1997 NISSAN MAXIMA oil type

6. Remove the drain plug with a wrench and
completely drain the oil.
If oil filter is to be changed, remove and
replace it at this time. See ªChanging oil
filterº.
Be careful not to burn yourself, as the
engine oil is hot.
Waste oil must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.
7. Clean and re-install the drain plug and new
washer. Securely tighten the drain plug with
a wrench.
Drain plug tightening torque:
22 to 29 ft-lb
(29 to 39 N×m)
Do not use excessive force.
8. Refill engine with recommended oil and
install the cap securely.
See the ªTechnical informationº section for
refill capacity.
Never pull out the dipstick while filling the
engine with oil.9. Start the engine.
Check for leakage around the drain plug.
Correct as required.
10.Turn the engine off and wait more than 10
minutes. Check the oil level with the dip-
stick. Add engine oil if necessary.
11.Dispose of waste oil in the proper manner.IProlonged and repeated contact with
used engine oil may cause skin can-
cer.
ITry to avoid direct skin contact with
used oil. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
IKeep used engine oil out of reach of
children.
CHANGING OIL FILTER
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
apply the parking brake.
2. Turn the engine off.
3. Loosen the oil filter with an oil filter wrench.
(Depending on the engine model, a special
cap typewrench may be required. See
your NISSAN dealer if in doubt.) Remove
the oil filter by turning it by hand.
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SCHEDULE 1
Abbreviations: R = Replace I = Inspect. Correct or replace if necessary. [ ]: At the mileage intervals only
MAINTENANCE OPERATIONMAINTENANCE INTERVAL
Perform at number of miles,
kilometers or months, which-
ever comes first.Miles x 1,000 3.75 7.5 11.25 15 18.75 22.5 26.25 30 33.75 37.5 41.25 45 48.75 52.5 56.25 60
(km x 1,000) (6) (12) (18) (24) (30) (36) (42) (48) (54) (60) (66) (72) (78) (84) (90) (96)
Months 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48
Emission control system maintenanceDrive belts See NOTE (1)I*
Air cleaner filter See NOTE (2) [R] [R]
Vapor linesI* I*
Fuel linesI* I*
Fuel filter See NOTE (3)*
Engine coolant See NOTE (4)R*
Engine oilRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filter (Use part No. 15208-31U00 or equivalent)RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Spark plugs (Use PLATINUM-TIPPED type)[R]
Intake & exhaust valve clearance See NOTE (5)
NOTE: (1) After 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 48 months, inspect every 15,000 miles (24,000 km) or 12 months.
(2) If operating mainly in dusty conditions, more frequent maintenance may be required.
(3) If vehicle is operated under extremely adverse weather conditions or in areas where ambient temperatures are either
extremely low or extremely high, the filters might become clogged. In such an event, replace them immediately.
(4) After 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 48 months, replace every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 24 months.
(5) If valve noise increases, inspect valve clearance.
(6) Maintenance items and intervals with ª*º are recommended by NISSAN for reliable vehicle operation. The owner need not
perform such maintenance in order to maintain the emission warranty or manufacturer recall liability. Other maintenance
items and intervals are required.
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SCHEDULE 2
Abbreviations: R = Replace I = Inspect. Correct or replace if necessary. [ ]: At the mileage intervals only
MAINTENANCE OPERATIONMAINTENANCE INTERVAL
Perform at number of miles, kilometers
or months, whichever comes first.Miles x 1,000 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60
(km x 1,000) (12) (24) (36) (48) (60) (72) (84) (96)
Months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
Emission control system maintenance
Drive belts See NOTE (1)I*
Air cleaner filter[R] [R]
Vapor linesI* I*
Fuel linesI* I*
Fuel filter See NOTE (2)*
Engine coolant See NOTE (3)R*
Engine oilRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filter (Use part No. 15208-31U00 or equivalent)RRRRRRRR
Spark plugs (Use PLATINUM-TIPPED type)[R]
Intake & exhaust valve clearance See NOTE (4)
NOTE: (1) After 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 48 months, inspect every 15,000 miles (24,000 km) or 12 months.
(2) If vehicle is operated under extremely adverse weather conditions or in areas where ambient temperatures are either
extremely low or extremely high, the filters might become clogged. In such an event, replace them immediately.
(3) After 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 48 months, replace every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 24 months.
(4) If valve noise increases, inspect valve clearance.
(5) Maintenance items and intervals with ª*º are recommended by NISSAN for reliable vehicle operation. The owner need not
perform such maintenance in order to maintain the emission warranty or manufacturer recall liability. Other maintenance
items and intervals are required.
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The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little
different. When refilling, follow the procedure instructed in the ªDo-it-yourself operationsº
section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate)
Recommended
specifications US
measureImp
measureLiter
Fuel 18-1/2 gal 15-3/8 gal 70Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating
of at least 91 AKI (RON 96)
Engine oil (Refill)
With oil filter 4-1/4 qt 3-1/2 qt 4.0IAPI SG or SH and Energy Conserving
II*1, *2
IAPI Certification Mark*1, *2 Without oil filter 3-7/8 qt 3-1/4 qt 3.7
Cooling system
With reservoir 9 qt 7-1/2 qt 8.5
Anti-freeze coolant
(Ethylene glycol base)
Reservoir 7/8 qt 3/4 qt 0.8
Manual transmission gear oilÐ Ð Ð API GL-4*2
Automatic transmission fluid
Refill to the proper oil level according
to the instructions in the ªDo-it-
yourself operationsº section.Nissan Matic ªDº (Continental U.S. and
Alaska) or Genuine Nissan Automatic
Transmission Fluid (Canada).*3
Power steering fluidType DEXRON
TMIIE, DEXRONTMIII or
equivalent
Brake and clutch fluidGenuine Nissan Brake Fluid or equiva-
lent*4
DOT 3 (US FMVSS No. 116)
Multi-purpose greaseÐ Ð Ð NLGI No. 2 (Lithium soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerantÐ Ð Ð HFC-134a (R-134a)
Air conditioning system lubricants Ð Ð ÐNissan A/C System Oil
Type S or exact equivalent
*1: For further details, see ªEngine oil and oil filter recommendationº.
