2004 NISSAN XTERRA engine oil

CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
A NISSAN dealer can change the engine coolant.
The service procedure can be found in the
NISSAN Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine overheat-
ing.
WARNING
cTo avoid the danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the en-
gine is hot.
cNever remove the radiator cap when the
engine is hot. Serious burns could be
caused by high pressure fluid escaping
from the radiator.
cAvoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
cKeep coolant out of the reach of chil-
dren and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Start the engine and let it idle until it reaches
operating temperature.3. Turn off the engine.Wait more than 10
minutes for the oil to drain back into
the oil pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Re-
insert it all the way.
5. Remove the dipstick again and check the oil
level. It should be between the H (High) and
L (Low) marks. This is the normal operating
oil level range. If the oil level is below the L
(Low) mark, remove the oil filler cap and pour
recommended oil through the opening.Do
not overfill.
KA24DE engine
WDI0272
VG33E/VG33ER engine
WDI0273
ENGINE OIL
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6. Recheck oil level with the dipstick.
It is normal to add some oil between oil
maintenance intervals or during the
break-in period, depending on the severity
of operating conditions.
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly. Op-
erating the engine with an insufficient
amount of oil can damage the engine, and
such damage is not covered by warranty.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Start the engine and let it idle until it reaches
operating temperature, then turn it off.
3. Remove the oil filler cap by turning it coun-
terclockwise.
4. Place a large drain pan under the drain plug.
KA24DE engine
WDI0175
VG33E/VG33ER engine
WDI0274
KA24DE engine
WDI0275
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-11
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5. Remove the drain plug with a wrench by
turning it counterclockwise and completely
drain the oil.
If the oil filter is to be changed, remove and
replace it at this time. See “Changing engine
oil filter” later in this section.
WARNING
cProlonged and repeated contact with
used engine oil may cause skin cancer.cTry to avoid direct skin contact with
used oil. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
cKeep used engine oil out of reach of
children.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself. The engine
oil may be hot.
cWaste oil must be disposed of prop-
erly.
cCheck your local regulations.
6. Clean and reinstall the drain plug and a new
washer. Securely tighten the drain plug with
a wrench. Do not use excessive force.
Drain plug tightening torque:
22 - 29 ft-lb (29 - 39 N·m)
7. Refill engine with recommended oil through
the oil filler opening, then install the oil filler
cap securely.
See “Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants” in the “Technical and con-
sumer information” section of this manual 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. Correct as re-
quired.
9. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10
minutes. Check the oil level with the dipstick.
Add engine oil if necessary.
VG33E/VG33ER engine
WDI0276
8-12Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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CHANGING ENGINE OIL FILTER
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Turn the engine off.
3. Remove the splash shield.
cRemove the six push pins.
cRemove the six bolts and the splash
shield.
4. Place a large drain pan under the oil filter.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself. The engine
oil may be hot.
5. Loosen the oil filter with an oil filter wrench.
Then remove the oil filter by turning it by
hand.
6. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting surface
with a clean rag.
Be sure to remove any old gasket material
remaining on the mounting surface of the
engine.7. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean
engine oil.
8. Screw on the oil filter until a slight resistance
is felt, then tighten an additional 2/3 turn.
9. Start the engine and check for leakage
around the oil filter. Correct as required.
10. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10
minutes. Check the oil level. Add engine oil if
necessary.
