
5-40Starting and driving
certified NISSAN dealer in accordance with
specifications for city driving to high perfor-
mance driving.
The tires on the GT-R may have different wear
rates and wear patterns in comparison to
conventional passenger vehicles. Contact a
GT-R certified NISSAN dealer to confirm that
the alignment is within specifications..Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Maintain
cruising speeds with a constant accelerator
position.
. Drive at moderate speeds on the highway.
Driving at high speed lowers fuel economy.
. Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking.
Keep a safe distance behind other vehicles.
. Select a gear range suitable to road condi-
tions.
. Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
. Keep your engine tuned up.
. Follow the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct
pressure. Low tire pressure increases tire
wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
. Air conditioner operation lowers fuel econ-
omy. Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
. When cruising at highway speeds, it is more
economical to use the air conditioner and
leave the windows closed to reduce drag. .
Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
(“Oil viscosity” page 9-6)
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY

5-44Starting and driving
Electronic control continuously distributes tor-
que to the front and rear wheels in the range
from 0:100 (rear-wheel drive mode) to 50:50
(all-wheel drive mode) to match the driving
conditions and road conditions. This allows the
engine output (torque) to be effectively trans-
mitted to the road surface.The rear final drive of this vehicle is equipped
with a 1.5-way mechanical Limited Slip Differ-
ential (LSD) .
WARNING
Sudden operation of the accelerator
pedal can result in fishtailing or side-
slip, possibly causing an accident. Use
particular caution when driving in rainy
weather or on slippery roads.
NOTICE
Use the designated differential gear oil.
If any oil other than the designated oil
is used, the LSD may not operate
correctly, and noise and vibration may
occur, possibly resulting in a malfunc-
tion.
NOTE:
. If the vehicle accelerates from a stop
with the steering wheel turned in cold
temperatures, the inner wheel tire may
slip and some noise or vibration may
be heard. This phenomenon is unique
to vehicles equipped with the LSD. This does not indicate that there is a mal-
function.
. The LSD controls the speed difference
between the left and right wheels, and
optimally allocates torque to the
wheels.
. The 1.5-way mechanical LSD in the rear
final drive of this vehicle is character-
ized by its asymmetrical LSD effects
when the accelerator pedal is ON and
when it is OFF. This allows the appro-
priate amount of torque for the driving
environment to be transmitted to the
road surface.
LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL (LSD)

7 Appearance and care
Cleaning exterior ...................................................................... 7-2Washing ........................................................................\
........ 7-2
Waxing ........................................................................\
.......... 7-3
Removing spots .................................................................. 7-3Underbody ........................................................................\
.... 7-3
Glass ........................................................................\
............. 7-3
Wheels ........................................................................\
.......... 7-3
Chrome parts ...................................................................... 7-4
Outside door handles ....................................................... 7-4
Tire dressing ........................................................................\
7-4
Dry carbon fiber rear spoiler (if so equipped) ............ 7-4 Cleaning interior ...................................................................... 7-5
Air fresheners .................................................................... 7-5Floor mats ........................................................................\
.. 7-6
Seat belts ........................................................................\
... 7-7
Corrosion protection ............................................................... 7-8 Most common factors contributing to
vehicle corrosion .............................................................. 7-8
Environmental factors influence the rate
of corrosion ....................................................................... 7-8
To protect your vehicle from corrosion ...................... 7-8

7-2Appearance and care
In order to maintain the appearance of your
vehicle, it is important to take proper care of it.
To protect the paint surfaces, wash your vehicle
as soon as you can:
.after a rainfall to prevent possible damage
from acid rain
. after driving on coastal roads
. when contaminants such as soot, bird
droppings, tree sap, metal particles or bugs
get on the paint surface
. when dust or mud builds up on the surface
Whenever possible, store or park your vehicle
inside a garage or in a covered area.
When it is necessary to park outside, park in a
shady area or protect the vehicle with a body
cover.
Be careful not to scratch the paint surface
when putting on or removing the body
cover.WASHING
Wash dirt off the vehicle with a wet sponge and
plenty of water. Clean the vehicle thoroughly
using a mild soap, a special vehicle soap or
general purpose dishwashing liquid mixed with
clean, lukewarm (never hot) water.
NOTICE
. Do not use an automatic car wash.
The rear spoiler may be damaged.
. Do not use car washes that use acid
in the detergent. Some car washes,
especially brushless ones, use some
acid for cleaning. The acid may react
with some plastic vehicle compo-
nents, causing them to crack. This
could affect their appearance, and
also could cause them not to func-
tion properly. Always check with
your car wash to confirm that acid
is not used.
. Do not wash the vehicle with strong
household soap, strong chemical
detergents, gasoline or solvents.
. Do not wash the vehicle in direct
sunlight or while the vehicle body is
hot, as the surface may become water-spotted.
. Avoid using tight-napped or rough
cloths, such as washing mitts. Care
must be taken when removing
caked-on dirt or other foreign sub-
stances so the paint surface is not
scratched or damaged.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of clean
water.
Inside flanges, seams and folds on the doors,
hatches and hood are particularly vulnerable to
the effects of road salt. Therefore, these areas
must be regularly cleaned. Take care that the
drain holes in the lower edge of the door are
open. Spray water under the body and in the
wheel wells to loosen the dirt and wash away
road salt.
Avoid leaving water spots on the paint surface
by using a damp chamois to dry the vehicle.
CLEANING EXTERIOR

