2000 NISSAN FRONTIER Capacity

or with the clutch depressed
(manual transmission vehicles), us-
ing only the brake, as this could
cause loss of control.
IHeavy braking going down a hill
could cause your brakes to overheat
and fade, resulting in loss of control
and an accident. Apply brakes lightly
and use a low gear to control your
speed.
IUnsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly secure all cargo so it
will not be thrown forward and cause
injury to you or your passengers.
ITo avoid raising the center of gravity
excessively, do not exceed the rated
capacity of the roof rack (if so
equipped) and evenly distribute the
load. Secure heavy loads in the
cargo area as far forward and as low
as possible. Do not equip the vehicle
with tires larger than specified in this
manual. This could cause your ve-
hicle to roll over.
IDo not grip the inside or spokes of
the steering wheel when driving off-road. The steering wheel could move
suddenly and injure your hands. In-
stead drive with your fingers and
thumbs on the outside of the rim.
IBefore operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers
have their seat belts fastened.
IAlways drive with the floor mats in
place as the floor may become hot.
ILower your speed when encounter-
ing strong crosswinds. With a higher
center of gravity, your NISSAN is
more affected by strong side winds.
Slower speeds ensure better vehicle
control.
IDo not drive beyond the perfor-
mance of the tires, even with 4WD
engaged.
IAccelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control.
IIf at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high
speeds. Your NISSAN four wheeld-
rive vehicle has a higher center of
gravity than a two wheel drive veh-icle. The vehicle is not designed for
cornering at the same speeds as
conventional two wheel drive ve-
hicles. Failure to operate this vehicle
correctly could result in loss of con-
trol and/or a roll over accident.
IAlways use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction (bias, bias-
belted, or radial), and tread pattern
on all four wheels. Install tire chains
on the rear wheels when driving on
slippery roads and drive carefully.
IBe sure to check the brakes immedi-
ately after driving in mud or water.
See²Brake system²later in this sec-
tion for²Wet brakes².
IAvoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and
it rolls forward, backward or side-
ways, you could be injured.
IWhenever you drive off-road
through sand, mud or water as deep
as the wheel hub, more frequent-
maintenance may be required. See
²Periodic maintenance²in the²Main-
tenance²section of this manual.
Starting and driving
5-5
ZX

If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer.CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
IMajor cooling system repairs should be
performed by an authorized NISSAN
dealer. The service procedures can be
found in the appropriate NISSAN Ser-
vice Manual.
IImproper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine over-
heating.
WARNING
ITo avoid the danger of being
scalded, never change the coolant
when the engine is hot.
INever remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator.
1. Open the radiator drain valve. Open the
drain plugs on the engine block.
2.
Open the radiator cap to drain the coolant.
3. Flush the cooling system by running
fresh water through the radiator.
4. Close the radiator drain valve and drain
plug on the engine block securely.5. See ``Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants'' in the ``Technical and
consumer information'' section for cool-
ing system capacity. Fill the radiator
slowly with the proper mixture of coolant
and water. Fill the reservoir tank slowly
up to the MAX level.
8-6Do-it-yourself
ZX

5. Remove the drain plug with a wrench and
completely drain the oil.
If the oil filter is to be changed, remove
and replace it at this time. See ``Chang-
ing engine oil filter'' later in this section.
WARNING
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.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself. The
engine oil is hot.
Waste oil must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.
6. Clean and reinstall the drain plug and
washer. Securely tighten the drain plug
with a wrench. Do not use excessive
force.
Drain plug tightening torque:
22 to 29 ft-lb (29 to 39 N×m)7. Refill engine with a recommended oil
through the oil filler opening then install
the oil filler cap securely.
See ``Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants'' in the ``Technical and
consumer information'' section 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. Cor-
rect as required.
9. Turn the engine off and wait several
minutes. Check the oil level with the
dipstick. Add engine oil if necessary.ADI1064
Do-it-yourself8-11
ZX

