How to check the oil in a Nissan Qashqai variator

On a Nissan Qashqai, checking the fluid level in the variator (CVT) is easy to do yourself, anywhere and at any hour. One important condition is that the engine must be warmed up, i.e. you will have to travel at least 10 km. The thing is, the error can be too large, which will lead to wrong decisions and wrong actions. Overfilling, like underfilling oil, has its negative sides.

The fluid level is checked after warming it up to 50-80°C, i.e. in winter, the mileage before checking should be greater - up to 25 km. When taking measurements in the summer, in the heat, you should let the car sit for half an hour after the trip and cool down a little. In any case, the level should not be “cold” (after warming up the engine at idle), but rather “hot”, i.e. after running along the highway.

Checking the oil level in the Nissan variator

To check the oil level in the CVT on a Nissan (Qashqai j10 X-Trail T30), you need to warm up the lubricant. In warm weather, you will need to drive about ten kilometers for the oil temperature to reach 50-80 C, while in winter you will need to drive 25 km. If the oil is too hot, let it cool.

Stages of checking the oil level in a Nissan variator with a dipstick

Vehicles are installed on a horizontal surface - tilting is not allowed. The check is performed with the engine idling.
Alternately, the lever is switched in each position (P, R, N and D) by pressing the brake pedal and held for five to ten seconds. After this, the variator is set to mode P and the brake is released.

You need to open the hood and remove the dipstick from the variator neck, marked “Transmission” or CVT. To release the oil level dipstick, press the locking latch. To avoid getting dirty, it is recommended to arm yourself with special gloves or rags in advance.
After removing the dipstick, it is necessary to thoroughly wipe it dry with a clean rag that does not leave small particles or threads, since they, as well as moisture, can lead to all sorts of problems if they get inside the variator.
The cleaned dipstick is lowered into the neck completely without snapping the latch and is held there for five to ten seconds. After removal, a trace of oil remains on it, indicating the real level.

The dipstick has marks for the highest and lowest permissible levels. Ideally, the oil trace on the surface of the dipstick should be in the HOT range. On different Nissan Qashqai j10, Teana models, the mark may be indicated “add – 1pt” or “don’t – full – max”.
After determining the existing oil level in the variator, the dipstick is lowered back into the neck and securely fixed with a latch. The check is completed.

The procedure is simple and even Nissan drivers with little experience can easily cope with it. It is important that the engine does not stop idling during the procedure.

What to do if there is no dipstick?

On models Nissan JUKE, Qashqai j11, X-Trail T32 or other variations, there is a plug instead of a dipstick. In this case, checking the oil level will be more difficult. Most often, for this purpose, they contact an authorized service center, where the procedure is performed by specialized specialists.

Those who do not want to, cannot urgently drive to a service station or want to save money, can try to check the amount of oil by draining it. The variator is equipped with a special control hole (filler hole). The box must be heated to forty degrees, and the control must be unscrewed (with the engine running). Oil begins to flow out of the channel in a thin stream. If it does not flow, you need to add until oil appears. Then the plug is screwed in and the procedure can be considered complete.

We make the dipstick ourselves

If the second method seems too complicated and time-consuming, then you can make the probe yourself. First you need to remove the plug in the place where the dipstick should be located. Next, you need to measure the depth from the edge of the box to the pallet. You can do this using a metal cable and try to find a compatible probe of the right size. An oil meter can be purchased from another Nissan model.

Sometimes they encounter a difference in length, but the dipstick can be shortened and glued into the car plug. This way, measuring the oil level in the variator will no longer be a problem.

Level control and required volume

The Nissan Qashqai transmission unit will contain 8 liters of oil.

Before performing the replacement procedure, you need to check the level and quantity of the substance in the unit.

Meter for monitoring lubricant volume

The test is performed on a flat horizontal surface:

Start the car engine and let it idle.
Press the brake pedal and move the gear shift lever in turn to all modes - P, R, N, D. You must hold in each position for 10 seconds.
Place the gear shift lever in position P and release the brake pedal.
Open the hood of the car.
In the engine compartment you can see part of the CVT transmission. A dipstick can be seen from the inspection hole. The neck you need should have the inscription TRANSMISSION or CVT, depending on the modification of the vehicle.
Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a cloth. There should be no grease particles on it. In this case, the rag must be clean so that dirt does not get inside the unit. If precipitation falls outside in the form of snow or rain, then it is better to refrain from the inspection procedure or perform it in the garage. Water getting into the transmission can also cause problems.
Once the meter is clean, replace it in the hole and push it all the way in. Wait a few seconds and remove the dipstick. There will be traces of oil on the meter, which indicate its level in the system. If the volume of substance in the gearbox is normal, the lubricant level should be between the minimum and maximum marks, in the area of the HOT inscription. There may not be such a mark on the dipstick. Often the ADD mark indicates that the lubricant level is minimal, and DON'T - FULL - maximum. Once the diagnosis is complete, the meter is pushed into place until the latch engages.

A meter for level control is not available in all car modifications. To diagnose without a dipstick, you need to find the filler hole on the gearbox. Find the hole and unscrew the plug. The volume of lubricant should be at the level of the lower edge of the hole.

The Mirage Motors channel published a video demonstrating the procedure for replacing transmission fluid in a Qashqai CVT transmission.

Consequences of a lack and excess of oil in a Nissan variator

The variator can function fully only when the oil level meets the requirements of technical regulations. Any deviations in the direction of overfilling or underfilling can cause the occurrence and development of malfunctions of the box itself and difficulties in driving the car.

Underfilling or overfilling transmission fluid is highly undesirable.

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.

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.

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.

Consequences of untimely replacement

If you do not follow the transmission fluid change intervals in the Qashqai CVT, this may lead to transmission failure.

