2008 NISSAN MAXIMA engine coolant

Refill the reservoir more frequently when driving
conditions require an increased amount of win-
dow washer fluid.
Recommended fluid is Genuine NISSAN Wind-
shield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Anti-
freeze or equivalent.
CAUTION
cDo not substitute engine anti-freeze
coolant for window washer solution.
This may result in damage to the paint.
cDo not fill the window washer reservoir
tank with washer fluid concentrates at
full strength. Some methyl alcohol
based washer fluid concentrates may
permanently stain the grille if spilled
while filling the window washer reser-
voir tank.
cPre-mix washer fluid concentrates with
water to the manufacturer’s recom-
mended levels before pouring the fluid
into the window washer reservoir tank.
Do not use the window washer reservoir
tank to mix the washer fluid concen-
trate and water.cKeep the battery surface clean and dry.
Clean the battery with a solution of baking
soda and water.
cMake certain the terminal connections are
clean and securely tightened.
cIf the vehicle is not to be used for 30 days or
longer, disconnect the negative (-) battery
terminal cable to prevent discharge.
WARNING
cDo not expose the battery to flames or
electrical sparks. Hydrogen gas gener-
ated by the battery is explosive. Do not
allow battery fluid to contact your skin,
eyes, fabrics or painted surfaces. After
touching a battery or battery cap, do not
touch or rub your eyes. Thoroughly
wash your hands. If the acid contacts
your eyes, skin or clothing, immediately
flush with water for at least 15 minutes
and seek medical attention.
cDo not operate the vehicle if the fluid in
the battery is low. Low battery fluid can
cause a higher load on the battery
which can generate heat, reduce bat-
tery life, and in some cases lead to an
explosion.cWhen working on or near a battery, al-
ways wear suitable eye protection and
remove all jewelry.
cBattery posts, terminals and related ac-
cessories contain lead and lead com-
pounds. Wash hands after handling.
cKeep battery out of the reach of
children.
BATTERY
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-13
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The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be slightly different. When refilling, follow the procedure
described in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate) Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
US measure Imp measure Liter
Fuel 20 gal 16-5/8 gal 75.6 Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of at least 87 AKI (RON 91) *1
Engine oil *6
Drain and Refill
With oil filter change 4-1/2 qt 3-3/4 qt 4.2
• Engine oil with API Certification Mark *2
• Viscosity SAE 5W-30 *2 Without oil filter
change4-1/4 qt 3-1/2 qt 4.0
Cooling system
With reservoir 2-1/4 gal 1-7/8 gal 8.5 50% Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant or equivalent
50% Demineralized or distilled water
CVT fluid See a NISSAN dealer for service. Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-2 *3
Power steering fluid (PSF)
Refill to the proper level according to the instructions
in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section.Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent.*7
Brake fluidGenuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid *4 or equivalent DOT 3
Multi-purpose grease———NLGINo.2(Lithium Soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerant— — — HFC-134a (R-134a) *5
Air conditioning system oil— — — NISSAN A/C System Oil Type S or equivalent *5
Windshield washer fluid— — — Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Anti-
freeze or equivalent
*1: For further details, see “Fuel recommendation.”
*2: For further details, see “Engine oil and oil filter recommendation.”
*3:Use only Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-2. Using transmission fluid other than Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-2 will damage the CVT, which is not
covered by the NISSAN new vehicle limited warranty.
*4: Available in mainland USA through your NISSAN dealer.
*5: For further details, see “Air conditioner system refrigerant and oil recommendations.”
*6: For further details, see “Engine Oil” in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
*7: 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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cWhen backing up, hold the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand. Move your
hand in the direction in which you want the
trailer to go. Make small corrections and
back up slowly. If possible, have someone
guide you when you are backing up.
Always block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is not
recommended; however, if you must do so:
CAUTION
If you move the shift selector lever to the P
(Park) position before blocking the
wheels and applying the parking brake,
transmission damage could occur.
