2013 NISSAN GT-R check engine

8-6Maintenance and do-it-yourself
notice any leaks or if gasoline fumes are evident,
check for the cause and have it corrected
immediately.
Power steering fluid level* and lines:Check
the level when the fluid is cold, with the engine
off. Check the lines for proper attachment, leaks,
cracks, etc.
Radiator and hoses: Check the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects, leaves,
etc., that may have accumulated. Make sure the
hoses have no cracks, deformation, rot or loose
connections.
Underbody: The underbody is frequently ex-
posed to corrosive substances such as those
used on icy roads or to control dust. It is very
important to remove these substances, other-
wise rust will form on the floor pan, frame, fuel
lines and around the exhaust system. At the end
of winter, the underbody should be thoroughly
flushed with plain water, being careful to clean
those areas where mud and dirt may accumu-
late. (
“Underbody” page 7-3)
Windshield washer fluid*: Check that there is
adequate fluid in the reservoir.
When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take care
to prevent serious accidental injury to yourself or
damage to the vehicle. The following are general
precautions which should be closely observed.
WARNING
. Park the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely
and block the wheels to prevent
the vehicle from moving. Move the
shift lever to the
&Pposition.
. Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any parts replacement or
repairs.
. If you must work with the engine
running, keep your hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from moving
fans, belts and any other moving
parts.
. It is advisable to secure or remove
any loose clothing and remove any
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
. Always wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle. .
If you must run the engine in an
enclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
. Never get under the vehicle while it
is supported only by a jack. If it is
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
. Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel tank and the
battery.
. Your vehicle is equipped with an
automatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without warn-
ing, even if the ignition key is in the
OFF position and the engine is not
running. To avoid injury, always
disconnect the negative battery
cable before working near the fan.
. The fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by a GT-R certified NISSAN
dealer because the fuel lines are
under high pressure even when the
engine is off.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS

8-8Maintenance and do-it-yourself
1. Fuse/fusible link holder
2. Battery
3. Engine oil filler cap
4. Strut support bar
5. Engine oil dipstick
6. Brake fluid reservoir7. Air cleaner
8. Power steering fluid reservoir
9. Radiator filler cap
10. Coolant reservoir cap (pressure type)
11. Coolant reservoir
12. Window washer fluid reservoir
NOTICE
The coolant reservoir is equipped with a
pressure type cap, and the radiator is
equipped with a non-pressure type cap.
Do not switch the radiator filler cap and
the coolant reservoir cap. Doing so will
cause substandard cooling perfor-
mance and overheating.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS

CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT LE-
VEL
Check the coolant levelin the reservoir when
the engine is cold. If the coolant level is below
the MIN level
*2, open the reservoir cap
(pressure type)
*Band add coolant up to
between the MAX and MIN level
*3. If the
reservoir is empty, open the radiator filler cap
*Aand check the coolant level in the radiator when
the engine is cold. If there is insufficient
coolant in the radiator, fill the radiator with
coolant up to the filler opening and also add it to
the reservoir up to between the MAX and MIN
level
*3.
This vehicle contains Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue). The life expec-
tancy of the factory-fill coolant is 24,000 miles
(38,400 km) or 2 years. Mixing any other type of
coolant or the use of non-distilled water will
reduce the life expectancy of the factory-fill
coolant. Refer to the GT-R Service and Main-
tenance Guide for more details.
If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked by a GT-R certified
NISSAN dealer.
Check that the level of coolant is between MAX
and MIN on the pressurized radiator reservoir. If
the level is below the midpoint, the amount of coolant circulating may be insufficient for max-
imum vehicle performance, possibly causing
engine overheating or other trouble.
If it is difficult to determine the midpoint between
MAX and MIN, remove the coolant reservoir cap
and look inside through the opening to check
that the coolant level is above the divider
*3between the top half and bottom half of the
pressurized coolant reservoir.
NOTICE
.
The coolant reservoir is equipped
with a pressure type cap, and the
radiator is equipped with a non-
pressure type cap. Do not switch
the radiator filler cap and the cool-
ant reservoir cap. Doing so will
cause substandard cooling perfor-
mance and overheating.
. If you have added only water as the
coolant in an emergency, change it
to a coolant mixture ratio specified
as soon as possible.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-11

