Im going to be servicing the 02 ,I got on Tuesday, this weekend and need to know how much the rear diff and tranny hold and what weight fluid to use. It's a 2002 XE 2.4 with a manual tranny . I wouldnt mind switching over to a synthetic fluid in both for the added protection of the better fluid . What's you opions on a good synthetic fluid for both ?

You'll find all the capacities in the owner's manual. Don't have one? Go here:
http://www.nissan-techinfo.com/nissan/deptog.asp?dept%5Fid=35

As for synthetics, they're all good. Only caveat is to make sure what you use in the manual transmission is either GL4 spec ONLY (not GL4/GL5) or if it says GL5, it must note that it is safe for soft/yellow metals used in the synchros etc.

Redline is good stuff:
http://www.xterraownersclub.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=001061

Brent

So what's the difference in the GL-4 and GL-5 ? I went and picked up a couple GL-5 synthetic fluid for the diff but didnt see anything marked GL-4 .

Not really sure what the differance is but one of the Nissan dealers down here put in a GL-5 fluid. I corrected them and told them to put in the correct GL-4, the rats tried to charge me to! To make a long story short I had the synchros in 1st, 4th and reverse crap out and the good dealer down here redid the tranny at about 59K. Not sure if the fluid is to blame but why take a chance with such an expensive part.

Tim

GL4 is hard to find.

GL5, at least the non-synthetic type, uses a corrosive sulfur compound that contributes to its higher anti-shear properties, but it eats the copper-based metals used in the transmission. Synthetics get by without it, or less of it anyway.

I have yet to find any Synthetic GL-4 for the tranny . Should I got with the Synthetic GL-5 I did get for the diff and use it in the tranny, I got a couple extra for the tranny just in case it's ok .

You can't put the same stuff in the transmission and the diffs.

See the second link in my first post...