Nissan Pathfinder (2008 year). Manual - part 486

MA-16

< ON-VEHICLE MAINTENANCE >

ENGINE MAINTENANCE (VQ40DE)

NOTE:
• The viscous paper type filter does not need cleaning between replacement intervals.
• Replace the air filter as necessary for required maintenance.

1.

Unhook the clips and lift the air cleaner case (upper).

2.

Remove the air cleaner filter from the air cleaner case (lower).

3.

Install the new air cleaner filter in the air cleaner case (lower).

4.

Lower the air cleaner case (upper) and hook the clips securely.

Changing Engine Oil

INFOID:0000000001621711

WARNING:

• Be careful not to burn yourself, as engine oil may be hot.
• Prolonged and repeated contact with used engine oil may cause skin cancer; try to avoid direct skin

contact with used engine oil. If skin contact is made, wash thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner as
soon as possible. 

1.

Warm up engine, put vehicle on flat and level surface then check for engine oil leakage from engine com-
ponents. Refer to 

LU-8, "Inspection"

 .

2.

Stop engine and wait for 10 minutes.

3.

Loosen oil filler cap and then remove drain plug.

4.

Drain engine oil.

5.

Install drain plug with new washer. Refer to 

EM-36, "Removal and Installation"

 .

CAUTION:

Be sure to clean drain plug and install with new washer.

6.

Refill with new engine oil.
Engine oil specification and capacity:
Refer to 

MA-10

 .

CAUTION:

• When filling engine oil, do not pull out oil level gauge.
• The refill capacity depends on the engine oil temperature and drain time. Use these specifica-

tions for reference only.

• Always use oil level gauge to determine the proper amount of engine oil in engine.

7.

Warm up engine and check area around drain plug and oil filter for oil leakage.

8.

Stop engine and wait for 10 minutes.

1.

Air duct and resonator assembly

2.

Air cleaner case (upper)

3.

Air cleaner filter

4.

Air cleaner case (lower)

WBIA0587E

Oil pan drain plug 

: 34.3 N·m (3.5 kg-m, 25ft-lb)

ENGINE MAINTENANCE (VQ40DE)

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9.

Check the engine oil level. Refer to 

LU-8, "Inspection"

 .

Changing Oil Filter

INFOID:0000000001621712

1.

Remove the undercover using power tool.

2.

Remove the oil filter using Tool.

WARNING:

Be careful not to burn yourself, as the engine and engine oil
are hot.

CAUTION:

• Oil filter is provided with relief valve. Use Genuine NIS-

SAN Oil Filter or equivalent.

• When removing, prepare a shop cloth to absorb any

engine oil leakage or spillage.

• Do not allow engine oil to adhere to drive belts.
• Completely wipe off any engine oil that adheres to engine and vehicle.

3.

Remove any foreign materials adhering to the oil filter installation surface.

4.

Apply new engine oil to the oil seal contact surface of new oil fil-
ter as shown.

5.

Screw on the oil filter manually until a slight resistance is felt,
then tighten the oil filter an additional 2/3 turn as shown. Or
tighten to specification.

6.

Install the undercover.

7.

Check the engine oil level using the dipstick as shown, adjust
the engine oil level as necessary.

8.

Start the engine and check for engine oil leaks, correct as nec-
essary.

9.

Stop the engine and wait for 10 minutes.

10. Check the engine oil level using the dipstick and adjust the

engine oil level as necessary.

Tool number

: KV10115801 (J-38956)

LBIA0425E

SMA010

Oil filter

: 17.7 N·m (1.8 kg-m, 13ft-lb)

SMA702C

PBIC2823E

MA-18

< ON-VEHICLE MAINTENANCE >

ENGINE MAINTENANCE (VQ40DE)

Changing Spark Plugs

INFOID:0000000001621713

REMOVAL

1.

Remove the ignition coil. Refer to 

EM-41, "Removal and Installation"

.

2.

Remove the spark plug using a suitable tool as shown.

CAUTION:

Do not drop or shock the spark plug if reusing it.

INSPECTION AFTER REMOVAL

• If plug tip is covered with carbon, spark plug cleaner may be used.

• Checking and adjusting plug gap is not required between change

intervals.

CAUTION:

1.

Ignition coil

2.

Spark plug

PBIC2901E

SEM294A

Cleaner air pressure

: Less than 588 kPa (6 kg/cm

2

, 85 psi)

Cleaning time

: Less than 20 seconds

SMA806CA

ENGINE MAINTENANCE (VQ40DE)

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• Do not use a wire brush to clean the spark plug.
• Do not drop or shock the spark plug.

