Nissan Car Maintenance Guide

You must follow the maintenance schedule to keep your Nissan car in excellent condition. Depending on weather conditions, road surface, individual driving habits, and vehicle use, your car may require additional or more frequent maintenance. Let's review engine and emissions control, chassis and body maintenance, and severe duty maintenance.

General Maintenance Guide

According to the manufacturer's instructions, you should conduct regular service for your Nissan every 10 thousand miles or once a year and change motor oil, oil, and air filters. The cabin filter should be replaced every 18 thousand miles, but it is better to do it during every maintenance check. Have your car’s fuel filter checked every 18 thousand miles (for diesel engines).

The air filter is a crucial car component, so it is not worth saving on its replacement, as a dirty filter lets dust into the engine and impedes oxygen flow. In the conditions of a dusty metropolis and out-of-town trips on dirty roads, the air filter on Nissan cars gets clogged very quickly.

Note that it is better to reduce the service interval to 5 thousand miles for diesel engines.

Engine And Emission Control Maintenance

After your car has traveled 40,000 miles or 48 months, you should have it checked out every 10,000 miles or 12 months. Replace the drive belts if they are damaged. The first engine coolant change interval is 105,000 miles or 84 months. After the first change, replace it every 75,000 miles or 60 months.

Change the motor oil each 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, and 42 months. Note that the fuel filter is a non-maintainable part, and the same applies to the engine filter (a Nissan motor oil filter or equivalent).

Remember to use only original Nissan antifreeze/long-life coolants (blue) or similar with 50% antifreeze and 50% demineralized or distilled water. Mixing any other type of coolant or using non-distilled water will reduce the expected service life of the factory-filled coolant.

Replace the spark plug if the spark plug gap exceeds 1.4 mm (0.055 inches). Periodic maintenance of the intake and exhaust valve is not required. However, if the valve noise increases, check the valve clearance.

Chassis And Body Maintenance

Use only genuine Nissan fluid. If you’re towing a trailer with an RV or chassis, driving on rough or muddy roads, have the fluid level and condition checked by your dealer every 60,000 miles, if necessary.

When you tow a trailer, use a touring or motor vehicle, or drive on a rough or muddy road, change (not just check) the oil every 20,000 miles or 24 months.

Severe Duty Maintenance

The severe duty conditions include the following:

• Constant short trips of less than 5 miles
• Continuous short trips of less than 10 miles with outside temperatures remaining below freezing
• Operating in hot weather during rush hour
• Prolonged idling and/or low-speed driving for long distances (applies to police, taxi services, or door-to-door delivery)
• Driving in dusty conditions
• Driving on rough, muddy, or salty roads
• Trailer towing with an RV or motor carrier

So, if you operate your vehicle primarily in harsh conditions, as shown above, more frequent maintenance should be performed on the following parts and car elements:

• Change brake fluid every 10,000 miles or 12 months.
• Check brake pads and rotors every 5,000 miles or six months.
• Check the steering, padding, axle parts, and suspension every 5,000 miles or six months.
• Check the PTO shaft (AWD) with the driveshaft every 5,000 miles or six months.
• Check the exhaust system every 5,000 miles or six months.

Summary

To preserve the best performance of your Nissan car, follow this simple plan. Remember to pay attention to the engine, emission control, chassis, and body. Special maintenance rules apply if you drive in severe conditions, such as hot weather or dusty roads. Keep all the information mentioned above in mind, and ensure proper maintenance for your Nissan to retain optimal performance and prolonged automobile service life. 

Related Resources

• Research a Vehicle
• Cars for Sale
• Sell My Car
• Car Ratings
• Automotive News
• Shopping Guides
• New Car Previews
• Expert Car Reviews