2012 INFINITI M Owners Manual

8-16Maintenance and do-it-yourself
d. Install the other bolts that hold theundercover in place. Be careful not
to strip the bolts or over-tighten
them.
2. Lower the vehicle carefully to the ground.
3. Dispose of waste oil and filter properly.
WARNING
. Prolonged and repeated contact with
used engine oil may cause skin cancer.
. Try to avoid direct skin contact with used
oil. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
. Keep used engine oil out of reach of
children.
When checking or replacement is required,
we recommend an INFINITI retailer for
servicing.
CAUTION
.Use only Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF.
Do not mix with other fluids.
. 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 transmis-
sion, which is not covered by the INFINITI
new vehicle limited warranty.
SDI1765A
Check the fluid level in the reservoir.
The fluid level should be checked using the
HOT range (
*1: HOT MAX.,*2: HOT MIN.)
at fluid temperatures of 122 to 176 8F (50
to 80 8C) or using the COLD range (
*3:
COLD MAX.,
*4: COLD MIN.) at fluid
temperatures of 32 to 86 8F(0to30 8C).
If the fluid is below the MIN line, add
Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent. Re-
move the cap and fill through the opening.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID POWER STEERING FLUID

CAUTION
.Do not overfill.
. Use Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent.
For further brake fluid information, see
“Capacities and recommended fuel/lubri-
cants ”in the “9. Technical and consumer
information ”section of this manual.
WARNING
. Use only new fluid from a sealed
container. Old, inferior or contaminated
fluid may damage the brake system. The
use of improper fluids can damage the
brake system and affect the vehicle ’s
stopping ability.
. Clean the filler cap before removing.
. Brake fluid is poisonous and should be
stored carefully in marked containers out
of the reach of children.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on painted surfaces.
This will damage the paint. If fluid is spilled,
wash the surface with water.
SDI2025
BRAKE FLUID
Check the fluid level in the reservoir. If the
fluid is below the MIN line
*2or the brake
warning light comes on, add Genuine
NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT 3fluid up to the MAX line
*1. If fluid must be added frequently, the
system should be checked by an INFINITI
retailer.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-17
BRAKE FLUID

8-18Maintenance and do-it-yourself
SDI2544
WARNING
Antifreeze is poisonous and should be
stored carefully in marked containers out
of the reach of children.
Fill the window washer fluid reservoir
periodically. Add window washer fluid
when the low window washer fluid warning
appears on the dot matrix liquid crystal
display.
To fill the window washer fluid reservoir,
lift the cap off the reservoir tank and pour
the window washer fluid into the tankopening.
Add a washer solvent to the washer for
better cleaning. In the winter season, add a
windshield washer antifreeze. Follow the
manufacturer
’s instructions for the mixture
ratio.
Refill the reservoir more frequently when
driving conditions require an increased
amount of window washer fluid.
Recommended fluid is Genuine NISSAN
Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner &
Antifreeze or equivalent.
CAUTION
. Do not substitute engine anti-freeze
coolant for window washer solution. This
may result in damage to the paint.
. Do 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.
. Pre-mix washer fluid concentrates with
water to the manufacturer ’srecom-
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 concentrate
and water.
WINDOW WASHER FLUID

.Keep the battery surface clean and dry.
Clean the battery with a solution of
baking soda and water.
. Make certain the terminal connections
are clean and securely tightened.
. If the vehicle is not to be used for 30
days or longer, disconnect the negative
( − ) battery terminal cable to prevent
discharging it.
WARNING
. Do 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.
. Do 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 battery life,
and in some cases lead to an explosion. .
When working on or near a battery,
always wear suitable eye protection and
remove all jewelry.
. Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead com-
pounds. Wash hands after handling.
. Keep the battery out of the reach of
children.DI0137MA
Check the fluid level in each cell (Remove
the battery cover if it is necessary). It
should be between the UPPER LEVEL
*1
and LOWER LEVEL*2lines.
If it is necessary to add fluid, add only
distilled water to bring the level to the
indicator in each filler opening. Do not
overfill.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-19
BATTERY

8-20Maintenance and do-it-yourself
SDI1480C
1. Remove the cell plugs*A.
2. Add distilled water up to the UPPER LEVEL
*1line.
If the side of the battery is not clear,
check the distilled water level by
looking directly above the cell; the
condition
*1indicates OK and the
conditions
*2needs more to be added.
3. Tighten cell plugs
*A.
Vehicles operated in high temperatures or
under severe conditions require frequent
checks of the battery fluid level.
JUMP STARTING
If jump starting is necessary, see “Jump
starting ”in the “6. In case of emergency ”
section. If the engine does not start by
jump starting, the battery may have to be
replaced. Contact an INFINITI retailer.CAUTION
. Do not ground accessories directly to the
battery terminal. Doing so will bypass
the variable voltage control system and
the vehicle battery may not charge
completely.
. Use electrical accessories with the en-
gine running to avoid discharging the
vehicle battery.
The variable voltage control system mea-
sures the amount of electrical discharge
from the battery and controls voltage
generated by the generator.
VARIABLE VOLTAGE CONTROL SYSTEM

SDI2545
VK56VD engine
SDI2119
VQ37VHR engine1. Power steering fluid pump
2. Alternator
3. Crankshaft pulley
4. Air conditioner compressor
5. Drive belt auto-tensioner
WARNING
Be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF or
LOCK position before servicing drive belts.
The engine could rotate unexpectedly.
1. Visually inspect each belt for signs of
unusual wear, cuts, fraying or loosen-
ess. If the belt is in poor condition or
loose, have it replaced or adjusted by
an INFINITI retailer.
2. Have the belts checked regularly for condition and tension in accordance
with the maintenance schedule in your
“INFINITI Service and Maintenance
Guide ”.
WARNING
Be sure the engine and the ignition switch
are off and that the parking brake is
engaged securely.
CAUTION
Be sure to use the correct socket to remove
the spark plugs. An incorrect socket can
damage the spark plugs.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-21
DRIVE BELTS SPARK PLUGS

8-22Maintenance and do-it-yourself
SDI2020
REPLACING SPARK PLUGS
If replacement is required, see an INFINITI
retailer for servicing.
Iridium-tipped spark plugs
It is not necessary to replace the iridium-
tipped spark plugs as frequently as the
conventional type spark plugs since they
will last much longer. Follow the main-
tenance schedule in“INFINITI Service and
Maintenance Guide ”, but do not reuse
them by cleaning or regapping. Always replace spark plugs with recom-
mended or equivalent ones.SDI2549
VK56VD engine
AIR CLEANER

SDI2546
VQ37VHR engine
Remove the retainers
*1as illustrated and
pull out the filter element
*2.
The filter element should not be cleaned
and reused. Replace it according to the
maintenance intervals. See “INFINITI Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide ”for mainte- nance intervals. When replacing the filter,
wipe the inside of the air cleaner housing
and the cover with a damp cloth.
WARNING
.
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner removed can cause you or others
to be burned. The air cleaner not only
cleans the air, it stops flame if the
engine backfires. If it isn ’t there, and the
engine backfires, you could be burned.
Do not drive with the air cleaner
removed, and be careful when working
on the engine with the air cleaner
removed.
. Never pour fuel into the throttle body or
attempt to start the engine with the air
cleaner removed. Doing so could result
in serious injury.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-23