INSTALLATION

Installation is in the reverse order of removal.

CAUTION:

Do not drop or shock spark plug.

Checking EVAP Vapor Line

INFOID:0000000001621714

1.

Visually inspect EVAP vapor lines for improper attachment, cracks, damage, loose connections, chafing
or deterioration.

2.

Inspect vacuum relief valve of fuel tank filler cap for clogging and sticking.
Refer to 

EC-483, "How to Detect Fuel Vapor Leakage"

.

SMA773C

Make

NGK

Standard type

DILFR5A-11

Gap (nominal)

1.1 mm (0.043 in)

MA-20

< ON-VEHICLE MAINTENANCE >

ENGINE MAINTENANCE (VK56DE)

ENGINE MAINTENANCE (VK56DE)

Checking Drive Belts

INFOID:0000000001621746

WARNING:

Be sure to perform when the engine is stopped.

1.

Remove air duct and resonator assembly when inspecting drive belt.

2.

Make sure that indicator (single line notch) of each auto tensioner is within the allowable working range
“A” (between three line notches) as shown.
NOTE:
• Check the drive belt auto tensioner indication when the engine is cold.
• The indicator notch is located on the moving side of the drive belt auto tensioner. 

3.

Visually check entire belt for wear, damage or cracks.

4.

If the indicator is out of allowable working range or belt is damaged, replace the belt. Refer to 

EM-153,

"Removal and Installation"

.

DRIVE BELT TENSION

There is no manual drive belt tension adjustment. The drive belt tension is automatically adjusted by the drive
belt auto tensioner.

Changing Engine Coolant

INFOID:0000000001621745

WARNING:

• To avoid being scalded, never change the coolant when the engine is hot.
• Wrap a thick cloth around the cap to carefully remove the cap. First, turn the cap a quarter of a turn

to release any built-up pressure, then push down and turn the cap all the way to remove it.

DRAINING ENGINE COOLANT

1.

Turn ignition switch ON and set temperature control lever all the way to HOT position or the highest tem-
perature position. Wait 10 seconds and turn ignition switch OFF.

2.

Remove the engine front undercover using power tool.

1.

Drive belt

2.

Power steering pump pulley

3.

Generator pulley

4.

Crankshaft pulley

5.

A/C compressor

6.

Idler pulley

7.

Cooling fan pulley

8.

Water pump pulley

9.

Drive belt auto tensioner

A.

Allowable working range

LBIA0391E

ENGINE MAINTENANCE (VK56DE)

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3.

Open the radiator drain plug at the bottom of the radiator, and
remove the radiator filler cap. This is the only step required
when partially draining the cooling system (radiator only). 

CAUTION:

Do not to allow the coolant to contact the drive belts. 

4.

When draining all of the coolant in the system for engine
removal or repair, it is necessary to drain the cylinder block.
Remove the RH cylinder block drain plug to drain the right bank,
the oil cooler hose to drain the left bank as shown and the block
heater if equipped.

5.

Remove the reservoir tank to drain the engine coolant, then clean the reservoir tank before installing it.

6.

Check the drained coolant for contaminants such as rust, corrosion or discoloration.
If the coolant is contaminated, flush the engine cooling system. Refer to 

CO-39, "Changing Engine Cool-

ant"

.

REFILLING ENGINE COOLANT

1.

Close the radiator drain plug. Install the reservoir tank, cylinder block drain plug, the oil cooler hose and
block heater if equipped, if removed for a total system drain or for engine removal or repair.
• The radiator must be completely empty of coolant and water.
• Apply sealant to the threads of the cylinder block drain plug. Use Genuine High Performance Thread

Sealant or equivalent. Refer to 

GI-26, "Recommended Chemical Products and Sealants"

.

2.

Set the vehicle heater controls to the full HOT and heater ON position. Turn the vehicle ignition ON with
the engine OFF as necessary to activate the heater mode.

3.

Remove the vented reservoir cap and replace it with a non-vented reservoir cap before filling the cooling
system.

LLIA0070E

PBIC0146E

WBIA0392E

Radiator drain plug

: Refer to 

CO-43, "Removal and Installation"

.

RH cylinder block drain plug

: Refer to 

EM-222, "Disassembly and Assembly"

.

MA-22

< ON-VEHICLE MAINTENANCE >

ENGINE MAINTENANCE (VK56DE)

4.

