Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 Sentra (SR).
Body PASSENGER CAR
The 1998 Nissan Sentra SR is a passenger car specified for 3.6 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil. Its reliability record is documented through 64 owner complaints and 5 recalls, with air bags representing the top complaint area. That concentration of documented issues defines this model year's reliability standing as one tied closely to air bag performance.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine oil capacity3.6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque72-87 ft-lbsOEM · verified
Fitment & sizes
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 490 CCA battery, OE oil filter 1520855Y0A. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
Battery groupBCI 35 · 490 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnSTOPOEM · verified
Tire sizeP155-80R13OEM · verified
Wheel / rim5-JJ inOEM · verified
OE service part numbers OEM · verified
Engine oil filter
1520855Y0A alt 1520865F0E
Engine air filter
165460Z000 alt 16546V0100
Fuel filter
1640041B1A
Spark plug
2240150Y04 alt 2240150Y07
Front wiper blades
288909E000 discontinued · alt 288908B700
Serpentine belt
119500M200 alt 117200M200
Thermostat
2120077A63 alt 212000C82A
Full specifications
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC
Overall length
170.1 in
Overall width
66.5 in
Overall height
54.3 in
Wheelbase
100 in
Curb weight
2368 lb
Track (front / rear)
58.3 / 56.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)
63/37
Service quick specs OEM factory data
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 3.6 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 72-87 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.
Lubricants & capacities
Brake Fluid
DOT 3
Engine Oil
5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity
3.6 qt
Power Steering Fluid
ATF
Engine torques
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts
98-112 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts
105-112 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts
AT: 69-76 ft-lbs, MT: 61-39 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts
62-70 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts
12-15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts
19-21 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts
13-15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts
27-35 ft-lbs
Chassis torques
Lug Nuts
72-87 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub
145-202 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub
163 ft-lbs
Ignition
Cylinder Firing Order
1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)
MT: 675, AT: 800, CANADA MT: 750 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)
50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)
800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)
50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance
1.0 approx. ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance
10,000 approx. ohms
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance
0.5-1.0 ohms
Battery & A/C
Refrigerant
R134a
Refrigerant Capacity
1.30-1.55 lbs
Oil Type
NISSAN A/C System Oil Type R or equivalent
Oil Capacity
6.80 oz
Standard BCI Group Number
35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance
490 cca
Optional BCI Group Number
24F CANADA
Optional BCI Cranking Performance
550 CANADA cca
Service checks
Pressure Test
23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief
11-14 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature
170 °F
Pressure Test
23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief
11-14 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature
170 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)
43.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)
34.0 psi
Brakes
Torque Caliper to Bracket
23-30 ft-lbs / 16-23 ft-lbs / 44 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle
44 ft-lbs / 33 ft-lbs / 72-87 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness
Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness
0.059 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation
0.0008 in
Rotor Runout Limit
0.0028 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From
1.024 in / 0.276 in / 0.709 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To
1.024 in / 0.276 in / 0.709 in
Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
1
Tighten all bolts finger tight, Step 2
7–9 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
1
12 ft. lbs., Step 2: 35-40
12 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
1
10-12 ft. lbs., Step 2: 28-33
10–12 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages
1
Bolts 1-10
22 ft. lbs
2
Bolts 1-10
43 ft. lbs
3
Loosen all bolts completely.
4
Bolts 1-10
22 ft. lbs
5
Bolts 1-10
50–55 degrees
6
Bolts 11-15
56–74 in
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages
1
29 ft. lbs.
29 ft. lbs
2
58 ft. lbs.
58 ft. lbs
3
Loosen all bolts completely.
4
25-33 ft. lbs.
25–33 ft. lbs
5
90-95 degrees.
90–95 degrees
6
90-95 degrees.
90–95 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
1
21-24 ft. lbs., Step 2: 75-80 degrees, Step 3: Back off 360 degrees, Step 4: 25-28 ft. lbs., Step 5: 45-50
21–24 ft. lbs
Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.
Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 mi
Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
At 60,000 mi
Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 mi
Spark Plugs (replace)
Reliability & federal safety record
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1998 Nissan Sentra (SR) lead in one area — the air bags, 13 of 64 reports (20%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 5 recall campaigns target the air bags, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 17 of the reports describe a crash and 2 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the air bags pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
56
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
64
Owner complaints
17 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component
All 64 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Air Bags13
Visibility11
Tires6
Vehicle Speed Control5
Engine & Engine Cooling4
Structure3
Fuel System, Gasoline2
Suspension2
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Recalls NHTSA · verified
Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…
09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…
Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified
Showing 5 of 56 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
Bulletin
Date
Component
Summary
NTB08-097L
2023-09-21
Steering
DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been…
NTB23-049
2023-06-16
Electrical System
12 VOLT BATTERY TESTING FOR IN-SERVICE VEHICLES SERVICE INFORMATION The following Service…
NTB23-053
2023-06-16
Electrical System
SILICONE-BASED LUBRICANT OR GREASE CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SERVICE INFORMATION…
NTB13-107F
2023-04-27
Electrical System
VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…
NTB16-003C
2023-04-17
Electrical System
INTELLIGENT KEY REPLACEMENT OR SWAPPING BETWEEN VEHICLES This bulletin has been amended…
Common OBD-II trouble codes
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.