2008 NISSAN PATHFINDER maintenance

ENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER
RECOMMENDATIONS
Selecting the correct oil
It is essential to choose the correct grade, quality
and viscosity engine oil to ensure satisfactory
engine life and performance. See9Capacities
and recommended fuel/lubricants9earlier in this
section. NISSAN recommends the use of an
energy conserving oil in order to improve fuel
economy.
Select only engine oils that meet the American
Petroleum Institute (API) certification or Interna-
tional Lubricant Standardization and ApprovalCommittee (ILSAC) certification and SAE vis-
cosity standard. These oils have the API certifica-
tion mark on the front of the container. Oils which
do not have the specified quality label should not
be used as they could cause engine damage.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. Choosing an oil
viscosity other than that recommended could
cause serious 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”.
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 limited war-
ranty.
WTI0183
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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
cstop and go commuting
Refer to the “NISSAN Service and Maintenance
Guide” for the maintenance schedule.
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM
REFRIGERANT AND OIL
RECOMMENDATIONS
The air conditioner system in your NISSAN
vehicle must be charged with the refriger-
ant HFC-134a (R-134a) and the oil, NISSAN
A/C system oil Type S or the exact equiva-
lents.
CAUTION
The use of any other refrigerant or oil will
cause severe damage to the air condition-
ing system and will require the replace-
ment 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.
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long steep grades, do not stay in 1st gear
when driving above 35 MPH (56 km/h) or
2nd gear when driving above 58 MPH (93
km/h) .
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.
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is bal-
anced as described earlier in this section.
cBe careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember, the length of the trailer must
also pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.cDownshift the transmission to a lower gear
for engine braking when driving down steep
or long hills. This will help slow the vehicle
without applying the brakes.
cTo maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
overdrive.
cAvoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
cIncrease your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
cDo not use cruise control while towing a
trailer.
cSome states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehicles that
are towing trailers. Obey the local speed
limits.
cCheck your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
cWhen stopped in traffic for long periods of
time in hot weather, put the vehicle in the P
(Park) position.
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cWhen launching a boat, don’t allow the wa-
ter level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
cMake sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, see the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor
home.
CAUTION
cFailure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
cWhenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.
cDO NOT tow any automatic transmis-
sion vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground (flat towing) . Doing so WILL
DAMAGE internal transmission parts
due to lack of transmission lubrication.
cFor emergency towing procedures refer
to “Towing recommended by NISSAN”
in the “In case of emergency” section of
this manual.
Automatic Transmission
To tow a vehicle equipped with an automatic
transmission, an appropriate vehicle dollyMUST
be placed under the towed vehicle’s drive
wheels.Alwaysfollow the dolly manufacturer’s
recommendations when using their product.DOT (Department of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times
as well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA, A, B and C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the
tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as mea-
sured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and con-
crete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
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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
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F
First aid kit....................6-2
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch)......2-31
Flat tire......................6-2
Floor mat positioning aid.............7-4
Fluid
Brake fluid..................8-13
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Engine coolant................8-8
Engine oil...................8-9
Power steering fluid.............8-13
Window washer fluid............8-14
F.M.V.S.S. certification label..........9-10
Fog light switch.................2-30
Front air bag system
(See supplemental restraint system).....1-47
Front seats....................1-2
Fuel
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Fuel economy................5-20
Fuel gauge..................2-7
Fuel octane rating..............9-4
Fuel recommendation............9-3
Fuel-filler door and cap...........3-22
Fuses......................8-23
Fusible links...................8-25G
Garage door opener, HomeLinkTUniversal
Transceiver...................2-53
Gascap.....................3-22
Gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Engine oil pressure gauge..........2-8
Fuel gauge..................2-7
Odometer...................2-4
Speedometer.................2-4
Tachometer..................2-6
Trip computer.................2-5
Trip odometer.................2-4
Voltmeter...................2-8
General maintenance..............8-2
Glass hatch...................3-21
Glove box....................2-39
H
Hands-free phone system, BluetoothT. . .4-104
Hazard warning flasher switch.........2-31
Head restraints..................1-7
Active Head Restraint............1-7
Headlight and turn signal switch........2-27
Headlight control switch............2-27
Headlights....................8-29
Headphones (See NISSAN mobile
entertainment system).............4-91
Heated seats..................2-32
Heated steering wheel.............2-32Heater
Heater and air conditioner
controls................4-36, 4-44
Heater operation...........4-38, 4-45
Rear seat air conditioner..........4-46
Hill descent control switch...........2-33
Hill descent control system..........5-34
Hill start assist (HSA) system.........5-35
HomeLinkTUniversal Transceiver.......2-53
Hood release..................3-20
Hook
Luggage hook................2-42
Horn.......................2-31
I
Ignition switch..................5-8
Immobilizer system.........2-23, 3-3, 5-11
Important vehicle information label.......9-10
