8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ............................................... 8-2
Engine compartment check locations ......................... 8-3VK56VD engine model .............................................. 8-3
Engine cooling system ..................................................... 8-4 Checking engine coolant level ................................. 8-5
Changing engine coolant .......................................... 8-5
Engine oil ........................................................................\
..... 8-6 Checking engine oil level ........................................... 8-6
Changing engine oil and filter .................................. 8-6
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) .......................... 8-8
Power steering fluid ......................................................... 8-8
Brake fluid ........................................................................\
... 8-9 Brake fluid ..................................................................... 8-9
Window washer fluid ................................................... 8-10
Battery ........................................................................\
....... 8-11 Jump starting ............................................................. 8-12
Variable voltage control system ................................. 8-13
Drive belts ........................................................................\
. 8-13
Spark plugs ....................................................................... 8-14 Replacing spark plugs .............................................. 8-14
Air cleaner ........................................................................\
. 8-14 Windshield wiper blades .............................................. 8-15
Cleaning ..................................................................... 8-15
Replacing ................................................................... 8-16
Rear window wiper blades .......................................... 8-16
Brakes ........................................................................\
........ 8-17 Self-adjusting brakes ............................................. 8-17
Brake pad wear warning ....................................... 8-17
Brake booster ........................................................... 8-17
Fuses ........................................................................\
.......... 8-18 Engine compartment .............................................. 8-18
Passenger compartment ....................................... 8-19
Intelligent Key battery replacement ........................ 8-20
Lights ........................................................................\
......... 8-23
Headlights ................................................................ 8-24
Exterior and interior lights ................................... 8-24
Wheels and tires ............................................................. 8-27
Tire pressure ............................................................. 8-27
Tire labeling .............................................................. 8-31
Types of tires ........................................................... 8-33
Tire chains ................................................................. 8-33
Changing wheels and tires .................................. 8-34
8-2Do-it-yourself
When performing any inspection or main-
tenance 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 P (Park).
. Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any parts replacement or
repairs.
. Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized compo-
nent while the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
. Never leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component har-
nesses disconnected while the igni-
tion switch is in the ON position.
. 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 dis-
connect the negative battery cable
before working near the fan.
. On gasoline engine models, the fuel
filter or fuel lines should be serviced
because the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine is off. It is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
CAUTION
.
Do not work under the hood while the
engine is hot. Turn the engine off and
wait until it cools down.
. Avoid direct contact with used en-
gine oil and coolant. Improperly dis-
posed engine oil, coolant, and/or
other vehicle fluids can damage the
environment. Always conform to lo-
cal regulations for disposal of vehicle
fluid.
This “8. Do-it-yourself” section gives in-
structions regarding only those items which
are relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A genuine INFINITI Service Manual is also
available. (See “Owner’s Manual/Service
Manual order information” (P.10-34).)
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
difficulties or excessive emissions, and could
affect your warranty coverage. If in doubt
about any servicing, it is recommended you
have it done by an INFINITI retailer.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-8Do-it-yourself
After the operation
1. Install the engine undercover into posi-tion as the following steps.
a. Pull the center of the small plastic clip
out.
b. Hold the engine undercover into posi- tion.
c. Insert the clip through the undercover into the hole in the frame, then push
the center of the clip in to lock the clip
in place.
d. Install the other bolts that hold the undercover 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
.
It is recommended that you use only
Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF. Do
not mix with other fluids.
. Using automatic transmission fluid
other than Genuine NISSAN Matic S
ATF may cause deterioration in dri-
veability and automatic transmission
durability, and may damage the
automatic transmission. Damage
caused by the use of fluid other than
as recommended 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 (
: HOT MAX.,: HOT MIN.) at
fluid temperatures of 122 to 176°F (50 to
80°C) or using the COLD range (
: COLD
MAX.,: COLD MIN.) at fluid temperatures
of 32 to 86°F (0 to 30°C).
If the fluid is below the MIN line, add
Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent. Remove
the cap and fill through the opening.
