Maintenance Schedules

Use only petrol with the octane level recommended in your Owner's Manual. A common misconception is that octane measures the quality or power capabilities of petrol. The fact is, octane simply rates a petrol's resistance to detonation or 'pinging'. So using higher-than-recommended octane petrol can be a waste of money, while lower-than-recommended octane may result in poor performance.

Also, avoid running the tank too close to 'Empty'. Petrol impurities and sediments collect at the bottom of your tank and can cause problems if drawn into the fuel line.

Check the oil regularly and change it according to the maintenance schedule. Driving with insufficient oil can cause irreparable engine damage.

Here's how to check the oil:

• Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature.
• Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
• Turn off the engine. Wait a few minutes for the oil to drain back into the oil pan.
• Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Reinsert it all the way.
• emove the dipstick again and check the oil level. It should be between "H" and "L". If the level is over "H", have it drained back to the right level, if the oil level is below "L", remove the oil filler cap and add the recommended oil. Do not overfill.
• Recheck oil level with dipstick.

Check the following under the bonnet on a regular basis:

• Fluid levels: oil, coolant, brake fluid, power-steering fluid.
• Automatic-transmission fluid level after putting your vehicle in "Park" with the engine idling. See your Owner's Manual for detailed instructions.
• Radiator external fins for dirt, insects or leaves that may have accumulated.
• Hoses for cracks, deformations or loose connections that could lead to overheating.
• Engine drive-belts for cracks, fraying, wearing, or oil contamination.

You can check a number of things without leaving the driver's seat:

• Do the seatbelts operate properly and smoothly? Check belt webbing for wear or damage.
• Make sure all gauges and indicator lights - fuel, oil, temperature, battery - work and indicate normal levels.
• Check brakes for smooth operation. Pedal should be firm and the vehicle shouldn't pull to one side when stopping.
• Check for steering-wheel vibration, stiff steering or strange noises. If your vehicle pulls to one side, have tyres and alignment checked by your Nissan Dealer.
• Accelerator pedal should not catch or require uneven effort. Keep the floor mats away from the pedal.
• Check that wipers and washer are working, and do not streak the glass.
• Ensure that air or heat comes out of the defroster outlets properly.
• If the exhaust note sounds unusual, or you smell exhaust fumes, roll down windows and take the vehicle to your Nissan Dealer immediately.

A simple walk around your car can reveal a lot:

• Check the tyres to see if any appear to be low on air, showing cracks or wear or punctured by nails, metal, glass, etc..
• Check for missing or loose wheel nuts.
• Make sure headlights, brake lights, tail lights and turn signals operate properly.
• Check headlight aim according to the aiming instructions in your Nissan Owner's Manual.
• Check windshield wiper blades for cracks or wear.
• Look underneath the vehicle for a low-hanging muffler or anything that looks abnormal.
• Look for fluid leaks.

• Park on a level, solid surface. Apply parking brake and shift manual transmission into "Reverse," or automatic transmission into "Park."
• If you decide to change the tyre yourself, follow the jacking instructions in your Owner's Manual.
• Never change tyres when the vehicle is on a slope, ice or slippery area. Also, never change tyres if traffic is close to your vehicle.
• Observe the speed and mileage limits where applicable on temporary spare wheel/tyre assemblies.