engine NISSAN 370Z COUPE 2011 Owners Manual

Black plate (349,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take care
to prevent serious accidental injury to yourself or
damage to the vehicle. The following are general
precautions which should be closely observed.
WARNING
.Park the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely
and block the wheels to prevent
the vehicle from moving. For man-
ual transmission models, move the
shift lever to N (Neutral) . For auto-
matic transmission models, move
the selector lever to P (Park) .
. Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any parts replacement or
repairs.
. Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized com-
ponent while the ignition switch is
in the ON position.
. Never leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component
harnesses disconnected while the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
. If you must work with the engine running, keep your hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from moving
fans, belts and any other moving
parts.
. It is advisable to secure or remove
any loose clothing and remove any
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
. Always wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
. If you must run the engine in an
enclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
. Never get under the vehicle while it
is supported only by a jack. If it is
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
. Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel tank and the
battery.
. Your vehicle is equipped with an
automatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without warn-
ing, even if the ignition key is in the
OFF position and the engine is not
running. To avoid injury, always
disconnect the negative battery cable before working near the fan.
. The fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by a NISSAN dealer be-
cause the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine is
off.
CAUTION
.Do not work under the hood while
the engine is hot. Turn the engine
off and wait until it cools down.
. Avoid direct contact with used en-
gine oil and coolant. Improperly
disposed engine oil, coolant, and/
or other vehicle fluids can damage
the environment. Always conform to
local regulations for disposal of
vehicle fluid.
This “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
gives instructions regarding only those items
which are relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A genuine NISSAN Service Manual is also
available. (See “OWNER’S MANUAL/SERVICE
MANUAL ORDER INFORMATION” in the “9.
Technical and consumer information” section.)
Youshouldbeawarethatincompleteor
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-5

Black plate (351,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
SSI0510
VQ37VHR ENGINE MODEL1. Fuse/fusible link holder
2. Battery
3. Radiator filler cap
4. Engine oil dipstick
5. Engine oil filler cap6. Brake fluid reservoir
7. Clutch fluid reservoir (Manual Transmission mod-
els)
8. Power steering fluid reservoir
9. Window washer fluid reservoir
10 Air cleaner
11. Drive belt location 12. Engine coolant reservoirENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-7

Black plate (352,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
The engine cooling system is filled at the factory
with a pre-diluted mixture of 50% Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) and
50% water to provide year-round anti-freeze
and coolant protection. The antifreeze solution
contains rust and corrosion inhibitors. Additional
engine cooling system additives are not neces-
sary.
WARNING
.Never remove the radiator or cool-
ant reservoir cap when the engine is
hot. Wait until the engine and
radiator cool down. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator.
See precautions in “IF YOUR VEHI-
CLE OVERHEATS” in the “6. In case
of emergency” section of this man-
ual.
. The radiator is equipped with a
pressure type radiator cap. To pre-
vent engine damage, use only a
genuine NISSAN radiator cap.
CAUTION
.When adding or replacing coolant,
be sure to use only Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (blue) or equivalent. Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (blue) is pre-diluted to provide
antifreeze protection to
34 8F
( 37 8C) . If additional freeze protec-
tion is needed due to weather where
you operate your vehicle, add Gen-
uine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/
Coolant (blue) concentrate follow-
ing the directions on the container.
If an equivalent coolant other than
Genuine NISSAN Long Life Anti-
freeze/Coolant (blue) is used, fol-
low the coolant manufacturer’s
instructions to maintain minimum
antifreeze protection to 34 8F
( 37 8C) . The use of other types of
coolant solutions other than Genu-
ine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/
Coolant (blue) or equivalent may
damage the engine cooling system.
. The life expectancy of the factory-fill
coolant is 105,000 miles (168,000
km) or 7 years. Mixing any other
type of coolant other than Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (blue) , including Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool- ant (green) , or the use of non-
distilled water will reduce the life
expectancy of the factory-fill cool-
ant. Refer to the Nissan Service and
Maintenance Guide for more de-
tails.ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM8-8
Maintenance and do-it-yourself

