2012 NISSAN MAXIMA oil

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

10 Index
A
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system) .....................1-37
Air bag system Front (See supplemental front impact
air bag system) ...............1-44
Airbagwarninglight...........1-51,2-14
Air cleaner housing filter ............8-18
Air conditioner Air conditioner service ...........4-47
Air conditioner specification label .....9-11
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
oil recommendations .............9-6
Heater and air conditioner
controls................4-42,4-45
Servicing air conditioner ..........4-47
Alarm system
(See vehicle security system) .........2-25
Anchor point locations .............1-23
Antenna....................4-114
Anti-lock brake warning light ......2-10,2-11
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ........5-23
Armrests .....................1-7
Audible reminders ...............2-16
Audio system ..................4-47
Bluetooth audio.............4-108
Compact Disc (CD) changer .......4-65
Compact disc (CD) player .....4-71,4-79
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
Audio System iPod Player .............4-91,4-93
Music Box hard-disk drive audio
system ...............4-96,4-101
Audio system Radio ....................4-47
Audio System Settings ...............4-69,4-75
Audio system Steering wheel audio control switch . . .4-112
USB interface ............4-86,4-87
Autolight switch .................2-31
Automatic Automatic drive positioner .........3-29
Automatic power window switch .....2-45
Automatic transmission position indicator
light .....................2-14
Transmission shift selector lock release . .5-16
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror .......3-26
Automatic door locks ..............3-6
AUXjack ....................4-67
B
Battery ......................8-14
Chargewarninglight............2-11
Before starting the engine ...........5-10
Belt (See drive belt) ..............8-17
Block heater Engine ....................5-27 Bluetooth
audio...............4-108
Bluetooth hands-free phone
system .................4- 115, 4-129
Boosterseats..................1-33
Brake Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ......5-23
Brakefluid..................8-13
Brakelight(Seestoplight).........8-27
Brake system ................5-22
Brake warning light .............2-11
Brake wear indicators ........2-16,8-20
Parking brake operation ..........5-17
Self-adjusting

brakes ............8-20
Brakes ......................8-20
Break-inschedule ...............5-19
Brightness/contrast button .......4-15,4-31
Brightness control Instrument panel ..............2-33
Bulb check/instrument panel ..........2-10
Bulbreplacement................8-27
C
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants ...................9-2
Cargonet....................2-43
Cargo (See vehicle loading information) . . .9-12
CarphoneorCBradio............4-114
CDcareandcleaning.............4-111
CD changer (See audio system) .......4-65
CD player (See audio system) .....4-71,4-79
Check tire pressure ...............2-25

Child restraints.......1-17,1-18,1-19,1-21
Precautions on child
restraints .........1-19,1-25,1-29,1-33
Top tether strap anchor point locations . .1-23
Child safety rear door lock ............3-6
Chimes, audible reminders ...........2-16
Cleaningexteriorandinterior...........7-2
Clock (models with navigation system) . . .4-11, 4-26
Clockset .................4-11,4-26
C.M.V.S.S. certification label ..........9-10
Cold weather driving ..............5-26
Compact disc (CD) player ........4-71,4-79
Console box ...................2-42
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). . .5-11 Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) fluid ..................8-12
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) .............5-11
Transmission shift selector lock release . .5-16
Controlpanelbuttons..............4-16 Brightness/contrast button ......4-15,4-31
Enterbutton...............4-4,4-16
Setting button .............4-9,4-24
Without navigation system ..........4-4
Controls Audiocontrols(steeringwheel)......4-112
Heater and air conditioner
controls ................4-42,4-45
Coolant Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Changing engine coolant ...........8-9
Checking engine coolant level ........8-8
Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-5
Corrosionprotection ...............7-6 Cruisecontrol..................5-18
Cupholders................2-40,2-41
D
Daytime running light system (Canada only) . .2-32
Defroster switch Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch.....................2-29
Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) player .......4-83
Dimensionsandweights.............9-8
Dimmer switch for instrument panel ......2-33
Display controls
(seecontrolpanelbuttons) ........4-4,4-16
Distance to empty .............4-7,4-21
Door locks .....................3-4
Drive belt .....................8-17
Drive positioner, Automatic ...........3-29
Driving Cold weather driving ............5-26
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) .............5-11
Precautions when starting and driving ....5-2
E
Economy - fuel ..................5-20
Emission control information label .......9-10
Emission control system warranty .......9-24
Engine Before starting the engine ..........5-10
Block heater .................5-27
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2 Changingenginecoolant...........8-9
Changingengineoil.............8-10
Changing engine oil filter
..........8-11
Checking engine coolant level ........8-8
Checking engine oil level ...........8-9
Engine compartment check locations ....8-6
Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-5
Engine cooling system ............8-7
Engine oil ...................8-9
Engine

oil and oil filter recommendation . . .9-5
Engine oil pressure warning light ......2-12
Engine oil viscosity ..............9-5
Engine serial number ............9-10
Engine specifications .............9-7
Starting the engine .............5-11
Enterbutton.................4-4,4-16
Eventdatarecorders ..............9-25
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .........5-2
Extended storage switch ............8-24
Eyeglass case ..................2-40
F
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch) ......2-34
Flat tire .......................6-2
Floor mat positioning aid .............7-5
Fluid Brake fluid ..................8-13
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT)fluid..................8-12
Engine coolant .................8-7
Engine oil ...................8-9
10-2

