2012 INFINITI M service

8-44Maintenance and do-it-yourself
mation”(Canada) in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet.
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
models
CAUTION
. Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or
radial), and tread pattern on all four
wheels. Failure to do so may result in a
circumference difference between tires
on the front and rear axles which will
cause excessive tire wear and may
damage the transmission, transfer case
and differential gears.
. ONLY use spare tires specified for the
Intelligent AWD model.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is
recommended that all four tires be re-
placed with tires of the same size, brand,
construction and tread pattern. The tire
pressure and wheel alignment should also
be checked and corrected as necessary.
Contact an INFINITI retailer.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle
handling and tire life. Even with regular
use, wheels can get out of balance. There-
fore, they should be balanced as required.
Wheel balance service should be per-
formed with the wheels off the vehicle.
Spin balancing the wheels on the vehicle
could lead to mechanical damage.
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information ”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information ”(Canada)
in the INFINITI Warranty Information Book-
let.
Care of wheels
See “Cleaning exterior ”in the “7. Appear-
ance and care ”section for details about
care of the wheels.
Spare tire (TEMPORARY USE ONLY
(T-type) spare tire)
Observe the following precautions if the T-
type spare tire must be used, otherwise
your vehicle could be damaged or involved
in an accident.
WARNING
. The T-type spare tire should be used for
emergency use. It should be replaced
with the standard tire at the first
opportunity to avoid possible tire or
differential damage.
. Drive carefully while the TEMPORARY
USE ONLY spare tire is installed. Avoid
sharp turns and abrupt braking while
driving.
. Periodically check spare tire inflation
pressure. Always keep the pressure of
the TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire at
60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 bar). Always keep
the pressure of the full size spare tire (if
so equipped) at the recommended pres-
sure for standard tires, as indicated on
the Tire and Loading Information label.
For Tire and Loading Information label
location, see “Tire and loading informa-
tion label ”in the “9. Technical and
consumer information ”.
. With the TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare
tire installed do not drive your vehicle at
speeds faster than 50 MPH (80 km/h).
. When driving on roads covered with
snow or ice, the TEMPORARY USE ONLY

9 Technical and consumer information
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants....... 9-2Fuel recommendation ...................................... 9-4
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation ......... 9-6
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations ............................. 9-7
Specifications ...................................................... 9-8
Engine............................................................. 9-8
Wheels and tires ............................................. 9-9
Dimensions ................................................... 9-10
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country ................................................. 9-11
Vehicle identification ......................................... 9-11 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate ....... 9-11
Vehicle identification number
(chassis number) ........................................... 9-11
Engine serial number .................................... 9-12
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label .......... 9-12
Emission control information label ................ 9-13
Tire and loading information label ................. 9-13
Air conditioner specification label.................. 9-13 Installing front license plate .............................. 9-14
Vehicle loading information............................... 9-15
Terms .......................................................... 9-15
Vehicle load capacity ................................... 9-17
Loading tips................................................. 9-18
Measurement of weights.............................. 9-18
Towing a trailer ................................................. 9-19 Flat towing................................................... 9-19
Uniform tire quality grading .............................. 9-19 Treadwear .................................................... 9-19
Traction AA, A, B and C................................ 9-20
Temperature A, B and C ............................... 9-20
Emission control system warranty ..................... 9-20
Reporting safety defects.................................... 9-21
Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test
(US only)........................................................... 9-22
Event Data Recorders (EDR) ............................... 9-23
Owner ’s Manual/Service Manual
order information .............................................. 9-23
In the event of a collision ............................ 9-24

*1:INFINITI recommends Genuine NISSAN Ester Engine Oil available at your INFINITI retailer.*2:For additional information, see“Engine oil ”in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself ”section for changing engine oil.*3:Using automatic transmission fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF will cause deterioration in driveability and automatic transmission durability, and may damage the automatic
transmission, which is not covered by the INFINITI new vehicle limited warranty.
*4:For hot climates, viscosity SAE 90 is suitable for ambient temperatures above 32 8F(08C).*5:See an INFINITI retailer for service for synthetic oil.*6:Using transfer fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF will cause deterioration in driveability and transfer durability, and may damage the transfer, which is not covered by the INFINITI new
vehicle limited warranty.
*7:DEXRONTMVI type ATF may also be used.*8:Available in mainland USA through an INFINITI retailer.*9:For additional information, see “Vehicle identification ”later in this section for air conditioner specification label.*10:For additional information, see “Engine oil and oil filter recommendation ”later in this section.
Technical and consumer information9-3