CAUTION
. Do not overfill.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID (ATF) POWER STEERING FLUID
9-10Maintenance and schedules
CHASSIS AND BODY MAINTENANCE
Abbreviations: I = Inspect and correct or replace as necessary, R = Replace, L = Lubricate
MAINTENANCE OP-
ERATION
Perform at of miles,
kilometers or months,
whichever comes first.Miles × 1,000
(km × 1,000) Months MAINTENANCE INTERVAL
5
(8) 6 10
(16) 12 15
(24) 18 20
(32) 24 25
(40) 30 30
(48) 36 35
(56) 42 40
(64) 48 45
(72) 54 50
(80) 60 55
(88) 66 60
(96) 72
Brake lines and cables I I I I I I
Brake pads and rotors$ II I I I I
Brake fluid$ RR R
Automatic transmission
fluid See NOTE (1)
Transfer fluid and dif-
ferential gear oil See NOTE (2)
II I I I I
Steering gear and link-
age, axle and suspension
parts$ II I
Tire rotation See NOTE (3)
Propeller shaft and drive
shaft boots (4WD mod-
els)$ II I I I I
Propeller shaft grease
(4WD models) LL L L L L
Exhaust system$ II I
In-cabin microfilter RR R R
Intelligent Key battery RR R R
MAINTENANCE OP-
ERATION
Perform at of miles, kilo-
meters or months,
whichever comes first.Miles × 1,000
(km × 1,000) Months MAINTENANCE INTERVAL
65
(104) 78 70
(112) 84 75
(120) 90 80
(128) 96 85
(136) 102 90
(144) 108 95
(152) 114 100
(160) 120 105
(168) 126 110
(176) 132 115
(184) 138 120
(192) 144
Brake lines & cables IIII I I
Brake pads & rotors$ IIII I I
Brake fluid$ RR R
Automatic transmission
fluid See NOTE (1)
Transfer fluid & differen-
tial gear oil See NOTE (2)
IIII I I
Steering gear & linkage,
axle & suspension parts$ II I
Tire rotation See NOTE (3)
Propeller shaft & drive
shaft boots (4WD mod-
els)$ IIII I I
Propeller shaft grease
(4WD models) LLLL L L
Exhaust system$ II I
In-cabin microfilter RRR R
Intelligent Key battery RRR R
Maintenance and schedules9-11
10-2Technical and consumer information
The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure
instructed in the “8. Do-it-yourself” section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Fluid typeCapacity (approximate)
Recommended Fluids/Lubricants
Metric
Measure US
Measure Imperial
Measure
Fuel 98.4 L26 gal21-5/8 gal ÂSee “Fuel information” (P.10-4).
Engine oil*1 With oil filter change 6.5 L6-7/8 qt 5-3/4 qt ÂGenuine “NISSAN Motor Oil 0W-20 SN” is recommended.
 If the above motor oil is not available, use an equivalent motor oil that
matches the above grade and viscosity. For additional information,
see “Engine oil and oil filter recommendation” (P.10-6).
Drain and refill
*1: For additional information,
see “Changing engine oil and
filter” (P.8-6).
Without oil filter change 6.2 L6-1/2 qt 5-1/2 qt
Engine coolant
With reservoir 16.3 L 17-1/4 qt 14-3/8 qt
ÂPre-diluted Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or
equivalent
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) —— — ÂGenuine NISSAN Matic S ATF
 INFINITI recommends using Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF ONLY in
INFINITI automatic transmissions. Do not mix with other fluids. Using
fluids that are not equivalent to Genuine NISSAN MATIC S ATF may
damage the automatic transmission. Damage caused by the use of
fluids other than as recommended is not covered under the INFINITI’s
new vehicle limited warranty.
Transfer fluid —— — ÂGenuine NISSAN Transfer Fluid for ATX90A transfer or equivalent
 Using transfer fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Transfer Fluid may
damage the transfer, which is not covered by the INFINITI new vehicle
limited warranty.
Front differential gear oil —— — ÂGenuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super GL-5 80W-90 or
equivalent conventional (non-synthetic) oil
Rear differential gear oil —— — ÂGenuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super-S GL-5 synthetic
75W-90 or equivalent
Power steering fluid (PSF) Refill to the proper oil level according to the instructions
in the “8. Do-it-yourself” section. Â
Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent
 DEXRON
TMVI type ATF may also be used.
Brake fluid ÂGenuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid*4 or equivalent DOT
3
*4: Available in mainland U.S.A. through an INFINITI retailer.
Suspension fluid —— — ÂGenuine NISSAN Hydraulic Suspension Fluid or equivalent
 Using Hydraulic Suspension fluid other than Genuine NISSAN
Hydraulic Suspension fluid will damage the Hydraulic Suspension,
which is not covered by the INFINITI new vehicle limited warranty. See
an INFINITI retailer for recommended hydraulic suspension fluid.
