List price of GT-R tranny fluid: $114.98 per quart

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frank83

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Edmunds Inside Line recently took their long-term Nissan GT-R in for routine 18,000-mile maintenance. Total price tag? An astonishing $2,009.67! Talk about yer high cost of ownership, eh?

Why's it cost so much? Well, for the most part, everything's par for the course — an oil filter for $6.95, six quarts of Mobil 1 Synthetic oil for $9.38 per quart. All pretty standard. Then you get to the GT-R-specific automatic transmission fluid. The lists price? $114.98 per quart. Yup, you read that right. Want to know how many quarts it takes? How about 10 quarts! Luckily, Edmunds Inside Line only needed eight and they got their tranny juice at a discount — only $84.24 per quart. But that still helps them get to a horriful (yup, there's that new made-up word again) price of $2,009.67. Talk about a needy little beast, eh?


http://jalopnik.com/5191262/routine-18000-mile-nissan-gt+r-service-price-tag-2000
 
Here's a pic of the offending fluid:

t_16688.jpg


If Nissan requires this fluid to maintain the powertrain warranty, then the Magnuson-Moss Act says they have to provide the fluid free of charge to the customer during the warranty period.
 
Just turned up this little tidbit via Google:

Quote:
The GT-R R35 transmission oil is a specialist product, not an off the shelf D-Matic or Transmax ATF. A conventional ATF will in fact - from our knowledge of the chemistry - cause problems with the dual wet clutches. This is the 'key' to R35 transmission oil, keeping the clutches happy and healthy with a nice slick action, which is why Nissan have sacrificed lubricity and metal protection in the quest for the very best shift action and 'driver comfortable' clutch engagement.

The GR6 uses a dry sump oiling setup. Maybe the fluid they are using just is not able to stay where its needed to cool and lubricate the gears under high loads. Nissan is not joking when they ask you service the transmission oil in 1800 miles of hard use. The light green fluid that we sampled from the transmission had a distinct burnt smell (like burned auto transmission fluid) and had visible grey metallic infusion in its makeup. This is probably to be expected from a new transmission, but taking no chances we sent the sample off to a laboratory that specialises in oil analysis for a complete inspection. The first report was a conventional Spectrograph which showed that there could be a potential lack of lubrication in the transmission with 200 micron sized particles of gear material in the sample.


Click here for the full article.
 
After reading this "terms of use" document from Nissan, I don't see how they can, under Magnuson-Moss, avoid not providing the REQUIRED Mobil 1 0w40, special ATF, AND special differential fluid free of charge to the customer.

Of course, this document is from New Zealand, so maybe Nissan is not putting the same restrictions on GT-R sales in the US.
21.gif


NB: What this document says about the special ATF would tend to conflict with the Skyline site's surmise that Nissan has sacrificed lubricity and protection with this fluid.
 
Originally Posted By: Johnny
I do not care as I will never have one of those setting in my driveway.


C'mon Johnny...aren't you just the least bit curious about what's in this stuff?
grin2.gif


I wonder if it's made by XOM or by one of the oil companies in Japan?
 
Originally Posted By: G-MAN
Originally Posted By: Johnny
I do not care as I will never have one of those setting in my driveway.


C'mon Johnny...aren't you just the least bit curious about what's in this stuff?
grin2.gif


I wonder if it's made by XOM or by one of the oil companies in Japan?


Not in the least.
grin2.gif


Probably Japan
 
Originally Posted By: G-MAN
After reading this "terms of use" document from Nissan, I don't see how they can, under Magnuson-Moss, avoid not providing the REQUIRED Mobil 1 0w40, special ATF, AND special differential fluid free of charge to the customer.

Of course, this document is from New Zealand, so maybe Nissan is not putting the same restrictions on GT-R sales in the US.
21.gif


NB: What this document says about the special ATF would tend to conflict with the Skyline site's surmise that Nissan has sacrificed lubricity and protection with this fluid.



You are correct. And only a lawyer who threatens to haul the stealership's posterior through litigation will likely ever get it for free.
 
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaeNCn5P7Jg
Watch the oil pressure gauge...
Maybe they need special engine oil too?


Cavitation.
 
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaeNCn5P7Jg
Watch the oil pressure gauge...
Maybe they need special engine oil too?

404 Nissan GT-R not found.

That's an R34 Skyline GT-R. Toooooooooootally different engine and drivetrain.
 
they porbably dont require that specific fluid, just a fluid that meets that specific spec and happen to have theirs cost $115 a quart, while noone else makes an aftermarket fluid.
 
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Quote:
I do not care as I will never have one of those setting in my driveway.


Ridiculous. It must be pure GroupV (just guessing folks) with a specialized additive pack.

Me neither. I think I am thorough with Nissans. I am giving the Frontier to my daughter.

I really like my TrailBlazer. Next one maybe a Ford, unless BHO nationalizes it.
 
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Originally Posted By: MolaKule
Quote:
I do not care as I will never have one of those setting in my driveway.


Ridiculous. It must be pure GroupV (just guessing folks) with a specialized additive pack.


All kidding aside, that's what I'm thinking. The only thing that could justify that price point is if some really cutting edge hi-tech esters are being used for the base oil blend.

And all I got to say is that tranny must be absolute murder on oil if it requires this stuff to stay together.
 
I can't believe I'm about to say this because I LOVE the GT-R, but stuff like this makes owning a "low-tech" supercar like a Z06 look that much more appealing...
 
Originally Posted By: G-MAN
Originally Posted By: MolaKule
Quote:
I do not care as I will never have one of those setting in my driveway.


Ridiculous. It must be pure GroupV (just guessing folks) with a specialized additive pack.


All kidding aside, that's what I'm thinking. The only thing that could justify that price point is if some really cutting edge hi-tech esters are being used for the base oil blend.

And all I got to say is that tranny must be absolute murder on oil if it requires this stuff to stay together.



Or that they just can't build a strong twin-clutch... As wear metals are apparently heavy in UOA's...
 
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