oil change NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID 2008 L32A / 4.G Owners Manual

and are installed securely. Check the belt web-
bing for cuts, fraying, wear or damage.
Steering wheelCheck for changes in the steer-
ing system, such as excessive freeplay, hard
steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimesMake sure all
warning lights and chimes are operating properly.
Windshield wiper and washer*Check that
the wipers and washer operate properly and that
the wipers do not streak.
Windshield defrosterCheck that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets properly and in
sufficient quantity when operating the heater or
air conditioner.
Under the hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked periodically (for example, each time you
check the engine oil or refuel) .
Brake fluid level*Make sure that the brake fluid
level is between the MIN and MAX lines on the
reservoir.
Electronically controlled Continuously
Variable Transmission (eCVT) fluid*Check
under the vehicle for leaks after the vehicle has
been parked for a while.Engine coolant level*Check the coolant level
when the engine is cold.
Engine drive belts*Make sure the drive belts
are not frayed, worn, cracked or oily.
Engine oil level*Check the level after parking
the vehicle on a level surface with the engine off.
Wait more than 10 minutes for the oil to drain
back into the oil pan.
Exhaust systemMake sure there are no loose
supports, cracks or holes. If the sound of the
exhaust seems unusual or there is a smell of
exhaust fumes, immediately have the exhaust
system inspected by a NISSAN dealer. See the
carbon monoxide warning in the “Starting and
driving” section of this manual.
Fluid leaksCheck under the vehicle for fuel, oil,
water or other fluid leaks after the vehicle has
been parked for a while. Water dripping from the
air conditioner after use is normal. If you should
notice any leaks or if gasoline fumes are evident,
check for the cause and have it corrected imme-
diately.
Inverter coolant level*Check the coolant level
when the inverter is cold.
Radiator and hosesCheck the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects, leaves,etc., that may have accumulated. Make sure the
hoses have no cracks, deformation, rot or loose
connections.
UnderbodyThe underbody is frequently ex-
posed to corrosive substances such as those
used on icy roads or to control dust. It is very
important to remove these substances from the
underbody, otherwise rust may form on the floor
pan, frame, fuel lines and exhaust system. At the
end of winter, the underbody should be thor-
oughly flushed with plain water, in those areas
where mud and dirt may have accumulated. See
the “Appearance and care” section of this
manual.
Windshield washer fluid*Check that there is
adequate fluid in the reservoir.
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CHECKING INVERTER COOLANT
LEVEL
Check the coolant levelin the reservoir when
the engine and inverter are cold.If the cool-
ant level is below the MIN level
sB, add coolant to
the MAX level
sA.
If the inverter cooling system frequently
requires coolant, have it checked by a
NISSAN dealer.
CHANGING INVERTER COOLANT
A NISSAN dealer can change the inverter cool-
ant. The service procedure can be found in the
NISSAN Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in inverter
overheating.
WARNING
cTo avoid the danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the in-
verter is hot.
cNever remove the cap when the inverter
is hot. Serious burns could be caused
by high pressure fluid escaping from
the inverter coolant reservoir.
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 vehicle and let it idle until it reaches
operating temperature.
3. Turn off the vehicle.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.
LDI0583LDI0555
ENGINE OIL
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5. Remove the drain plugsBwith 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 vehicle. Check for leakage around
the drain plug and oil filter. Correct as re-
quired.
9. Turn the vehicle off and wait more than 10
minutes. Check the oil level with the dipstick.
Add engine oil if necessary.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL FILTER
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Turn the vehicle off.
3. Place a large drain pan under the oil filter
sC.
4. Loosen the oil filter
sCwith an oil filter
wrench by turning it counterclockwise. Then
remove the oil filter by turning it by hand.
sAOil filler cap
sBOil drain plug
sCOil filter
WDI0597
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The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be slightly 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 75.6 Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of at least 87 AKI (RON 91)*1
Engine oil *7
Drain and Refill
With oil filter change 4-7/8 qt 4 qt 4.6
• Engine oil with API Certification Mark *2
• Viscosity SAE 0W-20 *2, *3 Without oil filter
change4-1/2 qt 3-3/4 qt 4.3
Cooling system
With reservoir 2 gal 1-3/4 gal
7.750% Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant or equivalent
50% Demineralized or distilled water
Inverter unit cooling system 7/8 gal 3/4 gal 3.2 50% Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant or equivalent
50% Demineralized or distilled water
Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmis-
sion (eCVT) fluid— — — Genuine NISSAN Matic W ATF *4
Brake fluid — — — Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or equivalent DOT 3 *5
Multi-purpose grease — — — NLGI No. 2 (Lithium Soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerant — — — HFC-134a (R-134a) *6
Air conditioning system oil — — — Compressor oil ND OIL-11 *6
Windshield washer fluid — — — Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Antifreeze
or equivalent
*1: For further details, see “Fuel recommendation.”
