What type of oil do I need?

[TangoJuliet]

My wife told me the other day that she needs an oil change. We just got married 2 months ago and she would always go to jiffy lube or something.....but now I can do it myself. I tried to find the owner's manual but its long gone...i did a google search and couldnt find anything.

Her car:

1998 Nissan Sentra GXE

I figure its 5w30....but not 100% sure

Any help is appreciated.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Call your Nissan dealer?

 

[pontifex]

yeah, call dealer or here

 

[goodoptics]

5W-30 for all temperatures.

 

[Heisenberg]

Look on the oil cap.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Look on the oil cap.

ah, never even thought of that

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: pontifex
yeah, call dealer or here

gracias!

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Look on the oil cap.

really? i don't think mine has it listed there (never really looked though). i have a Saturn.

 

[nakedfrog]

That's probably fine.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Look on the oil cap.

really? i don't think mine has it listed there (never really looked though). i have a Saturn.

Both of my GM cars have it on the cap.

 

[FoBoT]

my saturn says 5-30W on the cap

for that nissan, 5-30W or 10-30W should be fine

 

[TangoJuliet]

yep, the manual said either 5w30 or 10w30 is fine....5w30 as someone said earlier for all temps

now....how many quarts do I need? 4?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK
yep, the manual said either 5w30 or 10w30 is fine....5w30 as someone said earlier for all temps

now....how many quarts do I need? 4?

fill it up until you can see the oil coming up the dipstick hole

 

[Vic]

RTFM!

 

[kstu]

Originally posted by: Vic
RTFM!

RTFP!

I tried to find the owner's manual but its long gone

 

[FoBoT]

try 3 qts and check it, you'll probably have to add another

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK
yep, the manual said either 5w30 or 10w30 is fine....5w30 as someone said earlier for all temps

now....how many quarts do I need? 4?

Buy a Chilton/Haynes manual for the car. It will have fluid capacities, torque specs, etc.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
try 3 qts and check it, you'll probably have to add another

My car takes 6. Then again, it's a 4.6L V8.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: kstu

Originally posted by: Vic
RTFM!

RTFP!

I tried to find the owner's manual but its long gone

30 seconds of googling!!


edit: manual calls for 3-5/8ths quarts 5W-30 to be changed every 3,750 miles.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: kstu

Originally posted by: Vic
RTFM!

RTFP!

I tried to find the owner's manual but its long gone

30 seconds of googling!!

yes thank you....as I mentioned in the above post I was reading the pdf as someone had linked earlier. i also googled "1998 nissan sentra oil type" and got nothing....not realizing I should have put in owner's manual.

the manual has 2 different suggestions for oil quantity depending on the engine....3-3/8qt or 3-5/8qt....that would be the reason I asked if 4qts should be enough.

 

[Vic]

Don't overfill. It's worse to be a half quart over than a half quart under. Add 3 quarts and then begin checking the dipstick.

 

[goodoptics]

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK
yep, the manual said either 5w30 or 10w30 is fine....5w30 as someone said earlier for all temps

now....how many quarts do I need? 4?

3.0 qts w/o filter change
3.375 qts w/ filter change