NOTICE
.When the temperature of the
engine coolant and transmission
oil is high or low, the function
cannot be used. The temperature
range in which the R mode start
function can be used:
— Engine coolant: 140°F - 212°F
(60°C - 100°C)
— Transmission oil: 140°F - 266°F (60°C - 130°C)
. If the R mode start function is
used 4 times consecutively, the
function may be disabled and
cannot be turned on to protect
the vehicle system. While the function is disabled, the warning
light illuminates. When the warn-
ing light illuminates, perform cool
down driving. (
“Cool down”
page GTR-14) When the warning
light turns off, the function can be
used again.
. The performance of start may
vary depending on the amount
of wheel spin ,or increase and
decrease of the engine output in
response to the outside tempera-
ture. (This vehicle was set up
according to the road surface
conditions of the straight sec-
tions of the Sendai Highland Ra-
ceway course in Japan at 59°F
(15°C).)
. For safety reasons, VDC control
may activate automatically when
driving on a slippery road surface,
such as a wet road, in order to
apply the brakes or limit the
engine output.
. Frequent use of the R mode start
function increases the load on
the powertrain related parts such
as the clutch and transmission
compared to normal driving. In
particular, the clutch will wear out
Starting and driving
5-33
R MODE START FUNCTION
in this section for 48 hours after tires
are installed on the wheels. The tire
may slip on the wheel if the vehicle is
driven in these conditions before 48
hours have passed. If the tire slips on
the wheel, the wheel/tire assembly
will be out of balance and will require
rebalancing.
BrakesThe information and specifications in
this section apply only when engaging
in performance driving.
.Check for the heat deterioration of the
brakes and parts around the brakes.
. It is recommended that you remove
air from the brake system after any of
the following:
— When engaging in high perfor-
mance driving for the first time
after purchasing a new vehicle.
— After replacing the brake fluid.
— When engaging in high perfor- mance driving for a sustained per-
iod of time. It is recommended that
bleeding the brake be performed
when the brake calipers are hot
(about 212°F (100°C)). Brake pad break-in procedure:
NISSAN recommends that a special brake
pad break-in procedure be performed
before engaging in performance driving.
It is recommended you contact a GT-R
certified NISSAN dealer for details.
INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENTS
AFTER DRIVINGThe information and specifications in
this section apply only when engaging
in performance driving.
NOTICE
At the completion of performance
driving, all fluid and other adjust-
ments should be returned to the
normal fluid specifications as shown
in the “8. Do-it-yourself” section of
this manual.FluidsThe information and specifications in
this section apply only when engaging
in performance driving.
.
Check the engine, transmission, differ-
ential and under the vehicle for oil and
coolant leaks. .
Check the fluid levels and adjust as
necessary using the specified fluid as
described under the conditions listed
in this section. (
“Recommended
fluids and maintenance interval” page
GTR-20) If you do not drive under the
conditions listed, refer to the “9. Main-
tenance and schedules” section of this
manual.
. When changing fluids, be sure to use
the specified fluids as described in this
Owner’s manual. (“Capacities and
recommended fluids/lubricants” page
10-2)
GT-R Overview
GTR-19
Do not use the cruise control when
driving under the following condi-
tions. Doing so could cause a loss of
vehicle control and result in an acci-
dent.
.When it is not possible to keep
the vehicle at a set speed.
. In heavy traffic or in traffic that
varies in speed.
. On winding or hilly roads.
. On slippery roads (rain, snow, ice,
etc.).
. In very windy areas.
NOTE:
. When the SAVE mode is selected
with the transmission setup switch,
the acceleration and deceleration
can be controlled smoothly. When
the SAVE mode is selected, the
maximum setting speed is lower
than the one in the normal mode. When the vehicle approaches a gen-
tle uphill, there may be a slight delay
as the vehicle returns to the preset
speed. However, the vehicle will
gradually accelerate and return to
the preset speed.
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE CON-
TROL.
If the cruise control system malfunc-
tions, it will cancel automatically. The
SET indicator will blink and the cruise
control system warning will appear to
warn the driver. (
“Cruise control
system warning” page 2-43)
. If the engine coolant temperature
becomes excessively high, the cruise
control system will be canceled auto-
matically.
. If the SET indicator blinks, turn the
cruise control main switch off and it is
recommended you contact a GT-R
Starting and driving
5-35
CRUISE CONTROL
position.
. Be sure the ignition switch is in
the OFF or LOCK position when
performing any parts replace-
ment or repairs.
. If you must work with the engine
running, keep your hands, cloth-
ing, hair and tools away from
moving fans, belts and any other
moving parts.
. It is advisable to secure or re-
move any loose clothing and
remove any jewelry, such as
rings, watches, etc. before work-
ing on your vehicle.
. Always wear eye protection whenever you work on your ve-
hicle.
. 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
warning, even if the ignition key is
in the OFF position and the en-
gine is not running. To avoid
injury, always disconnect the ne-
gative battery cable before work-
ing 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.
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
engine oil and coolant. Impro-
perly disposed engine oil, coolant,
and/or other vehicle fluids can
damage the environment. Always
conform to local regulations for
disposal of vehicle fluid.
