Note. When checking fluid levels, the car must be parked on a flat horizontal area, if possible with a hard surface.
Engine oil
1. Checking the level of impellent oil is carried out using a dipstick threaded into the guide tube and lowered into the engine to the bottom of its crankcase pan. On all models, the dipstick is located at the front of the power unit.
2. The oil level must be checked before the first ride of the day, or at least 5 minutes after the engine has been stopped. If the check is performed immediately after the engine is turned off, the results will not adequately reflect the situation, as part of the oil will be distributed to the internal galleries and engine components.
3. Remove the dipstick from the guide tube and dry its blade with a clean cloth or paper towel. Insert the dipstick back into the tube until it stops, then remove it again. After examining the probe blade, estimate the size of the area wetted with oil. The oil level should be between the upper and lower marks on the dipstick blade. If necessary, top up the engine with the appropriate amount of oil of the required grade.
4. To raise the level from the bottom (MIN) marks on the dipstick to the top (MAX) about one liter of oil is required. Lowering the level beyond the lower limit of the permissible range leads to the development of engine oil starvation and is fraught with serious mechanical damage to the latter. Try also not to overfill the oil above the upper mark, as this can lead to throwing spark plugs or failure of the power unit seals as a result of excessive pressure buildup.
5. To fill the engine with oil, remove the threaded filler cap. Use a funnel or an oil can with a long spout to avoid splashing oil when filling it into the engine. After filling in oil, screw on and firmly tighten the filler cap, then start the engine and carefully inspect the drain plug and the surface of the oil filter mating with the block for signs of leakage. Stop the engine, wait about 5 minutes for the oil to drain into the sump, then check the level again.
6. Checking the engine oil level is an important preventative engine maintenance procedure. A constantly low level indicates the presence of oil leaks as a result of failed oil seals, damaged seals, worn piston rings or valve guides. If the oil resembles milk in color or consistency, or there are drops of water in it, this indicates a possible damage to the cylinder head gasket, or the formation of cracks in the body of the head (OK) or block. The check must be made without delay. When measuring the oil level, always also check its condition. Using your thumb and forefinger, remove traces of oil from the dipstick blade - if there are small metal particles in it, the oil must be replaced (see Section Changing the engine oil and oil filter).
Engine coolant
Note. Do not allow antifreeze to come into contact with exposed areas of the body and painted surfaces of the car. Wash off accidental splashes with plenty of water without delay. Remember that antifreeze is a highly toxic liquid and getting it into the body, even in small quantities, is fraught with the most serious consequences, even death. Never leave antifreeze stored in a loosely closed container, immediately collect spilled coolant on the floor. Remember that the sweet smell of antifreeze can attract the attention of children and animals. Consult with local authorities about ways to dispose of used coolant - in many regions of the world there are special points for receiving various kinds of waste. Never drain old coolant down the drain and onto the ground!
Recently, non-toxic grades of antifreeze have been developed, however, they must also be disposed of in an organized manner.
1. All models of vehicles described in this manual are equipped with an overpressure compensation type cooling system. Made of translucent plastic, the expansion tank of the cooling system is located in the engine compartment and is connected by an overflow hose to the base of the radiator filler neck. When the engine overheats, the coolant expands, and its excess flows through the valve mounted in the radiator filler cap into the expansion tank. As it cools, the liquid returns through the hose back to the radiator, which allows you to constantly maintain its normal level in the system.
Attention! Never remove the radiator filler cap when the engine is hot!
2. The coolant level in the expansion tank is checked regularly and should be between the LOW and FULL marks on the translucent sides of the tank. It should be remembered that the liquid level depends on its temperature, therefore, in a cold state, it should be only slightly above the lower mark, and after the engine warms up, it should rise to the FULL mark. If necessary, make the appropriate adjustment by adding the required amount of fresh mixture to the tank through the neck.
Attention! Use only the correct mixture of ethylene glycol and distilled water to correct the fluid level (about 50/50). Remember that the frequent use of plain water for this purpose leads to a gradual dilution of the antifreeze and the loss of its frost resistance and anti-corrosion properties by the mixture. You should also not abuse various types of additives and additives.
3. A constant drop in the coolant level usually indicates the development of leaks in the system. Check for signs of leaks radiator, connecting hoses, filler cap, drain plugs and water pump housing (see Section Checking the Condition of the Cooling System Components). If no signs of leaks can be detected, a pressure test of the radiator cap should be carried out in a car service workshop.