Install the Tool by installing the radiator cap adapter onto the
radiator neck opening. Then attach the gauge body assembly
with the refill tube and the venturi assembly to the radiator cap
adapter.

5.

Insert the refill hose into the coolant mixture container that is
placed at floor level. Make sure the ball valve is in the closed
position. 
• Use recommended coolant or equivalent.

Refer to 

MA-11, "Engine Oil Recommendation"

.

6.

Install an air hose to the venturi assembly, the air pressure must
be within specification. 

CAUTION:

The compressed air supply must be equipped with an air
dryer.

7.

The vacuum gauge will begin to rise and there will be an audible hissing noise. During this process open
the ball valve on the refill hose slightly. Coolant will be visible rising in the refill hose. Once the refill hose is
full of coolant, close the ball valve. This will purge any air trapped in the refill hose.

8.

Continue to draw the vacuum until the gauge reaches 28 inches
of vacuum. The gauge may not reach 28 inches in high altitude
locations, use the vacuum specifications based on the altitude
above sea level.

9.

When the vacuum gauge has reached the specified amount, disconnect the air hose and wait 20 seconds
to see if the system loses any vacuum. If the vacuum level drops, perform any necessary repairs to the
system and repeat steps 6 - 8 to bring the vacuum to the specified amount. Recheck for any leaks. 

10. Place the coolant container (with the refill hose inserted) at the same level as the top of the radiator. Then

open the ball valve on the refill hose so the coolant will be drawn up to fill the cooling system. The cooling
system is full when the vacuum gauge reads zero.

CAUTION:

Do not allow the coolant container to get too low when filling, to avoid air from being drawn into
the cooling system. 

11. Remove the Tool from the radiator neck opening and install the radiator cap.

12. Remove the non-vented reservoir cap.
13. Fill the cooling system reservoir tank to the specified level. Run the engine to warm up the cooling system

and top up the system as necessary before installing the vented reservoir cap.

FLUSHING COOLING SYSTEM

1.

Drain the water from the engine cooling system. Refer to 

CO-12, "Changing Engine Coolant"

.

2.

Fill the radiator and the reservoir tank (to the “MAX” line), with water. Reinstall the radiator cap and leave
the vented reservoir cap off.

Tool number

: KV991J0070 (J-45695)

Cooling system capacity 
(with reservoir)

: Refer to 

MA-10, "Fluids 

and Lubricants"

.

Compressed air 
supply pressure

: 5.7 - 8.5 kPa (5.6 - 8.4 kg/cm

2

, 

80 - 120 psi)

LLIA0058E

Altitude above sea level

Vacuum gauge reading

0 - 100 m (328 ft)

: 28 inches of vacuum

300 m (984 ft)

: 27 inches of vacuum

500 m (1,641 ft)

: 26 inches of vacuum

1,000 m (3,281 ft)

: 24 - 25 inches of vacuum

LLIA0057E

ENGINE MAINTENANCE (VK56DE)

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3.

Run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature.

4.

Press the engine accelerator two or three times under no-load.

5.

Stop the engine and wait until it cools down.

6.

Drain the water from the engine cooling system. Refer to 

CO-12, "Changing Engine Coolant"

.

7.

Repeat steps 2 through 6 until clear water begins to drain from the radiator.

Checking Fuel Line

INFOID:0000000001621747

Inspect fuel lines, fuel filler cap and fuel tank for improper attach-
ment, leaks, cracks, damage, loose connections, chafing or deterio-
ration.
If necessary, repair or replace damaged parts.

Changing Fuel Filter

INFOID:0000000001621739

The fuel filter is part of the fuel level sensor unit, fuel filter and fuel pump assembly. Refer to 

FL-16

.

WARNING:

Before replacing the fuel filter, release the fuel pressure from the fuel system. Refer to 

EC-948, "Fuel

Pressure Check"

.

Changing Engine Air Cleaner Filter

INFOID:0000000001621740

VISCOUS PAPER TYPE

NOTE:
• The viscous paper type filter does not need cleaning between replacement intervals.
• Replace the air filter as necessary for periodic maintenance. Refer to 

MA-6, "Introduction of Periodic Mainte-

nance"

.

1.

Unhook clips, and lift air cleaner case (upper).

2.

Remove the air cleaner filter.

SMA803A

1.

Air cleaner case (lower)

2.

Air cleaner filter

3.

Air cleaner case (upper)

4.

Air duct and resonator assembly

⇐

Front

ALBIA0413GB