Black plate (353,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
SDI2043
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT LEVELCheck the coolant levelin the reservoir when
the engine is cold. If the coolant level is below
MIN
*2, open the reservoir cap and add
coolant up to the MAX
*1
level. If the reservoir
is empty, check the coolant level in the radiator
when the engine is cold. If there is insufficient
coolant in the radiator, fill the radiator with
coolant up to the filler opening and also add it to
the reservoir up to the MAX level
*1.
Tighten the cap securely after adding engine
coolant.
If the cooling system requires coolant
frequently, have it checked by a NISSAN
dealer.
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANTMajor cooling system repairs should be per-
formed by a NISSAN dealer. The service
procedures can be found in the appropriate
NISSAN Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine overheat-
ing.
WARNING
. To avoid the danger of being
scalded, never change the coolant
when the engine is hot.
. Never remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator.
. Avoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made,
wash thoroughly with soap or hand
cleaner as soon as possible.
. Keep coolant out of reach of chil-
dren and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.
SDI2348
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn off the engine. Wait more than 15
minutes for the oil to drain back into
the oil pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Reinsert it all the way.
5. Remove the dipstick again and check the oil level. It should be within the range
*1. If the
oil level is below
*2, remove the oil filler cap
ENGINE OIL
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-9

Black plate (354,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
and pour recommended oil through the
opening.Do not overfill
*3.
6. Recheck oil level with the dipstick.
It is normal to add some oil between oil
maintenance intervals or during the break-
in period, depending on the severity of
operating conditions.
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly.
Operating the engine with an insuffi-
cient amount of oil can damage the
engine, and such damage is not cov-
ered by warranty.CHANGING ENGINE OIL AND FILTER
Vehicle set-up1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15 minutes.
4. Raise and support the vehicle using a suitable floor jack and safety jack stands.
.Place the safety jack stands under the vehicle jack-up points.
. A suitable adapter should be attached to
the jack stand saddle.
5. Remove the plastic engine undercover. a. Remove the small plastic clips at thecenter of the undercover.
b. Then remove the bolts that hold the undercover in place.
CAUTION
Make sure the correct lifting and sup-
port points are used to avoid vehicle
damage.
SDI2335
Engine oil and filter1. Place a large drain pan under the drain plug.
2. Remove the oil filler cap.
3. Remove the drain plug
*1
with a wrench
and completely drain the oil.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself, as the
engine oil is hot.
. Waste oil must be disposed of
properly.
. Check your local regulations.
8-10
Maintenance and do-it-yourself

Black plate (355,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
(Perform steps 4 to 7 only when the engine
oil filter change is needed.)
4. Loosen the oil filter
*2
with an oil filter
wrench. Remove the oil filter by turning it by
hand.
5. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting surface with a clean rag.
CAUTION
Be sure to remove any old rubber
gasket remaining on the mounting sur-
face of the engine. Failure to do so
could lead to engine damage.
6. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean engine oil.
7. Screw in the oil filter clockwise until a slight resistance is felt, then tighten additionally
more than 2/3 turn.
Oil filter tightening torque:11 to 15 ft-lb
(14.7 to 20.5 N·m)
8. Clean and re-install the drain plug with a new washer. Securely tighten the drain plug
with a wrench.
Drain plug tightening torque:22 to 29 ft-lb
(29 to 39 N·m) Do not use excessive force.
9. Refill engine with recommended oil through the oil filler opening, and install the oil filler
cap securely.
See “CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS” in the “9. Technical
and consumer information” section for drain
and refill capacity. The drain and refill
capacity depends on the oil temperature
and drain time. Use these specifications for
reference only. Always use the dipstick to
determine the proper amount of oil in the
engine.
10. Start the engine and check for leakage around the drain plug and the oil filter.
Correct as required.
11. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15 minutes. Check the oil level with the dipstick.
Add engine oil if necessary.
After the operation1. Install the engine undercover into position as
the following steps.
a. Pull the center of the small plastic clipout.
b. Hold the engine undercover into posi- tion. c. Insert the clip through the undercover
into the hole in the frame, then push the
center of the clip in to lock the clip in
place.
d. Install the bolts that hold the undercover in place. Be careful not to strip the bolts
or over-tighten them.
2. Lower the vehicle carefully to the ground.
3. Dispose of waste oil and filter properly.
WARNING
. Prolonged and repeated contact
with used engine oil may cause skin
cancer.
. Try to avoid direct skin contact with
used oil. If skin contact is made,
wash thoroughly with soap or hand
cleaner as soon as possible.
. Keep used engine oil out of reach of
children.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-11

