recommended oil NISSAN ALTIMA 2023 Owners Manual

Charge warning light
If this light comes on while the engine is
running, it may indicate the charging sys-
tem is not functioning properly. Turn the
engine off and check the generator belt. If
the belt is loose, broken, or missing, or if the
light remains on, have the system checked.
It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
CAUTION
• Do not ground electrical accessories
directly to the battery terminal. Do-
ing so will bypass the variable volt-
age control system and the vehicle
battery may not charge completely.
For additional information, see “Vari-
able voltage control system” (P. 8-16).
• Do not continue driving if the genera-
tor belt is loose, broken or missing.
orElectronic parking
brake indicator
light (if so
equipped)
This light illuminates when the electronic
parking brake system is operating.
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the electronic parking brake
warning light illuminates. When the engine
is started and the parking brake is released,
the warning light turns off.
If the parking brake is not released, the
electronic parking brake warning light re-
mains illuminated. Ensure the electronic
parking brake warning light has turned off
before driving.
If the electronic parking brake warning light
illuminates or flashes while the electronic
parking brake system warning light
(yellow) illuminates, it may indicate
that the electronic parking brake system is
not functioning properly. Have the system
checked. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
For additional information, see “Parking
brake” (P. 5-25).
Engine oil pressure
warning light
This light warns of low engine oil pressure. If
the light flickers or comes on during nor-
mal driving, pull off the road in a safe area,
stop the engine immediatelyand call a
NISSAN dealer or other authorized repair
shop.
The engine oil pressure warning light is
not designed to indicate a low oil level.
Use the dipstick to check the oil level. For
additional information, see “Engine oil”
(P. 8-7).
CAUTION
Running the engine with the engine oil
pressure warning light on could cause
serious damage to the engine almost
immediately. Such damage is not cov-
ered by the NISSAN New Vehicle Limited
Warranty. Turn off the engine as soon
as it is safe to do so.
Master warning light
When the ignition is in the ON position, the
master warning light illuminates if any of
the following are displayed on the vehicle
information display.
Instruments and controls2-11

Engine Oil Service due now
This message will be displayed when re-
maining distance is 0, indicating service is
now due/overdue. Af ter service is com-
pleted, the Oil Control System should be
reset from the Maintenance settings
menu.
Loose Fuel Cap
This warning appears when the fuel-filler
cap is not tightened correctly af ter the ve-
hicle has been refueled. For additional in-
formation, see “Fuel-filler door” (P. 3-25).
Low Fuel
This warning appears when the fuel level in
the fuel tank is getting low. Refuel as soon
as it is convenient, preferably before the
fuel gauge reaches 0 (Empty).There will be
a small reserve of fuel in the tank when
the fuel gauge needle reaches 0 (Empty).
Low Oil Pressure Stop
Vehicle
This warning appears if low oil pressure is
detected.
If the warning appears during normal driv-
ing, pull off the road in a safe area and stop the engine
immediately . Have the system
checked. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer or other authorized repair
shop for this service.
The low oil pressure warning is not de-
signed to indicate a low oil level. Use the
dipstick to check the oil level. For additional
information, see “Engine oil” (P. 8-7).
Low outside temperature
indicator
This indicator appears if the outside tem-
perature is below 37°F (3°C). The tempera-
ture can be changed to display in Fahren-
heit or Celsius. For additional information,
see “Unit” (P. 2-27).
Low Washer Fluid
This warning appears when the
windshield-washer fluid is at a low level.
Add windshield-washer fluid as necessary.
For additional information, see
“Windshield-washer fluid” (P. 8-13).
Power will turn off to save the battery
This message appears af ter a period of
time if the ignition switch is in the ON posi-
tion and if the vehicle is in P (Park). For ad-
ditional information, see “Push-button igni-
tion switch positions” (P. 5-14).
Power turned off to save the battery
This message appears af ter the ignition
switch is automatically turned off. For addi-
tional information, see “Push-button igni-
tion switch positions” (P. 5-14).
Push brake and start
button to drive
This indicator appears when the shif t lever
is in the P (Park) position and the vehicle
has not been started. Start the engine by
pushing the ignition switch with the brake
pedal depressed. You can start the engine
from any position of the ignition switch.
This message also appears when the ve-
hicle has been started using the Remote
Engine Start function (if so equipped). Push
the ignition switch with the brake pedal
depressed to place the ignition switch in
the ON position. For additional information,
see “Remote Engine Start” (P. 3-19).
Reminder Turn OFF
Headlights
This warning appears when the headlights
are lef t in the ON position when exiting the
vehicle. Place the headlight switch in the
OFF or AUTO position. For additional infor-
mation, see “Headlight and turn signal
switch” (P. 2-57).
2-30Instruments and controls