11. Install the splash shield.
KA24DE engine
WDI0277
VG33E/VG33ER engine
WDI0278
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-13
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9 Technical and consumer information
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants.........9-2
Fuel recommendation...........................9-3
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation...........9-5
Recommended SAE viscosity number............9-6
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations......................9-6
Specifications.....................................9-7
Engine........................................9-7
Wheels and tires...............................9-8
Dimensions and weights........................9-8
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country...................................9-9
Vehicle identification...............................9-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate..........9-9
Vehicle identification number
(chassis number)...............................9-9
Engine serial number...........................9-10
F.M.V.S.S. certification label....................9-10
Emission control information label...............9-11
Tire placard...................................9-11
Air conditioner specification label................9-11Installing front license plate........................9-12
Vehicle loading information........................9-12
Terms........................................9-12
Determining vehicle load capacity...............9-13
Securing the load..............................9-13
Loading tips..................................9-14
Vehicle load weight capacity....................9-14
Measurement of weights.......................9-15
Towing a trailer...................................9-16
Maximum load limits...........................9-16
Towing load/specification chart.................9-18
Towing safety.................................9-19
Flat towing....................................9-22
Uniform tire quality grading........................9-23
Emission control system warranty..................9-24
Reporting safety defects (US only).................9-24
Readiness for inspection/maintenance (I/M) test.....9-24
Dynamometer testing for Inspection/
Maintenance (I/M) test (US only)................9-25
Owner’s Manual/Service Manual order information . . . 9-26
In the event of a collision.......................9-27
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The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure
described in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate)
US
measureImp measure Liter Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Fuel
KA24DE (4 cylinder) 18–3/4 15–5/8 71.0 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 73.5
VG33ER (6 cylinder with supercharger) 19–3/8 gal 16–1/8 gal 73.5 Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of at least 91 AKI (RON 96)*1
Engine oil
Drain and Refill
KA24DE With oil filter 3–3/4 qt 3–1/8 qt 3.5 • API Certification Mark *2
• API grade SG/SH, Energy conservingI&IIorAPIgrade SJ or SL, Energy Conserving *2
• ILSAC grade GF-I, GF-II & GF-III Without oil filter 3–1/2 qt 2–7/8 qt 3.3
VG33E/VG33ER With oil filter 3–1/2 qt 2–7/8 qt 3.3
Without oil filter 3–1/8 qt 2–5/8 qt 3.0
Cooling system (with heater and reservoir tank)
KA24DE M/T 4X2 7–3/4 qt 6–3/8 qt 7.3
50% Genuine NISSAN Long Life Anti-freeze Coolant or equivalent
50% Demineralized or distilled water
VG33E/VG33ER A/T & M/T 11–5/8 qt 9–5/8 qt 10.95
Manual transmission gear oil
KA24DE 4X2 4–1/4 pt 3–1/2 pt 2.0
Genuine NISSAN Manual Transmission Fluid HQ Multi 75W-85 or equivalent VG33E/VG33ER 4X2 5–7/8 pt 4–7/8 pt 2.8
4X4 10–3/4 pt 9 pt 5.1
Final drive gear oil
KA24DE 4X2 M/T 2–3/4 pt 2–1/4 pt 1.3
API GL-5, Viscosity SAE 80W-90*1 or 80W-90 LS*1 for Limited Slip Differential (LSD) applications*2 VG33E/VG33ER 4X4 Front 3–3/4 pt 3–1/8 pt 1.75
Rear 5–7/8 pt 4–7/8 pt 2.8
Transfer fluid2–3/8 qt 2 qt 2.2 API GL-4, Viscosity SAE 75W-85 or 75W-90 or Genuine Nissan Matic D ATF (Continental U.S. and Alaska) or
Canada NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid.*3
Automatic transmission fluid Refill to the proper level according to the in-
structions in the “Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section.Genuine Nissan Matic D ATF (Continental U.S. and Alaska) or Canada NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid.*3
Power steering fluid (PSF)Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent.*6
Brake and clutch fluidGenuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid*4 or equivalent Dot 3 (US FMVSS No. 116)
Multi-purpose grease — — — NLGI No. 2 (Lithium Complex)
Air conditioning system refrigerant lb (kg) 1.32 – 1.54 (0.60 – 0.70) HFC-134a (R-134a)*5
Air conditioning system lubricant 6.8 oz 7.0 oz 200 ml NISSAN A/C System Oil Type R or equivalent*5
Winshield washer fluid — — — Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Anti-freeze or equivalent
*1: For hot climates, viscosity SAE 90 is suitable for ambient temperatures above 0 ° (32° F) .