WAXING
Regular waxing protects the paint surface and
helps retain new vehicle appearance. Polishing
is recommended to remove built-up wax residue
and to avoid a weathered appearance before
reapplying wax.
A GT-R certified NISSAN dealer can assist you
in choosing the proper product.
.Wax your vehicle only after a thorough
washing. Follow the instructions supplied
with the wax.
. Do not use a wax containing any abrasives,
cutting compounds or cleaners that may
damage the vehicle finish.
Machine compound or aggressive polishing on a
base coat/clear coat paint finish may dull the
finish or leave swirl marks.
WARNING
Do not use wax on the glass, rubber or
plastic parts around the glass or door.
This may prevent the window operation
or cause poor visibility and the wax
cannot be coated uniformly.
NOTICE
Never use wax on the carbon parts
(such as the rear diffuser or the op-
tional dry carbon fiber rear spoiler) .
This may cause deterioration or corro-
sion.
REMOVING SPOTS
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust,
insects, and tree sap as quickly as possible
from the paint surface to avoid lasting damage
or staining. Special cleaning products are
available at a GT-R certified NISSAN dealer or
any automotive accessory stores.
UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in winter, the
underbody must be cleaned regularly. This will
prevent dirt and salt from building up and
causing the acceleration of corrosion on the
underbody and suspension. Before the winter
period and again in the spring, the underseal
must be checked and, if necessary, re-treated.
GLASS
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and dust
film from the glass surfaces. It is normal for glass
to become coated with a film after the vehicle is
parked in the hot sun. Glass cleaner and a soft
cloth will easily remove this film.
NOTICE
When cleaning the inside of the win-
dows, do not use sharp-edged tools,
abrasive cleaners or chlorine-based
disinfectant cleaners. They could da-
mage the electrical conductors, radio
antenna elements or rear window
defroster elements.
WHEELS
Wash the wheels when washing the vehicle to
maintain their appearance.
. Clean the inner side of the wheels when the
wheel is changed or the underside of the
vehicle is washed.
. Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. Such damage may cause loss of
pressure or poor seal at the tire bead.
. NISSAN recommends that the road wheels
Appearance and care7-3

7-4Appearance and care
be waxed to protect against road salt in
areas where it is used during winter.
CAUTION
Do not use abrasive cleaners when
washing the wheels.
Aluminum alloy wheels
Wash regularly with a sponge dampened in a
mild soap solution, especially during winter
months in areas where road salt is used. Salt
could discolor the wheels if not removed.
The dark chrome coat wheel is specially coated
to a distinctive color. It may discolor to black
depending on storage conditions. If only one
wheel is changed, it may be different color with
other wheels. If the wheel is changed, consult
with a GT-R certified NISSAN dealer.
NOTICE
Follow the directions below to avoid
staining or discoloring the wheels:
.Do not use a cleaner that uses
strong acid or alkali contents to
clean the wheels. .
Do not apply wheel cleaners to the
wheels when they are hot. The
wheel temperature should be the
same as ambient temperature.
. Rinse the wheel to completely re-
move the cleaner within 15 minutes
after the cleaner is applied.
CHROME PARTS
Clean chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the finish.
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES
After driving on a road where salt is used in
winter, immediately wash and clean the outside
door handles that are provided with a special
coating. This will keep the beautiful finish longer.
TIRE DRESSING
NISSAN does not recommend the use of tire
dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a coating to
the tires to help reduce discoloration of the
rubber. If a tire dressing is applied to the tires, it
may react with the coating and form a com-
pound. This compound may come off the tire
while driving and stain the vehicle paint.
If you choose to use a tire dressing, take the
following precautions: .
Use a water-based tire dressing. The coat-
ing on the tire dissolves more easily with an
oil-based tire dressing.
. Apply a light coat of tire dressing to help
prevent it from entering the tire tread/
grooves (where it would be difficult to
remove) .
. Wipe off excess tire dressing using a dry
towel. Make sure the tire dressing is
completely removed from the tire tread/
grooves.
. Allow the tire dressing to dry as recom-
mended by tire dressing manufacturer.
DRY CARBON FIBER REAR SPOI-
LER (if so equipped)
The dry carbon fiber rear spoiler is made using
the same composite method used for race cars.
The dry carbon fiber rear spoiler has a special
coating to enhance the feel of the material.
NOTICE
.Do not use chemical agents (for
example: wax, coating agent, com-
pound agent, etc.) on the dry carbon
fiber rear spoiler because they can
damage the material. When the rear

