●If a methanol blend is used, it should contain
no more than 5% methanol (methyl alcohol,
wood alcohol). It should also contain a suit-
able amount of appropriate cosolvents and
corrosion inhibitors. If not properly formu-
lated with appropriate cosolvents and corro-
sion inhibitors, such methanol blends may
cause fuel system damage and/or vehicle
performance problems. At this time, suffi-
cient data is not available to ensure that all
methanol blends are suitable for use in
INFINITI vehicles.
If any undesirable driveability problems such as
engine stalling or hard hot starting are experi-
enced after using oxygenate-blend fuels, imme-
diately change to a non-oxygenate fuel or a fuel
with a low blend of MTBE.
Take care not to spill gasoline during refueling.
Gasoline containing oxygenates can cause paint
damage.
E-85 fuel
E-85 fuel is a mixture of approximately 85% fuel
ethanol and 15% unleaded gasoline. E-85 can
only be used in a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV). Do
not use E-85 fuel in your vehicle. U.S. govern-
ment regulations require fuel ethanol dispens-
ing pumps to be identified by a small, square, orange and black label with the common abbre-
viation or the appropriate percentage for that
region.
Aftermarket fuel additives
INFINITI does not recommend the use of any
aftermarket fuel additives (Example: fuel injec-
tor cleaner, octane booster, intake valve de-
posit removers, etc.) which are sold commer-
cially. Many of these additives intended for
gum, varnish or deposit removal may contain
active solvent or similar ingredients that can be
harmful to the fuel system and engine.
Octane rating tips
Using unleaded gasoline with an octane rating
lower than recommended above can cause per-
sistent, heavy spark knock. (Spark knock is a
metallic rapping noise.) If severe, 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 knock while holding a steady speed on
level roads, have an INFINITI retailer correct the
condition. Failure to correct the condition is mis-
use of the vehicle, for which INFINITI is not re-
sponsible.
Incorrect ignition timing will result in knocking,
after-run or overheating. This in turn may cause
excessive fuel consumption or damage to theengine. If any of the above symptoms are
encountered, have your vehicle checked at an
INFINITI retailer or other competent service fa-
cility.
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 under
heavy engine load.
CAUTION
●
Your vehicle is not designed to run on E-85
fuel. Using E-85 fuel in a vehicle not specifi-
cally designed for E-85 fuel can damage fuel
system components and is not covered by
the INFINITI new vehicle limited warranty.
● E-85 is a mixture of approximately 85% fuel
ethanol and 15% unleaded gasoline.
● U.S. government regulations require ethanol
dispensing pumps to be identified by a
small, square, orange and black label with
the common abbreviation or the appropriate
percentage for that region.
Technical and consumer information9-5
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08/03/09—pattie
The GCWR equals the combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including passengers and
cargo) plus the total trailer load. Towing loads
greater than these or using improper towing
equipment could adversely affect vehicle han-
dling, braking and performance.
The ability of your vehicle to tow a trailer is not
only related to the maximum trailer loads, but
also the places you plan to tow. Tow weights
appropriate for level highway driving may have
to be reduced on very steep grades or for low
traction situations (for example, on slippery
boat ramps).
Temperature conditions can also affect towing.
For example, towing a heavy trailer in high
outside temperatures on graded roads can af-fect engine performance and cause overheat-
ing. The transmission high fluid temperature
protection mode, which helps reduce the
chance of transmission damage, could activate
and automatically decrease engine power. Ve-
hicle speed may decrease under high load. Plan
your trip carefully to account for trailer and
vehicle load, weather and road conditions.
WARNING
Overheating can result in reduced engine
power and vehicle speed. The reduced speed
may be lower than other traffic, which could
increase the chance of a collision. Be especially
careful when driving. If the vehicle cannot
maintain a safe driving speed, pull to the side
of the road in a safe area. Allow the engine to
cool and return to normal operation. See “IF
YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS” in the “6. In case of
emergency” section of this manual.
CAUTION
Vehicle damage resulting from improper tow-
ing procedures are not covered by INFINITI
warranties.
Tongue load
When using a weight carrying or a weight
distributing hitch, keep the tongue load be-
tween 10 to 15% of the total trailer load within
the maximum tongue load limits shown in the
following “Towing Load/Specification” chart. If
the tongue load becomes excessive, rearrange
cargo to allow for proper tongue load.
STI0541STI0542
9-20Technical and consumer information
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08/03/09—pattie
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 dam-
age could occur.
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Have someone place blocks on the down- hill side of the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. After the wheel blocks are in place, slowly release the brake pedal until the blocks
absorb the vehicle load.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P (Park).
6. Turn off the engine.
To drive away:
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
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.
● When 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 overload-
ing and/or overheating.
● If the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioning
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.
● Trailer towing requires more fuel than nor-
mal circumstances.
● Avoid towing a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km).
● Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
maintenance schedule in the INFINITI Service
and Maintenance Guide.