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Have someone place blocks on the downhill
side of the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. After the wheel blocks are in place, slowly
release the brake pedal until the blocks ab-
sorb the vehicle load.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P (Park) .
6. Turn off the engine.
To drive away:
1. Start the vehicle.2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer are
clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks.
cWhen going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.
When going up a long grade, downshift the
transmission to a lower gear and reduce
speed to reduce chances of engine over-
loading and/or overheating.
cIf the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioner
system is on, turn off the air conditioner.
Coolant heat can be additionally vented by
opening the windows, switching the fan
control to high and setting the temperature
control to the HOT position.
cTrailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
cAvoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
cFor the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do
tow, do not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h) .cHave your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.
cWhen making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
cCrosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling.
Do the following if the trailer begins to sway:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to
allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions allow.
This combination will help stabilize the ve-
hicle.
– Do not correct trailer sway by steering or
applying the brakes.
2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the
brakes and pull to the side of the road in a
safe area.
9-22Technical and consumer information
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If you believe that your vehicle has a de-
fect which could cause a crash or could
cause injury or death, you should immedi-
ately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addi-
tion to notifying NISSAN.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it
may open an investigation, and if it finds
that a safety defect exists in a group of
vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot be-
come involved in individual problems be-
tween you, your dealer, or NISSAN.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Ve-
hicle Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-
327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go
to http://www.safercar.gov; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590.
You can also obtain other information
about motor vehicle safety from
http://www.safercar.gov.
You may notify NISSAN by contacting our
Consumer Affairs Department, toll-free, at
1-800-NISSAN-1.Due to legal requirements in some states and
Canadian Provinces, your vehicle may be re-
quired to be in what is called the “ready condi-
tion” for an Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test of
the emission control system.
The vehicle is set to the “ready condition” when it
is driven through certain driving patterns. Usually,
the ready condition can be obtained by ordinary
usage of the vehicle.
If a powertrain system component is repaired or
the battery is disconnected, the vehicle may be
reset to a “not ready” condition. Before taking the
I/M test, check the vehicle’s
inspection/maintenance test readiness condi-
tion. Turn the ignition switch ON without starting
the engine. If the Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL) comes on steady for 20 seconds and then
blinks for 10 seconds , the I/M test condition is
9not ready9. If the MIL does not blink after 20
seconds, the I/M test condition is9ready.9If the
MIL indicates the vehicle is in a9not ready9con-
dition, drive the vehicle through the following
pattern to set the vehicle to the ready condition. If
you cannot or do not want to perform the driving
pattern, a NISSAN dealer can conduct it for you.WARNING
Always drive the vehicle in a safe and
prudent manner according to traffic con-
ditions and obey all traffic laws.
1. Start the engine when the engine coolant
temperature gauge needle points to C. Al-
low the engine to idle until the gauge needle
points between the C and H (normal oper-
ating temperature) .
2. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88
km/h) , then quickly release the accelerator
pedal completely and keep it released for at
least 10 seconds.
3. Quickly depress the accelerator pedal for a
moment, then drive the vehicle at a speed of
53 - 60 MPH (86 - 96 km/h) for at least 9
minutes.
4. Stop the vehicle.
5. Accelerate the vehicle to 35 MPH (55 km/h)
and maintain the speed for 20 seconds.
6. Repeat steps 4 through 5 at least 10 times.
7. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88 km/h)
and maintain the speed for at least 3 min-
utes.
