adminThe question that has been asked over and over is why Japanese cars come here looking so new and then once they are here they start breaking down.
The answer is simple . . . cars are like babies . . . without constant attention they cry a lot. Sometimes they just get wet and need a change. Same with cars, it all boils down to maintenance.
Cars that are imported as grey imports typically have no dealership backup.
Dealerships have all the knowledge about new cars. Car manufacturers disseminate new technology through the dealerships and dealerships take time to acquaint themselves with new automotive technologies.
Usually dealerships do not cater for cars, they do not supply so chances are, if you go to a local dealer with a Japanese car, they will not even look at it twice.
That means you as the owner have to be very religious when it comes to the maintenance of your grey import. You need to be well versed with the needs of your car as well because any use of the wrong oils or parts may prove costly.
That brings us to this point, dealerships know what oil to use when servicing the cars they supply. In most cases, all you have to do, as their client is to deliver your car to their workshop when service is due and they will do the rest.
Without the dealership back-up, it is up to you as the owner of the car to find out what kind of car you are driving and its exact needs. With our imports and the current economy, all we can afford are the tree mechanics who oftentimes are not well acquainted with this Japanese technology.
They use the traditional oils in special transmissions, bringing about their premature demise. Know what you are driving and remember a mechanic is like a doctor, if you don’t trust them with your life, you should probably look for another.
I have noted with concern the rate at which people look for transmissions. We have looked at transmissions before and it’s sad that people still fall victim. The largest number of inquiries falls on CVT gearboxes.
The question you are probably asking yourself is why. Well, the answer is usually the same, let’s call it food poisoning. CVTs are an advancement from the tradition automatic transmission and they use a special fluid different from the automatic transmission fluid. With our cars not coming with any form of back-up from dealerships, out of ignorance some of us end up using the traditional oils and fluids that do not get along with these cars, the result is obvious.
With Nissan for example, they are strict with the type of oil that should be used in their CVTs and its usually KTF 1 CVT fluid for their special transmissions. They caution that use of any other fluid will damage the CVT.
Getting the right fluid with no dealership back-up is an uphill task, some generics work fine for a while if they are the right spec, just make sure they are not wine red in colour because that would be ATF.
Slip ups are common where people use wrong fluids in cars. Mostly because the cars are labelled in Japanese and not all green fluid is coolant.
If unsure it is good to ask, but you are never safe if you ask only the guy behind the counter at your favourite parts store, some of these guys were upgraded from selling burgers and have not a clue about what they are selling. I mean no offence but be sure to do some research especially where imports are concerned.
Sometimes however, it’s not even use of the wrong oils that damages transmissions but neglecting changing the oil. Some people tend to service the engine and completely neglect servicing the transmission as well.
Maybe its because the transmission does not require that frequent service like the engine does or some people just think it never needs service. Some transmission have dipsticks, some don’t have at all. Some are so hidden you wouldn’t even know that they are there.
The bottom line is that at one point you will need to change that oil and use of the right oil is of utmost importance. Go out of your way, learn more about your car, learn its needs and wants, take care of it and I cheat you not, you won’t be stuck by the roadside. Your car will take care of you as well.
What is your motoring story? Keen on sharing it? Email me your story and perhaps you can get some help and help another fellow import owner.
Perhaps its just a motoring experience . . . Drop me an email. Happy motoring folks!
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