Multi-purpose grease —— — ÂNLGI No. 2 (Lithium soap base)
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FLUIDS/LUBRICANTS
roads can affect engine performance and
cause overheating. The transmission high
fluid temperature and engine protection
mode, which helps reduce the chance of
transmission and engine damage, could
activate and automatically decrease engine
power. Vehicle speed may decrease under
high load. Plan your trip carefully to account
for trailer and vehicle load, weather and road
conditions.
WARNING
Overheating can result in reduced engine
power and vehicle speed. The reduced
speed may be lower than other traffic,
which could increase the chance of a
collision. Be especially careful when
driving. If the vehicle cannot maintain a
safe driving speed, pull to the side of the
road in a safe area. Allow the engine to
cool and return to normal operation. See
“If your vehicle overheats” (P.6-14).
CAUTION
Vehicle damage resulting from improper
towing procedures is not covered by
INFINITI warranties.
STI0542
Tongue load
When using a weight carrying or a weight
distributing hitch, keep the tongue load
between 10 to 15% of the total trailer load
or use the trailer tongue load specified by the
trailer manufacturer. The tongue load must
be within the maximum tongue load limits
shown in the following “Towing Load/
Specification” chart. If the tongue load
becomes excessive, rearrange cargo to allow
for proper tongue load.
TI1012M
MAXIMUM GROSS VEHICLE
WEIGHT (GVW)/MAXIMUM
GROSS AXLE WEIGHT (GAW)
The GVW of the towing vehicle must not
exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) shown on the F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.
S. certification label. The GVW equals the
combined weight of the unloaded vehicle,
passengers, luggage, hitch, trailer tongue
load and any other optional equipment. In
addition, front or rear GAW must not exceed
the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
shown on the F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certifi-
cation label.
Towing capacities are calculated assuming a
Technical and consumer information10-19
— the Forward Emergency Braking(FEB) with pedestrian detection sys-
tem
— the Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW) system
. Some states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehicles
that are towing trailers. Obey the local
speed limits.
. Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness
connections, and trailer wheel lug nuts
after 50 miles (80 km) of travel and at
every break.
. When launching a boat, do not allow the
water level to go over the exhaust tail
pipe or rear bumper.
. Make sure you disconnect the trailer
lights before backing the trailer into the
water or the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, the transmission
fluid should be changed more frequently.
For additional information, see “9. Main-
tenance and schedules” section.
TOW mode
Using TOW mode is recommended when
pulling a heavy trailer or hauling a heavy
load. Push the TOW mode switch to activate
TOW mode. The TOW mode indicator light
in the meter illuminates when TOW mode is
selected. Push the TOW mode switch again to turn TOW mode off. TOW mode is
automatically cancelled when the ignition
switch is placed in the OFF position.
TOW mode includes the following features:
.
Grade logic — Adjusts transmission shifts
when pulling a trailer or hauling a load up
a grade.
. Downhill Speed Control (DSC) — auto-
matically downshifts when driving down
a grade with a trailer or heavy load to
help control vehicle speed.
Driving the vehicle in the TOW mode with no
trailer/load or light trailer/light load will not
cause any damage. However, fuel economy
may be reduced and the transmission/
engine driving characteristics may feel unu-
sual.
When towing a trailer, the transmission
fluid should be changed more frequently.
For additional information, see “9. Main-
tenance and schedules” section.
Trailer Sway Control
To minimize trailer sway, your vehicle may
apply braking to individual wheels based on
input from your vehicle sensors and vehicle
speed. Trailer Sway Control is a function of
the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system
and is active when the VDC function is
enabled.
CAUTION
If the VDC OFF switch is on (meaning
VDC system OFF), the Trailer Sway
Control is also disabled.
When Trailer Sway Control is in operation,
the VDC warning light blinks. When vehicle
control is regained, VDC warning light will
turn OFF.
For additional information about the VDC
system, see “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
system” (P.5-133).
If Trailer Sway Control activates:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions
allow. This combination will help stabilize
the vehicle.
CAUTION
Do not try to correct trailer sway by
steering or applying the brakes.
2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the brakes and pull to the side of
the road in a safe area.
Technical and consumer information10-29