Nissan Altima 2.5 Oil Capacity: QR25DE vs. PR25DD
Altima 2.5L oil-capacity chart with filter-included values, generation breaks, refill procedure, dipstick checks, FAQs, cautions, and manufacturer sources.
The 2013–2018 Altima 2.5L QR25DE lists 4-7/8 US qt (4.6 L) with filter; the redesigned 2019-and-newer PR25DD commonly lists about 5-3/8 US qt (5.1 L).
The 2013–2018 Altima 2.5L QR25DE lists 4-7/8 US qt (4.6 L) with filter; the redesigned 2019-and-newer PR25DD commonly lists about 5-3/8 US qt (5.1 L). That published capacity is a service starting point, not permission to empty the last fraction of a bottle into the crankcase. Drain time, oil temperature, cooler volume, filter construction, vehicle angle, and residual oil all affect the amount required to reach the dipstick's full mark.
The 2.5L displacement remained while Nissan changed from port-injected QR25DE to direct-injected PR25DD for 2019. That redesign increased the common filter-change refill by roughly half a quart. This guide separates the generations in the table, keeps filter-included and filter-excluded figures distinct, and explains a repeatable refill check. Do not round 4-7/8 qt to five and then add extra, and do not transfer a Rogue figure. Add below the reference, run the engine, wait on level ground and finish at the H mark.
Refill below the listed total first, start the engine long enough to fill the filter, inspect for leaks, shut it down, wait on level ground, and finish by dipstick. That process protects against both an underfilled engine and the aeration, leakage, or catalyst trouble that overfilling can cause.
Interactive Nissan Altima 2.5L oil-service workflow
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Follow the workflow from vehicle identification through final dipstick verification. Published capacities are starting quantities, not a substitute for the level check.
Nissan Altima 2.5 Oil Capacity
| APPLICATION / ITEM | SPECIFICATION | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| 2013–2018 QR25DE with filter | 4-7/8 US qt | 4.6 L |
| 2019+ PR25DD with filter | About 5-3/8 US qt | 5.1 L; verify exact year |
| Engine identification | QR25DE vs. PR25DD | Use emissions label/VIN and manual |
| Final level | Dipstick after drain-back | Nissan calls table values approximate |
Nissan labels its capacity table approximate and instructs owners to determine the proper final amount with the dipstick. The 2019 redesign is the critical engine-family break.
The generation break that matters for Altima 2.5L
The 2.5L displacement remained while Nissan changed from port-injected QR25DE to direct-injected PR25DD for 2019. That redesign increased the common filter-change refill by roughly half a quart. Read the model-year and engine row together; a badge, displacement, or oil cap by itself may span more than one internal engine revision. The values below are drain-and-refill quantities with the filter unless the row says otherwise.
Do not round 4-7/8 qt to five and then add extra, and do not transfer a Rogue figure. Add below the reference, run the engine, wait on level ground and finish at the H mark. Use the oil grade and manufacturer approval from the same model-year manual as the capacity. Capacity, viscosity, and approval are three separate specifications.
Oil-capacity chart for Altima 2.5L
Use the chart as an application lookup. The 2.5L displacement remained while Nissan changed from port-injected QR25DE to direct-injected PR25DD for 2019. That redesign increased the common filter-change refill by roughly half a quart. A capacity printed beside the wrong engine code is not “close enough”; even engines sharing the same displacement can have different pans, filters, coolers, or drain-back behavior. If the vehicle has been swapped, rebuilt, or fitted with an aftermarket pan, use the installed hardware manufacturer's capacity and calibration marks.
The most common current application begins near 4-7/8 US qt. Begin below that amount and finish by measurement. The difference between the add and full marks is often about one quart, but do not assume that relationship when the dipstick is aftermarket, damaged, or paired with a non-original tube. Investigate a reading that remains absent or implausibly high.
Do not round 4-7/8 qt to five and then add extra, and do not transfer a Rogue figure. Add below the reference, run the engine, wait on level ground and finish at the H mark.
Common causes of a capacity mismatch
Nissan labels its capacity table approximate and instructs owners to determine the proper final amount with the dipstick. The 2019 redesign is the critical engine-family break. If the verified dipstick result and the expected quantity disagree materially, stop and identify the cause instead of choosing whichever number is more convenient.
- The lookup used the model name but not the model year or engine code.
- The quoted figure excluded the filter while the filter was replaced.
- The vehicle was not level or the oil had not drained back before checking.
- An oil cooler, remote filter, aftermarket pan, engine swap, or incorrect dipstick changed the system.
- The old filter gasket remained on the housing or a leak began after startup.
- The crankcase was filled to the advertised capacity without a final dipstick check.
Nissan Altima 2.5L specifications can change by model year, engine, platform, wheel, and installed component. Confirm the VIN or engine identity, part numbers, fastener condition, and the current manufacturer instructions before service.
Procedures used with this specification
These steps are the same for every vehicle in this family, so they are documented once rather than repeated on each page. The values above remain specific to this Nissan Altima 2.5L.
Nissan Altima 2.5 Oil Capacity: QR25DE vs. PR25DD FAQs
How much oil does the Altima 2.5L take?+
The 2013–2018 Altima 2.5L QR25DE lists 4-7/8 US qt (4.6 L) with filter; the redesigned 2019-and-newer PR25DD commonly lists about 5-3/8 US qt (5.1 L). Confirm the year/engine row and finish by the dipstick rather than treating the capacity as an exact pour-in amount.
Technical sources
TorqueSheet favors engine- and component-specific manufacturer instructions over unsourced universal values.
12017 Nissan Altima Owner's Manual — capacitiesPrimary Nissan manual listing 4-7/8 qt (4.6 L) with filter for the QR25DE and treating capacities as approximate.↗22019 Nissan Altima Owner's Manual — capacitiesPrimary Nissan manual for the redesigned Altima and its direct-injected PR25DD oil-and-filter refill row.↗3Nissan manuals and guidesPrimary Nissan model-year owner-manual library.↗