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS (US
only)READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST
Technical and consumer information9-25
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Cold weather driving..............5-23
Compact disc (CD) player...........4-31
Compass display.................2-6
Console box...................2-34
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) . . .5-9
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid.....................8-11
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT).............5-9
Transmission selector lever lock
release....................5-12
Control panel buttons
Brightness/contrast button.........4-17
Back button..................4-7
Clock set...................4-5
Enter button..................4-6
Setting button.............4-5, 4-11
Startup screen................4-7
Trip button................4-3, 4-7
With navigation system...........4-6
Without navigation system..........4-2
Controls
Audio controls (steering wheel)......4-44
Coolant
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine coolant..........8-8
Checking engine coolant level........8-7
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-5
Cornering light.................2-27
Corrosion protection...............7-6
Cruise control..................5-14
Cup holders...................2-33D
Daytime running light system
(Canada only)..................2-25
Defroster switch
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch....................2-21
Dimensions and weights.............9-8
Dimmer switch for instrument panel......2-26
Display controls
(see control panel buttons).........4-2, 4-6
Distance to empty..............4-3, 4-8
Door locks....................3-4
Door open warning................4-5
Door open warning light............2-11
Drive belt....................8-15
Drive positioner, Automatic...........3-28
Driving
Cold weather driving............5-23
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT).............5-9
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
E
Economy - fuel.................5-16
Emission control information label.......9-10
Emission control system warranty.......9-24
Engine
Before starting the engine..........5-8
Block heater.................5-25
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine coolant..........8-8Changing engine oil.............8-9
Changing engine oil filter..........8-10
Checking engine coolant level........8-7
Checking engine oil level..........8-8
Engine compartment check locations. . . .8-6
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-5
Engine cooling system............8-7
Engine oil...................8-8
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . .9-5
Engine oil pressure warning light.....2-12
Engine oil viscosity..............9-5
Engine serial number............9-10
Engine specifications.............9-7
Starting the engine..............5-8
English/metric setting..............4-15
Enter button....................4-6
Event data recorders..............9-26
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide)........5-2
Eyeglass case..................2-32
F
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch)......2-27
Flat tire......................6-2
Floor mat positioning aid.............7-5
Fluid
Brake fluid..................8-12
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid.....................8-11
Engine coolant................8-7
Engine oil...................8-8
Power steering fluid.............8-11
10-2
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Window washer fluid............8-12
F.M.V.S.S. certification label..........9-10
Fog light switch.................2-26
Front air bag system
(See supplemental restraint system).....1-43
Front seats....................1-2
Fuel
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Fuel economy................5-16
Fuel gauge..................2-6
Fuel octane rating..............9-4
Fuel recommendation............9-3
Fuel-filler door and cap...........3-20
Fuel-filler door lock opener lever......3-20
Fuel economy setting............4-4, 4-8
Fuses......................8-21
Fusible links...................8-22
G
Garage door opener, HomeLinkTUniversal
Transceiver...................2-43
Gascap.....................3-20
Gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-5
Fuel gauge..................2-6
Odometer...................2-4
Speedometer.................2-4
Tachometer..................2-5
Trip odometer.................2-4
General maintenance..............8-2
Glove box....................2-34
Glove box lock.................2-34
Grocery hooks.................2-35H
Hands-free phone system, BluetoothT. . . .4-46
Hazard warning flasher switch.........2-27
Head restraints..................1-7
Active Head Restraint............1-8
Headlight and turn signal switch........2-22
Headlight control switch............2-23
Headlights....................8-25
Heated seats..................2-28
Heated steering wheel.............2-29
Heater
Heater operation..............4-20
HomeLinkTUniversal Transceiver.......2-43
Hood release..................3-18
Horn.......................2-28
I
Ignition switch..................5-6
Immobilizer system..........2-19, 3-3, 5-7
Important vehicle information label.......9-10
In-cabin microfilter...............8-16
Increasing fuel economy............5-16
Indicator lights and audible reminders