*2: For further details, see ªRecommended SAE viscosity numberº.
*3: Dexron
TMIII/MerconTMor equivalent may also be used. Outside the continental United States and Alaska contact a NISSAN dealer for
more information regarding suitable fluids, including recommended brand(s) of DexronTMIII/MerconTMor DexronTMIIE/MerconTMAutomatic Transmission Fluid.
*4: For more information regarding suitable fluids, contact a NISSAN dealer.
FUEL RECOMMENDATION
Unleaded premium gasoline with an octane
rating of at least 91 AKI (Anti-Knock Index)
number (Research octane number 96)
If unleaded premium gasoline is not avail-
able, unleaded regular gasoline with an
octane rating of at least 87 AKI (Research
octane number 91) can be used.
However, for maximum vehicle perfor-
mance, the use of unleaded premium gaso-
line is recommended.
Using a fuel other than that specified
could adversely affect the emission con-
trol devices and systems, and could
also affect the warranty coverage.
Under no circumstances should a
leaded gasoline be used, since this will
damage the three-way catalyst.
Reformulated gasoline
Some fuel suppliers are now producing refor-
mulated gasolines. These gasolines are spe-
cially designed to reduce vehicle emissions.
CAPACITIES AND
RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS
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to the engine. If any of the above symptoms
are encountered, have your vehicle checked at
a NISSAN dealer or other competent service
facility.
However, now and then you may notice
light spark knock for a short time while
accelerating or driving up hills. This is no
cause for concern, because you get the
greatest fuel benefit when there is light
spark knock for a short time under heavy
engine load.
ENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER
RECOMMENDATION
Selecting the correct oil
It is essential to choose the correct quality, and
viscosity oil to ensure satisfactory engine life
and performance. Nissan recommends the
use of a low friction oil (energy conserving oil)
in order to improve fuel economy and con-
serve 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 Pe-
troleum Institute (API) CERTIFICATIONMARK on the front of the container should be
used. This type of oil supersedes the existing
API SG or SH and Energy Conserving II
categories.
If you cannot find engine oil with the CERTI-
FICATION MARK, an API SG or SH and
Energy Conserving II oil with API Service
Symbol may be used. An oil with a single
designation ªSGº or ªSHº, or in combination
with other categories (for example, ªSG/CCº or
ªSG/CDº) may also be used if one with the API
CERTIFICATION MARK cannot be found.
Mineral based or synthetic type oils may be
used in your NISSAN vehicle. These oils must
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however, meet the API quality and SAE vis-
cosity ratings specified for your vehicle. Do not
mix mineral based and synthetic type oils in
the engine at the same time.
Oil additives
NISSAN does not recommend the use of oil
additives. The use of an oil additive is not
necessary when the proper oil type is used
and maintenance 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 impor-
tant that the engine oil viscosity be selected
based on the temperatures at which the ve-
hicle will be operated before the next oil
change. The chart ªRecommended SAE vis-
cosity numberº shows the recommended oil
viscosities for the expected ambient tempera-
tures. Choosing an oil viscosity other than that
recommended could cause serious engine
damage.
Selecting the correct oil filter
Your new vehicle is equipped with a high-
quality genuine Nissan oil filter. When replac-
ing, use the genuine oil filter or its equivalent
for the reason described in ªchange intervalsº.
Change intervals
The oil and oil filter change intervals for your
engine are based on the use of the specified
quality oils and filters. Oil and filter other than
the specified quality, or oil and filter change
intervals longer than recommended could re-
duce engine life. Damage to engines caused
by improper maintenance or use of incorrect
oil and filter quality and/or viscosity is not
covered by the new Nissan vehicle warranties.
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. Op-
eration under the following conditions may
require more frequent oil and filter changes.Ð repeated short distance driving at cold out-
side temperatures,
Ð driving in dusty conditions,
Ð extensive idling,
Ð towing a trailer.
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RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY
NUMBER
ISAE 5W-30 viscosity oil is preferred for
all ambient temperatures. SAE 10W-30
viscosity oil may be used if the ambient
temperature is above 0ÉF (þ18ÉC).I80W-90 is preferable for ambient tem-
peratures below 104ÉF (40ÉC).
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
REFRIGERANT AND LUBRICANT
RECOMMENDATIONS
The air conditioning system in this NISSAN
vehicle must be charged with the refriger-
ant HFC-134a (R-134a) and the lubricant,
Nissan A/C System Oil Type S or the exact
equivalents.
Use of any other refrigerant or lubricant
will cause severe damage and you will
need to replace your vehicle's entire air
conditioning system.
The refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) in your
NISSAN vehicle will not harm the earth's
ozone layer. Although this refrigerant does not
affect the earth's atmosphere, certain govern-
mental regulations require the recovery and
recycling of any refrigerant during automotive
air conditioning system service. Your NISSAN
dealer has the trained technicians and equip-
ment needed to recover and recycle your air
conditioning system refrigerant.
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Hood release 2-8
Meters and gauges 1-3
Seat 2-12
Trunk release (Type B) 2-9
Trunk release (Type A) 2-9
Seat belt 2-24
Key 2-2
Fuel 2-10, 9-2
Spare tire 5-2, 7-30 Air conditioner 3-3 Audio system 3-11 Engine oil 7-7Engine coolant 7-5 Windshield washer fluid 7-12
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