Shipping Mode On Push Storage Fuse
This warning may appear if the extended
storage switch is not pushed in. When this
warning appears, push in the extended
storage switch to turn off the warning. For
additional information, see “Extended stor-
age switch” (P. 2-70).
Timer Alert Time for a
break?
This message appears when the set time
is reached. This time can be set up to six
hours. For additional information, see
“Driver Assistance” (P. 2-38)
Tire Pressure Low - Add Air
This warning appears when the low tire
pressure warning light in the meter illumi-
nates and low tire pressure is detected. The
warning appears each time the ignition
switch is placed in the ON position as long
as the low tire pressure warning light re-
mains illuminated. If this warning appears,
stop the vehicle and adjust the tire pres-
sures of all four tires to the recommended
COLD tire pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. For additional
information, see “Low tire pressure warning
light” (P. 2-13) and “Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)” (P. 5-5).
Transmission Shif t Position
indicator
This indicator shows the transmission shif t
position.
AWD Error: See Owner’s
Manual
This warning appears when the All-Wheel
Drive (AWD) system is not functioning prop-
erly while the engine is running.
AWD High Temp. Stop
Vehicle
This warning may appear while trying to
free a stuck vehicle due to increased oil
temperature. The driving mode may
change to 2-Wheel Drive (2WD). If this
warning is displayed, stop the vehicle with
the engine idling, as soon as it is safe to do
so. Then if the warning turns off, you can
continue driving.
Tire Size Incorrect See
Owner’s Manual
This warning may appear if there is a large
difference between the diameters of the
front and rear wheels. Pull off the road in a
safe area, with the engine idling. Check that
all the tire sizes are the same, that the tirepressure is correct and that the tires are
not excessively worn.
CVT (AT) Malfunction
Service now
This warning appears when there is a
problem with the CVT system. If this
warning appears, have the system
checked. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
CVT (AT) hot Power reduced
This transmission has a high fluid tem-
perature protection mode. If the fluid tem-
perature becomes too high (for example,
climbing steep grades in high tempera-
tures with heavy loads, such as when tow-
ing a trailer), engine power and, under
some conditions, vehicle speed will be de-
creased automatically to reduce the
chance of transmission damage. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accelera-
tor pedal, but the engine and vehicle speed
may be reduced.
2-48Instruments and controls

• When the climate system is in automaticoperation and the engine coolant tem-
perature and outside air temperature are
low, the air flow outlet may default to de-
froster mode for a maximum of 2 min-
utes 30 seconds. This is not a malfunc-
tion. Af ter the engine coolant
temperature warms up, the air flow outlet
will return to foot mode and operation will
continue normally.
• When the outside and interior cabin tem- peratures are moderate to high, the in-
take setting may default to turn off air
recirculation to allow fresh air into the
passenger compartment. You may no-
tice air flow from the foot mode, bi-level
mode, or side demist vent outlets for a
maximum of 15 seconds. This may occur
when the previous climate setting was
turned off. This is not a malfunction. Af ter
the initial warm air is expelled, the intake
will return to automatic control, the air
flow outlet will return to previous settings,
and operation will continue normally. To
exit, press any climate control button.
• Keep the moonroof (if so equipped) closed while the air conditioner is in
operation. • If you feel that the air flow mode you have
selected and the outlets the air is coming
out do not match, select the
mode.
• When you change the air flow mode, you may feel air flow from the foot outlets for
just a moment. This is not a malfunction. The air conditioner system in your NISSAN
vehicle is charged with a refrigerant de-
signed with the environment in mind.
This refrigerant does not harm the
earth's ozone layer.
Special charging equipment and lubricant
is required when servicing your NISSAN air
conditioner. Using improper refrigerants or
lubricants will cause severe damage to
your air conditioner system. For additional
information, see “Air conditioner system re-
frigerant and oil recommendations”
(P. 10-8).
It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer to service your “environmentally
friendly ” air conditioner system.
WARNING
The air conditioner system contains re-
frigerant under high pressure. To avoid
personal injury, any air conditioner ser-
vice should be done only by an experi-
enced technician with proper
equipment.
SERVICING AIR CONDITIONER
4-44Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems

