1986 Nissan Sentra Oil Type & Capacity
The 1986 Nissan Sentra oil type depends on the engine: the Base, 2D Sedan, Automatic takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the Base, 2D Sedan, Standard takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the Base, 4D Sedan, Automatic takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the Base, 4D Sedan, Standard takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the Base, 4D Wagon, Automatic takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the Base, 4D Wagon, Standard takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the MPG takes 5W-30 (4.25 quarts with filter); the SE, Automatic takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the SE, Standard takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the XE, 2D Hatchback, Automatic takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the XE, 2D Hatchback, Standard takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the XE, 2D Sedan, Automatic takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the XE, 2D Sedan, Standard takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the XE, 4D Sedan, Automatic takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the XE, 4D Sedan, Standard takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the XE, 4D Wagon, Automatic takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter); the XE, 4D Wagon, Standard takes 5W-30 (3.4 quarts with filter), per the factory service manual.
Factory-spec answer
It depends on the engine:
- Base, 2D Sedan, Automatic: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- Base, 2D Sedan, Standard: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- Base, 4D Sedan, Automatic: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- Base, 4D Sedan, Standard: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- Base, 4D Wagon, Automatic: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- Base, 4D Wagon, Standard: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- MPG: 5W-30, 4.25 quarts with filter
- SE, Automatic: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- SE, Standard: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- XE, 2D Hatchback, Automatic: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- XE, 2D Hatchback, Standard: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- XE, 2D Sedan, Automatic: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- XE, 2D Sedan, Standard: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- XE, 4D Sedan, Automatic: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- XE, 4D Sedan, Standard: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- XE, 4D Wagon, Automatic: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
- XE, 4D Wagon, Standard: 5W-30, 3.4 quarts with filter
Oil capacity by engine
| Engine | Oil Type (viscosity) | Capacity w/ Filter | Capacity w/o Filter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base, 2D Sedan, Automatic — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| Base, 2D Sedan, Standard — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| Base, 4D Sedan, Automatic — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| Base, 4D Sedan, Standard — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| Base, 4D Wagon, Automatic — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| Base, 4D Wagon, Standard — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| MPG — 1.7L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 4.25 QTS. | 3.40 QTS. | — |
| SE, Automatic — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| SE, Standard — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| XE, 2D Hatchback, Automatic — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| XE, 2D Hatchback, Standard — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| XE, 2D Sedan, Automatic — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| XE, 2D Sedan, Standard — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| XE, 4D Sedan, Automatic — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| XE, 4D Sedan, Standard — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| XE, 4D Wagon, Automatic — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
| XE, 4D Wagon, Standard — 1.6L Eng | SAE 5W-30 (Below -20Deg.F to 60Deg.F), 10W-30 or 10W-40 (Preferred) (0Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F), 20W-40 or 20W-50 (20Deg.F to Above 100Deg.F) | 3.40 QTS. | — | — |
Buy the right oil
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More specs & repair guides for your Sentra
1986 Nissan Sentra factory service manualAll fluid capacities (transmission, coolant, brakes)Powered by factory manual data from our partner site AllOEMManuals.com.
Coolant capacity
5.63 quarts (5.32 L) — 50/50 mixture of Ethylene Glycol Base Antifreeze and water
Frequently asked questions
What type of oil does a 1986 Nissan Sentra take?
It depends on the engine: Base, 2D Sedan, Automatic uses 5W-30; Base, 2D Sedan, Standard uses 5W-30; Base, 4D Sedan, Automatic uses 5W-30; Base, 4D Sedan, Standard uses 5W-30; Base, 4D Wagon, Automatic uses 5W-30; Base, 4D Wagon, Standard uses 5W-30; MPG uses 5W-30; SE, Automatic uses 5W-30; SE, Standard uses 5W-30; XE, 2D Hatchback, Automatic uses 5W-30; XE, 2D Hatchback, Standard uses 5W-30; XE, 2D Sedan, Automatic uses 5W-30; XE, 2D Sedan, Standard uses 5W-30; XE, 4D Sedan, Automatic uses 5W-30; XE, 4D Sedan, Standard uses 5W-30; XE, 4D Wagon, Automatic uses 5W-30; XE, 4D Wagon, Standard uses 5W-30.
How much oil does a 1986 Nissan Sentra take?
Capacity depends on the engine: Base, 2D Sedan, Automatic holds 3.4 quarts with filter; Base, 2D Sedan, Standard holds 3.4 quarts with filter; Base, 4D Sedan, Automatic holds 3.4 quarts with filter; Base, 4D Sedan, Standard holds 3.4 quarts with filter; Base, 4D Wagon, Automatic holds 3.4 quarts with filter; Base, 4D Wagon, Standard holds 3.4 quarts with filter; MPG holds 4.25 quarts with filter; SE, Automatic holds 3.4 quarts with filter; SE, Standard holds 3.4 quarts with filter; XE, 2D Hatchback, Automatic holds 3.4 quarts with filter; XE, 2D Hatchback, Standard holds 3.4 quarts with filter; XE, 2D Sedan, Automatic holds 3.4 quarts with filter; XE, 2D Sedan, Standard holds 3.4 quarts with filter; XE, 4D Sedan, Automatic holds 3.4 quarts with filter; XE, 4D Sedan, Standard holds 3.4 quarts with filter; XE, 4D Wagon, Automatic holds 3.4 quarts with filter; XE, 4D Wagon, Standard holds 3.4 quarts with filter.
Can I use synthetic oil in my 1986 Nissan Sentra?
Yes. 5W-30 is widely available as a full synthetic, and synthetic is safe (often recommended) for the 1986 Nissan Sentra. What matters most is matching the factory viscosity and specification, then changing the oil and filter on schedule.