The first symptoms that indicate that problems will soon appear in the operation of the unit and it’s time to change the oil:

Difficulties arose when switching gear modes. When you activate the gearshift lever to a different position, shocks and jerks may appear.
The transmission takes longer to warm up. When a lubricant loses its properties, it cannot handle all rubbing parts and mechanisms. It takes more time for it to enter all channels and lines of the transmission system.
When switching modes, extraneous noise, hum, or rattle will occur. This indicates insufficient lubrication of the structural elements of the transmission.
The appearance of vibration in the area of the gearbox selector.
Engine power decreases. CVT transmissions operate without gear shifting. If the unit cannot develop enough power to activate the next position, this will also affect the power of the machine's motor.
Due to lack of lubrication, rubbing parts will wear out faster. As a result, wear products in the form of metal shavings will begin to clog the channels of the transmission system. This will lead to a lack of pressure, which will affect the functionality of the unit as a whole.
A lubricant leak has occurred.
The lubricant in the Nissan CVT has become too dark, and traces of deposits and wear products have appeared in it.
There is an unpleasant burning smell coming from the transmission fluid.

How to Check the Oil in a Nissan Qashqai CVT

How to change the oil in Nissan Qashqai variator

Changing the oil in the Nissan Qashqai variator is standard, but thorough. Of course, this can be done in two ways, the first is to take the machine into service, the second is to do it yourself.

An automatic transmission with a CVT is common among Nissan cars. This automatic transmission is reliable and has a long service life if properly maintained. To avoid problems in the box, it is important that changing the oil in the Nissan Qashqai CVT is justified. Checking the water level should be carried out at least as often as on all other vehicles. If you see that the color of the oil has become too dark and there is an unpleasant odor, then you need to change the oil immediately and immediately.

If the fluid level is above the maximum level

If you find that the fluid level is higher, you should pump out the excess. This is done using a large syringe, onto the end of which is attached a piece of clean tubing, for example, from a dropper. All this can be bought at the pharmacy if there are no other options. Pumping out, as well as adding, should be done gradually, periodically checking the level.

Important: pay attention to problems

If you find that the oil level in the variator is low, do not forget to check the system for leaks. It is imperative to identify the cause of the decrease in fluid volume.

When checking the fluid level in the variator on a Nissan Qashqai, be sure to pay attention to its color and smell. If it is too dark and smells burnt, the CVT needs to be diagnosed and repaired. After repair, the cooling system is flushed.

If during repairs fragments of friction material were found in the CVT fluid, the radiator should be replaced and its tube flushed (you can use a cleaning solution or compressed air).

How to check the variator when buying a car

Modern cars are equipped with various gearboxes. The most common variations are mechanical and automatic, supplemented by a robotic transmission and a CVT. Motorists who are looking at a German or Japanese car with a CVT gearbox should know how to check the CVT when buying a car. Most often, a CVT is found on Honda or Audi cars, but sometimes on cars of other brands.

Content

A CVT is similar to an automatic gearbox in that you do not need to set the speed yourself using the transmission lever. However, in its operation it has significant differences: if the “automatic” includes fixed gears, usually in the number of four to nine, then the variator is a continuously variable transmission that does not have fixed steps.

In other words, if an automatic transmission alternately includes fixed stages, then the variator works from the lower to the upper threshold, without having intermediate “stops” on the way to increasing the gear ratio.

So, in what ways can the variator be checked if you have already met with the seller and are inspecting the car:

Checking the oil in the variator;
Check in motion;
Sound check.

The second and third methods may seem similar, but they are only adjacent; one may not give a complete picture without the other.

Despite the fact that a standard “automatic” with a torque converter is considered the preferred transmission option, a variator is considered more modern, although it is not without its flaws and shortcomings, and in some ways is inferior to an automatic transmission.

Let's talk in more detail about ways to check the variator.

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

Oil check

The variator box, or CVT as it is called, contains a special fluid - oil, which allows the box to operate smoothly and silently. Checking the fluid in the variator is the most reliable way to obtain comprehensive information about the condition and performance of the transmission.

Checking the oil is carried out in the same way as, say, on an engine - using the usual oil dipstick. However, it is important to take into account that in the case of a variator, the oil must be checked with two marks on the dipstick, one is responsible for the “cold” condition, the other - when the variator is warm.

Check in motion

Like many other components, assemblies and car parts, the CVT has a set of features that will tell you a lot, you just have to drive the car a little. If you meet the seller of a car equipped with a CVT, do not hesitate to ask him for a short test drive.

Ideally, of course, “drive” the car from the lower to the upper threshold. Simply put, if the car accelerates smoothly and without jerking to 180 kilometers per hour, this indicates the unequivocal serviceability of the variator. However, we do not recommend doing this unless you have a race track nearby and the car owner agrees to such a stressful test.

If the car jerks or does not accelerate smoothly, this indicates a malfunction. Most likely, the culprit is the oil pump, which is clogged with worn-out metal shavings from the wearing out variator mechanism. If it clogs the valves, the pump begins to jam, which leads to surges in oil pressure in the system.

The coherence of the movement of the pulleys is lost, the belt slips, and the car jerks. It is extremely risky to buy a car with such symptoms, because if the owner has driven in this mode for a long time, it is very likely that the gearbox will be quickly replaced, which is not cheap (on an Audi, the cost of the CVT itself is approximately 100 thousand rubles).

The variator belt itself is a set of metal plates, on which, for better adhesion to the pulleys, microscopic irregularities are applied. Mechanically, they are erased over time, becoming the very dust that can clog systems. If the box twitches, it is better to refuse to buy the car, and recommend to the owner to open the variator as soon as possible.