1992 Nissan Sentra Oil Specs
by Lawrence NyveenThe 1992 Nissan Sentra came in two body styles: a two-door coupe and a four-door sedan. Minor differences separated the Coupe E, Coupe XE and Coupe SE. Similar minor alterations differentiated the Sedan E, Sedan XE and Sedan GXE.
Nissan sold one more Sentra variety in the 1992 model year, the Coupe SE-R. The SE-R sported a 2.0-liter SR20DE engine. All other 1992 Sentras relied on a 1.6-liter GA16DE engine. Both engines were four-cylinder inline designs.
OIl Type
Nissan recommended that both the GA16DE and the SR20DE engines be lubricated with SAE 5W-30 motor oil. Nissan advised that the Sentras could instead take 10W-30 oil if the ambient temperature were to remain above 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nissan stated no preference for mineral or synthetic oils.
Oil Volume
The SR20DE engine took a bit more oil than the GA16DE. The SR20DE accepted 3 5/8 quarts of oil with replacement of the oil filter and 3 3/8 quarts of oil without replacing the oil filter.
The GA16DE accepted 3 3/8 quarts of oil with replacement of the oil filter and 3 quarts even without replacing the filter.
The Infamous Hidden Oil
Many Sentra SR-E owners came to discover after a few years that they could only drain and replace three litres or so of oil before reaching the fill level.
It took the dismantling of an SR20DE to reveal the reason. Oil sludge built up inside the engine and oil tank and wouldn't drain out. The sludge didn't appear to affect performance.
Using a high-quality motor flush will help clean the gunk out.
References
Writer Bio
Lawrence Nyveen has been a freelance editor, writer and researcher since 1993. He was editor of Netsurfer Digest and now teaches journalism at the college level. He is involved in screenwriting and with military history. His most recent book was "Avia S-199 in Israeli Air Force Service: 1948-1950." Nyveen holds a graduate diploma in journalism from Concordia University in Montreal.