NISSAN VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM
The NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System
will not allow the engine to start without
the use of the registered key.
If the engine fails to start using a registered
key (for example, when interference is
caused by another registered key, an auto-
mated toll road device or automatic pay-
ment device on the key ring), restart the
engine using the following procedure:
1. Leave the ignition switch in the ON posi-tion for approximately 5 seconds.
2. Place the ignition switch in the OFF or LOCK position, and wait approximately
10 seconds.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2.
4. Restart the engine while holding the de- vice (which may have caused the inter-
ference) separate from the registered
key.
If the no start condition re-occurs, NISSAN
recommends placing the registered key on
a separate key ring to avoid interference
from other devices. • Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
• Check fluid levels such as engine oil, cool- ant, brake fluid, and windshield-washer
fluid as frequently as possible, or at least
whenever you refuel.
• Check that all windows and lights are clean.
• Visually inspect tires for their appearance and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
• Lock all doors.
• Position seat and adjust headrests/head restraints.
• Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
• Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to do likewise.
• Check the operation of warning lights when the ignition switch is pushed to the
ON position. For additional information,
see “Warning lights, indicator lights and
audible reminders” (P. 2-9). 1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shif t lever to P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral). P (Park) is recommended.
The starter is designed not to operate
if the shif t lever is in any of the driving
positions.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON posi- tion. Depress the brake pedal and push
the ignition switch to start the engine.
To start the engine immediately, push
and release the ignition switch while de-
pressing the brake pedal with the igni-
tion switch in any position.
• If the engine is very hard to start in extremely cold weather or when re-
starting, depress the accelerator
pedal a little (approximately 1/3 to the
floor) and while holding, crank the en-
gine. Release the accelerator pedal
when the engine starts.
• If the engine is very hard to start be- cause it is flooded, depress the accel-
erator pedal all the way to the floor
and hold it. Push the ignition switch to
the ON position to start cranking the
engine. Af ter 5 or 6 seconds, stop
cranking by pushing the ignition
switch to the LOCK position. Af ter
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-16Starting and driving

7.Avoid Idling
• Shutting off your engine when safe for stops exceeding 30–60 seconds saves
fuel and reduces emissions.
8. Buy an Automated Pass for Toll Roads
• Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruising
speed through the toll and avoid stop-
ping and starting.
9. Winter Warm Up
• Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
• Vehicles typically need no more than 30 seconds of idling at start-up to ef-
fectively circulate the engine oil before
driving.
• Your vehicle will reach its ideal operat- ing temperature more quickly while
driving versus idling.
10. Keeping your Vehicle Cool
• Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade whenever
possible.
• When entering a hot vehicle, opening the windows will help to reduce the
inside temperature faster, resulting in
reduced demand on your A/C system. • Keep your engine tuned up.
• Follow the recommended scheduled
maintenance.
• Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres- sure. Low tire pressure increases tire
wear and lowers fuel economy.
• Keep the wheels in correct alignment. Im- proper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
• Use the recommended viscosity engine oil. For additional information, see “Engine
oil and oil filter recommendations”
(P. 10-7).
If any malfunction occurs in the AWD sys-
tem while the engine is running, messages
are displayed in the meter.
If the AWD error warning message is dis-
played, there may be a malfunction in the
AWD system. Reduce vehicle speed and
have your vehicle checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer as
soon as possible.
LSD3252
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMYALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) (if so
equipped)
5-168Starting and driving

The AWD high temperature message may
be displayed while trying to free a stuck
vehicle due to increased oil temperature.
The driving mode may change to 2-wheel
drive. If this message is displayed, stop the
vehicle with the engine idling, as soon as it
is safe to do so. Then if the message turns
off, you can continue driving.The tire size message may be displayed if
there is a large difference between the di-
ameters of front and rear wheels. Pull off
the road in a safe area, with the engine
idling. Check that all tire sizes are the same,
that the tire pressure is correct and that
the tires are not excessively worn.
If any warning messages continue to be
displayed, have your vehicle checked. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING
• Do not drive beyond the perfor-
mance capability of the tires. Acceler-
ating quickly, sharp steering maneu-
vers or sudden braking may cause
loss of control, even with AWD
engaged.
• For AWD equipped vehicles, do not
attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shif t the transmission to
any drive or reverse position with the
engine running. Doing so may result
in drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could result
in serious personal injury or vehicle
damage.
LSD3253LSD3254
Starting and driving5-169

