I just bought a nissan altima 98/99 model (tokunbo,not used in nieria)and am currently doing the registration and all sorts.I have also concluded my driving class.As my first car,what and what are the maintenance measures i should observe from time to time,what should guide my choice of mehanic?Do i need to service it before using it at all?what should i check before driving it out everyday? Nairalanders,please help me out

we go wash am o!

@ Poster,

Pls for how much did you get the Altima?I like that car and intend getting it for my wife.All I know is that it is a durable car though relatively expensive to mentain.

[list]
[li]Change the oil every 5000 km or so.[/li]
[li]Flush the transmission fluid every couple of years or so.[/li]
[li]Most modern (late 90s and beyond) cars don't need to have their battery fluid checked and stuff, so don't bother.[/li]
[li]Wash the car & vacuum the interior at least once a week[/li]
[li]Check the type pressures about every 2 weeks, depending on your driving habits.[/li]
[/list]

Do those frequently, and your car will still look and drive like new many years from now!

Anyone can feel free to add to those tips!

kpomkwem:

[list]
[li]Change the oil every 5000 km or so.[/li]
[li]Flush the transmission fluid every couple of years or so.[/li]
[li]Most modern (late 90s and beyond) cars don't need to have their battery fluid checked and stuff, so don't bother.[/li]
[li]Wash the car & vacuum the interior at least once a week[/li]
[li]Check the type pressures about every 2 weeks, depending on your driving habits.[/li]
[/list]

Do those frequently, and your car will still look and drive like new many years from now!

Anyone can feel free to add to those tips!

Thanks man!
I got the car for 1.1 m includind registration ,its full option sha,leather interior

Dont mind more tips from other people please!

Avoid LASTMA

and FRSC?

I knw, those guys wud so ruin ur day! I guess its also gud to listen out 2 ur engine once in a while (not all wound up in a/c n loud music as some of us do), n watch for symptoms of 'something-might-be-wrong'! Helps u fix havoc-wrecking problems at early stages, congrats on dat man!

The Nissan you are talking about is reliable and maintenance is almost minimal.  The plugs are to be changed twice in it's engine lifetime (plat plugs with/without wires).  You can change the plugs yourself since it's a straight 4 cyl engine and the plugs are laid at the engine block surface.  The timing belt (don't know the miles) should be considered.  If it's mechanical, you'll need to change the tensioner along with the timing belt.  If it's hydraulic, you only need to have the timing belt replaced.  Coolant should be replaced every year.  For goodness sake, never use a green coolant.

Anything else that needs to be done on that vehicle is upon inspection.

Some tips.

http://www.carbibles.com/maintenancetips.html

Drive on the right side of the road!
learn how to 'speak' with conductors,police and the rest!

@ivvie

whats wrong with green coolant??

atilla:

@ivvie

whats wrong with green coolant??

Please ask him again!!

I AM CONSIDERING GETTING A VOLKSWAGEN JETTA EXECUTIVE(FAIRLY USED).WHAT R THE PECULIARITIES OF THIS CAR AND WHAT SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR?HOW AND WHEN SHLD I SERVICE IT?MAINTENANCE TIPS ARE VERY WELCOME.

@Atilla

It doesn't contain sillicates. Your seals damage, gasket leaks and you also experience cavitations. Meaning, coolant is passing through your pump producing only bubbles or air pockets that collapses with explosive forces pockmarking the internal parts/components of the pump. The list goes on. I can explain this in steps and detail in continuum mechanics but I'm not going there. I still wonder why it's on the shelf. DexCool is a no go and shouldn't even be an idea. You'll be doing an intake and head job. An experience that would be a lesson. The truth is in a car's lifetime, you never have to do deal with these issues as fluid dynamics entails.

Nigeria shouldn't be a region where one should use such. It's a tropical region and these fluids don't convey efficiently. It's got a high pH and doesn't protect against liner pitting and corrosion.

CHIMSKY:


I AM CONSIDERING GETTING A VOLKSWAGEN JETTA EXECUTIVE(FAIRLY USED).WHAT R THE PECULIARITIES OF THIS CAR AND WHAT SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR?HOW AND WHEN SHLD I SERVICE IT?MAINTENANCE TIPS ARE VERY WELCOME.

I wish you the best. Be ready to buy a set of clutches and maybe flywheels (not to discourage you). That only applies to the manual transmission gearbox.

THANKS IVVIE,I ALSO HAVE THE OPTION OF BUYING A HONDA ACCORD 88 MODEL(FAIRLY USED) WHICH IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE JETTA.WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS OF THIS CAR?AND HOW SHOULD IT BE MAINTAINED?BESIDES DOES THE PRICE OF 250,000 FOR THE CAR DESCRIBED ABOVE APPEAR REASONABLE(FROM WHAT I CAN SEE THE THE CAR NEEDS BODYWORK)?