If you have a flat tire, see the ``In case of
emergency'' section of this manual.
Maximum inflation pressure
Do not exceed the maximum inflation pres-
sures shown on the side wall of the tire.
Tire inflation pressure
Periodically check the tire pressure (includ-
ing the spare). Tire pressure should be
checked when tires are COLD. COLD tire
pressures are shown on the tire placard
affixed to the inside of the glove box lid.
Incorrect tire pressure may adverselyaffect tire life and vehicle handling.
COLD pressure:
After vehicle has been parked for
three hours or more or driven less
than 1 mile (1.6 km).
WARNING
IImproperly inflated tires can fail sud-
denly and cause an accident
I
The vehicle weight capacity is indi-
cated on the F.M.V.S.S. certification
label. Do not load your vehicle be-
yond this capacity. Overloading your
vehicle may result in reduced tire life,
unsafe operating conditions due to
premature tire failure, or unfavorable
handling characteristics and could
also lead to a serious accident. Load-
ing beyond the specified capacity
may also result in failure of other
vehicle components.
IBefore taking a long trip, or when-
ever you heavily load your vehicle,
use a tire pressure gauge to ensure
that the tire pressure is at the speci-
fied level.
IDo not drive your vehicle over 85MPH (140 km/h) unless it is
equippedwith high speed rated tires.
Driving faster than 85 MPH (140
km/h) may result in tire failure, loss
of control and possible injury.
Types of tires
WARNING
When changing or replacing tires, be
sure all four tires are of the same type
(i.e., summer, all season or snow) and
construction. An authorized NISSAN
dealer may be able to help you with
information about tire type, size, speed
rating and availability. Replacement
tires may have a lower speed rating
than the factory equipped tires, and
may not match the potential maximum
vehicle speed. Never exceed the maxi-
mum speed rating of the tire.
All season tires
NISSAN specifies All Season tires on some
models to provide good performance for
use all year around, including snowy and icy
road conditions. All Season Tires are iden-
tified by ``ALL SEASON'' and/or ``M&S'' on
DI0047
WHEELS AND TIRES
Do-it-yourself8-33
ZX

IImproper service of the spare tire
may result in serious personal in-
jury. If it is necessary to repair the
spare tire, contact an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
Changing tires and wheels
When replacing a tire, use the same size,
tread design, speed rating and load carrying
capacity as originally equipped. Recom-
mended types and sizes are shown in
``Wheel/tire size'' in the ``Technical and con-
sumer information'' section of this manual.
WARNING
I
The use of tires other than those
recommended or the mixed use of
tires of different brands, construction
(bias, bias-belted or radial), or tread
patterns can adversely affect the ride,
braking, handling, ground clearance,
body-to-tire clearance, tire chain
clearance, speedometer calibration,
headlight aim and bumper height.
Some of these effects may lead to
accidents and could result in serious
personal injury.IIf the wheels are changed for any
reason, always replace with wheels
which have the same offset dimen-
sion. Wheels of a different offset
could cause pre-mature tire wear, de-
grade vehicle handling characteris-
tics and/or interference with the
brake discs/drums. Such interference
can lead to decreased braking effi-
ciency and/or early brake pad/shoe
wear. Refer to²Wheel/tire size²in the
²Technical and consumer informa-
tion²section of this manual for wheel
off-set dimensions.
IDo not install a deformed wheel or
tire even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have unknown
structural damage and could fail
without warning.
IThe use of retread tires is not recom-
mended.
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
MODELS
CAUTION
Always use tires of the same size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted
or radial), and tread pattern on all four
wheels. Failure to do so may result in a
circumference difference between tires
on the front and rear axles which will
cause excessive tire wear and may
damage the transmission, transfer
case and differential gears.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom-
mended that all four tires be replaced with
tires of the same size, brand, construction
and tread pattern. The tire pressure and
wheel alignment should also be checked
and corrected as necessary. Contact an
authorized NISSAN dealer.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle han-
dling and tire life. Even with regular use,
wheels can get out of balance. Therefore,
they should be balanced as required.
Wheel balance service should be performed
8-36Do-it-yourself
ZX

The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure
described in the ``Do-it-yourself'' section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate)
Recommended Fluids & Lubricants
US
measureImp
measureLiter
Fuel
KA24DE (4 cylinder) 15-7/8 gal 13-1/4 gal 60
Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of at least 87
AKI (RON 91)*1
VG33E (6 cylinder) 19-3/8 gal 16-1/8 gal 73
Engine oil
Drain and Refill
KA24DE
4x2 With oil filter 3-3/4 qt 3-1/8 qt 3.5
Without oil filter 3-1/2 qt 2-7/8 qt 3.3IAPI Certification Mark *2
4X4 With oil filter 4-1/8 qt 3-3/8 qt 3.9IAPI grade SG/SH, Energy ConservingI&II
Without oil filter 3-7/8 qt 3-1/4 qt 3.7 or API grade SJ, Energy Conserving *2
VG33E With oil filter 3-1/2 qt 2-7/8 qt 3.3IILSAC grade GF-I & GF-II*2
Without oil filter 3-1/8 qt 2-5/8 qt 3.0
Cooling system (with heater and reservoir tank)
KA24DE M/T 4X2 9-5/8 qt 8 qt 9.15
4X4 9-3/4 qt 8-1/8 qt 9.25
A/T 9-1/2 qt 7-7/8 qt 8.95 50% Genuine NISSAN Anti-freeze coolant or equivalent
VG33E A/T & M/T 11-1/4 qt 9-3/8 qt 10.6 50% Demineralized or Distilled water
*1: For further details, see ``Fuel recommendation''.
*2: For further details, see ``Recommended SAE engine oil viscosity''.
CAPACITIES AND
RECOMMENDED FUEL/
LUBRICANTS
10-2Technical and consumer information
ZX

