[Avantado]

I have some information that might be useful:

In the meantime I found that error p0868 reappeared, but error p0746 is completely gone. When I was installing the oil pan, I noticed that it wasn't completely sealed in one place. I then carefully tightened the screws, one broke off. I hadn't used the new seal yet because I didn't know if it was worth the effort anyway. It would have been a shame to waste that seal.

But I sealed everything with a special sealant, but that doesn't help. Then I unscrewed the oil pan from my Murano, which I only use for spare parts, fortunately I was able to unscrew the one broken screw on mine, cleaned everything again very meticulously, collected the oil and cleaned it, it was almost new, then that new seal used, everything checked very meticulously, now it is tight, the error p0868 is gone.

The screws should be treated with caution, I don't know if they are special expansion screws, but I followed the instructions when screwing them in. That means even a slight leak, which you may not notice immediately, changes the pressure ratio in the gearbox, which can lead to an error message.

Please note:

if you use sealing compound, please make sure that it cannot squeeze into the gearbox when screwing tight.

😉

 

[Cryogenix1]

I would think a leaking gasket would reveal itself better once the car has been off for awhile and more of the tranny fluid has made its way back into the pan. I'm assuming that when properly filled the fluid level might sit above the gasket. When in motion the fluid level might be below the gasuet so if theres a leak it would stand a better chance of affecting pressure.

It could be that installing the new gasket correctly sealed your system, and that it was the reuse of the old gasket that kept the P0868 code present. If that kind of problem can trigger a code, you should be able to confirm it by loosening the CVT fill tube cap and driving a short distance. That should simulate a pan gasket leak minus the fluid actually dripping out. Perhaps Nissan did away with that dipstick because owners were checking the fluid level too much and damaging that pressure cap which caused the system to have pressure issues.

 

[MuranoSL2003]

I would think the pan/dipstick areas are not pressurized...

The pressure is within the system, just like the oil pressure within an engine, not in the oil pan itself...

 

[Avantado]

I found comments in the internet about CVT transmission, and many had a problem with that gasket - after that the mistake really was gone...🤷

 

[Cryogenix1]

I would think the pan/dipstick areas are not pressurized...

The pressure is within the system, just like the oil pressure within an engine, not in the oil pan itself...

I agree. I think that fill tube cap is just a relief vent so that if too much fluid is in the system and it heats up there's a place for that expansion to release. That's why I don't think the gasket issue is what resolved his P0868, which is why I said to pop that cap to test the idea... However since I'm not 100% sure of the process I always like to speculate.

I imagine the pressure solenoida are drawing in fluid from the pan area and pushing it through the heart of the system under pressure.

 

[Cryogenix1]

I found comments in the internet about CVT transmission, and many had a problem with that gasket - after that the mistake really was gone...🤷

Could be. I don't know the system nearly well enough to be sure about anything. Maybe Chidog knows. Tha P0868 clearing could simply be the result of draining the system again, cleaning the fluid and refilling it. Perhaps by getting out more shavings and then refilling, it nudged a shaving that was causing problems for the system. Or, perhaps draining and refilling somehow eliminated an air pocket that was trapped within the valve body. Or, perhaps the P0868 will come back after two hours of normal driving followed by heading out on the highway and getting up to 80MPH. My P0868 stayed clear for about 2.5 hours of driving, and then after opening it up on the highway, the code triggered. I was running the CVTz50 app and watching it as I went along.

 

[Avantado]

It's not for nothing that the oil dipstick on the Murano 2006 has the clip next to the rubber seal as an additional safeguard, at least on the European version you can't just pull up the stick like that. As far as I know, the reason is that there is pressure in the system, not particularly high, but a loosening dipstick is supposed to lead to the error messages or malfunction.