Attention! Never remove the cap from the radiator/expansion tank when the engine is hot!
4. If it is necessary to remove the radiator cap, wait for the engine to cool completely, then wrap the neck with a thick layer of rags and slowly unscrew the cap to the first stop. If this produces steam, let the engine cool down a little more, only then remove the cover completely.
5. In addition to the level, always also check the condition of the coolant - it should be relatively clear. If the coolant is rust reddish brown, the cooling system must be emptied, flushed and filled with a fresh mixture of antifreeze and water. Even if the fluid does not change externally, the corrosion inhibitors it contains will wear out over time, so the coolant must be changed regularly in accordance with the vehicle's routine maintenance schedule (see Section Nissan Maxima Maintenance Schedule).
6. Avoid getting antifreeze on exposed skin or painted surfaces of body components. Accidental splashes should be washed off immediately with plenty of water.
Windshield washer fluid
1. Windshield washer fluid is poured into a special reservoir made of plastic, located on the right side of the vehicle's engine compartment, next to the expansion tank of the cooling system.
2. In temperate regions, clean water can be used as a glass washer fluid, but do not fill the tank more than 2/3 to compensate for the expansion of water when it freezes during frost. When operating the vehicle in harsh climates, only fill the reservoir with proprietary windshield wipers that will adequately lower the fluid's freezing point.
Attention! The rules for the composition of the mixture are usually printed on a label pasted on the container. In no case do not use antifreeze used in the cooling system to add glass washer fluid - the latter is aggressive towards the paintwork of body panels!
3. In order to avoid freezing of the glass when washing in cold weather, preheat it by blowing air passed through the heater heat exchanger.
Battery electrolyte
The vehicles covered in this manual are equipped with a maintenance-free, sealed-type battery with only vent holes in the casing. If, during the operation of the vehicle, the battery for any reason was replaced with a conventional (serviced), you should check the electrolyte level in its banks from time to time, for which it is necessary to remove the upper control / filler plugs. Particular attention should be paid to the electrolyte level in the warm season. Only distilled water should be used to correct the electrolyte level.
Hydraulic fluid brake and clutch
1. Master cylinder (GTZ) located in the upper left corner of the engine compartment of the car and is attached to the brake booster servo unit. The hydraulic clutch cylinder is used on models with a manual transmission and is mounted next to the GTZ directly on the rear bulkhead of the engine compartment.
2. The liquid level inside the tank is clearly visible through the translucent walls of the latter and must be maintained between the MIN and MAX marks. Please note that the hydraulic circuit of the clutch actuator is of a sealed design and, under normal conditions, does not need to be adjusted to the fluid level (see chapter Clutch and drive shafts).
3. If it is necessary to adjust the fluid level, carefully wipe the cap of the respective reservoir and the area around it with a clean rag to prevent dirt from entering the hydraulic system.
4. When pouring liquid into the tank, make sure that it does not splash onto the surrounding painted surfaces of the body elements. Add only the correct grade of fluid to each system (see Specifications at the beginning of this Chapter), - the mixing of two liquids of different grades is in no case unacceptable and may lead to failure of the corresponding system!
Attention! Brake fluid is highly chemically aggressive - do not let it get into your eyes and onto painted surfaces of body panels! Do not use hydraulic fluid that has stood for more than one year or has been stored in a loosely closed container to add to the system. Remember that brake fluid is very hygroscopic, ie. has the ability to absorb moisture from the air, as a result of which the effectiveness of the brake system can be dangerously reduced!
5. During the level adjustment step, you should also carefully check the condition of the liquid and the internal walls of the tank. If dirt deposits, solid foreign particles or water droplets are detected, the system must be emptied and filled with fresh hydraulic fluid (see chapter Brake system).
6. After the reservoir is filled to the required level, fit the lid tightly onto it.
7. Remember that the level of hydraulic fluid in the GTZ reservoir gradually drops as the friction linings of the brake pads actuate, but this decrease is always very small. If the fluid has to be topped up too often, therefore, there is a leak in the system, the source of which must be identified without delay, and the cause eliminated - carefully inspect all brake lines and their union connections, including calipers, wheel cylinders and vacuum booster servo (see Section Checking the brake system).
8. If, during the check of the fluid level in the GTZ, the fact that its tank is almost empty is revealed, the brake system must be completely pumped (see chapter Brake system).