I've had the 02 V6 4x4 AT since last August and it's pulled the Subaru Legacy Rally car and tow dolley without problems around the Southern California area.
Anyway went to do a rally in Vegas,got there fine but on the way home the long gradiant before Baker I had to do 5500rpm to keep about 55mph overtaking slower trucks etc.Nothing got hot.

We pulled off at baker for food,when returning I noticed fluid on the Subaru.Checking underneath the Xterra I noticed there was fluid everywhere.
It seemed to be coming from above the tranny around the shifter.Looked like about a cup full had come out.
So I checked the oil level which looked fine.We carried on and checked several times but no leak.

I think maybe there was to much fluid in there in the first place and maybe that high RPM had blown it out off a breather?

Is there a breather on top of the tranny??

I'm still driving it without any leaks.

Cheers

Chris

Yes, it is possible that it had too much fluid. You probably would not have known that untill you hit the higher RPMs.

I have seen this before. I'm a Test Engineer for a OEM transmission re-manufacturer. If the transmission is overfilled, it pukes out the breather tube, but not untill it hits high rpm.

While I have not personally looked for a breather tube under my truck, it should have one. There has to be a way to vent the extra pressure from the expansion of the fluid. Yet another reason to stay out of deep water. Water causes de-lamination of frictions in the clutches which means.... your transmission is toast.... literally. But I digress.

Be sure re-check your fluid level again and since you had it at high RPM for what I take was an extended period of time, check it for overtemp. You know, burned, discolored ATF. That is provided it is not leaking now, if it is, get it to a qualified technician.

Probably did blow out of the breather tube.

I had the same situation on my X a few years ago....had a flush done at the dealer and it was over-filled. Headed up a steep long grade east of Asheville, NC on I-40 with the truck pulling high RPM's to keep up speed. The guys following behind me came on the radio and told me I was coating their windshield in a film of AT fluid.

Stopped at the first exit I came to and checked my rear hatch....yep it was coated too....as was the undercarriage from the tranny back. Checked the AT fluid level....seemed fine. But I still got on the phone to the nearest Nissan dealer.....

Started to drive over to their location and everything seemed fine. Stopped and check the level again....and the folks following me told me over the radio that nothing was hitting them anymore....So I called the dealer again and told them I would continue the short way on the rest of my trip. Everything was still fine.

Drove it home at the end of the weekend....everything seemed fine. But I took it in to my dealer on Monday morning and they confirmed that the fluid had escaped from the breather and the level was fine. They admitted that they had overfilled the tranny.

That was over two and a half years and approx. 60,000 miles ago.

Thanks guys for the info.I've stopped worrying!
Is there a tranny cooler kit for the Xterra ? as I do quite a bit of towing and it's hot here.

Cheers

Chris

here's an old link:

Tranny Cooler