Do it yourself NISSAN SENTRA 2020 Owner´s Manual

MEMO
8-40Do-it-yourself

Some day-to-day and regular mainte-
nance is essential to maintain your vehi-
cle’s good mechanical condition, as well as
its emissions and engine performance.
It is the owner's responsibility to make sure
that the scheduled maintenance, as well as
general maintenance, is performed.
As the vehicle owner, you are the only one
who can ensure that your vehicle receives
proper maintenance. You are a vital link in
the maintenance chain.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
General maintenance includes those items
which should be checked during normal
day-to-day operation. They are essential
for proper vehicle operation. It is your re-
sponsibility to perform these procedures
regularly as prescribed.
Performing general maintenance checks
requires minimal mechanical skill and only
a few general automotive tools.
These checks or inspections can be done
by yourself, a qualified technician or, if you
prefer, a NISSAN dealer.
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
The maintenance items listed in this sec-
tion are required to be serviced at regular
intervals. However under severe driving
conditions, additional or more frequent
maintenance will be required.
WHERE TO GO FOR SERVICE
If maintenance service is required or your
vehicle appears to malfunction, have the
systems checked and serviced. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
NISSAN technicians are well-trained spe-
cialists and are kept up-to-date with the
latest service information through techni-
cal bulletins, service tips and training pro-
grams. They are fully qualified to work on
NISSAN vehiclesbeforework begins.
If your vehicle is involved in a collision, it is
recommended that you ask your NISSAN
dealer where the nearest NISSAN Certified
Collision Center is located, or go to http://
collision.nissanusa.com.
You can be confident that a NISSAN deal-
er's service department can perform the
service needed to meet the maintenance
requirements on your vehicle. During the normal day-to-day operation of
the vehicle, general maintenance should
be performed regularly as prescribed in
this section. If you detect any unusual
sounds, vibrations or smells, be sure to
check for the cause or have it checked
promptly. In addition, it is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer if you think
that repairs are required.
When performing any checks or mainte-
nance work, closely observe the “Mainte-
nance precautions” in the “Do-it-yourself ”
section of this manual.
EXPLANATION OF GENERAL
MAINTENANCE ITEMS
Additional information on the following
items with“*”isf
ound in the “Do-it-
yourself ” section of this manual.
Outside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should
be performed from time to time, unless
otherwise specified.
Doors and engine hood: Check that the
doors and engine hood operate properly.
Also ensure that all latches lock securely.
Lubricate hinges, latches, latch pins, rollers
and links if necessary. Make sure that the
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS GENERAL MAINTENANCE
9-2Maintenance and schedules

Fluid leaks:Check under the vehicle for
fuel, oil, water or other fluid leaks af ter the
vehicle has been parked for a while. Water
dripping from the air conditioner af ter use
is normal. If you should notice any leaks or if
fuel fumes are evident, check for the cause
and have it corrected immediately.
Radiator and hoses: Check the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects,
leaves, etc., that may have accumulated.
Make sure the hoses have no cracks, defor-
mation, rot or loose connections.
Underbody: The underbody is frequently
exposed to corrosive substances such as
those used on icy roads or to control dust. It
is very important to remove these sub-
stances 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 accu-
mulated. For additional information, refer
to the “Appearance and care” section of this
manual.
Windshield-washer fluid*: Check that
there is adequate fluid in the reservoir. The following descriptions are provided to
give you a better understanding of the
scheduled maintenance items that should
be regularly checked or replaced. The
maintenance schedule indicates at which
mileage/time intervals each item requires
service.
In addition to scheduled maintenance,
your vehicle requires that some items be
checked during normal day-to-day opera-
tion. For additional information, refer to
“General maintenance” in this section.
Items marked with
“*”are recommended
by NISSAN for reliable vehicle operation.
You are not required to perform mainte-
nance on these items in order to maintain
the warranties which come with your
NISSAN. Other maintenance items and in-
tervals are required.
When applicable, additional information
can be found in the “Do-it-yourself ” section
of this manual.NOTE:
NISSAN does not advocate the use of
non-OEM approved af termarket flush-
ing systems and strongly advises
against performing these services on a
NISSAN product. Many of the af termar-
ket flushing systems use non-OEM ap-
proved chemicals or solvents, the use of
which has not been validated by NISSAN.
For recommended fuel, lubricants, fluids,
grease, and refrigerant, refer to “Recom-
mended fluids/lubricants and capaci-
ties” in the “Technical and consumer in-
formation” section of this manual.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
MAINTENANCE:
Drive belt*: Check engine drive belt for
wear, fraying or cracking and for proper
tension. Replace any damaged drive belt.
Engine air filter: Replace at specified inter-
vals. When driving for prolonged periods in
dusty conditions, check/replace the filter
more frequently.
EXPLANATION OF SCHEDULED
MAINTENANCE ITEMS
Maintenance and schedules9-5

