2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER Owners Manual

the original tire used on the front
wheels (drive wheels). Use tire chains
only on the front two original tires.
ITire tread of the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire will wear at a faster
rate than the original tire. Replace the
TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire as
soon as the tread wear indicators
appear.
IDo not use the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire on other vehicles.
IDo not use more than one TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire at the
same time.
IDo not tow a trailer while the TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire is in-
stalled.
CAUTION
IDo not use tire chains on a TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire. Tire
chains will not fit properly on theTEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire
and may cause damage to the ve-
hicle.
IBecause the TEMPORARY USE ONLY
spare tire is smaller than the original
tire, ground clearance is reduced. To
avoid damage to the vehicle do not
drive over obstacles. Also do not
drive the vehicle through an auto-
matic car wash since it may get
caught.
CLUTCH HOUSING DRAIN
Whenever you drive in deep water or mud,
check water entry in the clutch housing by
removing the blind plug at the bottom of the
transmission case. After checking, be sure to
reinstall the plug.
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MEMO
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MEMO8-42
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9 Technical and consumer informationCapacities and recommended fuel/lubricants ........... 9-2
Fuel recommendation........................................... 9-4
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation .............. 9-6
Recommended SAE oil viscosity number ............ 9-7
Air conditioning system refrigerant and lubricant
recommendations ................................................. 9-8
Specifications ............................................................ 9-9
Engine .................................................................. 9-9
Wheels and tires ..................................................... 9-11
Dimensions and weights .................................... 9-11
When traveling or registering your vehicle in another
country..................................................................... 9-12
Vehicle identification ............................................... 9-12
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate ........... 9-12
Vehicle identification number (Chassis
number) .............................................................. 9-12
Engine serial number ......................................... 9-13
F.M.V.S.S. certification label .............................. 9-13
Emission control information label ..................... 9-14
Tire placard ........................................................ 9-14Air conditioner specification label ....................... 9-14
Vehicle loading information ..................................... 9-15
Terms ................................................................. 9-15
Determining vehicle payload capacity ................ 9-15
Securing the load ............................................... 9-16
Loading tips ........................................................ 9-16
Payload weight capacity ..................................... 9-17
Measurement of weights .................................... 9-17
Towing a trailer ....................................................... 9-17
Maximum load limits ........................................... 9-17
Towing load/specification chart .......................... 9-19
Towing safety ..................................................... 9-19
Uniform tire quality grading ................................ 9-21
Emission control system warranty .......................... 9-22
Reporting safety defects (US only) ......................... 9-22
Readiness for inspection/maintenance (I/M) test
(US only) ................................................................. 9-23
Owner's Manual/Service Manual order
information............................................................... 9-25
In the event of a collision ................................... 9-25
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The following values are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different from them. When refilling, follow the
procedure instructed in the ª8. Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate)
Recommended specifications
US
measureImp
measureLiter
Fuel 20-7/8 gal 17-3/8 gal 79Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating
of at least 91 AKI (RON 96) (VQ35DE) or
87AKI (RON 91) (VG33E)*1
Engine oil*4
Drain and refill
with oil filter
change5-1/4 qt 4-3/8 qt 5.0IAPI Certification Mark*2 *3
IAPI grade SG/SH, Energy Conserving I
& II or API grade SJ, Energy Conserv-
ing*2 *3
IILSAC grade GF-I & GF-II*2 *3 without oil filter
change5-1/8 qt 4-1/4 qt 4.8
Cooling system
(with heater and
reservoir tank)9-3/4 qt 8-1/8 qt 9.2Genuine Nissan Anti-Freeze Coolant or
equivalent
*1: See later in this section for fuel recommendation.
*2: See later in this section for recommended SAE viscosity number.
*3: See later in this section for engine oil and oil filter recommendation.
*4: See ªChanging engine oilº in the ª8. Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº section for further details.CAPACITIES AND
RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS9-2
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Capacity (Approximate)
Recommended specifications
US
measureImp
measureLiter
Manual transmissionÐ Ð Ð API GL-4 Viscosity SAE 75W-85 only
Differential gear oil (exc. LSD)Ð Ð Ð API GL-5*1
Limited-slip differential (LSD) gear oil Ð Ð ÐOnly LSD gear oil:
API GL-5 and SAE 80W-90*2 approved for Nissan LSD*3
Automatic transmission fluid
Refill to the proper oil level according to the instruc-
tions in the ª8. Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº sec-
tion.Nissan Matic ªDº (Continental U.S. and Alaska) or Canada
NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid.*6
Power steering fluidGenuine Nissan PSF II or equivalent*7
All-mode 4WD transfer fluidNissan Matic ªDº (Continental U.S. and Alaska) or Canada
NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid.*8
Transfer fluidNissan Matic ªCº*6 or API GL-4*1
Brake and clutch fluidGenuine Nissan Brake Fluid*4 or equivalent
DOT 3 (U.S. F.M.V.S.S. No. 116)
Propeller shaft greaseÐ Ð Ð NLGI No. 2 (Molybdenum disulphide lithium soap base)
Multi-purpose greaseÐ Ð Ð NLGI No. 2 (Lithium soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerantÐ Ð Ð HFC-134a (R-134a)*5
Air conditioning system lubricantsÐ Ð Ð Nissan A/C System Oil Type S or exact equivalent*5
*1: For further details, see recommended SAE viscosity number chart.
