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What kind of oil does a 2008 Nissan Altima take?

My 2008 Nissan Altima is getting up there in miles, and I want to make sure I am taking care of it the right way. At my oil change, they asked me to choose between two types of oil—but I wasn’t sure what was best. What type of oil does a Nissan Altima take?

avatar
Lynell Spencer · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Your
mechanic
was right—there are two types of oil that your car can take. But there will be slight differences in performance.
The manufacturer preferred oil for a 2008
Nissan Altima
is 0W-20 synthetic oil, but 5W-20 is also acceptable. A 5W-20 oil will not perform as well at cold temperatures, but if you live in a warmer climate it is comparable, and it will not harm your engine.
Engine oil provides several functions for your car, and your Altima’s engine is built to work with specific oil types. Using the incorrect oil can cause damage to your car’s moving parts.
With synthetic oil, you can also typically go longer between oil changes—conventional oil should be changed every 3,000 miles, but synthetic oils last 6,000-7,500 miles between changes.
Good maintenance and good
insurance
both protect you from major unforeseen auto expenses. While you work on the maintenance, let
Jerry
handle the insurance! Jerry is an insurance comparison app that shops for low prices with dozens of different insurance companies for free.
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