 

[Cryogenix1]

Yes, even my 2003 has the locking cap. I've driven with that cap popped (for testing purposes) and it had no impact on how the CVT operated. I think the cap was made more difficult to remove so someone couldn't just easily remove it and dump in engine oil or plain tranny fluid. Kind of forces the person to look more closely at the top of the cap that says "USE ONLY NS-2 FLUID" or something like that. I forget the exact wording. I think if that part of the transmission were pressurized, there would be a more secure twist-locking cap to ensure the cap is tighter. Maybe I'll pull the stick-cap on my 2003 to see what it looks like underneath. I don't think there's a seal or membrane that seals against the tube opening. Heat from the hot fluid in the pan needs a way to escape, and I think it might be via that tube.

EDIT: However... When I had the 2003 CVT overfilled by 3-4 quarts for a few months and I'd pop the cap in the morning, I do recall hearing a lot of gurgling deep within the tube for a few seconds... Pressure or air pockets escaping?

 

[I need coffee]

A leaking oil pan gasket has nothing to do with a P0868 pressure code. As stated before, the area inside the oil pan isn't under pressure except for variations in temperature for which there is a vent tube.

 

[MuranoSL2003]

EDIT: However... When I had the 2003 CVT overfilled by 3-4 quarts for a few months and I'd pop the cap in the morning, I do recall hearing a lot of gurgling deep within the tube for a few seconds... Pressure or air pockets escaping?

It probably popped due to lack of space in the pan to accommodate for that extra 3-4 quarts of CVT fluid...

If the pan was under the same pressure as CVT internally I would think it would have been a geyser coming out of the dipstick tube...

 

[Avantado]

With a endoskop-kamera you can see, how much is coming up the tube from the oil Stick. Not out of it, just coming up. I only can say, replaced digested and a mistake is gone, after riding two hundred Kilometer. Maybe it's the kind of Wonder, I don't know.

🤷

 

[Avantado]

Does someone know the torque of the screws for the transmission oil pan? I don't find any informations about it in German, and sometimes it's hard for me to search in English language. Thank you very much.

 

[MuranoSL2003]

Does someone know the torque of the screws for the transmission oil pan? I don't find any informations about it in German, and sometimes it's hard for me to search in English language. Thank you very much.

You can download a copy of the service manuals from here:

How To Use NICOclub Factory Service Manuals

Here's a step-by-step guide to help find the correct Factory Service Manual for your Nissan, Infiniti, or Datsun - and a tutorial on how to use it!

www.nicoclub.com

 

[Avantado]

Thank you very much, I have the original Service Manual on CD, for my computer, in German, but there is no torque for this bolts. Or I'm not able to find it?

 

[Cryogenix1]

I recall the torque setting for the bolts on my 2003 steel pan were something like 6 or 7 foot pounds. Since most torque wrenches don't adjust that low you have to convert to INCH pounds and use a special torque wrench.

When I tightened them I just snugged them up using the suggested tightening sequence with a 1/4" drive ratchet and socket, and I kept my grip around the ratchet head and not the handle to avoid overtightening them. I then repeated the bolt sequence three times to ensure every bolt felt the same.

 

[MuranoSL2003]

Thank you very much, I have the original Service Manual on CD, for my computer, in German, but there is no torque for this bolts. Or I'm not able to find it?

You are correct, there doesn't appear to be anything in the '03 CVT service manual mentioning the pan or the filters...

I did find information in the '15 service manual that should be similar enough to follow:

 

[Avantado]

Thank you very much. I could find in another Nissan Forum, from another model, it should be about 4.1 to 6.3, i just had to calculate in Newtonmeter, it's a very small number, i have a special tool to manage that.

 

[MuranoSL2003]

The manual page above shows shows 7.9 Newton metres.

 

[Avantado]

Thank you very much, I didn't see that, but it does match with the torque i found

 

[chidog]

The internal space of the whole transmission is at atmospheric pressure, there is a small rubber vent tube at the top of the transmission. Never would you want pressure in the transmission case, the seals would be overwhelmed by it, and leaks would be the end result. "I need coffee" said it all, and is correct. P0868 has to do with pump pressure loss, so any pressure control system or associated device can be the cause. In most cases its a bad flow control valve, could be either sticking or just leaking past it. So something could be cleared up by a fluid change, don't know.