9-4Technical and consumer information
FUEL RECOMMENDATION
Use unleaded premium gasoline with an
octane rating of at least 91 AKI (Anti-Knock
Index) number (Research octane number
96).
If premium gasoline is not available,
unleaded regular gasoline with an octane
rating of 87 AKI number (Research octane
number 91) may be temporarily used, but
only under the following precautions:
.Have the fuel tank filled only partially
with unleaded regular gasoline, and fill
up with unleaded premium gasoline as
soon as possible.
. Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt
acceleration.
However, for maximum vehicle perfor-
mance, the use of unleaded premium
gasoline is recommended.
CAUTION
. Using a fuel other than that specified
could adversely affect the emission
control system, and may also affect
warranty coverage.
. Under no circumstances should a leaded
gasoline be used, because this will damage the three-way catalyst.
. Do not use E-85 fuel in your vehicle. Your
vehicle is not designed to run on E-85
fuel. Using E-85 fuel can damage the fuel
system components and is not covered
by the INFINITI vehicle limited warranty.
Gasoline specifications
INFINITI recommends using gasoline that
meets the World-Wide Fuel Charter (WWFC)
specifications where it is available. Many
of the automobile manufacturers devel-
oped this specification to improve emis-
sion system and vehicle performance. Ask
your service station manager if the gaso-
line meets the World-Wide Fuel Charter
(WWFC) specifications.
Reformulated gasoline
Some fuel suppliers are now producing
reformulated gasolines. These gasolines
are specially designed to reduce vehicle
emissions. INFINITI supports efforts to-
wards cleaner air and suggests that you
use reformulated gasoline when available.
Gasoline containing oxygenates
Some fuel suppliers sell gasoline contain-
ing oxygenates such as ethanol, MTBE and
methanol with or without advertising their
presence. INFINITI does not recommend the
use of fuels of which the oxygenate content
and the fuel compatibility for your INFINITI
cannot be readily determined. If in doubt,
ask your service station manager.
If you use oxygenate-blend gasoline,
please take the following precautions as
the usage of such fuels may cause vehicle
performance problems and/or fuel system
damage.
.The fuel should be unleaded and have
an octane rating no lower than that
recommended for unleaded gasoline.
. If an oxygenate-blend, excepting a
methanol blend, is used, it should
contain no more than 10% oxygenate.
(MTBE may, however, be added up to
15%.)
. If a methanol blend is used, it should
contain no more than 5% methanol
(methyl alcohol, wood alcohol). It
should also contain a suitable amount
of appropriate cosolvents and corro-
sion inhibitors. If not properly formu-
lated with appropriate cosolvents and

corrosion inhibitors, such methanol
blends may cause fuel system damage
and/or vehicle performance problems.
At this time, sufficient 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 experienced after using oxygenate-
blend fuels, immediately 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. government
regulations require fuel 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.
Aftermarket fuel additives
INFINITI does not recommend the use of
any aftermarket fuel additives (Example:
fuel injector cleaner, octane booster, intake
valve deposit removers, etc.) which are
sold commercially. 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 persistent, 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 misuse of the vehicle, for
which INFINITI is not responsible.
Incorrect ignition timing will result in
knocking, after-run or overheating. This in
turn may cause excessive fuel consumption
or damage to the engine. If any of the above symptoms are encountered, have
your vehicle checked at an INFINITI retailer
or other competent service facility.
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
specifically 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 identi-
fied by a small, square, orange and black
label with the common abbreviation or
the appropriate percentage for that
region.
Technical and consumer information9-5

9-6Technical and consumer information
STI0505
1. API certification mark
2. API service symbol
ENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER RE-
COMMENDATION
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. INFINITI
recommends the use of an energy conser-
ving oil in order to improve fuel economy.
Select only engine oils that meet the American Petroleum Institute (API) certifi-
cation or International Lubricant Standar-
dization and Approval Committee (ILSAC)
certification and SAE viscosity standard.
These oils have the API certification 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
INFINITI does not recommend the use of oil
additives. The use of an oil additive is not
necessary when the proper oil type is used
and maintenance 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 that the engine oil viscosity
be selected based on the temperatures at
which the vehicle will be operated 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 vehicle is equipped with a high-
quality genuine NISSAN oil filter. When
replacing, use the genuine 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. Oil and
filter other than the specified quality, or oil
and filter change intervals longer than
recommended could reduce engine life.
Damage to engines caused by improper
maintenance or use of incorrect oil and

filter quality and/or viscosity is not covered
by the new INFINITI vehicle limited warran-
ties.
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
outside temperatures,
. driving in dusty conditions,
. extensive idling,
. stop and go “rush hour ”traffic,
Refer to the “INFINITI Service and Main-
tenance Guide ”for the maintenance sche-
dule.
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM RE-
FRIGERANT AND LUBRICANT RE-
COMMENDATIONS
The air conditioning system in your
INFINITI vehicle must be charged with the
refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) and the
lubricant, NISSAN A/C system oil Type S
or the exact equivalents.
CAUTION
The use of any other refrigerant or lubricant
will cause severe damage to the air con-
ditioning system and will require the repla-
cement of all air conditioner system
components.
The refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) in your
INFINITI vehicle will not harm the earth ’s
ozone layer. Although this refrigerant does
not affect the earth ’s atmosphere, certain
governmental regulations require the re-
covery and recycling of any refrigerant
during automotive air conditioning system
service. Your INFINITI retailer has the
trained technicians and equipment needed
to recover and recycle your air conditioning
system refrigerant.
Contact an INFINITI retailer when servicing
your air conditioning system.
Technical and consumer information9-7

Do not tow a trailer with your
vehicle.
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, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.
. DO NOT tow any automatic transmission
vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground (flat towing). Doing so WILL
DAMAGE internal transmission parts
due to lack of transmission lubrication.
. For emergency towing procedures refer
to“Towing recommended by INFINITI ”in
the “6. In case of emergency ”section of
this manual.
Automatic transmission
To tow a vehicle equipped with an auto-
matic 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. DOT (Department Of Transportation) Qual-
ity Grades: All passenger car tires must
conform to federal safety requirements in
addition to these grades.
Quality grades can be found where applic-
able 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 government 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 actual conditions of their use, how-
ever, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Technical and consumer information9-19
TOWING A TRAILER
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING