Why am I being told that I don't need to have my car's CVT transmission fluid changed?

This goes against everything we were told a generation ago about the transmission fluid in automatic gearboxes. In the old days, bits of clutch and metallic band would wear off the internal parts of the transmission, requiring the fluid to be changed to avoid this dross doing damage to the actual transmission.

The theory is that with today’s better transmission designs, materials and precision engineering, this is not going to happen and the vehicle can use the same transmission fluid for its entire operational life. Maybe it can, maybe it can’t, but I’m with you in being a bit confused about it all. My preferences (and that of many transmission specialists) is that even in a sealed-for-life transmissions, you won’t be doing any harm by replacing the fluid at sensible intervals. And if you do happen to flush out some rubbish in the process, the expense might be well worth it.

Bear in mind there are two types of fluid change. The cheapest is simply a case of emptying the transmission’s pan and adding enough new fluid to take the level back to where it should be. The second, more expensive, option is what’s called a flush. In this case, the fluid in the gearbox is changed, as well as all the fluid in the lines, coolers and other plumbing around the car.

The only catch with this would be if Nissan regards a fluid change as some kind of tampering and takes the view that this would void any factory warranty. So check with Nissan first. The correct type of fluid for your car’s CVT is also crucial.