1997-2001 Nissan Altima Brake Fluid Type and Flush Interval

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

The 1998-2001 Nissan Altima takes DOT 3 brake fluid. The factory service manual for this generation (Nissan model L30) says to use DOT 3, never reuse drained fluid, and bleed in a specific order: right rear, left front, left rear, right front. For the flush interval, follow the schedule in your Service and Maintenance Guide, and treat roughly every two years as a sensible outer limit on a car this age.

If you own a 1997, note that it belongs to the earlier Altima generation, so confirm the fluid grade in that year's owner's manual before you top off. The rest of this guide covers the 1998-2001 cars the factory manual below was written for.

What Fluid the 1998-2001 Altima Uses

The brake section of the 2000 Altima factory service manual repeats the same instruction on nearly every hydraulic procedure: refill with new brake fluid DOT 3. Its general brake precautions add three rules worth knowing before you open a bleeder:

• Use DOT 3 and never reuse drained fluid. Old fluid carries moisture and debris straight back into the system.
• Keep brake fluid off the paint. Nissan warns it can damage painted surfaces; if it splashes, wash it off with water immediately.
• Never use mineral oils such as gasoline or kerosene to clean hydraulic parts. The manual says they ruin the rubber parts; clean master cylinder, caliper and wheel cylinder parts with clean brake fluid only.

DOT 3 is a glycol-ether fluid. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 116 sets its minimum boiling points, and those numbers explain why fluid age matters so much on an older car.

The "wet" figure is the boiling point after the fluid has absorbed water, which is the condition fluid is actually in after a few years of service. That drop from 401 F to 284 F for DOT 3 is the whole case for flushing on schedule.

How Often to Flush It

Brake fluid wears out even if the car sits. Nissan's own maintenance guidance explains that as brake fluid ages it becomes contaminated and absorbs moisture, that water in the system can turn to a compressible vapor and reduce braking efficiency, and that moisture causes corrosion. Nissan says to inspect level and condition regularly and to replace the fluid as specified in your vehicle's Service and Maintenance Guide.

For a 1998-2001 Altima, use the replacement interval printed in the maintenance booklet for your car if you still have it, and shorten it if you drive in the severe conditions that booklet describes. As a practical outer limit, a fluid maker's guidance is to change passenger-car brake fluid every other year; their data notes DOT 3 can absorb up to about 2% water per year through the reservoir cap, seals and rubber hoses. On a car that is now more than 20 years old, with aging rubber hoses and seals, there is no reason to stretch past that.

Flush sooner, regardless of mileage, if any of these apply:

• The fluid in the reservoir is dark brown instead of clear to light amber.
• The pedal feels soft or sinks lower than it used to.
• You just replaced a caliper, wheel cylinder, hose, or the master cylinder and opened the system anyway.
• You have no record of the fluid ever being changed.

Checking the Level and Spotting Problems

The factory check is simple: fluid should sit between the MAX and MIN lines on the reservoir. Nissan's manual adds two diagnostic notes that owners often miss:

• Extremely low level means look for a leak. Pads wear slowly and the level drops a little with them, but a big drop means fluid is going somewhere. Check the brake lines and hoses for cracks and wet spots, and fully press the pedal with the engine running to look for seepage at the joints.
• A lit brake warning lamp can come from the fluid level switch or the parking brake switch. Check the level first, then make sure the parking brake is fully released.

Do not simply keep topping off a reservoir that keeps dropping. Find the leak. On these cars the usual suspects are rubber brake hoses that have cracked with age, rusted steel brake lines, a weeping wheel cylinder on drum-brake cars, or a leaking caliper seal.