Black plate (356,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
When checking or replacement is required, we
recommend a NISSAN dealer for servicing.
CAUTION
.Use only Genuine NISSAN Matic S
ATF. Do not mix with other fluids.
. Using automatic transmission fluid
other than Genuine NISSAN Matic S
ATF will cause deterioration in dri-
veability and automatic transmis-
sion durability, and may damage
the automatic transmission, which
is not covered by the NISSAN new
vehicle limited warranty.
SDI1765A
Check the fluid level in the reservoir.
The fluid level should be checked with the
engine off using the HOT range (
*1:HOT
MAX.,
*2: HOT MIN.) at fluid temperatures of
122 to 176 8F (50 to 80 8C) or using the COLD
range (
*3: COLD MAX.,
*4: COLD MIN.) at
fluid temperatures of 32 to 86 8F(0to30 8C) .
If the fluid is below the MIN line, add Genuine
NISSAN PSF or equivalent. Remove the cap
and fill through the opening.
CAUTION
. Do not overfill.
. Use Genuine NISSAN PSF or
equivalent.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID POWER STEERING FLUID8-12
Maintenance and do-it-yourself

Black plate (358,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
SDI2349
Fill the window washer fluid reservoir periodi-
cally. Add window washer fluid when the low
window washer fluid warning light comes on.
To fill the window washer fluid reservoir, lift the
cap off the reservoir tank and pour the window
washer fluid into the tank opening.
Add a washer solvent to the water for better
cleaning. In the winter season, add a windshield
washer antifreeze. Follow the manufacturer’s
instructions for the mixture ratio.
Refill the reservoir more frequently when driving
conditions require an increased amount of
window washer fluid.Recommended fluid is Genuine NISSAN Wind-
shield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Anti-
freeze or equivalent.
CAUTION
.
Do not substitute engine anti-freeze
coolant for window washer solution.
This may result in damage to the
paint.
. Do not fill the window washer
reservoir tank with washer fluid
concentrates at full strength. Some
methyl alcohol based washer fluid
concentrates may permanently stain
the grille if spilled while filling the
window washer reservoir tank.
. Pre-mix washer fluid concentrates
with water to the manufacturer’s
recommended levels before pouring
the fluid into the window washer
reservoir tank. Do not use the
window washer reservoir tank to
mix the washer fluid concentrate
and water. .
Keep the battery surface clean and dry.
Clean the battery with a solution of baking
soda and water.
. Make certain the terminal connections are
clean and securely tightened.
. If the vehicle is not to be used for 30 days or
longer, disconnect the negative ( ) battery
terminal cable to prevent discharging it.
CAUTION
When the battery cable is removed from
the battery terminal, do not close either
of front doors. The automatic window
adjusting function will not work, and
the side roof panel may be damaged.
To disconnect the negative ( ) battery terminal,
perform the procedure in the following order.
Otherwise, the window and the side roof panel
may contact and be damaged.
1. Close the windows.
2. Open the hood.
3. Close and lock all the doors.
4. Disconnect the negative ( ) battery terminal.
5. Securely close the hood.
To connect the negative ( ) battery terminal,
WINDOW WASHER FLUID BATTERY8-14
Maintenance and do-it-yourself

Black plate (360,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
SDI1480E
2. Add distilled water up to the UPPER LEVEL
*1
line.
If the side of the battery is not clear, check
the distilled water level by looking directly
above the cell; the condition
*A
indicates
OK and the conditions
*B
needs more to
be added.
3. Tighten cell plugs
*3.
Vehicles operated in high temperatures or under
severe conditions require frequent checks of the
battery fluid level.
JUMP STARTINGIf jump starting is necessary, see “JUMP
STARTING” in the “6. In case of emergency”
section. If the engine does not start by jump
starting, the battery may have to be replaced.
Contact a NISSAN dealer.
CAUTION
. Do not ground accessories directly
to the battery terminal. Doing so will
bypass the variable voltage control
system and the vehicle battery may
not charge completely.
. Use electrical accessories with the
engine running to avoid discharging
the vehicle battery.
The variable voltage control system measures
the amount of electrical discharge from the
battery and controls voltage generated by the
generator.VARIABLE VOLTAGE CONTROL
SYSTEM
8-16
Maintenance and do-it-yourself

Black plate (361,1)
Model "Z34-D" EDITED: 2010/ 7/ 27
SDI2119
VQ37VHR engine
1. Power steering fluid pump
2. Alternator
3. Crankshaft pulley
4. Air conditioner compressor
5. Drive belt auto-tensioner
WARNING
Be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF
or LOCK position before servicing drive
belts. The engine could rotate unex-
pectedly.
1. Visually inspect the belt for signs of unusual wear, cuts, fraying or looseness. If the belt is
in poor condition or loose, have it replaced or adjusted by a NISSAN dealer.
2. Have the belt condition checked regularly.
WARNING
Be sure the engine and the ignition
switch are off and that the parking
brake is engaged securely.
CAUTION
Be sure to use the correct socket to
remove the spark plugs. An incorrect
socket can damage the spark plugs.
DRIVE BELTS SPARK PLUGS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-17