2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER fuel type

gases to be drawn into the vehicle. See
ªPrecautions when starting and drivingº
in the ª5. Starting and drivingº section
for exhaust gas.
CAUTION
Do not open the glass hatch unless the
wiper is in the stowed position.
OPENER OPERATIONTo open the fuel filler lid, push the opener lever
down. To lock, close the fuel filler lid securely.
FUEL FILLER CAPThe fuel filler cap is a ratcheting type.
Tighten the cap clockwise until ratcheting
clicks are heard.
WARNING
IGasoline is extremely flammable and
highly explosive under certain condi-
tions. You could be burned or seri-
ously injured if it is misused or mis-
handled. Always stop the engine and
SPA0389
SPA0341
FUEL FILLER LID
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Pre-driving checks and adjustments
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do not smoke or allow open flames or
sparks near the vehicle when refuel-
ing.
IFuel may be under pressure. Turn the
cap one-half turn, and wait for any
hissing sound to stop to prevent fuel
from spraying out and possible per-
sonal injury. Then remove the cap.
IDo not attempt to top off the fuel tank
after the fuel pump nozzle shuts off
automatically. Continued refueling
may cause fuel over-flow, resulting in
fuel spray and possibly a fire.
IOnly use an original equipment type
fuel filler cap as a replacement. It has
a built-in safety valve needed for
proper operation of the fuel system
and emission control system. An in-
correct cap can result in a serious
malfunction and possible injury or it
may cause the MIL to illuminate.
INever pour fuel into the throttle body
to attempt to start your vehicle.
CAUTION
IIf fuel is spilled on the vehicle body,
flush it away with water to avoid paint
damage.
ITighten until the fuel filler cap clicks.
Failure to tighten the fuel filler cap
properly may cause the
mal-
function indicator lamp (MIL) to illu-
minate. If the
lamp illuminates
because the fuel filler cap is loose or
missing, tighten or install the cap and
continue to drive the vehicle. The
lamp should turn off after a few
driving trips. If the
lamp does
not turn off after a few driving trips,
have the vehicle inspected by an au-
thorized NISSAN dealer.
IFor additional information, see the
ªMalfunction indicator lamp (MIL)º in
the ª2. Instruments and controlsº
section.Put the fuel filler cap on the cap holder while
refueling.
SPA0342
Pre-driving checks and adjustments
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compartment.
c. You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust system.
d. You have had an accident involv-
ing damage to the exhaust system,
underbody, or rear of the vehicle.
THREE WAY CATALYSTThe three way catalyst is an emission control
device, installed in the exhaust system. In the
converter, exhaust gases are burned at high
temperatures to help reduce pollutants.
WARNING
IThe exhaust gas and the exhaust sys-
tem are very hot. Keep people, ani-
mals or flammable materials away
from the exhaust system compo-
nents.
IDo not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials, such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They may
ignite and cause a fire.
CAUTION
IDo not use leaded gasoline. Deposits
from leaded gasoline seriously re-
duce the three way catalyst's ability
to help reduce exhaust pollutants.
IKeep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause over-
rich fuel flow into the three way cata-
lyst, causing it to overheat. Do not
keep driving if the engine misfires, or
if noticeable loss of performance or
other unusual operating conditions
are detected. Have the vehicle in-
spected promptly by an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
IAvoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, damag-
ing the three way catalyst.
IDo not race the engine while warming
it up.IDo not push or tow your vehicle to
start the engine.
ON-PAVEMENT AND OFFROAD
DRIVING PRECAUTIONSUtility vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
They have higher ground clearance than pas-
senger cars to make them capable of perform-
ing in a variety of on-pavement and offroad
applications. This gives them a higher center
of gravity than ordinary cars. An advantage of
higher ground clearance is a better view of the
road, allowing you to anticipate problems.
However, they are not designed for cornering
at the same speeds as conventional two-wheel
drive vehicles any more than low-slung sports
cars are designed to perform satisfactorily
under offroad conditions. If at all possible,
avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers, par-
ticularly at high speeds. As with other vehicles
of this type, failure to operate this vehicle
correctly may result in loss of control or vehicle
rollover.
Be sure to read the driving safety precautions
later in this section.
Starting and driving
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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 recommended oil through
the oil filler opening, then install the oil filler
cap securely.
See ªCapacities and recommended
fuel/lubricantsº in the ª10. Technical and
consumer informationº 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.
Correct as required.
9. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10
minutes. Check the oil level with the dip-
stick. Add engine oil if necessary.
WARNING
IProlonged and repeated contact withused 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 ENGINE OIL FILTER1. 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-type wrench may be required. See your
NISSAN dealer.) Then remove the oil filter
by turning it by hand.