*2: For further details, see “Engine oil and oil filter recommendations.”
*3: SAE 5W-20 or 5W-30 engine oil may also be used. However, SAE 0W-20 is the best choice for optimum fuel economy and optimum starting in cold weather.
*4:Use only Genuine NISSAN Matic W ATF. Using transmission fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic W ATF will damage the eCVT.
*5: Available in mainland USA through your NISSAN dealer.
*6: For further details, see “Air conditioner system refrigerant and oil recommendations.”
*7: For further details, see “Engine Oil” in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS
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ENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER
RECOMMENDATIONS
Selecting the correct oil
It is essential to choose the correct grade, quality
and viscosity engine oil to ensure satisfactory
engine life and performance. See9Capacities
and recommended fuel/lubricants9earlier in this
section. NISSAN recommends the use of an
energy conserving oil in order to improve fuel
economy.
Select only engine oils that meet the American
Petroleum Institute (API) certification or Interna-
tional Lubricant Standardization and ApprovalCommittee (ILSAC) certification and SAE vis-
cosity standard. These oils have the API certifica-
tion mark on the front of the container. Oils which
do not have the specified quality label should not
be used as they could cause engine damage.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. Choosing an oil
viscosity other than that recommended could
cause serious 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”.
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 limited war-
ranty.
WTI0186
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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
cstop and go commuting
Refer to the “NISSAN Service and Maintenance
Guide” for the maintenance schedule.
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM
REFRIGERANT AND OIL
RECOMMENDATIONS
The air conditioner system in your NISSAN
vehicle must be charged with the refriger-
ant HFC-134a (R-134a) and the oil, com-
pressor oil ND OIL-11.
CAUTION
The use of any other refrigerant or oil will
cause severe damage to the air condition-
ing system and will require the replace-
ment 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.
9-6Technical and consumer information
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10 Index
12-volt battery..................8-15
A
Active Head Restraint..............1-6
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system).....................1-34
Air bag system
Front (See supplemental front impact air
bag system).................1-41
Air bag warning light...........1-49, 2-14
Air cleaner housing filter............8-17
Air conditioner
Air conditioner service...........4-13
Air conditioner specification label.....9-11
Air conditioner system refrigerant and oil
recommendations..............9-6
Heater and air conditioner controls. . . .4-11
Servicing air conditioner..........4-13
Alarm system
(See vehicle security system).........2-26
Anchor point locations.............1-19
Antenna.....................4-38
Anti-lock brake warning light..........2-10
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)........5-19
Armrests.....................1-5
Audible reminders................2-17
Audio system..................4-13
Compact Disc (CD) changer. . . .4-27, 4-33
Compact disc (CD) player.........4-22FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player....................4-20
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) changer.............4-25, 4-31
Radio....................4-13
Autolight switch.................2-30
Automatic
Automatic power window switch.....2-43
Transmission selector lever lock
release....................5-12
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror.......3-23
AUX jack..............4-23, 4-29, 4-35
B
Battery
Charge warning light........2-11, 2-12
Before starting the vehicle............5-9
Belt (See drive belt)..............8-15
Block heater
Engine....................5-23
BluetoothThands-free phone
system..................4-39, 4-53
Booster seats..................1-29
Brake
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)......5-19
Brake fluid..................8-13
Brake light (See stop light).........8-25
Brake system................5-17
Brake warning light.........2-10, 2-11
Brake wear indicators........2-17, 8-19Parking brake operation..........5-13
Self-adjusting brakes............8-19
Brakes......................8-19
Break-in schedule................5-15
Brightness control
Instrument panel..............2-32
Brightness/contrast button...........4-7
Bulb check/instrument panel..........2-9
Bulb replacement................8-25
C
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...................9-2
Car phone or CB radio.............4-39
Cargo (See vehicle loading information) . . .9-12
CD care and cleaning.............4-36
CD changer (See audio system). . . .4-27, 4-33
CD player (See audio system).........4-22
Child restraint with top tether strap......1-18
Child restraints.......1-9, 1-10, 1-15, 1-17
Precautions on child
restraints............1-15, 1-23, 1-29
Top tether strap anchor point locations . .1-19
Child safety rear door lock............3-5
Chimes, audible reminders...........2-17
Cleaning exterior and interior..........7-2
Clock.............4-5, 4-21, 4-25, 4-31
(models with navigation system)......4-5
(models without navigation
system)................4-21, 4-25
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