Capacity (Approximate)
Recommended Fluids & Lubricants
US
measureImp
measureLiter
Manual transmission gear oilKA24DE 4x2 4-1/4 pt 3-1/2 pt 2.0
API GL-4*1 Viscosity SAE 75W-90 only
4x4 10-3/8 pt 8-5/8 pt 4.9
VG33E 4x2 5-1/8 pt 4-1/4 pt 2.4
4x4 10-3/4 pt 9 pt 5.1
Manual steering gear oil 1-3/8 pt 1-1/8 pt 0.62 API GL-4*1
Final driveKA24DE 4x2 M/T
API GL-5*1 Regular cab 3-1/8 pt 2-5/8 pt 1.5
King cab 2-3/4 pt 2-1/4 pt 1.3
4x2 A/T 3-1/8 pt 2-5/8 pt 1.5
4x4 Front 2-3/4 pt 2-1/4 pt 1.3
Rear 2-3/4 pt 2-1/4 pt 1.3
VG33E 4x4 Front 3-1/8 pt 2-5/8 pt 1.5
Rear 5-7/8 pt 4-7/8 pt 2.8
Transfer fluidKA24DE 2-3/8 qt 2 qt 2.2
Nissan Matic `D' (Continental U.S. and Alaska) or Canada
NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid or API GL-4. *4
VG33E 2-3/8 qt 2 qt 2.2
Automatic transmission fluid
Refill to the proper oil level according to
the instructions in the ``Do-it-yourself''
section.Nissan Matic `D' (Continental U.S. and Alaska) or Canada
NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid. *4
Power steering fluidGenuine NISSAN PSF II or equivalent *7
Brake and clutch fluidGenuine Nissan Brake Fluid*5 or equivalent
DOT 3 (US FMVSS No. 116)
Multi-purpose grease Ð Ð Ð NLGI No. 2 (Lithium Complex)
Air conditioning system refrigerant lb (kg) 1.32 - 1.54 (0.60 - 0.70) HFC-134a (R-134a)*6
Air conditioning system lubricant 6.8 oz 7.0 oz 200 ml Nissan A/C System Oil Type R or equivalent*6
*1: For further details, see ``Recommended SAE gear oil viscosity''.
*2: SAE 90 is acceptable in temperatures above 0ÉF (þ18ÉC).
*3: Contact your NISSAN dealer for a list of approved oils.
*4: Dexron
TMIII/MerconTMor equivalent may also be used. Outside the Continental United States and Alaska contact an authorized Nissan dealership for more information regarding suitable
fluids, including recommended brand(s) of DexronTMIII/MerconTMAutomatic Transmission Fluid.
*5: Available in mainland U.S.A. through an authorized NISSAN dealer.
*6: For further details, see ``Air conditioner specification label''.
*7: Genuine NISSAN PSF, Canada NISSAN Automatic Transmmission Fluid, Dexron
TMIII/MerconTM, or equivalent ATF may also be used.
Technical and consumer information10-3
ZX

IGVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) þ
maximum total weight (load) limit speci-
fied for the vehicle.
IGAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) þ
maximum weight (load) limit specified
for the front or rear axle.
Determining Vehicle Load Capacity
The load capacity of this vehicle is deter-
mined by weight, not by available cargo
space. For example, a roof rack, bike car-
rier, or similar equipment does not increase
load carrying capacity of your vehicle.
To determine vehicle load capacity:
Vehicle weight can be determined by using
a commercial-grade scale, found at places
such as a truck stop, gravel quarry, grain
elevator, or a scrap metal recycling facility.
1) Determine the curb weight of your ve-
hicle.
2) Compare the curb weight amount to the
GVWR specified for your vehicle to de-
termine how much more weight your
vehicle can carry.
3) After loading (cargo and passengers),
reweigh your vehicle to determine if ei-ther GVWR or GAWR for your vehicle is
exceeded. If GVWR is exceeded, re-
move cargo as necessary. If either the
front or rear GAWR is exceeded, shift the
load or remove cargo as necessary.
Loading Tips
IThe GVW must not exceed GVWR or
GAWR as specified on the FMVSS Cer-
tification Label located on the driver's
door jamb pillar.
IDo not load the front and rear axle to the
GAWR. Doing so will exceed the GVWR.
ILoads should be spread out, and cargo
should be properly secured. Large or
heavy objects should be placed toward
the front of the truck box to help prevent
sliding or shifting.
SECURING THE LOAD
For your convenience, tie down hooks are
placed at each corner of the truck box.
These may be used to help secure cargo
loaded into the truck box.
WARNING
IProperly secure all cargo with ropes
or straps to help prevent it from
sliding or shifting. Do not place
cargo higher than the seat backs. In
a sudden stop or collision, unse-
cured cargo could cause personal
injury.
ATI1020
10-16Technical and consumer information
ZX