Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Today I got a quote to replace the 4.8 GRX auto box oil. Current price R2200 without labour. This stuff is worth more than gold.....

What happened that you had to replace the box?

Replaced the radiator and part of the auto box cooling runs through the radiator. Lost some oil and thought that I would get it replaced before my trip to Malawi.

In a Disco 3 , the auto box needs to be flushed with new oil @ 200 000km intervals and wait for it replaced twice, ie, they drain the oil, add new , drive till its warm, ie. 10km , go back to workshop, drain that new oil and fill with new again. All synthetic oil @ R 200.00 a lt.(yes its liquid gold) This cost with labour at agents approx
R 7-8000.00. At generic workshops it cost R 2000.00
Its what they call filled for life , but if its gone through hard work and ect ect it needs to be flushed.

So Wheels that doesnt sound so bad , if compared to other brands.

This stuff is worth more than gold

Yup, mine cost even more - direct from Japan in 4l tin can. Now are they trying to tell me there isn't a local manufacturer ....
When still under warranty one can't really argu....
R550/l

I still have the left overs = 1l for top ups.

Hi JohnboyZA,
I am quite distressed to see that the costs of such lubricants is so high, and would very much like to discuss this in a way to find any alternative costing from other sources maybe? Bearing in mind that my Nissan is going so well, (appox 153000 km) and the servicing has never been problematic, but suddenly the idea of spending R4500 on lubes alone is scary!?
Regards, Chris.

Dr Chris,

I believe we need to add perspective to this matter.

The cost of auto-gearbox oil has always been so high and applies to all brands of vehicles. Fortunately it only needs replacement on high frequencies, as stipulated by Nissan per particular gearbox. Hence, if we take the cost of repairs on these boxes, the cost of changing oil on high km frequencies become a small drop in the bucket.

The only time this cost does not feel so severe and painful is in case of vehicles under maintenance motorplan. However, the same high prices/costs is hidden within the vehicles finance contract, WHERE THE SAME OIL EVENTUALLY COSTS MUCH, MUCH MORE because of the cost of finance.

I fully agree that it is important to use the correct transmission fluid in modern high tech automatics. An obvious way to be sure that the correct oil is used would be to buy the oil from the manufacturer.

I do the same with my auto Pajero where the transmission fluid must be changed every 60000 km. The difference is that the agents charge me a lot less for the genuine Mitsubishi Dia Queen ATF in the 4 liter can with Japanese inscriptions than what Nissan seems to for their oil.

Mitsubishi charged me something like R365 per can, which is more in line with the market price for a good quality ATF, I think. Still, the full flushing and fluid replacement procedure requires 12 liters of the stuff, so not cheap (R1.83 per km sounds a bit better, perhaps).

I'm sending out messages to all my extended family ( suddenly I am glad I have one!) that I need oil for Christmas!
It'll just about be ready for the replacement by then!
Chris.