Engine coolant*:Replace coolant at the
specified interval. When adding or replac-
ing coolant, be sure to use only Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue)
or equivalent with the proper mixture. (For
additional information on the proper mix-
ture for your area, refer to “Engine cooling
system” in the “Do-it-yourself ” section of
this manual.)
NOTE: Mixing any other type of coolant
or the use of non-distilled water may re-
duce the recommended service interval
of the coolant.
Engine oil and oil filter: Replace engine oil
and oil filter at the specified intervals. For
recommended oil grade and viscosity refer
to “Recommended fluids/lubricants and
capacities” in the “Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual.
Engine valve clearance*: Inspect only if
valve noise increases. Adjust valve clear-
ance if necessary.
Evaporative emissions control vapor
lines*: Check vapor lines for leaks or loose-
ness. Tighten connections or replace parts
as necessary.
Fuel filter: Periodic maintenance is not re-
quired. (in-tank type filter) Fuel lines*:
Check the fuel hoses, piping
and connections for leaks, looseness, or
deterioration. Tighten connections or re-
place parts as necessary.
Spark plugs: Replace at specified intervals.
Install new plugs of the type as originally
equipped.
CHASSIS AND BODY
MAINTENANCE:
Brake lines and cables: Visually inspect for
proper installation. Check for chafing,
cracks, deterioration, and signs of leaking.
Replace any deteriorated or damaged
parts immediately.
Brake pads, rotors, drums and linings:
Check for wear, deterioration and fluid
leaks. Replace any deteriorated or dam-
aged parts immediately.
Exhaust system: Visually inspect the ex-
haust pipes, muffler and hangers for leaks,
cracks, deterioration, and damage. Tighten
connections or replace parts as necessary.
In-cabin microfilter: Replace at specified
intervals. When driving for prolonged peri-
ods in dusty conditions, replace the filter
more frequently. Steering gear and linkage, axle and sus-
pension parts, drive shaf t boots:
Check
for damage, looseness, and leakage of oil
or grease. Under severe driving conditions,
inspect more frequently.
Tire rotation: Tires should be rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km) according to the in-
structions under “General maintenance” in
this section. When rotating tires, check for
damage and uneven wear. Replace if nec-
essary.
Transmission fluid/oil: Visually inspect for
signs of leakage at specified intervals. If
using a car-top carrier, or driving on rough
or muddy roads:
• Replace the manual transaxle gear oil ev- ery 20,000 miles or 24 months.
• Replace the CVT fluid every 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or request the dealer to in-
spect the fluid deterioration data using a
CONSULT. If the deterioration data is
more than 210000, replace the CVT fluid.
9-6Maintenance and schedules

The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be slightly different. When refilling, follow the procedure
described in the “Do-it-yourself ” section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Fluid typeCapacity (approximate)
Recommended Fluids/Lubricants
Metric
Measure US
Measure Imperial
Measure
Fuel 47 L 12-3/8 gal 10 3/8 gal • For additional information, refer to “Fuel recom-
mendation” in this section.
Engine oil*1
Drain and refill
*1 For additional informa-
tion, refer to “Engine oil” in
the “Do-it-yourself ” sec-
tion of this manual. With oil filter
change 4.1 L 4-3/8 qt 3-5/8 qt • Genuine “NISSAN Motor Oil 0W-20 SN” (or equivalent)
is recommended.
• If the above motor oil (or engine oil) is not available,
a synthetic 0W-20 GF-5 SN motor oil (or engine oil)
may be used. Damage caused by the use of motor
oil (or engine oil) other than as recommended is not
covered under NISSAN’s New Vehicle Limited War-
ranty. For additional information, refer to “Engine oil
and oil filter recommendations” in this section.
Without oil fil-
ter change 3.8 L 4 qt 3-3/8 qt
Engine coolant
with reservoir With manual
transmission 6.9 L 1-7/8 gal 1-1/2 gal
• Pre-diluted Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/
Coolant (blue) or equivalent.
With continu-
ously variable transmission 7.1 L 1-7/8 gal 1-1/2 gal
Manual transmission fluid — — — • Genuine NISSAN Manual Transmission Fluid (MTF)
TL/JR Type 75W-80, or equivalent.
• If Genuine NISSAN Manual Transmission Fluid (MTF)
TL/JR Type is not available, API GL-4+, Viscosity SAE
75W-80 may be used as a temporary replacement.
However, use Genuine NISSAN Manual Transmission
Fluid (MTF) TL/JR Type as soon as it is available.
RECOMMENDED FLUIDS/
LUBRICANTS AND CAPACITIES
10-2Technical and consumer information