● When 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.
● Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly
causing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling. If swaying does occur, firmly
grip the steering wheel, steer straight
ahead, and immediately (but gradually) re-
duce vehicle speed. This combination will
help stabilize the vehicle. Never increase
speed.
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 vehicle.
– Do not correct trailer sway by steering orapplying 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 balanced as described earlier in this sec-
tion.
9-26Technical and consumer information
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08/03/09—pattie
●Be 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.
● Down shift 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.
● Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
● Increase your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
● Do not use cruise control while towing a
trailer.
● Some states or provinces have specific regu-
lations and speed limits for vehicles that are
towing trailers. Obey the local speed limits.
● Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
● When stopped in traffic for long periods of
time in hot weather, put the vehicle in the P
(Park) position. ●
When launching a boat, don’t allow the
water level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
● Make sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, the transmission fluid
should be changed more frequently. For addi-
tional information, see the “8. 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
● Failure to follow these guidelines can result
in severe transmission damage.
● Whenever flat towing your vehicle, always
tow forward, never backward.
● DO NOT tow any automatic transmission ve-
hicle with all four wheels on the ground (flat
towing). Doing so WILL DAMAGE internal
transmission parts due to lack of transmis-
sion lubrication. ●
DO NOT tow an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) ve-
hicle with any of the wheels on the ground.
Doing so may cause serious and expensive
damage to the powertrain.
● For emergency towing procedures refer to
“TOWING RECOMMENDED BY INFINITI” in the
“6. In case of emergency” section of this
manual.
Automatic transmission
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) models :
Do not tow an AWD vehicle with any of the
wheels on the ground.
Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models :
To tow a vehicle equipped with an automatic
transmission, an appropriate vehicle dolly
MUST be placed under the towed vehicle’s drive
wheels. Alwaysfollow the dolly manufacturer’s
recommendations when using their product.
Technical and consumer information9-27
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08/03/09—pattie
Checking engine coolant level......8-9
Checking engine oil level .........8-10
Engine block heater ............5-81
Engine compartment check locations . . . 8-6
Engine cooling system ...........8-9
Engine oil .................. 8-10
Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation ..............9-6
Engine oil replacement indicator .....2-25
Engine oil viscosity .............9-6
Engine serial number ...........9-12
Engine specifications ............9-8
Engine start operation indicator .....2-23
If your vehicle overheats .........6-10
Starting the engine ............5-12
Engine coolant temperature gauge ......2-7
Entry/exit function, Automatic drive
positioner ................... .3-25
Event Data Recorders (EDR) ..........9-31
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ........5-2
F
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label . . .9-12
Filter Air cleaner housing filter .........8-19
Changing engine oil and filter ......8-11
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch) .....2-40
Flat tire ..................... .6-2
Flat towing .................. .9-27
Floor mat cleaning ............... .7-5
Fluid Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) . . . .8-13
Brake fluid ................. 8-14Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants
..................9-2
Engine coolant ...............8-9
Engine oil .................. 8-10
Power steering fluid ............8-13
Window washer fluid ...........8-14
FM-AM-SAT radio with Compact Disc (CD)
player ..................... .4-61
Fog light switch ............... .2-40
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system . . .5-61
Front passenger air bag and status light . .1-47
Front power seat adjustment ..........1-2
Front seat, Front seat adjustment .......1-2
Fuel Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants .................. .9-2
Fuel
economy ............... 5-68
Fuel economy information (display) ....4-9
Fuel octane rating .............9-4
Fuel recommendation ...........9-4
Fuel-filler cap ................ 3-18
Fuel-filler door ............... 3-18
Gauge ....................2-8
Fuses ..................... .8-22
Fusible links ................. .8-22
G
Garage door opener, HomeLink Universal
Transceiver .................. .2-60
Gascap .................... .3-18
Gauge ...................... .2-5
Gauge Engine coolant temperature gauge . . . .2-7
Fuel gauge ..................2-8 Odometer
..................2-6
Speedometer ................2-6
Tachometer .................2-7
Trip computer ............... 2-27
General maintenance ..............8-2
Glove box ................... .2-48
H
Hands-free phone system, Bluetooth
(with navigation system) ...........4-104
Hands-free phone system, Bluetooth
(without navigation system) .........4-115
Hazard warning flasher switch . . . . . . . .2-40
Head restraints ................. .1-6
Headlights Aiming control (See adaptive front
lighting system (AFS)) ...........2-38
Bulb replacement ............. 8-26
Headlight switch .............. 2-36
Xenon headlights ............. 2-35
Headphones (See INFINITI mobile
entertainment system) ........4-94 , 4-102
Heater Automatic climate control .........4-40
Engine block heater ............5-81
HomeLink Universal Transceiver . . . . . .2-60
Hood release ................. .3-16
Hook Coat
hooks................ .2-49
Luggage hook ............... 2-50
Horn ...................... .2-41
10-3
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10/19/09—tbrooks