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Do-it-yourself
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remove the spark plugs. An incorrect
socket can cause damage the spark
plugs.Platinum-tipped spark plugsIt is not necessary to replace the platinum-
tipped spark plugs as frequently as the con-
ventional type spark plugs since they will last
much longer. Follow the maintenance sched-
ule, but do not reuse them by cleaning or
regapping.
If replacement is required, see your NISSAN
dealer for servicing.
Always replace with recommended
platinum-tipped spark plugs.The filter element should not be cleaned and
reused as it is given a special treatment. We
recommended it be replaced according to the
maintenance intervals. See ªPeriodic mainte-
nanceº in the ª9. Maintenanceº section for
maintenance intervals. When replacing the
filter, wipe the inside of the air cleaner housing
and the cover with a damp cloth.
WARNING
IOperating the engine with the air
cleaner removed can cause you orothers to be burned. The air cleaner
not only cleans the air, it stops flame
if the engine backfires. If it is not
there, and the engine backfires, you
could be burned. Do not drive with
the air cleaner removed and be care-
ful working on the engine with the air
cleaner removed.
INever pour fuel into the throttle body
or attempt to start the engine with the
air cleaner removed. Doing so could
result in serious injury.
SDI1022A
SDI1115B
SDI0393B
AIR CLEANER
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Schedule 1Abbreviations: R = Replace I = Inspect. Correct or replace if necessary. [ ]: At the mileage intervals onlyMAINTENANCE OPERATIONMAINTENANCE INTERVAL
Perform at number of miles, kilometers or
months, whichever comes first.Miles´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´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 maintenance
Drive beltsI* I*
Air cleaner filter See NOTE (1) [R] [R]
EVAP vapor linesI* I*
Fuel linesI* I*
Fuel filter See NOTE (2)*
Engine coolant See NOTE (3)R*
Engine oilRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filter
(Use Part No. 15208 31U00 or equivalent.)RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Spark plugs (PLATINUM-TIPPED type for VQ35DE) Replace every 105,000 miles (169,000 km)
Spark plugs (PLATINUM-TIPPED type for VG33E)[R]
Intkae & exhaust valve clearance (for VQ35DE) See NOTE (4)
Timing belt (for VG33E)Replace every 105,000 miles (169,000 km)NOTE: (1) If operating mainly in dusty conditions, more frequent maintenance may be required.
(2) When the filter becomes clogged, the vehicle speed cannot be increased as the driver wishes. In such an event, replace the filter.
(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.
HMaintenance 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.9-6
Maintenance
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Schedule 2Abbreviations: R = Replace I = Inspect. Correct or replace if necessary. [ ]: At the mileage intervals onlyMAINTENANCE OPERATIONMAINTENANCE INTERVAL
Perform at number of miles, kilometers or
months, whichever comes first.Miles´1,000 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60
(km´1,000) (12) (24) (36) (48) (60) (72) (84) (96)
Months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
Emission control system maintenance
Drive beltsI* I*
Air cleaner filter[R] [R]
EVAP vapor linesI* I*
Fuel linesI* I*
Fuel filter See NOTE (1)*
Engine coolant See NOTE (2)R*
Engine oilRRRRRRRR
Engine oil filter (Use Part No. 15208 31U00 or equivalent.)RRRRRRRR
Spark plugs (PLATINUM-TIPPED type for VQ35DE) Replace every 105,000 miles (169,000 km)
Spark plugs (PLATINUM-TIPPED type for VG33E)[R]
Intake & exhaust valve clearance (for VQ35DE) See NOTE (3)
Timing belt (for VG33E) Replace every 105,000 miles (169,000 km)
NOTE: (1) When the filter becomes clogged, the vehicle speed cannot be increased as the driver wishes. In such an event, replace the filter.
(2) After 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 48 months, replace every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 24 months.
(3) If valve noise increases, inspect valve clearance.
HMaintenance 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.9-8
Maintenance
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ENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER
RECOMMENDATION
Selecting the correct oilIt 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, SH and SJ and Energy Conserving I
& II categories.
If you cannot find engine oil with the API
CERTIFICATION MARK, use an API grade
SG/SH, Energy ConservingI&IIorAPIgrade
SJ, Energy Conserving oil. An oil with a single
designation SG or SH, or in combination with
other categories (for example, SG/CC or
SG/CD) may also be used if one with the API
CERTIFICATION MARK cannot be found. An
ILSAC grade GF-I & GF-II oil can also be used.
Mineral based or synthetic type oils may beused in your NISSAN vehicle. These oils must
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 additivesNISSAN 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 viscosityThe 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 recommended SAE viscos-
ity number shows the recommended oil vis-
cosities for the expected ambient tempera-
tures. Choosing an oil viscosity other than that
recommended could cause serious engine
damage.Selecting the correct oil filterYour new vehicle is equipped with a high-
quality genuine Nissan oil filter. When replac-
STI0077
10-6
Technical and consumer information
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