oil change NISSAN ALTIMA 2003 L31 / 3.G Owners Manual

CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
A NISSAN dealer can change the engine coolant.
The service procedure can be found in the
NISSAN Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine overheat-
ing.
WARNING
cTo avoid the danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the en-
gine is hot.
cNever remove the radiator cap when the
engine is hot. Serious burns could be
caused by high pressure fluid escaping
from the radiator.
cAvoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
cKeep coolant out of the reach of chil-
dren and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Start the engine and let it idle until it reaches
operating temperature.
3. Turn off the engine.Wait more than 10
minutes for the oil to drain back into
the oil pan.4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Re-
insert it all the way.
QR25DE
WDI0211
VQ35DE
WDI0212
ENGINE OIL
8-10Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ZREVIEW COPY:Ð2003 Altima(l30)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
04/21/03Ðdebbie
X

5. Remove the drain plug with a wrench by
turning it counterclockwise and completely
drain the oil.
If the oil filter is to be changed, remove and
replace it at this time. See “Changing engine
oil filter” later in this section.
WARNING
cProlonged and repeated contact with
used engine oil may cause skin cancer.cTry to avoid direct skin contact with
used oil. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
cKeep used engine oil out of reach of
children.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself. The engine
oil may be hot.
cWaste oil must be disposed of prop-
erly.
cCheck your local regulations.
6. Clean and reinstall the drain plug and a new
washer. Securely tighten the drain plug with
a wrench. Do not use excessive force.
Drain plug tightening torque:
22 - 29 ft-lb (29 - 39 N·m)
7. Refill engine with recommended oil through
the oil filler opening, then install the oil filler
cap securely.
See “Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants” in the “Technical and con-
sumer information” section of this manual 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 when the proper
amount of oil is in the engine.
8. Start the engine. Check for leakage around
the drain plug and oil filter. Correct as re-
quired.
9. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10
minutes. Check the oil level with the dipstick.
Add engine oil if necessary.
VQ35DE
WDI0216
8-12Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ZREVIEW COPY:Ð2003 Altima(l30)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
04/21/03Ðdebbie
X

The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure
described in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate) Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
US measure Imp measure Liter
Fuel 20 gal 16-5/8 gal 75.8 Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of at least 87 AKI (RON 91)*1
Engine oil *7
Drain and Refill
With oil filter change QR25DE 4-1/2 qt 3-3/4 qt 4.2
• API Certification Mark *2 *3
• API grade SL, Energy Conserving *2 *3
• ILSAC grade GF-III*2 *3 VQ35DE 4-1/4 qt 3-1/2 qt 4.0
Without oil filter change QR25DE 4-1/4 qt 3-1/2 qt 4.0
VQ35DE 3-7/8 qt 3-1/4 qt 3.7
Cooling system
With reservoir
QR25DE 8 qt 6-3/4 qt 7.6
50% Genuine NISSAN Anti-freeze Long Life Coolant or equivalent
50% Demineralized or distilled water
VQ35DE 8-5/8 qt 7-1/4 qt 8.2
Manual transmission gear oil 4-7/8 pt 4 pt 2.3 API GL-4, Viscosity SAE 75W-85
Automatic transmission fluid Refill to the proper level according to the instructions in
the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section.Genuine Nissan Matic D ATF (Continental U.S. and Alaska) or Canada
NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid.*4
Power steering fluid (PSF)Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent.*8
Brake and clutch fluidGenuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid*5 or equivalent DOT 3
(US FMVSS No. 116)
Multi-purpose grease———NLGINo.2(Lithium Soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerant— — — HFC-134a (R-134a)*6
Air conditioning system lubricants— — — NISSAN A/C System Lubricant Type DH-PS or equivalent*6
Winshield washer fluid— — — Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Anti-freeze
or equivalent
*1: For further details, see “Fuel recommendation.”
*2: For further details, see “Engine oil and oil filter recommendations.”
*3: For further details, see “Recommended SAE engine oil viscosity.”
*4: Dexron™ III/Mercon™ or equivalent may also be used. Outside the Continental United States and Alaska contact a NISSAN dealership for more information regarding suitable fluids, including rec-
ommended brand(s) of Dexron™ III/Mercon™ Automatic Transmission Fluid.
*5: Available in mainland USA through your NISSAN dealer.
*6: For further details, see “Air conditioner specification label.”
*7: For further details, see “Changing engine oil.”
*8: For Canada, NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) , Dexron™ III/Mercon™, or equivalent ATF may also be used.
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS
9-2Technical and consumer information
ZREVIEW COPY:Ð2003 Altima(l30)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
04/21/03Ðdebbie
X

ENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER
RECOMMENDATION
Selecting the correct oil
It is essential to choose engine oil with the cor-
rect quality and viscosity to ensure satisfactory
engine life and performance. NISSAN recom-
mends the use of a low friction oil (energy con-
serving oil) in order to improve fuel economy and
conserve energy. Oils which do not have the
specified quality label should not be used as they
could cause engine damage.
Only those engine oils with the American Petro-
leum Institute (API) CERTIFICATION MARK onthe front of the container should be used. This
type of oil supersedes the existing API SG, SH, or
SJ and Energy Conserving II categories.
If you cannot find engine oil with the API CERTI-
FICATION MARK, use API grade SL Energy
Conserving oil. An oil with a single designation
SL, or in combination with other categories (for
example, SL/CF) may also be used if one with the
API CERTIFICATION MARK cannot be found. An
ILSAC grade GF-III oil can also be used.
NISSAN recommends mineral based oils. These
oils must, however, meet the API quality and SAE
viscosity ratings specified for your vehicle.
Oil additives
NISSAN does not recommend the use of oil
additives. The use of an oil additive is not neces-
sary when the proper oil type is used and main-
tenance intervals are followed.
Oil which may contain foreign matter or has been
previously used should not be used.
Oil viscosity
The engine oil viscosity or thickness changes
with temperature. Because of this, it is important
to select the engine oil viscosity based on the
temperatures at which the vehicle will be oper-
ated before the next oil change. The chart “Rec-
ommended SAE viscosity number” shows the
recommended oil viscosities for the expected
ambient temperatures. Choosing an oil viscosity
other than that recommended could cause seri-
ous engine damage.
Selecting the correct oil filter
Your new NISSAN vehicle is equipped with a
high-quality genuine NISSAN oil filter. When re-
placing, use a genuine NISSAN oil filter or its
equivalent for the reason described in “Change
intervals”.
WTI0082
Technical and consumer information9-5
ZREVIEW COPY:Ð2003 Altima(l30)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
04/21/03Ðdebbie
X

Change intervals
The oil and oil filter change intervals for your
engine are based on the use of the specified
quality oils and filters. Using engine oil and filters
that are not of the specified quality, or exceeding
recommended oil and filter change intervals
could reduce engine life. Damage to the engine
caused by improper maintenance or use of incor-
rect oil and filter quality and/or viscosity is not
covered by the NISSAN new vehicle warranty.
Your engine was filled with a high-quality engine
oil when it was built. You do not have to change
the oil before the first recommended change
interval. Oil and filter change intervals depend
upon how you use your vehicle.
Operation under the following conditions may
require more frequent oil and filter changes:
crepeated short distance driving at cold out-
side temperatures
cdriving in dusty conditions
cextensive idling
ctowing a trailer
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY
NUMBER
cSAE 5W-30 viscosity oil is preferred for
all temperatures. SAE 10W-30 or SAE
10W-40 viscosity oils may be used if
the ambient temperature is above 0°F(-18°C) .
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM
REFRIGERANT AND LUBRICANT
RECOMMENDATIONS
The air conditioner system in your NISSAN
vehicle must be charged with the refriger-
ant HFC-134a (R-134a) and the lubricant,
NISSAN A/C system oil DH-PS or the exact
equivalents.
CAUTION
The use of any other refrigerant or lubri-
cant will cause severe damage to the air
conditioning system and will require the
replacement of all air conditioner system
components.
The refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) in your
NISSAN vehicle does not harm the earth’s ozone
layer. Although this refrigerant does not affect the
earth’s atmosphere, certain government regula-
tions require the recovery and recycling of any
refrigerant during automotive air conditioner sys-
tem service. A NISSAN dealer has the trained
technicians and equipment needed to recover
and recycle your air conditioner system refriger-
ant.
Contact a NISSAN dealer when servicing your air
conditioner system.
ATI1028
9-6Technical and consumer information
ZREVIEW COPY:Ð2003 Altima(l30)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
04/21/03Ðdebbie
X

cCrosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling. If swaying does occur, firmly
grip the steering wheel, steer straight ahead,
and immediately (but gradually) reduce ve-
hicle speed. This combination will help sta-
bilize the vehicle. Never increase speed.
cBe careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember, the length of the trailer must
also pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.
cTo maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
5th gear (manual transmission) or overdrive
(automatic transmission) .
cAvoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
When towing a trailer, transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, see the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.DOT (Department of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
Treadwear
Treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on tire wear rate when tested under controlled
conditions on specified government test courses.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and a half (1-1/2) times as well on the govern-
ment course as a tire graded 100. However,
relative tire performance depends on actual driv-
ing conditions, and may vary significantly due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA, A, B and C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the
tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as mea-
sured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and con-
crete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.WARNING
The traction grade assigned to your ve-
hicle tires is based on straight-ahead
braking traction tests and does not in-
clude acceleration, cornering, hydroplan-
ing or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature A, B and C
Temperature grades are A (the highest) , B, and
C. They represent a tire’s resistance to heat
build-up, and its ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled conditions on a specified
indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high tem-
perature can cause tire material to degenerate,
reducing tire life. Excessive temperatures can
lead to sudden tire failure. Grade C corresponds
to a performance level which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades A and B rep-
resent higher levels of performance on laboratory
test wheels than the minimum required by law.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
Technical and consumer information9-17
ZREVIEW COPY:Ð2003 Altima(l30)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
04/21/03Ðdebbie
X

O
Octane rating (See fuel octane rating).....9-4
Odometer.....................2-3
Oil
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine oil............8-11
Changing engine oil filter..........8-13
Checking engine oil level..........8-10
Engine oil..................8-10
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . .9-5
Engine oil viscosity..............9-5
Outside mirror control.............3-17
Overheat
If your vehicle overheats...........6-9
Owner’s manual order form..........9-20
Owner’s manual/service manual order
information....................9-20
P
Parking
Parking brake check............8-26
Parking brake operation..........5-12
Parking/parking on hills...........5-16
Power
Power door locks...............3-4
Power outlet.................2-26
Power steering fluid.............8-15
Power steering system...........5-17
Power windows...............2-33
Rear power windows............2-34
PrecautionsMaintenance precautions..........8-5
Precautions on child restraints.......1-30
Precautions on seat belt usage......1-22
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system.....................1-8
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
Push starting...................6-8
R
Radio
Car phone or CB radio...........4-28
FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
changer...................4-20
FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player....................4-15
Readiness for inspection maintenance (I/M)
test........................9-19
Rear power windows..............2-34
Rear seat.....................1-6
Rear window defogger switch.........2-17
Refrigerant recommendation..........9-6
Registering your vehicle in another country. . .9-9
Remote keyless entry system..........3-5
Reporting safety defects (US only)......9-18
S
Safety
Child safety rear door lock..........3-5
Child seat belts...............1-30
Reporting safety defects (US only). . . .9-18
Seat adjustment
Front manual seat adjustment........1-2Front power seat adjustment........1-4
Rear seat adjustment.............1-6
Seat belt
Child safety.................1-24
Infants and small children.........1-25
Injured Person................1-25
Larger children...............1-25
Precautions on seat belt usage......1-22
Pregnant women..............1-25
Seat belt extenders.............1-29
Seat belt maintenance...........1-29
Seat belts..................1-22
Shoulder belt height adjustment......1-28
Three-point type with retractor.......1-26
Seat belt warning light.............2-10
Seatback pockets................2-27
Seatback side pockets.............2-27
Seats
Adjustment..................1-2
Front seats..................1-2
Heated seats................2-25
Manual front seat adjustment........1-2
Rear seat...................1-6
Security system (Nissan vehicle immobilizer
system) , engine start.........2-12, 3-2, 5-5
Self-adjusting brakes..............8-27
Service manual order form...........9-20
Servicing air conditioner............4-12
Shift lock release.................5-9
Shifting
Automatic transmission...........5-8
Manual transmission............5-10
Shoulder belt height adjustment........1-28
Spark plug replacement............8-21
Speedometer...................2-3
Spotlights (See map light)...........2-37
10-4
ZREVIEW COPY:Ð2003 Altima(l30)
Owners Manual(owners)ÐUSA English(nna)
04/21/03Ðdebbie
X