WAXING
Regular waxing protects the paint surface
and helps retain new vehicle appearance.
Polishing is recommended to remove
built-up wax residue and to avoid a weath-
ered appearance before re-applying wax.
It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer to assist you in choosing the proper
product.
• Wax your vehicle only af ter a thoroughwashing. Follow the instructions supplied
with the wax.
• Do not use a wax containing any abra- sives, cutting compounds or cleaners
that may damage the vehicle finish.
Machine compounding or aggressive pol-
ishing on a base coat/clear coat paint fin-
ish may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
REMOVING SPOTS
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust,
insects, and tree sap as quickly as possible
from the surface of the paint to avoid last-
ing damage or staining. Special cleaning
products are available at a NISSAN dealer
or any automotive accessory store. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for these products.
UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in winter, it
is necessary to clean the underbody regu-
larly in order to prevent dirt and salt from
building up and causing the acceleration of
corrosion on the underbody and suspen-
sion. Before the winter period and again in
the spring, the underseal must be checked
and, if necessary, re-treated.
GLASS
When cleaning the rear window, it may be
easier to clean if the high-mounted stop
light is removed first.
Be careful when removing the high-
mounted stop light to reduce the risk of
damaging the high-mounted stop light
wires.
To remove the high-mounted stop light:
1. Push downward on the plastic shelf around the stop light
O1,liftupwardson
the stop light, releasing it from the shelf
O2.
LAI2116
Appearance and care7-3

Occasionally remove loose dust from the
interior trim, plastic parts and seats using a
vacuum cleaner or sof t bristled brush. Wipe
the vinyl and leather (if so equipped) sur-
faces with a clean, sof t cloth dampened in
mild soap solution, then wipe clean with a
dry, sof t cloth.
Regular care and cleaning is required in
order to maintain the appearance of the
leather (if so equipped).
Before using any fabric protector, read the
manufacturer's recommendations. Some
fabric protectors contain chemicals that
may stain or bleach the seat material.
Use a cloth dampened only with water to
clean the meter and gauge lens.
WARNING
Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot
steam cleaners) on the seat. This can
damage the seat or occupant classifi-
cation sensor. This can also affect the
operation of the air bag system and re-
sult in serious personal injury.
CAUTION
• Never use benzine, thinner or any
similar material.
• Small dirt particles can be abrasive
and damaging to leather surfaces
and should be removed promptly. Do
not use saddle soap, car waxes, pol-
ishes, oils, cleaning fluids, solvents,
detergents or ammonia-based
cleaners as they may damage the
leather's natural finish.
• Never use fabric protectors unless
recommended by the manufacturer.
• Do not use glass or plastic cleaner on
meter or gauge lens covers. It may
damage the lens cover.
• Never use chloride solutions for
cleaning aluminum decoratives (if so
equipped), damage may occur.AIR FRESHENERS
Most air fresheners use a solvent that
could affect the vehicle interior. If you use
an air freshener, take the following
precautions:
• Hanging-type air fresheners can cause permanent discoloration when they con-
tact vehicle interior surfaces. Place the air
freshener in a location that allows it to
hang free and not contact an interior
surface.
• Liquid-type air fresheners typically clip on the vents. These products can cause im-
mediate damage and discoloration
when spilled on interior surfaces.
Carefully read and follow the manufactur-
er's instructions before using the air
fresheners.
CLEANING INTERIOR
Appearance and care7-5

When performing any inspection or main-
tenance work on your vehicle, always take
care to prevent serious accidental injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle. The fol-
lowing 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 ve-
hicle from moving. Move the shif t le-
ver to P (Park).
• Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when perform-
ing any parts replacement or repairs.
• If you must work with the engine run-
ning, 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. •
Your vehicle is equipped with an au-
tomatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without
warning, even if the ignition switch 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.
• If you must run the engine in an en-
closed 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 nec-
essary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
• Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from the fuel tank and
battery.
• On gasoline engine models, the fuel
filter or fuel lines should be serviced.
It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service 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 contact with used engine oil
and coolant. Improperly disposed
engine oil, engine coolant and/or
other vehicle fluids can damage the
environment. Always conform to lo-
cal regulations for disposal of vehicle
fluid.
• Never leave the engine or the trans-
mission related component harness
connector disconnected while the ig-
nition switch is in the ON position.
• Never connect or disconnect the bat-
tery or any transistorized compo-
nent while the ignition switch is in
the ON position.
This “Do-it-yourself ” section gives instruc-
tions regarding only those items which are
relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A Genuine NISSAN service manual is also
available. For additional information, see
“Owner's Manual/Service Manual order in-
formation” (P. 10-26).
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
difficulties or excessive emissions, and
could affect warranty coverage. If in doubt
about any servicing, it is recommended
that you have it done by a NISSAN dealer.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it-yourself