*2: SAE 90 is acceptable in temperatures above 0ÉF (þ18ÉC).
*3: Contact your NISSAN dealer for a list of approved oils.
*4: Available in mainland U.S. through your NISSAN dealer.
*5: See ªVehicle identificationº later in this section for air conditioner specification label.
*6: Never mix Nissan Matic ªCº and API GL-4 oil.
*7: Genuine Nissan PSF, Canada NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid, DEXRON
TMIII/MERCON
TM
or equivalent ATF may also be used.
*8: Outside the continental U.S. and Alaska contact an authorized NISSAN dealer for more information regarding suitable fluids, including recommended brand(s) of
DEXRON
TMIII/MERCON
TM
Automatic Transmission Fluid.
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FUEL RECOMMENDATIONVG33E engine:
Your vehicle is designed to operate on
unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of
at least 87 AKI (Anti-Knock Index) number
(Research octane number 91).
VQ35DE engine:
Use 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.
CAUTION
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 gasolineSome fuel suppliers are now producing refor-
mulated gasolines. These gasolines are spe-
cially designed to reduce vehicle emissions.
NISSAN supports efforts towards cleaner air
and suggest that you use reformulated gaso-
line when available.Gasoline containing oxygenatesSome fuel suppliers sell gasoline containing
oxygenates such as ethanol, MTBE and
methanol with or without advertising their pres-
ence. Nissan does not recommend the use of
fuels of which the oxygenate content and the
fuel compatibility for your Nissan cannot be
readily determined.
If you use oxygenate-blend gasoline, please
take the following precautions as the usage of
such fuels may cause vehicle performance
problems and/or fuel system damage.
IThe fuel should be unleaded and have
an octane rating no lower than that rec-
ommended for unleaded gasoline.IIf an oxygenate-blend, excepting a
methanol blend, is used, it should con-
tain no more than 10% oxygenate.
(MTBE may, however, be added up to
15%.)
IIf a methanol blend is used, it should
contain no more than 5% methanol (me-
thyl alcohol, wood alcohol). It should
also contain a suitable amount of appro-
priate cosolvents and corrosion inhibi-
tors. If not properly formulated with ap-
propriate cosolvents and corrosion
inhibitors, such methanol blends may
cause fuel system damage and/or ve-
hicle performance problems. At this
time, sufficient data is not available to
ensure that all methanol blends are suit-
able for use in Nissan vehicles.
If any undesirable driveability problems such
as engine stalling and hard hot starting are
experienced after using oxygenate-blend fu-
els, immediately change to a non-oxygenate
fuel or a fuel with a low blend of MTBE.
Take care not to spill gasoline during refu-
eling. Gasoline containing oxygenates can
cause paint damage.
Aftermarket fuel additivesNISSAN does not recommend the use of any
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fuel additives (i.e.: fuel injector cleaner, octane
booster, intake valve deposit removers, etc.)
which are sold commercially. Many of these
additives intended for gum, varnish or deposit
removal may contain active solvents or similar
ingredients that can be harmful to the fuel
system and engine.Octane rating tipsIn most parts of North America, you should use
unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of at
least 91 AKI (Anti-Knock Index) number
(VQ35DE engine) or 87 AKI (Anti-knock Index)
number (VG33E engine). However, you may
use unleaded gasoline with an octane rating
as low as 85 AKI (Anti-Knock Index) number in
these high altitude areas [over 4,000 ft (1,219
m)] such as: Colorado, Montana, New Mexico,
Utah, Wyoming, northeastern Nevada, south-
ern Idaho, western South Dakota, western
Nebraska, and that part of Texas which is
directly south of New Mexico.
Using unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating lower than stated above can cause
persistent, heavy spark knock. (Spark
knock is a metallic rapping noise.) If se-
vere, this can lead to engine damage. If you
detect a persistent heavy spark knock even
when using gasoline of the stated octane
rating, or if you hear steady spark knockwhile holding a steady speed on level
roads, have your dealer correct the condi-
tion. Failure to correct the condition is
misuse of the vehicle, for which NISSAN is
not responsible.
Incorrect ignition timing will result in knocking,
after-run or overheating. This in turn may
cause excessive fuel consumption or damage
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.
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