spoiler becomes dirty, dilute one
cap of mild detergent with a bucket
of water and use that mixture to
clean the rear spoiler.
. The dry carbon fiber rear spoiler
may turn yellow due to age dete-
rioration because of the character-
istics of the material. Storing the
vehicle outside in direct sunlight for
extended periods of time may cause
discoloration and deterioration.
NISSAN recommends that you do
not store the vehicle in direct sun-
light to protect the rear spoiler.
NOTE:
The surfaces of the dry carbon fiber rear
spoiler are lightly coated like a race car so
that you can feel the proper texture of real
carbon, which may feel rough. This is
normal.Occasionally remove loose dust from the interior
trim, plastic parts and seats using a vacuum
cleaner or soft bristled brush. Wipe the vinyl and
leather surfaces with a clean, soft cloth dam-
pened in mild soap solution, then wipe clean
with a dry soft cloth.
Regular care and cleaning is required in order to
maintain the appearance of the leather.
Before using any fabric protector, read the
manufacturer’s recommendations. Some fabric
protectors contain chemicals that may stain or
bleach the seat material.
Use a cloth dampened only with water, to clean
the meter and gauge lens.
CAUTION
. Do not use water or acidic cleaners
(hot steam cleaners) on the seat.
This can damage the seat or occu-
pant classification sensor. This can
also affect the operation of the air
bag system and result in serious
personal injury.
. Never use benzine, thinner, or any
similar material.
NOTICE
.Small dirt particles can be abrasive
and damaging to the leather sur-
faces and should be removed
promptly. Do not use saddle soap,
car waxes, polishes, oils, cleaning
fluids, solvents, detergents or am-
monia-based cleaners as they may
damage the leather’s natural finish.
. Never use fabric protectors unless
recommended by the manufacturer.
. Do not use glass or plastic cleaner
on meter or gauge lens covers. It
may damage the lens cover.
AIR FRESHENERS
Most air fresheners use a solvent that could
affect the vehicle interior. If an air freshener is
used, take the following precautions:
.Hanging-type air fresheners can cause
permanent discoloration when they contact
vehicle interior surfaces. Place the air
freshener in a location that allows it to hang
free and not contact an interior surface.
. Liquid-type air fresheners typically clip on
the vents. These products can cause
Appearance and care7-5
CLEANING INTERIOR

8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirement ....................................................... 8-3Scheduled maintenance ................................................... 8-3
General maintenance ........................................................ 8-3
Where to go for service ................................................... 8-3
General maintenance .............................................................. 8-4 Explanation of maintenance items ................................. 8-4
Maintenance precautions ....................................................... 8-6
Engine compartment check locations ................................. 8-8 Removing the cowl top cover ......................................... 8-9
Engine cooling system ......................................................... 8-10
Checking engine coolant level ..................................... 8-11
Changing engine coolant .............................................. 8-12
Engine oil ........................................................................\
........ 8-12
Checking engine oil level .............................................. 8-12
Changing engine oil and filter ...................................... 8-13
Transmission oil ..................................................................... 8-14
Power steering fluid .............................................................. 8-14
Brake fluid ........................................................................\
....... 8-15
Window washer fluid ........................................................... 8-16
Battery ........................................................................\
.............. 8-17
Precautions ....................................................................... 8-17
Fluid level check .............................................................. 8-17
Jump starting .................................................................... 8-18 Drive belts ........................................................................\
...... 8-19
Spark plugs ........................................................................\
.... 8-19
Replacing spark plugs ................................................. 8-20
Air cleaner ........................................................................\
...... 8-20
Windshield wiper blades .................................................... 8-21 Cleaning ........................................................................\
.. 8-21
Replacing the wiper blades ....................................... 8-21
Brakes ........................................................................\
............. 8-22 Self-adjusting brakes ................................................... 8-22
Brake pad wear warning ............................................. 8-22
High performance brake system ............................... 8-22
Replacing the brake pads ........................................... 8-23
Fuses ........................................................................\
............... 8-23
Engine compartment .................................................... 8-23
Passenger compartment ............................................. 8-24
Intelligent Key battery replacement .................................. 8-26
Lights ........................................................................\
............... 8-28 Headlights ....................................................................... 8-29Exterior and interior lights ........................................... 8-29
Wheels and tires .................................................................. 8-31
Tire pressure .................................................................. 8-31
Tire and loading information label ............................ 8-33
Checking the tire pressure ......................................... 8-34