engine oil NISSAN PATHFINDER 2011 Owner´s Manual

VK56DE engine
1. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir
2. Fuse/fusible link box
3. Engine oil dipstick
4. Engine oil filler cap
5. Brake fluid reservoir
6. Air cleaner
7. Drive belt location
8. Radiator cap
9. Power steering fluid reservoir
10. Fuse and relay box
11. Battery
12. Engine coolant reservoir
NOTE:
Engine cover removed for clarity.
WDI0627
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-7

CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and applythe 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. 5. Remove the dipstick again and check the oil
level. It should be between the H (High) and
L (Low) marksB. This is the normal oper-
ating oil level range. If the oil level is below
the L (Low) mark
A, remove the oil filler cap
and pour recommended oil through the
opening. Do not overfill
C.
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.
VQ40DE engine
LDI0437
VK56DE engine
LDI0628LDI0371
ENGINE OIL
8-10Maintenance and do-it-yourself

CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly. Op-
erating the engine with an insufficient
amount of oil can damage the engine, and
such damage is not covered by warranty.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and applythe parking brake.
2. Start the engine and let it idle until it reaches operating temperature, then turn it off.
3. Remove the oil filler
Acap by turning it
counterclockwise.
4. Place a large drain pan under the drain plug
B.
5. Remove the drain plug
Bwith a wrench by
turning it counterclockwise and completely
drain the oil.
VQ40DE engine
WDI0500
VK56DE engine
WDI0504
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-11

If the oil filter is to be changed, remove and
replace it at this time. See “Changing engine
oil filter” later in this section.
● Waste oil must be disposed of prop-
erly.
● Check your local regulations.
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.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself. The engine
oil may be hot.
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.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL FILTER
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Turn the engine off.
3. Place a large drain pan under the oil filter.
4. Unscrew the plate covering the oil filter ex- posing the filter.
5. Loosen the oil filter
Awith an oil filter
wrench by turning it counterclockwise. Then
remove the oil filter by turning it by hand.
VQ40DE
WDI0502
8-12Maintenance and do-it-yourself

CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself. The engine
oil may be hot.6. Wipe the engine oil filter sealing surface with a clean rag.
CAUTION
Be sure to remove any old gasket material
remaining on the sealing surface of the
engine. Failure to do so could lead to
engine damage. 7. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean
engine oil.
8. Screw on the oil filter until a slight resistance is felt, then tighten an additional 2/3 turn.
9. Start the engine and check for leakage around the oil filter. Correct as required.
10. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10 minutes. Check the oil level. Add engine oil if
necessary. When checking or replacement is required, we
recommend your NISSAN dealer for servicing.
CAUTION
●
Use Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF. If
Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF is not
available, Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF
may also be used.
● Using automatic transmission fluid
other than Genuine NISSAN Matic S
ATF or Matic J ATF will cause deteriora-
tion in driveability and automatic trans-
mission durability, and may damage the
automatic transmission, which is not
covered by the NISSAN new vehicle lim-
ited warranty.
The specified automatic transmission fluid is also
described on caution labels located in the engine
compartment.
VK56DE
WDI0505
5-SPEED AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION FLUID
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-13

9 Technical and consumer information
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants.........9-2
Fuel recommendation . . .........................9-4
Engine oil and oil filter recommendations ..........9-6
Air conditioner system refrigerant and oil
recommendations ..............................9-7
Specifications .....................................9-8
Engine ........................................9-8
Wheels and tires ...............................9-9
Dimensions and weights ........................9-9
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country .................................. 9-10
Vehicle identification .............................. 9-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate .........9-10
Vehicle identification number
(chassis number) .............................. 9-10
Engine serial number ........................... 9-11
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label ..........9-11
Emission control information label ...............9-12
Tire and loading information label ................9-12
Air conditioner specification label ................9-12Installing front license plate
........................9-13
Vehicle loading information ........................9-13
Terms ........................................ 9-13
Vehicle load capacity .......................... 9-14
Securing the load .............................. 9-16
Loading tips .................................. 9-17
Measurement of weights .......................9-17
Towing a trailer ................................... 9-18
Maximum load limits ........................... 9-18
Towing load/specification .......................9-21
Towing safety ................................. 9-21
Flat towing .................................... 9-27
Uniform tire quality grading ........................9-28
Emission control system warranty ..................9-28
Reporting safety defects .......................... 9-29
Readiness for inspection/maintenance (I/M) test .....9-30
Event Data Recorders (EDR) .......................9-30
Owner’s Manual/Service Manual order information . . . 9-31 In the event of a collision .......................9-31

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 21-1/8 gal 17-5/8 gal 80See “Fuel Recommendation” later in this section.
Engine oil *7 Engine oil with API Certification Mark *1
Viscosity SAE 5W-30
Drain and Refill
With oil filter change VQ40DE 5-3/8 qt 4-1/2 qt 5.1
VK56DE 6-3/4 qt 5-3/4 qt 6.5
Without oil filter
change VQ40DE
5-1/8 qt 4-1/4 qt 4.8
VK56DE 6-1/2 qt 5-1/2 qt 6.2
Cooling system With reservoir models w/o rear a/c 2-3/4 gal 2-1/4 gal 10.2 Pre-diluted Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or
equivalent
With reservoir models with rear a/c 3-1/2 gal 3 gal 13.4
Automatic transmission fluid Refill to the proper level according to the instruc-
tions in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself”
section.Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF *2
Power steering fluid (PSF) Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent.*3
Brake fluid Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid *4 or equivalent
DOT 3
Multi-purpose grease ——— NLGI No. 2 (Lithium Soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerant ——— HFC-134a (R-134a) *5
Air conditioning system oil ——— Genuine NISSAN A/C System Oil Type S or equivalent *5
Transfer fluid All mode 4WD 3-1/8 qt 2-5/8 qt 3.0
Genuine NISSAN Matic D ATF recommended *6
Part time 4WD 2-1/8 qt 1-3/4 qt 2.0
Front final drive oil VQ40DE
1-3/4 pt 1-1/2 pt 0.85 Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super GL-5 80W-90 or
API GL-5 Viscosity SAE 80W-90 *8
VK56DE 3-3/8 pt 2-7/8 pt 1.6
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS
9-2Technical and consumer information

Capacity (Approximate)Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
US measure Imp measure Liter
Rear final drive oil VQ40DE
3 pt2-1/2 pt 1.4 Genuine NISSAN differential oil synthetic 75W-90 or API GL-5
synthetic gear oil, Viscosity SAE 75W-90 *9
VK56DE 3-3/4 pt 3-1/8 pt 1.75
Windshield-washer fluid (shared
between front and rear wipers) 1-1/4 gal 1 gal 4.5
Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Anti-
freeze fluid or equivalent
*1: For further details, see “Engine oil and oil filter recommendations” in this section.
*2: If Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF is not available, Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF may also be used. Using automatic transmission fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF or Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF will cause deterioration in driveability and automatic transmission durability, and may damage the automatic transmission, which is not covered by the
NISSAN new vehicle limited warranty.
*3: DEXRON™ VI type ATF may also be used.
*4: Available in mainland USA through a NISSAN dealer.
*5: For further details, see “Air conditioner specification label” in this section.
*6: Using fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic D ATF will cause deterioration in driveability and transfer durability, and may damage the transfer, which is not covered by the NISSAN new vehicle limited warranty.
*7: For further details, see “Changing engine oil” in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section.
*8: For hot climates, viscosity SAE 90 is suitable for ambient temperatures above 0° C (32° F) .
*9: See a NISSAN dealer for service, for synthetic oil.
Technical and consumer information9-3

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. See “Capacities
and recommended fuel/lubricants” earlier 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.
WTI0183
9-6Technical and consumer information

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:● repeated short distance driving at cold out-
side temperatures
● driving in dusty conditions
● extensive idling
● towing a trailer
● stop 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 NISSAN A/C
system oil Type S or the exact equivalents.
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.
Technical and consumer information9-7