*2: Contact your NISSAN dealer for a list of approved oils.
*3: Dexron™ III/Mercon™ or equivalent may also be used. Outside the Continental United States and Alaska contact a NISSAN dealer for more informationregarding suitable fluids, including recommended brand(s) of Dexron™ III/Mercon™ Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
*4: Available in mainland USA through your NISSAN dealer.
*5: For further details, see “Air conditioner specification label.”
*6: For Canada, NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) , Dexron™ III/Mercon™, or equivalent ATF may also be used.
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS
9-2Technical and consumer information
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ENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER
RECOMMENDATION
Selecting the correct oil
It is essential to choose engine oil with the cor-
rect quality and viscosity to ensure satisfactory
engine life and performance. NISSAN recom-
mends the use of a low friction oil (energy con-
serving oil) in order to improve fuel economy and
conserve 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 Petro-
leum Institute (API) CERTIFICATION MARK onthe front of the container should be used. This
type of oil supersedes the existing API SG, SH, or
SJ and Energy Conserving II categories.
If you cannot find engine oil with the API CERTI-
FICATION MARK, use API grade SG/SH, Energy
ConservingI&IIorAPIgrade SJ or SL, Energy
Conserving oil. An oil with a single designation
SG or SH, or in combination with other catego-
ries (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 & GF-III oil can also be used.NISSAN recommends mineral based oils. These
oils must, however, meet the API quality and SAE
viscosity ratings specified for your vehicle.
Oil additives
NISSAN does not recommend the use of oil
additives. The use of an oil additive is not neces-
sary when the proper oil type is used and main-
tenance 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 important
to select the engine oil viscosity based on the
temperatures at which the vehicle will be oper-
ated before the next oil change. The chart “Rec-
ommended SAE viscosity number” shows the
recommended oil viscosities for the expected
ambient temperatures. Choosing an oil viscosity
other than that recommended could cause seri-
ous engine damage.
Selecting the correct oil filter
Your new NISSAN vehicle is equipped with a
high-quality genuine NISSAN oil filter. When re-
placing, use a genuine NISSAN oil filter or its
equivalent for the reason described in “Change
intervals”.
WTI0033
Technical and consumer information9-5
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Change intervals
The oil and oil filter change intervals for your
engine are based on the use of the specified
quality oils and filters. Using engine oil and filters
that are not of the specified quality, or exceeding
recommended oil and filter change intervals
could reduce engine life. Damage to the engine
caused by improper maintenance or use of incor-
rect oil and filter quality and/or viscosity is not
covered by the NISSAN new vehicle warranty.
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.
Operation under the following conditions may
require more frequent oil and filter changes:
crepeated short distance driving at cold out-
side temperatures
cdriving in dusty conditions
cextensive idling
ctowing a trailer
RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY
NUMBER
cSAE 5W-30 viscosity oil is preferred for all
temperatures. SAE 10W-30 or SAE
10W-40 viscosity oils may be used if the
ambient temperature is above 0°F (-18°C) .
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM
REFRIGERANT AND LUBRICANT
RECOMMENDATIONS
The air conditioner system in your NISSAN
vehicle must be charged with the refriger-
ant HFC-134a (R-134a) and the lubricant,
NISSAN A/C system oil Type R or the exact
equivalents.
CAUTION
The use of any other refrigerant or lubri-
cant will cause severe damage to the air
conditioning system and will require the
replacement of all air conditioner system
components.
The refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) in your
NISSAN vehicle does not harm the earth’s ozone
layer. Although this refrigerant does not affect the
earth’s atmosphere, certain government regula-
tions require the recovery and recycling of any
refrigerant during automotive air conditioner sys-
tem service. A NISSAN dealer has the trained
technicians and equipment needed to recover
and recycle your air conditioner system refriger-
ant.
Contact a NISSAN dealer when servicing your air
conditioner system.
ATI1028
9-6Technical and consumer information
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