(See warning/indicator lights and
audible reminders)...............2-10
Instrument brightness control.........2-26
Instrument panel..............0-6, 2-2
Instrument panel dimmer switch........2-26
Intelligent Key system..............3-6
Key operating range.............3-8
Key operation.................3-9
Mechanical key................3-3Remote keyless entry operation......3-12
Troubleshooting guide...........3-17
Warning signals...............3-17
Interior light...................2-41
Interior trunk lid release.............3-19
ISOFIX child restraints.............1-19
J
Jump starting...................6-7
K
Keyfob battery replacement..........8-24
Keyless entry
With Intelligent Key system
(See Intelligent Key system)........3-12
Keys, For Intelligent Key system.........3-2
L
Labels
Air conditioner specification label.....9-11
C.M.V.S.S. certification label........9-10
Emission control information label.....9-10
Engine serial number............9-10
F.M.V.S.S. certification label........9-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate . .9-9
Warning labels (for SRS)..........1-51
Language setting.............4-5, 4-15
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
System......................1-19
10-3
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Precautions on supplemental restraint
system....................1-35
Supplemental restraint system
(Supplemental air bag system).........1-35
Switch
Autolight switch...............2-23
Automatic power window switch.....2-38
Fog light switch...............2-26
Hazard warning flasher switch.......2-27
Headlight and turn signal switch......2-22
Headlight control switch..........2-23
Ignition switch................5-6
Power door lock switch...........3-5
Rear sonar system off switch.......2-30
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch....................2-21
Traction control system (TCS) off
switch....................2-29
Turn signal switch..............2-26
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off
switch....................2-30
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-20
T
Tachometer....................2-5
Temperature gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-5
Theft (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start..............2-19, 3-3, 5-7
Three-way catalyst................5-2
Tire
Flat tire....................6-2
Spare tire................6-3, 8-42
Tire chains..................8-39Tire placard.................9-11
Tire pressure................8-31
Tire rotation.................8-39
Types of tires................8-38
Uniform tire quality grading.........9-24
Wheels and tires..............8-31
Wheel/tire size................9-8
Tire pressure
Low tire pressure warning light......2-12
Tire pressure display..............4-10
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) . . .5-3
Tire rotation maintenance reminder......4-10
Top tether strap child restraint.........1-20
Towing
Flat towing..................9-23
Tow truck towing..............6-10
Towing load/specification.........9-19
Trailer towing................9-16
Traction control system (TCS) off switch . . .2-29
Transceiver
HomeLinkTUniversal Transceiver.....2-43
Transmission
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid.....................8-11
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT).............5-9
Selector lever lock release.........5-12
Travel (See registering your vehicle in another
country)......................9-9
Trip button..................4-3, 4-7
Trip odometer...................2-4
Trip time......................4-4
Trunk access through the rear seat.......1-6
Trunk lid lock opener lever...........3-19
Trunk light....................2-42
Turn signal switch................2-26U
Uniform tire quality grading...........9-24
V
Vanity mirror...................3-24
Vehicle dimensions and weights........9-8
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch. . .2-30
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system. . . .5-21
Vehicle electronic system...........4-13
Vehicle identification...............9-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
(Chassis number).................9-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate. . . .9-9
Vehicle loading information...........9-12
Vehicle recovery.................6-12
Vehicle security system.............2-17
Vehicle security system
(NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start..............2-19, 3-3, 5-7
Visors......................3-23
W
Warning
Air bag warning light.........1-51, 2-14
Anti-lock brake warning light........2-11
Battery charge warning light........2-11
Brake warning light.............2-11
Door open warning light..........2-11
Engine oil pressure warning light.....2-12
Hazard warning flasher switch.......2-27
10-6
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1. Window washer fluid 8-12
2. Engine oil 8-8
3. Engine coolant 8-7
4. Passenger supplemental front impact air bag
1-35
5. Audio system 4-22; Air conditioner 4-19
6. Supplemental side-impact air bag 1-35
7. Front seats 1-2
8. Spare tire 6-2
9. Fuel-filler door release 3-20;
Fuel recommendation 9-3
10. Keys 3-2
11. Seat belts 1-9
12. Trunk release 3-18
13. Supplemental curtain side-impact air bag
1-35
14. Driver supplemental front impact air bag
1-35
15. Hood release 3-18
16. Meters and gauges 2-3
WGS0038
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