2011 NISSAN MAXIMA 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. See “Capacities
and recommended fuel/lubricants” earlier 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
Technical and consumer information9-5

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:● repeated short distance driving at cold out-
side temperatures
● driving in dusty conditions
● extensive idling
● towing a trailer
● stop 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 NISSAN A/C
system oil Type S or the exact equivalents.
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.
9-6Technical and consumer information

●When 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 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. ● While going downhill, the weight of the
trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may de-
crease overall stability. Therefore, to main-
tain adequate control, reduce your speed
and use the manual shift mode (M5) . Avoid
long or repeated use of the brakes when
descending a hill, as this reduces their effec-
tiveness and could cause overheating. Shift-
ing the manual shift mode to M5 (5th) pro-
vides “engine braking” and reduces the need
to brake as frequently.
● If the engine coolant temperature rises to a
high temperature, refer to “If your vehicle
overheats” in the “In case of emergency”
section of this owner’s manual.
● Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
● Avoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) . ●
For the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do
tow, do not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h) .
● Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice 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 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.
9-22Technical and consumer information

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. Place the ignition switch in the ON position
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 “not ready”. If the MIL does not
blink after 20 seconds, the I/M test condition is
“ready”. Contact a NISSAN dealer to set the
“ready condition” or to prepare the vehicle for
testing.This vehicle is equipped with an Event Data Re-
corder (EDR) . The main purpose of an EDR is to
record, in certain crash or near crash-like situa-
tions, such as an air bag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle, data that will assist in understand-
ing how a vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR
is designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this
vehicle is designed to record such data as:
● How various systems in your vehicle were
operating;
● Whether or not the driver and passenger
safety belts were buckled/fastened;
● How far (if at all) the driver was depressing
the accelerator and/or brake pedal; and,
● How fast the vehicle was traveling.
● Sounds are not recorded.
These data can help provide a better understand-
ing of the circumstances in which crashes and
injuries occur. NOTE: EDR data are recorded by
your vehicle only if a nontrivial crash situation
occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR under
normal driving conditions and no personal data
(e.g. name, gender, age and crash location) are
recorded. However, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of personally identifying data routinely
acquired during a crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equip-
ment is required and access to the vehicle or the
EDR is needed. In addition to the vehicle manu-
facturer and NISSAN dealer, other parties, such
as law enforcement, that have the special equip-
ment, can read the information if they have ac-
cess to the vehicle or the EDR. EDR data will only
be accessed with the consent of the vehicle
owner or lessee or as otherwise required or per-
mitted by law.
READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST
EVENT DATA RECORDERS (EDR)
9-26Technical and consumer information

Windshield-washer fluid...........8-14
F.M.V.S.S. certification label ...........9-10
Fog light switch .................2-32
Folding rear seat ..................1-5
Front air bag system
(See supplemental restraint system) ......1-44
Front seats .....................1-2
Fuel Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Fuel economy ................5-19
Fuel gauge ...................2-6
Fuel octane rating ...............9-4
Fuel recommendation .............9-3
Fuel-filler door and cap ...........3-21
Loose fuel cap warning ........2-24, 3-21
Fuses .......................8-21
Fusible links ...................8-22
G
Garage door opener, HomeLink Universal
Transceiver ....................2-52
Gascap .....................3-21
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 .....................2-40
Glove box lock ..................2-40
Grocery hooks ..................2-41 H
Hands-free phone system,
Bluetooth ...............4-115, 4-130
Hazard warning flasher switch .........2-33
Headlight and turn signal switch ........2-28
Headlight control switch ............2-29
Headlights ....................8-26
Heated seats..............

.2-34, 2-36
Heated steering wheel .............2-34
Heater Heater and air conditioner
controls ................4-42, 4-45
Heater operation ...........4-43, 4-46
HomeLink Universal Transceiver ........2-52
Hood release ...................3-18
Horn .......................2-33
I
Ignition Switch Push-Button Ignition Switch .........5-7
Image viewer ...................4-32
Immobilizer system .........2-25, 3-3, 5-10
Important vehicle information label .......9-10
In-cabin microfilter ................8-18
Increasing fuel economy .............5-19
Indicator lights and audible reminders
(See warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders) ....................2-10
Inside automatic anti-glare mirror ........3-26
Instrument brightness control ..........2-32
Instrument panel ...............0-6, 2-2
Instrument panel dimmer switch ........2-32Intelligent Key system
Key operating range ..............3-9
Key operation ................3-10
Mechanical key ................3-3
Remote keyless entry operation .......3-13
Troubleshooting guide ............3-16
Warning signals ...............3-16
Interior light ....................2-49
Interior trunk lid release .............3-20
iPod Player................4-91, 4-93
ISOFIX child restraints .............1-21
J
Jump starting ...................6-7
K
Keyfob battery replacement ...........8-24
K eyless

entry
With Intelligent Key system
(See Intelligent Key system) .........3-13
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
Tire and Loading Information label .....9-11
10-3

Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate . .9-9
Warning labels (for SRS)..........1-51
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
System ......................1-21
License plate Installing the license plate ..........9-11
Light Air bag warning light .........1-52, 2-13
Brake light (See stop light) .........8-27
Bulb check/instrument panel ........2-10
Bulb replacement ..............8-27
Charge warning light ............2-11
Fog light switch ...............2-32
Headlight and turn signal switch ......2-28
Headlight control switch ..........2-29
Headlights ..................8-26
Interior light ..................2-49
Light bulbs ..................8-26
Low tire pressure warning light .......2-12
Low windshield-washer fluid warning
light ......................2-23
Passenger air bag and status light .....1-46
Security indicator light ............2-15
Spotlights (See map light) .........2-51
Trunk light ..................2-52
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders ...................2-10
Lights Map lights ..................2-51
Lock Child safety rear door lock ..........3-6
Door locks ...................3-4
Glove box lock ................2-40
Power door locks ...............3-5
Trunk lid lock opener lever ..........3-19
Loose fuel cap warning ..........2-24, 3-21 Low fuel warning light
..........2-13, 2-23
Low tire pressure warning light .........2-12
Low windshield-washer fluid warning light . . .2-23
Luggage (See vehicle loading information) . .9-12
M
Maintenance Changing the maintenance interval . .4-8, 4-22
Displaying the maintenance notice
reminder .................4-9, 4-23
General maintenance .............8-2
Inside the

vehicle...............8-3
Maintenance precautions ...........8-5
Outside the vehicle ..............8-2
Resetting the maintenance interval . .4-8, 4-22
Seat belt maintenance ............1-17
Setting .................4-8, 4-22
Under the hood and vehicle .........8-4
Malfunction indicator light ............2-14
Map lights ....................2-51
Map pocket ....................2-37
Meters and gauges ................2-3
Instrument brightness control ........2-32
Mirror Automatic anti-glare inside mirror ......3-26
Outside mirror control ............3-28
Outside mirrors ...............3-28
Vanity mirror .................3-25
Moonroof .....................2-45
Music Box hard-disk drive audio
system ..................4-96, 4-101 N
NISSAN Intelligent Key™ .............3-7
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system ................2-25, 3-3, 5-10
NISSAN voice recognition system ......4-142
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
Overheat If your vehicle overheats ...........6-9
Owner’s manual

order form...........9-27
Owner’s manual/service manual order
information ....................9-27
P
Parking Parking brake operation ...........5-17
Parking/parking on hills ...........5-20
10-4

Phone, Bluetoothhands-free
system .................4-115, 4-130
Power Power door locks ...............3-5
Power outlet .................2-36
Power rear windows .............2-43
Power steering fluid .............8-12
Power steering system ...........5-21
Power windows ...............2-42
Rear power windows ............2-43
Precautions Maintenance precautions ...........8-5
Precautions on child
restraints .........1-19, 1-25, 1-30, 1-34
Precautions on seat belt usage .......1-11
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ....................1-37
Precautions when starting and driving . . . .5-2
Programmable features ..........4-9, 4-24
Push starting ....................6-9
R
Radio Car phone or CB radio ..........4-115
Compact Disc (CD) changer ........4-65
FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
changer ....................4-63
FM/AM/SAT radio with CD/DVD player . .4-75
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) player ..................4-68
Steering wheel audio control switch . . .4-113
Readiness for inspection maintenance
(I/M) test .....................9-26
Rear power windows ..............2-43 Rear seat
......................1-5
Rear sun shade .................2-49
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch .......................2-27
RearView Monitor ................4-34
Recorders Event data ..................9-26
Refrigerant recommendation ...........9-6
Registering your vehicle in another country . . .9-9
Reporting safety defects (US only) .......9-25
Resetting the fuel economy ........4-7, 4-21
S
Safety Child safety rear door lock ..........3-6
Child seat belts .....1-19,
1-25,
1-30, 1-34
Reporting safety defects (US only) .....9-25
Seat adjustment Front power seat adjustment .........1-3
Seat belt Child safety ..................1-18
Infants and small children ..........1-18
Injured Person ................1-14
Larger children ................1-19
Precautions on seat belt usage .......1-11
Pregnant women ...............1-14
Seat belt extenders .............1-17
Seat belt maintenance ............1-17
Seat belts ...................1-11
Shoulder belt height adjustment ......1-16
Three-point type with retractor .......1-14
Seat belt warning light ..............2-13
Seatback pockets ................2-37
Seats Adjustment
...................1-2
Automatic drive positioner ..........3-29
Front seats ...................1-2
Heated seats .............2-34, 2-36
Rear seat ....................1-5
Security indicator light ..............2-15
Security system (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system) , engine start ........2-25, 3-3, 5-10
Self-adjusting brakes ..............8-20
Service manual order form ...........9-27
Servicing air conditioner .............4-47
Setting button ...............4-9, 4-24
Shift lock release .................5-16
Shifting Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) .....................5-13
Shoulder belt height adjustment ........1-16
Spark plug replacement .............8-17
Speedometer ...................2-4
Spotlights (See map light) ...........2-51
SRS warning

label................1-51
Starting Before starting the engine ..........5-10
Jump starting .................6-7
Precautions when starting and driving . . . .5-2
Push starting ..................6-9
Starting the engine .............5-11
Steering Heated steering wheel ...........2-34
Power steering fluid .............8-12
Power steering system ...........5-21
Steering wheel audio control switch .....4-113
Stop light .....................8-27
Storage ......................2-37
Sun visors ....................3-25
Sunglasses case .................2-38
10-5