🔧 Altima - CVT Transmission Fluid Drain & Refill

On your Altima (CVT), the safest DIY fluid service is a drain-and-refill, not a full “power flush.” You’ll drain what’s in the pan, then refill with the exact CVT fluid the transmission is designed for, and finally verify the level at the correct temperature.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5–3.0 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Work on level ground; CVT fluid level checks are very sensitive to vehicle angle.
• 🧯 CVT fluid gets hot—wear gloves and safety glasses.
• 🧱 Support the car with jack stands—never rely on a floor jack alone.
• 🔌 No battery disconnect is required for a drain-and-refill.
• ⚙️ Use only Nissan NS-2 CVT fluid (wrong fluid can damage the CVT).

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• 10mm socket
• Ratchet
• 19mm socket
• Torque wrench (10–80 ft-lbs range)
• Drain pan (10-quart minimum)
• Long-neck funnel
• Measuring container (marked in quarts or liters)
• OBD2 scan tool with CVT fluid temperature (specialty)
• Trim clip tool
• Shop rags

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Nissan NS-2 CVT fluid - Qty: 5 quarts
• CVT drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🧭 Park on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• 🌡️ Plan to check the final fluid level with the CVT fluid at operating temperature. The easiest DIY way is an OBD2 scan tool that shows “CVT Fluid Temp”.
• 🧰 Make sure you can access the CVT fill point first (usually the CVT dipstick tube area under the hood).

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Warm the CVT fluid slightly

• Drive the car for about 10 minutes so the fluid flows well.
• Warm, not scorching hot, is ideal.

Step 2: Raise and support the front of the car

• Use a floor jack to lift the front and place jack stands under solid lift points.
• Keep the car as level as possible (this helps later when checking level).

Step 3: Remove the lower splash shield (if equipped)

• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet to remove the bolts.
• Use a trim clip tool for any plastic clips.
• Set hardware aside so nothing gets lost.

Step 4: Drain the CVT fluid

• Place a drain pan (10-quart minimum) under the CVT drain plug.
• Use a 19mm socket and ratchet to remove the drain plug.
• Let it drain until it becomes a slow drip (usually 10–20 minutes).

Step 5: Measure how much came out

• Pour the old fluid into a measuring container.
• Write down the amount—your initial refill amount should be the same as what drained out.
• This prevents overfilling.

Step 6: Reinstall the drain plug with a new crush washer

• Clean the drain plug and area using shop rags and brake cleaner.
• Install a new CVT drain plug crush washer.
• Thread the plug in by hand first, then tighten with a torque wrench.
• Torque to 34 N·m (25 ft-lbs).

Step 7: Refill with Nissan NS-2 CVT fluid

• Under the hood, locate the CVT fill point (commonly the CVT dipstick tube area).
• Insert a long-neck funnel.
• Add Nissan NS-2 CVT fluid equal to the amount you measured.
• Pour slowly to avoid funnel burping.

Step 8: Circulate the fluid

• Start the engine and keep your foot on the brake.
• Slowly move the shifter through P-R-N-D and back, pausing 2–3 seconds in each position.
• Leave it in P with the engine idling.

Step 9: Set the final fluid level at the correct temperature

• Connect your OBD2 scan tool with CVT fluid temperature (specialty).
• Watch CVT fluid temperature and aim to check level around 35–45°C (95–113°F).
• If your Altima has a CVT dipstick:
  • With the engine idling and car level, pull the dipstick, wipe it, reinsert fully, then recheck.
  • Add small amounts using the long-neck funnel if below the correct range.
• If your Altima does NOT have a normal dipstick:
  • Stop here and tell me what you see at the fill point (cap/dipstick/plug). The level-setting procedure is different and I don’t want you to overfill.

Step 10: Reinstall the splash shield and lower the car

• Reinstall the shield using the 10mm socket, ratchet, and trim clip tool.
• Lower the car carefully using the floor jack.

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✅ After Repair

• 🔍 With the engine running, inspect the drain plug area for leaks.
• 🧪 Test drive 10–15 minutes, then recheck for leaks again.
• 🌡️ If shifting feels odd, recheck the fluid level at the correct CVT temperature (level issues show up fast on CVTs).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $250–$450 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $70–$140 (parts only)

You Save: $180–$310 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.5–2.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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