How to Choose the Oil and Fluids for a Nissan Pathfinder

Nissan Pathfinders have a reputation for being stout vehicles that run almost forever. Making sure you use the right oil and fluids in your Nissan Pathfinder will help to ensure that it lives up to its reputation and gives you a lifetime of service.

Instructions

1

Use 5W-30 or 10W-30 motor oil from any major manufacturer to refill your Nissan Pathfinder's oil as necessary. 5W-30 is appropriate in all climates, while 10W-30 should be used in moderate to hot climes.

2

Check to make sure you're following the manufacturer's recommendation of using 50 percent Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant or equivalent and 50 percent distilled or demineralized water to fill the radiator.

3

Use Nissan J-Matic fluid to refill your automatic transmission as necessary. Be careful not to overfill as too much automatic transmission fluid can cause tranny failure or damage, as can using the wrong fluid. You can use any other ATF fluids that clearly state they meet the Nissan J-Matic specifications; if in doubt, call your local Nissan dealership to be sure you're using the right fluid.

4

Fill up on brake fluid, if necessary, with Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or DOT3 equivalent.

5

Refill battery cells with distilled water if you check them and the level appears to be low. Remember that each cell should be checked and filled individually.

6

Remember to fill your windshield washer fluid reservoir with Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Antifreeze fluid or equivalent.

7

Double-check to make sure you're using NISSAN A/C System Oil Type R (DH-PS) or equivalent as your air conditioning refrigerant oil.