F.M.V.S.S. certification label.........9-10
Tire and Loading Information label .....9-11
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 Airbagwarninglight.........1-51,2-14
Brakelight(Seestoplight).........8-27
Bulb check/instrument panel ........2-10
Bulb replacement ..............8-27
Chargewarninglight ............2-11
Foglightswitch ...............2-34
Headlight and turn signal switch ......2-29
Headlightcontrolswitch ..........2-30
Headlights..................8-26
Interiorlight..................2-51
Lightbulbs..................8-26
Low tire pressure warning light .......2-12
Low windshield-washer fluid warning
light......................2-24
Passenger air bag and status light .....1-46
Security indicator light ............2-15
Spotlights (See map light) .........2-53
Trunklight ..................2-53
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders ...................2-10
Lights Maplights ..................2-53
Lock Child safety rear door lock ..........3-6
Door locks ...................3-4
Gloveboxlock................2-42
Power door locks ...............3-5 Trunk lid lock opener lever
..........3-19
Loose fuel cap warning ..........2-25,3-21
Lowfuelwarninglight ..........2-13,2-24
Low tire pressure warning light .........2-12
Low windshield-washer fluid warning light . . .2-24
Luggage (See vehicle loading information) . .9-12
M
Maintenance Changing the maintenance interval . .4-8, 4-22
Displaying the maintenance notice
reminder .................4-8,4-23
Generalmaintenance.............8-2
Insidethevehicle...............8-3
Maintenance precautions ...........8-5
Outside the vehicle ..............8-2
Resetting the maintenance interval . .4-8, 4-22
Seatbeltmaintenance............1-17
Setting .................4-8,4-22
Underthehoodandvehicle .........8-4
Malfunction indicator light ............2-15
Maplights ....................2-53
Map pocket ....................2-39
Meters and gauges ................2-3
Instrument brightness control ........2-33
Mirror Automatic anti-glare inside mirror ......3-26
Outside mirror control ............3-28
Outside mirrors ...............3-28
Vanity mirror .................3-25
Moonroof .....................2-46
Music Box hard-disk drive audio
system ..................4-96,4-101 N
NISSAN Intelligent Key™ .............3-7
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system ................2-26,3-3,5-10
NISSAN voice recognition system ......4-140
O
Octane rating (See fuel octane rating) ......9-4
Odometer .....................2-4
Oil Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Changingengineoil.............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 ...........9-26
Owner’s manual/service manual order
information ....................9-26
P
Parking Parking brake operation ...........5-17
Parking/parking on hills ...........5-21
10-4

Engine oil pressure warning light......2-12
Hazard warning flasher switch .......2-34
Lowfuelwarninglight ........2-13,2-24
Low tire pressure warning light .......2-12
Low windshield-washer fluid warning
light......................2-24
Passenger air bag and status light .....1-46
Seat belt warning light ............2-13
Vehicle security system ...........2-25
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders ...................2-10
Warning labels (for SRS) ..........1-51
Warninglights..................2-10
Washer switch Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-28
Weights(Seedimensionsandweights).....9-8
Wheels and tires .................8-31
Wheel/tire size ...................9-8
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country ..................9-9
Windows Locking passengers’ windows .......2-45
Power rear windows .............2-45
Power windows ...............2-44
Rear power windows ............2-45
Windshield-washer fluid .............8-14
Windshield wiper and washer switch .....2-28
Wiper Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-28
Wiper blades .................8-19
10-7

RECOMMENDED FUEL:
NISSAN recommends the use of premium un-
leaded gasoline with an octane rating of at least
91 AKI (Anti-Knock Index) number (Research
octane number 96) . If unleaded premium gaso-
line is not available, you may use unleaded regu-
lar gasoline with an octane rating of at least 87
AKI number (Research octane number 91) , but
you may notice a decrease in performance.
CAUTION
●Using a fuel other than that specified
could adversely affect the emission
control system, and may also affect the
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 NISSAN new vehicle lim-
ited warranty.
For additional information, see “Capacities and
recommended fuel/lubricants” in the “Technical
and consumer information” section.
RECOMMENDED ENGINE OIL:
● Engine oil with API Certification Mark
● Viscosity SAE 5W-30
See “Engine oil and oil filter recommendation” in
the “Technical and consumer information” sec-
tion of this manual.
COLD TIRE PRESSURE:
See Tire and Loading Information label.
The label is typically located on the driver side
center pillar or on the driver’s door. For additional
information, see “Wheels and tires” in the “Main-
tenance and do-it-yourself” section of this
manual.
RECOMMENDED NEW VEHICLE
BREAK-IN PROCEDURE:
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) of vehicle
use, follow the recommendations outlined in the
“Break-in schedule” information found in the
“Starting and driving” section of this manual. Fol-
low these recommendations for the future reli-
ability and economy of your new vehicle. Failure
to follow these recommendations may result in
vehicle damage or shortened engine life.
GAS STATION INFORMATION