WARNING
• It is extremely dangerous to
ride in a cargo area inside a ve-
hicle. In a collision, people rid-
ing in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or
killed.
• Do not allow people to ride in
any area of your vehicle that is
not equipped with seats and
seat belts.
• Be sure everyone in your ve-
hicle is in a seat and using a
seat belt properly.
TERMS
It is important to familiarize yourself
with the following terms before
loading your vehicle: • Curb Weight (actual weight of your
vehicle) - vehicle weight including:
standard parts, fluids, emergency
tools and spare tire assembly. This
weight does not include passen-
gers and cargo.
• GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) - curb weight plus the combined weight
of passengers and cargo.
• GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rat- ing) - maximum total combined
weight of the unloaded vehicle,
passengers, luggage, hitch, trailer
tongue load and any other op-
tional equipment. This information
is located on the F.M.V.S.S./
C.M.V.S.S. certification label.
• GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) - maximum weight (load) limit
specified for the front or rear axle.
This information is located on the
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification la-
bel. • GCWR (Gross Combined Weight
Rating) - The maximum total
weight rating of the vehicle, pas-
sengers, cargo, and trailer.
• Vehicle Capacity Weight, Load limit, Total load capacity - maximum to-
tal weight limit specified of the load
(passengers and cargo) for the ve-
hicle. This is the maximum com-
bined weight of occupants and
cargo that can be loaded into the
vehicle. If the vehicle is used to tow
a trailer, the trailer tongue weight
must be included as part of the
cargo load. This information is lo-
cated on the Tire and Loading In-
formation label.
• Cargo capacity - permissible weight of cargo, the subtracted
weight of occupants from the load
limit.
VEHICLE LOADING INFORMATION
Technical and consumer information10-15

FUEL RECOMMENDATION:
Use unleaded regular gasoline with an oc-
tane rating of at least 87 AKI (Anti-Knock
Index) number (Research octane number
91).
CAUTION
• Only vehicles with the E-85 filler door
label can operate on E-85. Fuel sys-
tem or other damage can occur if
E-85 is used in vehicles that are not
designed to run on E-85.
• Using a fuel other than that specified
could adversely affect the emission
control system, and may also affect
the warranty coverage.
•
Under no circumstances should a
leaded gasoline be used, because this
will damage the three-way catalyst.
• Do not use E-15 or E-85 fuel in your
vehicle. Your vehicle is not designed
to run on E-15 or E-85 fuel. Using E-15
or E-85 fuel in a vehicle not specifi-
cally designed for E-15 or E-85 fuel
can adversely affect the emission
control devices and systems of the
vehicle. Damage caused by such fuel
is not covered by the NISSAN New Ve-
hicle Limited Warranty. •
Do not use fuel that contains the oc-
tane booster methylcyclopentadi-
enyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
Using fuel containing MMT may ad-
versely affect vehicle performance
and vehicle emissions. Not all fuel
dispensers are labeled to indicate
MMT content, so you may have to
consult your gasoline retailer for
more details. Note that Federal and
California laws prohibit the use of
MMT in reformulated gasoline.
• U.S. government regulations require
ethanol dispensing pumps to be
identified by a small, square, orange
and black label with the common ab-
breviation or the appropriate per-
centage for that region.
For additional information, refer to “Recom-
mended fluids/lubricants and capacities”
in the “Technical and consumer informa-
tion” section of this manual.
ENGINE OIL RECOMMENDATION:
Refer to “Recommended fluids/lubricants
and capacities” in the “Technical and con-
sumer information” section of this manual.
COLD TIRE PRESSURE:
For additional information, refer to “Tire and
Loading Information label” in the “Technical
and consumer information” section of this
manual.
The label is typically located on the driver
side center pillar or on the driver's door. For
additional information, refer to “Wheels and
tires” in the “Do-it-yourself ” section of this
manual.
RECOMMENDED NEW VEHICLE
BREAK-IN PROCEDURE:
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) of
vehicle use, follow the break-in procedure
recommendations for the future reliability
and economy of your new vehicle. For ad-
ditional information, refer to “Break-in
schedule” in the “Starting and driving” sec-
tion of this manual. Failure to follow these
recommendations may result in vehicle
damage or shortened engine life.
GAS STATION INFORMATION