I'll go for the Honda if I were in your shoes (though I don't like Honda's). The truth is that VW's are fantastic cars but very unreliable and expensive to maintain. It's a durable car (doesn't fall apart as a Ford does under abuse) but unreliable and also, not dependable. A few years back, I happen to come across an '88 prelude that had 288,000 miles still running and smoothly. It was first owner, original engine and all maintenance were documented. I have also come across a 96 Honda with almost 500,000 miles but I know nothing about its drive train. I will suggest you still go around. You may find a better deal. Ask friends around and mechanics and then make your decision. I wish I could tell you the monetary value of those vehicles but I don't reside in Lagos to base a conclusion.

Hi:
        "Green Coolant" or whatever you want to call it, in northern countries it is an anti-freeze, used to stop your engine from freezing up and breaking in cold weather.
          I also stops corrosion where there are different metals within an engine such as cast iron block and aluminum head, and is quite necessary for that purpose.  Also it works as a lubricant for the water pump.
          I have used anti-freeze for many years in aluminum engines and there is NO corrosion problems if it is changed every two years or so.
           Just using straight water in the engine is NOT the way to go, even in a hot climate, a water pump lubricant should be added at the very least.
                                       Regards.

BlackHawk:

Hi:
        "Green Coolant" or whatever you want to call it, in northern countries it is an anti-freeze, used to stop your engine from freezing up and breaking in cold weather.
          I also stops corrosion where there are different metals within an engine such as cast iron block and aluminum head, and is quite necessary for that purpose.  Also it works as a lubricant for the water pump.
          I have used anti-freeze for many years in aluminum engines and there is NO corrosion problems if it is changed every two years or so.
           Just using straight water in the engine is NOT the way to go, even in a hot climate, a water pump lubricant should be added at the very least.
                                       Regards.

Blackhawk

I understand what I stated in response to Atilla's post distinctively.  Explain the composition of the green coolant in basic and continuum understanding and I will have a change of opinion.  Engineering is all about materials and how well you manipulate those materials for a certain purpose.  Coolants are different and the worst is DexCool for GM vehicles followed by the common green coolant.

I wasn't talking about the purpose of a coolant.  I was differentiating the green coolant from the ideal coolant.  It doesn't matter if yo've used it in the past or not, that isn't the point.  The main fact is that green coolant is incompetent in its function.  FYI, the green coolant doesn't lubricate and your water pump seal suffers.  If auto manufacturers don't fit their vehicles with green coolant, then you shouldn't use it.

Coolant does not cool your vehicle.  It obeys the principle of processes in a pure substance.

Ivvie:
You should look up and learn about coolants, the following is just one example : http://www.amsoil.com/StoreFront/ant.aspx
The coolant does not "cool" as such, but allows the heat to transfer out the engine more effectively than plain water. And by the way it does lubricate the water pump.
And as I mentioned before, with the proper coolant, maintained in the proper fashion you will NOT have corrosion within the engine.

So Ivvie, in my opinion you do not know what you are talking about.
Regards.

You cannot buy a $4.99 prestone coolant against a $60 MB antifreeze.

The initial question was the problem with green coolant and not coolant in general and I explained it in layman's understanding. They differ in their silicate levels, and the inclusion or exclusion of phospates, for one thing. All Green ethylene glycol based product contains phosphate corrosion inhibitors that can hurt your engine and cooling system. It doesn't go well with Mercedes vehicles.

The two most damaging components of antifreeze are the additives, mainly corrosion inhibitors, and silicates. Glysantin G 05 is the corrosive inhibitor in MB and Amsoil antifreeze. This is far expensive than silicone or phosphate and that is why you pay a lot of money for it.

The link you pasted is Amsoil and it isn't green but flourescent yellow. I have that on one of my vehicles too. MB antifreeze and Amsoil are phosphate free. The green coolant isn't.

Use the green on any high/heavy performance euro car and you'll be doing a head gasket job prematurely.

This is the point driven and not the function of what you claim you know (no disrespect).

Blackhawk

Since you seem to know so much about coolant grades.

http://www.successfuldealer.com/apps/news/articlesd.asp?id=62268

BlackHawk:

So Blackhawk, in my opinion you do not know what you are talking about.
Regards.

Great tips.

Make sure you use the correct fuel (type and octane number) appropriate for your car.  Otherwise, like many of us you and your vehicle will endure countless engine and fuel problems.

Enjoy your new purchase.

so wch coolant wud u recoomend, apart from the green ones??

I am not an expert on coolants - I just stick to the manufacturer's recommendations. As for engine oils, I only use the best.

The Nissan Altima doesn't have a timing belt.

It's chain driven.

What engine oil (brand and specification) do you guys use in your vehicles?

Castrol gtx high mileage 5w 30, moving to synthetic

Saltaan, I assume you are not based in Nigeria. Your engine oil specification isn't the norm in Nigeria.