Altima, you’ll need 4.9 quarts or 5.1 quarts of 0W-20 full-synthetic oil, depending on the engine in your model. When to change your oil depends on how much you drive and how well you keep up with your Altima's maintenance.

The Nissan Altima is a reliable and sturdy family car, offering a comfortable ride across all trim levels. The Altima is offered with both a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a more powerful 3.5-liter V6, but no matter which of the two engines you choose, you’ll need to keep up with regular oil changes to keep your Altima working at peak performance.

Looking for some guidance on the 2018 Nissan Altima engine oil capacity? We've put together this guide to taking care of the oil in your Altima.

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2018 Nissan Altima engine oil capacity

When it’s time to change your 2018 Nissan Altima’s engine oil, there are two things you’ll need to know: what kind of oil you need, and how much oil you need.

When it comes to the oil capacity of your Altima, this answer depends on which of the two available engines comes in your car. If you have a 3.5-liter V6 under your hood, you’ll have room for 5.1 quarts, or 4.8 liters, of oil. If you have the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder, though, you’ll have an engine oil capacity of 4.9 quarts or 4.6 liters.

Make sure you don’t get this confused with the 3.5- or 2.5-liters associated with engine displacement. These numbers, often stated in the engine type, indicate the amount of space your engine takes up, while the oil capacity indicates the amount of oil needed for an oil change.

What kind of oil does a 2018 Nissan Altima need?

When you go into your local department store or gas station to buy oil, you’ll see a lot of options lining the shelves. Look for Nissan Motor Oil 0W-20 SN or any 0W-20 full-synthetic oil. The brand doesn’t matter nearly as much as the viscosity, which is indicated by the 0W-20, and the type of oil—in this case, synthetic.

Viscosity is the thickness of the engine oil, and the two numbers on the label of the oil indicate the viscosity at both cold and hot temperatures. The “0” represents the viscosity at the low temperature of 0 degrees—indicated by the “W” for “winter” next to it. The “20” on the other end represents the viscosity at high temperatures of up to 212 degrees.

These two numbers both represent a relatively low viscosity, which means it can effectively lubricate your engine in both cold weather conditions and at high running temperatures.

But why is it important that the oil is fully synthetic? Synthetic oil is preferred by many manufacturers for a few reasons:

Synthetic oils last longer, allowing you to go for longer periods between oil changes.

These oils are man-made, which means they are likely to be cleaner and free of debris that may build up on your engine.

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How often to change the oil on a 2018 Nissan Altima

Indeed, synthetic oil does not need to be changed as often as conventional oil, but that doesn’t mean you should let it go without this service for too long!

Typically, experts recommend changing your synthetic oil every 6,000 to 7,500 miles, or at least once a year depending on how much you drive.

If you think it may be time to change your oil but you’re not completely sure, keep an eye out for any of the following signs:

Dark brown or black oil

Coarse or gritty oil

A knocking sound in your engine

The smell of oil or burning from your engine

Issues when changing gears

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How to change your oil and oil filter

When it is time to change your oil, you’ll need to gather a few materials before you get started. Make sure you have 4.9 or 5.1 quarts of 0W-20 oil depending on your engine size, as well as a socket wrench, drain pan, and filter wrench.

Once you have what you need, you can get started by following these steps:

Run the car for a few minutes until it reaches the average running temperature.

Park the car on a level surface and enable the parking brake.

Remove the oil cap.

Place a drain pan under the drain plug, then remove the drain plug by turning it counterclockwise.

Let the engine oil drain completely.

Reinstall the drain plug and secure it with a new washer.

Refill the engine oil.

Start the engine and let the car run to check for leaks.

Let the car run for ten minutes, then check the oil levels with a dipstick.

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You should also see your dashboard’s oil light turn off after you’ve completed this. If it doesn’t turn off, you may need to take your car to your local mechanic to further diagnose the problem.

One last thing! Don’t throw dirty engine oil into the trash can or onto the ground. Always place it in a sealed container and drop it off at a local recycling center to avoid environmental contamination.