NOTICE
.Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized
component while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
. Never leave the engine or trans-
mission related component har-
nesses disconnected while the
ignition switch is in the ON posi-
tion.
This “8. Do-it-yourself” section gives in-
structions regarding only those items
which are relatively easy for an owner to
perform.
Do-it-yourself
8-3
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
by pulling it towards
the front of the vehicle. The engine cooling system is filled at the
factory with a pre-diluted mixture of 50%
Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/
Coolant (blue) and 50% water to provide
year-round anti-freeze and coolant pro-
tection. The anti-freeze solution contains
rust and corrosion inhibitors. Additional
engine cooling system additives are not
necessary.
, open the
reservoir cap (pressure type)and add
coolant up to between the MAX
and
MIN
level. If the reservoir is empty, open
the radiator filler cap
and 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. This vehicle contains Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue). The
life expectancy 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 “9. Maintenance and sche-
dules” section of this manual for more
details.
If the cooling system frequently re-
quires coolant, it is recommended you
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 mid-
point, the amount of coolant circulating
may be insufficient for maximum vehicle
performance, possibly causing engine
overheating or other trouble.
For the coolant level and mixture ratio
when engaging in performance driving,
see
“Coolant level and mixture ratio”
page GTR-15.
Except for NISMO models:
If it is difficult to determine the midpoint
between MAX and MIN, remove the cool-
ant reservoir cap and look inside through
the opening to check that the coolant
level is above the divider
between the
top half and bottom half of the pressur- ized 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
coolant reservoir cap. Doing so
will cause substandard cooling
performance 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 possi-
ble.CHANGING ENGINE COOLANTIf major cooling system repairs are re-
quired, it is recommended you 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 re-
duced heater performance and engine
overheating.
wheels will lose even more trac-
tion.
. Allow more stopping distance
under these conditions. Braking
should be started sooner than on
dry pavement.
. Allow greater following distances
on slippery roads.
. Watch for slippery spots (glare
ice). These may appear on an
otherwise clear road in shaded
areas. If a patch of ice is seen
ahead, brake before reaching it.
Try not to brake while on the ice,
and avoid any sudden steering
maneuvers.
. Do not use the cruise control on
slippery roads.
. Snow can trap dangerous ex-
haust gases under your vehicle.
Keep snow clear of the exhaust
pipe and from around your vehi-
cle.
NOTE:
When driving on snow, select the SAVE
mode with the setup switch. By select-
ing the SAVE mode, the engine output is
controlled appropriately for snow or slippery road surfaces. This enables
the vehicle to start or accelerate
smoothly.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)Engine block heaters are used to assist
with cold temperature starting.
The engine block heater should be used
when the outside temperature is 20°F
(−7°C) or lower.To use the engine block heater1. Turn the engine off.
2. Plug the engine block heater cord into
a grounded 3-wire, 3-pronged exten-
sion cord.
3. Plug the extension cord into a Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) protected,
grounded 110-volt AC (VAC) outlet.
4. The engine block heater must be plugged in for at least 2 - 4 hours,
depending on outside temperatures,
to properly warm the engine coolant.
Use an appropriate timer to turn the
engine block heater on.
5. Before starting the engine, unplug and properly store the cord to keep it
away from moving parts.
Cool downThe information and specifications in
this section apply only when engaging
in performance driving.
Cool down the vehicle to help extend the
life of the vehicle if coolant temperatures
are extremely high. Drive the vehicle at 37
to 50 MPH (60 to 80 km/h), in 5th or 6th
gear for 2 to 3 miles (3 to 5 km) and then
stop the engine.Refueling precautions
WARNING
Do not attempt to top off the fuel
tank after the fuel pump nozzle
shuts off automatically. Continued
refueling may cause fuel overflow,
resulting in fuel spray and possibly a
fire. The fuel tank is full at the first
automatic shutoff.
To maximize vehicle performance, the
fuel tank is located as low as possible to
lower the vehicle center of gravity. The
tank is also divided into two parts. This
fuel tank design causes higher pressures
inside the tank than other vehicles so fuel
spillage is possible by trying to top off the fuel tank after automatic shutoff.
The fuel tank pressure is higher when the
vehicle is hot, especially if the tank is more
than half full. If the cap is opened when
the vehicle is hot, it may cause fuel spray
and there may be a hissing noise. Open
the cap slowly, releasing the pressure
from the tank gradually. Also, if the
vehicle is refueled when the vehicle is
hot, the fuel pump may automatically
shut off before the tank is full. This does
not indicate that there is a malfunction.
Refuel slowly or refuel after the vehicle
has cooled.
INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENTS
BEFORE DRIVINGThe information and specifications in
this section apply only when engaging
in performance driving.Fluids.
Check the engine, transmission, differ-
ential and under vehicle surfaces for
oil and coolant leaks.
. Check the fluid levels and adjust as
necessary using the specified fluid as
described under the conditions listed
in this section.(
“Recommended
fluids and maintenance interval” page GTR-20) If you do not drive under the
conditions listed, refer to the “9. Main-
tenance and schedules” section of this
manual.