🔧 QX80 - Transmission Fluid Change

Changing the automatic transmission fluid helps protect the transmission from heat and wear, and can improve shift quality. On your QX80, the simplest service is a drain-and-fill; a full “exchange” requires special equipment and isn’t recommended for first-timers.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.0-2.0 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a level surface; support the SUV with jack stands, never the jack alone.
• ⚠️ Transmission fluid can be very hot; wear gloves and safety glasses.
• ⚠️ Keep the engine OFF while draining; keep hands/clothes away from the fan and belts when checking level running.
• ⚠️ Chock the wheels and keep your foot on the brake when shifting through gears.
• Battery disconnect is not required for this service.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (10-quart minimum)
• Shop rags
• 19mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• Torque wrench (10-100 ft-lbs)
• Long neck funnel
• Infrared thermometer (specialty)
• OBD-II scan tool with transmission temp (specialty)

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Automatic transmission fluid (Nissan/INFINITI Matic S equivalent) - Qty: 6 quarts
• Transmission drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Drive 10–15 minutes to warm the transmission, then let it sit 5 minutes.
• Raise the front and rear as needed so the QX80 sits level on jack stands.
• Assumption: This is a drain-and-fill using the factory drain plug and dipstick/fill tube.

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Warm up and secure the vehicle

• Use wheel chocks and set the parking brake.
• Use a floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum) to lift the QX80 and set it on jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum) so it sits level.
• Place a drain pan (10-quart minimum) under the transmission pan area.

Step 2: Drain the old transmission fluid

• Locate the transmission drain plug on the transmission pan.
• Use a 19mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet to remove the drain plug.
• Let the fluid drain until it becomes a slow drip (typically 10–20 minutes).
• Clean the drain plug with shop rags and a small spray of brake cleaner.

Step 3: Reinstall drain plug with a new crush washer

• Install a new transmission drain plug crush washer on the drain plug.
• Thread the plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a torque wrench (10-100 ft-lbs) and 19mm socket to tighten the drain plug to Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 4: Refill the transmission

• Open the hood and locate the transmission dipstick/fill tube.
• Insert a long neck funnel into the fill tube.
• Pour in automatic transmission fluid (Nissan/INFINITI Matic S equivalent) equal to what you drained (most drain-and-fills are about 4–6 quarts).
• Tip: Add 4 quarts first, then top off.

Step 5: Circulate fluid and set the level

• Start the engine and keep your foot firmly on the brake.
• Slowly move the shifter through P-R-N-D and back to P, pausing 2–3 seconds in each gear.
• With the engine idling and the vehicle still level, check transmission fluid temperature using an OBD-II scan tool with transmission temp (specialty) (preferred) or an infrared thermometer (specialty) on the pan.
• When the fluid is warm (about 50–80°C (122–176°F)), pull the dipstick, wipe it with shop rags, reinsert, then read the level.
• If low, add fluid in small amounts (about 0.25 quart at a time) using the long neck funnel, then recheck.
• Do not overfill; keep it within the HOT range when at temperature.

Step 6: Clean up and check for leaks

• With the engine idling, inspect the drain plug area for seepage.
• Shut the engine off, remove tools, and lower the QX80 using the floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum).
• Transfer used fluid from the drain pan into containers and take it to a recycling center.

---

✅ After Repair

• Test drive 10–15 minutes and verify smooth shifting.
• Recheck for leaks at the drain plug after the test drive.
• Recheck the fluid level at operating temperature and adjust if needed.

---

💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250-$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $60-$140 (parts only)

You Save: $110-$390 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 hours.

---

🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.