How to Flush and Bleed a 1998-2001 Altima

This generation came with front discs and, depending on trim, either rear drums or rear discs. The factory manual covers both, and some cars have ABS. The flush procedure is the same either way:

1. ABS cars: turn the ignition off and disconnect the ABS actuator connector or the battery cable before bleeding, per the factory manual.
2. Clean the inside of the reservoir and fill it with fresh DOT 3. Keep it above the MIN line the entire time; letting it run dry pulls air into the master cylinder.
3. Put a container under the master cylinder to catch spills and protect the paint.
4. Work the bleeders in the factory order: right rear, left front, left rear, right front.
5. At each wheel, attach a clear vinyl tube to the bleeder, pump the pedal several times, hold it down, open the bleeder, close it, then release the pedal slowly. Repeat until clean, bubble-free fluid comes out.
6. Tighten each bleeder to the factory value of 7-9 N-m (61-78 in-lb). These are small valves; overtightening snaps them.
7. Top the reservoir to the MAX line, reconnect the ABS connector or battery, and confirm a firm, high pedal before driving.

If the master cylinder itself may have air in it, for example after it was replaced or run dry, the manual says to bleed the master cylinder first, then the wheels.

Parts to Replace While You Are In There

A fluid flush is the right time to catch the parts that let moisture in or leak fluid out:

• Hoses: the rubber hoses at each wheel are original on many of these cars. Cracked, swollen or soft hoses should be replaced; see our brake hose selection.
• Bleeder screws and hardware: a seized or rounded bleeder is common on a 20-year-old car. Fresh clips and springs from a brake hardware kit make a pad or shoe job last.
• Pads, rotors and shoes: if the pads are low, do them now so you only bleed once. Browse brake pads, brake rotors, and rear brake shoes for drum-brake cars.
• Calipers and master cylinder: a sticking caliper or a pedal that slowly sinks at a light points past the fluid. Our brake calipers and master cylinders cover those repairs.

After new pads, shoes, rotors or drums, the factory manual calls for burnishing the brakes so the friction surfaces seat properly.

How Hard Is the Job?

A flush on this Altima is a beginner-to-intermediate job. The two-person pedal method in the factory manual needs only a wrench for the bleeders, a length of clear tubing, a catch bottle and a quart or so of fresh DOT 3 in a sealed container. The steps that trip people up are letting the reservoir run low, skipping the ABS disconnect step, and snapping a corroded bleeder. Soak stubborn bleeders with penetrating oil the day before, and use a six-point wrench.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use DOT 4 in my 1998-2001 Altima?

Yes. DOT 4 is glycol-based like DOT 3 and compatible with it, and its minimum boiling points are higher. Nissan specified DOT 3, so DOT 3 is all the car needs, but DOT 4 is an acceptable substitute.

Can I use DOT 5 brake fluid?

No. DOT 5 is silicone-based and is not compatible with the glycol fluid already in your system. Do not add it to this car.

What is the bleeding order for a 1998-2001 Altima?

The factory manual lists right rear, left front, left rear, then right front.

Why does my Altima's brake warning light stay on?

Nissan's manual points to two causes: the fluid level switch in the reservoir and the parking brake switch. Check the fluid level, and if it is low, look for a leak before topping off.

How do I know my brake fluid is bad?

Dark fluid, a soft or sinking pedal, or no record of it ever being changed are all reasons to flush. Fluid absorbs moisture over time even when it still looks acceptable, so age alone is a reason to replace it.

Does it matter if brake fluid spills on the paint?

Yes. Nissan warns that brake fluid can damage painted surfaces. Rinse any splash off with water right away.

Sources

1. 2000 Nissan Altima Service Manual, Brake System (BR-3) - DOT 3 spec, never reuse fluid, paint and mineral-oil precautions, L30 model
2. 2000 Nissan Altima Service Manual, On-Vehicle Service (BR-6) - fluid level check, warning lamp causes, fluid change procedure, burnishing
3. 2000 Nissan Altima Service Manual, Bleeding Brake System (BR-7) - bleed order, ABS disconnect, bleeder torque 7-9 N-m
4. 2000 Nissan Altima Service Manual, Contents (BR-5) - rear drum and rear disc brake coverage, ABS
5. Nissan USA, Altima Brake Fluid Maintenance Guide - moisture absorption, vapor and corrosion, replace per Service and Maintenance Guide
6. 49 CFR 571.116 (FMVSS 116), Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids - minimum dry and wet boiling points by DOT grade
7. AMSOIL, DOT 3 and DOT 4 Brake Fluid - DOT 3/4 compatibility, DOT 5 incompatibility, up to 2% water per year, every-other-year change guidance