In-cabin microfilter...............8-19
Increasing fuel economy............5-20
Indicator lights and audible reminders
(See warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders)....................2-12
Inside automatic anti-glare mirror.......3-26
Inside mirror...................3-26
Instrument brightness control.........2-30
Instrument panel..............0-6, 2-2
Instrument panel dimmer switch........2-30
Intelligent Key system..............3-6
Key operating range.............3-8
Key operation.................3-9
Mechanical key................3-3
Remote keyless entry operation......3-12
Troubleshooting guide...........3-14
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Warning signals...............3-14
Interior light...................2-51
ISOFIX child restraints.............1-22
J
Jump starting...................6-8
K
Key ........................3-2
Keyfob battery replacement..........8-26
Keyless entry
With Intelligent Key system
(See Intelligent Key system)........3-12
Keyless entry system
(See remote keyless entry system)......3-16
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.....9-11
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)..........1-55
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren) System................1-22
License plate
Installing the license plate.........9-12Lift gate.....................3-20
Light
Air bag warning light.........1-56, 2-17
Brake light (See stop light).........8-30
Bulb check/instrument panel........2-13
Bulb replacement..............8-30
Charge warning light............2-14
Fog light switch...............2-30
Headlight and turn signal switch......2-27
Headlight control switch..........2-27
Headlights..................8-29
Interior light.................2-51
Light bulbs..................8-29
Low tire pressure warning light......2-16
Low washer fluid warning light.......2-17
Passenger air bag and status light.....1-49
Personal lights...............2-52
Security indicator light...........2-20
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders..................2-12
Lights
Map lights..................2-53
Lock
Child safety rear door lock..........3-6
Door locks..................3-4
Power door locks...............3-5
Low fuel warning light.............2-16
Low tire pressure warning light........2-16
Low washer fluid warning light.........2-17
Luggage hook..................2-42
Luggage (See vehicle loading information) . .9-12
Luggage storage
(see vehicle loading information)........2-42M
Maintenance
Changing the maintenance
interval.................4-7, 4-23
Displaying the maintenance notice
reminder................4-8, 4-24
General maintenance............8-2
Inside the vehicle...............8-3
Maintenance precautions..........8-5
Outside the vehicle..............8-2
Resetting the maintenance interval . .4-8, 4-23
Seat belt maintenance...........1-19
Setting.................4-7, 4-23
Under the hood and vehicle.........8-4
Malfunction indicator light...........2-19
Manual front seat adjustment..........1-2
Map lights....................2-53
Map pocket...................2-40
Meters and gauges................2-3
Instrument brightness control.......2-30
Mirror
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror.....3-26
Inside mirror.................3-26
Outside mirror control...........3-28
Outside mirrors...............3-28
Vanity mirror.................3-25
Music Box hard-disk drive audio system . . .4-74
N
NISSAN mobile entertainment system
(MES)......................4-88
10-4
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NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system................2-23, 3-3, 5-11
NISSAN voice recognition system......4-114
O
Octane rating (See fuel octane rating).....9-4
Odometer.....................2-4
Oil
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine oil............8-10
Changing engine oil filter..........8-11
Checking engine oil level..........8-9
Engine oil...................8-9
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . .9-5
Engine oil viscosity..............9-5
Outside mirror control.............3-28
Outside mirrors.................3-28
Overdrive switch................5-17
Overheat
If your vehicle overheats..........6-10
Owner’s manual order form..........9-30
Owner’s manual/service manual order
information....................9-30
P
Parking
Parking brake operation..........5-17
Parking/parking on hills...........5-30
Pedal position adjustment...........3-24
Personal lights.................2-52
Phone, BluetoothThands-free system. . . .4-104Power
Front seat adjustment............1-4
Power door locks...............3-5
Power outlet.................2-34
Power rear windows............2-49
Power steering fluid.............8-13
Power steering system...........5-31
Power windows...............2-47
Rear power windows............2-49
Precautions
Maintenance precautions..........8-5
On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions..................5-5
Precautions on child
restraints............1-20, 1-28, 1-35
Precautions on seat belt usage......1-12
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system....................1-40
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
Pre-tensioner seat belt system.........1-54
Programmable features..........4-9, 4-25
Push starting..................6-10
R
Radio
Car phone or CB radio..........4-103
Compact Disc (CD) changer.......4-62
FM/AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player....................4-54
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) changer................4-59
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) player.................4-67
Rear audio controls.............4-86Steering wheel audio control switch. . . .4-85
Readiness for inspection maintenance
(I/M) test.....................9-28
Rear audio controls...............4-86
Rear power windows..............2-49
Rear seat air conditioner............4-46
Rear view monitor................4-33
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch......................2-26
Rear window wiper and washer switches . . .2-25
Recorders
Event data..................9-29
Refrigerant recommendation..........9-6
Registering your vehicle in another country. . .9-9
Remote controller (See NISSAN mobil
e entertainment system)............4-90
Remote keyless entry system.........3-16
Reporting safety defects (US only)......9-28
Resetting the fuel economy........4-5, 4-21
S
Safety
Child safety rear door lock..........3-6
Child seat belts........1-20, 1-28, 1-35
Reporting safety defects (US only). . . .9-28
Screen (See NISSAN mobile entertainment
system).....................4-90
Seat adjustment
Front manual seat adjustment........1-2
Front power seat adjustment........1-4
Second row bench seats..........1-5
Seat belt
Child safety.................1-14
Infants and small children.........1-15
10-5
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