How much oil does a 2020 Pathfinder take?
With the filter, 4.8 L (5-1/8 qt). Without the filter, 4.5 L (4-3/4 qt). Both are approximate. The dipstick is the level check after more than 10 minutes.
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In-depth guide
2020 Nissan Pathfinder
2020 Pathfinder VQ35DD oil is 5-1/8 qt with the filter and 4-3/4 qt without. Drain-plug torque is 22 to 29 ft-lb (29.4 to 39.2 N·m).
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Engine | VQ35DD gasoline V6. Firing order 1-2-3-4-5-6 is on the spark plug page. |
| With oil filter | 4.8 L (5-1/8 qt, 4-1/4 Imp. qt). Approximate drain and refill. |
| Without oil filter | 4.5 L (4-3/4 qt, 4 Imp. qt). Approximate. |
| Oil | Genuine "NISSAN Motor Oil 0W-20 SN" (or equivalent) is recommended. If it is not available, a synthetic 0W-20 GF-5 SN motor oil may be used. Damage from oil other than as recommended is not covered under the new-vehicle limited warranty. |
| Interval | The 2020 standard schedule puts a replace mark in every column of the engine oil and oil filter row. Those columns step by 7,500 miles (12,000 km) and 6 months, and the first column is 7,500 miles or 6 months. |
Source: owner's manual / last verified 2026-10-16 (2020 Nissan Pathfinder owner's manual, recommended fluids and changing engine oil (opens in a new tab)).
Difficulty, time, and cost are estimates when this guide gives them. Torque is a cited figure, or it is left off.
Main source: 2020 Nissan Pathfinder owner's manual, recommended fluids and changing engine oil (opens in a new tab), Nissan North America, Inc., published 2020-03-01, read 2026-10-16.
Drain pan and oil-filter wrench
The filter steps say to place a drain pan under the filter and remove it with an oil-filter wrench.
Torque wrench
The drain plug is 22 to 29 ft-lb (29.4 to 39.2 N·m). A wrench tightens it. The book says not to use excessive force.
Funnel
Oil goes back in through the filler opening. Recheck the dipstick.
Clean rag
Wipe the dipstick, and wipe the filter sealing surface. Remove old gasket material.
| Item | Figure | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | VQ35DD gasoline V6. Firing order 1-2-3-4-5-6 is on the spark plug page. | Engine specifications |
| With oil filter | 4.8 L (5-1/8 qt, 4-1/4 Imp. qt). Approximate drain and refill. | Recommended fluids and capacities |
| Without oil filter | 4.5 L (4-3/4 qt, 4 Imp. qt). Approximate. | Recommended fluids and capacities |
| Oil | Genuine "NISSAN Motor Oil 0W-20 SN" (or equivalent) is recommended. If it is not available, a synthetic 0W-20 GF-5 SN motor oil may be used. Damage from oil other than as recommended is not covered under the new-vehicle limited warranty. | Recommended fluids and capacities |
| Interval | The 2020 standard schedule puts a replace mark in every column of the engine oil and oil filter row. Those columns step by 7,500 miles (12,000 km) and 6 months, and the first column is 7,500 miles or 6 months. | Standard maintenance schedule |
Each figure stays with the source named in the last column. If a sequence is a figure in that source and the order is not printed in the text, this page does not invent the order.
| Fastener | Torque | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil drain plug, with a new washer | 22 to 29 ft-lb (29.4 to 39.2 N·m) | Changing engine oil |
| Oil filter | Screw on until a slight resistance is felt, then tighten an additional 2/3 turn. No foot-pound figure is printed. | Changing engine oil filter |
Park on a level surface and set the parking brake. Idle until the engine reaches operating temperature, shut it off, and wait more than 10 minutes so the oil drains back into the pan. The level check uses the same wait.
Remove the filler cap. Put a drain pan under the drain plug, remove the plug by turning it counterclockwise, and drain the oil. Clean and reinstall the plug with a new washer. Tighten to 22 to 29 ft-lb (29.4 to 39.2 N·m). Do not use excessive force.
The oil steps say to remove and replace the filter at this time if it is being changed. On the filter page, remove the pins from the right engine protector inside the right wheel well, then remove the protector. Turn the filter off with a filter wrench, then by hand. Wipe the sealing surface, remove old gasket material, coat the new gasket with clean engine oil, and tighten 2/3 turn after slight resistance.
Refill through the filler opening and install the cap. With the filter, the reference is 5-1/8 qt. Without it, 4-3/4 qt. Start the engine, check for leaks at the plug and the filter, shut it off, wait more than 10 minutes, and read the dipstick. Genuine "NISSAN Motor Oil 0W-20 SN" (or equivalent) is recommended. If it is not available, a synthetic 0W-20 GF-5 SN motor oil may be used. Damage from oil other than as recommended is not covered under the new-vehicle limited warranty.
2020 Pathfinder Owner's Manual. Publication SU20EA 0R52U0, March 2020, is the tire-pressure supplement bound at the front of the same PDF. The capacity table says the figures are approximate and to follow the do-it-yourself procedure, then the dipstick.
The filter lives behind the right engine protector. The steps name the pins and the protector. They do not print a filter part number, so none is added here.
Other Pathfinder years on this site have their own oil pages. A quart or a drain-plug figure stays on the year that printed it.
The spark plug guide has the VQ35DD plug and the firing sequence. The coolant guide is a different fill.
Outbound links only. BaySheet does not sell parts. Confirm fitment on the retailer page. Amazon links are searches for a real part name plus this vehicle. Tool rows do not get a product search. The search is not a part number.
Part
Genuine "NISSAN Motor Oil 0W-20 SN" or equivalent
Genuine "NISSAN Motor Oil 0W-20 SN" (or equivalent) is recommended. If it is not available, a synthetic 0W-20 GF-5 SN motor oil may be used. Damage from oil other than as recommended is not covered under the new-vehicle limited warranty.
2020 Pathfinder oil specification (opens in a new tab)Search Amazon.com (affiliate link) (opens in a new tab)As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Part
Engine oil filter for a Pathfinder VQ35DD
The manual does not print a filter part number. It does print the 2/3-turn install and a new drain-plug washer.
2020 Pathfinder oil-filter steps (opens in a new tab)Search Amazon.com (affiliate link) (opens in a new tab)As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Tool
Drain pan and oil-filter wrench
The filter steps say to place a drain pan under the filter and remove it with an oil-filter wrench.
Tool
Torque wrench
The drain plug is 22 to 29 ft-lb (29.4 to 39.2 N·m). A wrench tightens it. The book says not to use excessive force.
Tool
Funnel
Oil goes back in through the filler opening. Recheck the dipstick.
Tool
Clean rag
Wipe the dipstick, and wipe the filter sealing surface. Remove old gasket material.
With the filter, 4.8 L (5-1/8 qt). Without the filter, 4.5 L (4-3/4 qt). Both are approximate. The dipstick is the level check after more than 10 minutes.
22 to 29 ft-lb (29.4 to 39.2 N·m). The 2020 steps print 22 to 29 ft-lb (29.4 to 39.2 N·m). That is not the single 34 N·m figure in the 2017 and 2018 books.
The maintenance checklist is on the site now. The email list is not sending yet, so this box will not store an address.
Same repair, different model year. Use the page that matches the truck or car in the driveway. A figure on one year is not a figure for the next.
These guides cover the same kind of work. Their numbers belong to those vehicles, not to this one.
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