8-12Maintenance and do-it-yourself
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
If major cooling system repairs are required,
contact a GT-R certified NISSAN dealer. The
service procedures can be found in the appro-
priate NISSAN Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine overheat-
ing.
WARNING
.To avoid the danger of being
scalded, never change the coolant
when the engine is hot.
. Never remove the radiator filler cap
and the coolant reservoir cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator and
reservoir.
. Avoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made,
wash thoroughly with soap or hand
cleaner as soon as possible.
. Keep coolant out of reach of chil-
dren and pets. Engine coolant must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn off the engine. Wait at least 5
minutes for the oil to drain back into
the oil pan before checking the oil.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Reinsert it all the way.
5. Remove the dipstick again and check the oil level. It should be within the range
*1. If the
oil level is below
*2, remove the oil filler cap
ENGINE OIL

and pour recommended oil through the
opening.Do not overfill
*3.
6. Recheck oil level with the dipstick.
NOTE:
. It is normal to add some oil between oil
maintenance intervals or during the
break-in period, depending on the
severity of operating conditions. More
engine oil is consumed by frequent
acceleration/deceleration especially
when the engine rpm is high. If your
rate of oil consumption increases sud-
denly or without explanation, NISSAN
recommends that you have your vehicle
inspected by a GT-R certified NISSAN
dealer.
. When the vehicle is delivered, the
engine oil is set to 0.39 in (10 mm)
below the H mark for optimal high
performance driving. The engine oil can
be filled up to the H mark if perfor-
mance driving is not engaged.NOTICE
.Mobil 1 (0W-40) (100% synthetic) is
the factory fill oil. The VR38 engine
with its plasma-sprayed bores was
developed using this oil. NISSAN
cannot ensure proper engine opera-
tion and durability if other 0W-40
synthetic oil is used. If Mobil 1 (0W-
40) is not available, Mobil 1 (10W-
40) (100% synthetic) may be used;
however, some performance loss
may be noticed.
. Oil level should be checked regu-
larly. Operating the engine with an
insufficient amount of oil can da-
mage the engine. See the 2013
NISSAN GT-R Warranty Information
Booklet for details including applic-
able exclusions.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL AND FILTER
NOTE:
When replacement is required, contact a
GT-R certified NISSAN dealer for servicing.
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.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-13

8-18Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Check the fluid level in each cell (Remove the
battery cover if it is necessary) . It should be
between the UPPER LEVEL
*1and 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.
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 the following
section. (“Jump starting” page 6-4)
If the engine does not start by jump starting, the
battery may have to be replaced. Contact a
GT-R certified NISSAN dealer.

1. 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 unex-
pectedly.
1. Visually inspect each belt for signs of unusual wear, cuts, fraying or looseness. If the belt is in poor condition or loose, have it
replaced or adjusted by a GT-R certified
NISSAN dealer.
2. Have the belts checked regularly for condi- tion and tension in accordance with the
maintenance schedule in your NISSAN
Service and Maintenance Guide.
WARNING
Be sure the engine and the ignition
switch are off and that the parking
brake is engaged securely.
NOTICE
Be sure to use the correct socket to
remove the spark plugs. An incorrect
socket can damage the spark plugs.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-19
DRIVE BELTS SPARK PLUGS

dry road, especially after washing the vehicle or
driving in rain. Contact a GT-R certified NISSAN
dealer if the noise and vibration continue.
Frequent hard braking may cause scorching of
the brake pads. This will require the brake pads
to be replaced, even if the wear limit has not
been reached. Have the brake pads and disc
rotors inspected at the regular vehicle inspec-
tions.
For more details, contact a GT-R certified
NISSAN dealer.
REPLACING THE BRAKE PADS
NISSAN generally recommends to replace all
four sets of brake pads and disc rotors at the
same time to maintain maximum brake perfor-
mance.
However, replacing only the brake pads may be
allowed in some cases (four wheels or only front
wheels depending on the conditions). A GT-R
certified technician must inspect the vehicle and
determine that only the brake pads need to be
replaced. In this case, replacing all brake pads
and disc rotors as a set is not necessary.
Note that the replacement of brake pads and the
disc rotors as a set on all four wheels should be
performed when a GT-R certified technician
determines that this is the correct repair.If the inside of the disc rotors are cold during the
winter and the surface becomes hot due to a
heavy force being applied repeatedly to the
brakes, cracks may occur near the coolant hole
on the surface of the disc rotor. Cracks may also
occur due to a heavy force being repeatedly
applied to the brakes during high performance
driving. In these cases it may be necessary to
replace the disc rotors or brake pads depending
on the condition of the crack. Contact a GT-R
certified NISSAN dealer for replacement.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
CAUTION
Never use a fuse of a higher or lower
amperage rating than that specified on
the fuse box cover. This could damage
the electrical system or cause a fire.
If any electrical equipment does not operate,
check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition switch is pushed to the OFF or LOCK position and the headlight
switch is turned to OFF.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-23
FUSES