most expensive parts of the car. That is why the task of every car owner is to maximize the life of the variator. In order for the variator to serve you as long as possible, you need to not only treat the car with care, but also change the oil in it in a timely manner. Correctly changing the oil in a Nissan Qashqai variator is only half the success. A particularly important point is the correct choice of oil for the Nissan Qashqai variator. This is what we will talk about today.
So, let's begin. There are only two types of oil in the Nissan Qashqai variator. This is Nissan CVT Fluid NS-2 or Nissan CVT Fluid NS-3 transmission fluid, as well as analogues of these fluids from other manufacturers.
What kind of oil to fill in the Nissan Qashqai variator?
As mentioned above, the oil in the Nissan Qashqai variator must comply with NS-2 or NS-3 approval. So which one is needed?
Earlier models of Nissan Qashqui are suitable for NS-2 oil, and the latest ones are suitable for NS-3 fluid. We will deal with this in detail.
Oil for Nissan Qashqai J10 variator:
CVT oil for Nissan Qashqai+2 JJ10:
CVT oil Nissan Qashqai J11E:
So, we have sorted out the question of what and how much oil to pour into the Nissan Qashqai variator. Now let's look at the oil change interval in the Nissan Qashqai variator.
Oil change interval in the Nissan Qashqai variator
The manufacturer recommends changing the oil in the Nissan Qashqai variator at least once every 60,000 km or once every 48 months, whichever comes first. But if we take into account the quality of our roads and difficult weather conditions (cold winters and relatively hot summers), then the replacement interval can be safely reduced by 1.5-2 times. Those. The ideal option would be to change the oil in the Nissan Qashqai variator once every 30,000 km or once every 2 years.
Types of oils in the Nissan Qashqai variator
Oils for the Nissan Qashqai CVT are divided into original ones (Nissan NS-2 or NS-3), as well as their analogues. Both originals and analogues can be purchased on our website. Our prices are quite low, we deliver and send orders to the regions. Well, that's it... a small digression on the rights of advertising.
