Nissan Versa oil type and capacity
A 2020 Nissan Versa takes 0W-20 oil (API SN or ILSAC GF-5 in the 2020 manual) and holds 4.375 quarts with the filter. For 2021–2025, check your owner’s manual: we could not open Nissan’s manuals for those years. A 2018–2019 Versa sedan also takes 0W-20 but holds less: 3.75 quarts. The 2012 and 2015 Versa sedans were filled with 5W-30. The Versa Note and older Versas differ again, so look up your exact year below.
On this page (6 sections)
Oil type and capacity by year
The table separates the sedan and the Versa Note, which share the 1.6-liter engine but not always the same manual. Capacities include a new filter.
| Year | Engine | Oil | Oil spec | Capacity | Oil change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE) | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual |
| 2024 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE) | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual |
| 2023 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE) | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual |
| 2022 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE) | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual |
| 2021 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE) | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual |
| 2020 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE) | 0W-207 | API SN, ILSAC GF-5 (synthetic if not Nissan oil) | 4.375 qt (4.1 L) with filter | every 7,500 miles or 6 months7 |
| 2019 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), Versa Note | 0W-206 | API SN, ILSAC GF-5 (synthetic if not Nissan oil) | 3.75 qt (3.5 L) with filter | every 5,000 miles or 6 months6 |
| 2019 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), sedan | 0W-204 | API SN (10W-30 conventional allowed) | 3.75 qt (3.5 L) with filter | every 5,000 miles or 6 months4 |
| 2018 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), Versa Note | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | every 5,000 miles or 6 months6 |
| 2018 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), sedan | 0W-204 | API SN (10W-30 conventional allowed) | 3.75 qt (3.5 L) with filter | every 5,000 miles or 6 months4 |
| 2017 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), Versa Note | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | every 5,000 miles or 6 months6 |
| 2017 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), sedan | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | 3.75 qt (3.5 L) with filter4 | every 5,000 miles or 6 months4 |
| 2016 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), Versa Note | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | every 5,000 miles or 6 months6 |
| 2016 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), sedan | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | 3.75 qt (3.5 L) with filter4 | every 5,000 miles or 6 months4 |
| 2015 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), Versa Note | 5W-305 | API certified (10W-30 conventional allowed) | 3.375 qt (3.2 L) with filter | every 5,000 miles or 6 months6 |
| 2015 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), sedan | 5W-303 | API certified (10W-30 conventional allowed) | 3.75 qt (3.5 L) with filter | every 5,000 miles or 6 months4 |
| 2014 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), Versa Note | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | every 5,000 miles or 6 months6 |
| 2014 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), sedan | 5W-302 | API certified | Check your owner’s manual | every 5,000 miles or 6 months4 |
| 2013 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), sedan | 5W-302 | API certified | Check your owner’s manual | every 5,000 miles or 6 months4 |
| 2012 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), sedan | 5W-302 | API certified | 3.125 qt (3.0 L) with filter | every 5,000 miles or 6 months4 |
| 2012 | 1.8L 4-cylinder (MR18DE) | 5W-301 | API certified | 4.875 qt (4.6 L) with filter | every 7,500 miles or 6 months (severe use: every 3,750 miles or 3 months)8 |
| 2011 | 1.8L 4-cylinder (MR18DE) | 5W-301 | API certified | 4.875 qt (4.6 L) with filter | every 7,500 miles or 6 months (severe use: every 3,750 miles or 3 months)8 |
| 2011 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), base sedan | 5W-301 | API certified | 3.5 qt (3.3 L) with filter | every 7,500 miles or 6 months (severe use: every 3,750 miles or 3 months)8 |
| 2010 | 1.8L 4-cylinder (MR18DE) | 5W-301 | API certified | 4.875 qt (4.6 L) with filter | every 7,500 miles or 6 months (severe use: every 3,750 miles or 3 months)8 |
| 2010 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), base sedan | 5W-301 | API certified | 3.5 qt (3.3 L) with filter | every 7,500 miles or 6 months (severe use: every 3,750 miles or 3 months)8 |
| 2009 | 1.8L 4-cylinder (MR18DE) | 5W-301 | API certified | 4.875 qt (4.6 L) with filter | every 7,500 miles or 6 months (severe use: every 3,750 miles or 3 months)8 |
| 2009 | 1.6L 4-cylinder (HR16DE), base sedan | 5W-301 | API certified | 3.5 qt (3.3 L) with filter | every 7,500 miles or 6 months (severe use: every 3,750 miles or 3 months)8 |
| 2008 | 1.8L 4-cylinder (MR18DE) | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | Check your owner’s manual | every 7,500 miles or 6 months (severe use: every 3,750 miles or 3 months)8 |
Why the Versa has blank years
The Versa’s oil grade moved from 5W-30 to 0W-20 during the 2012–2019 generation, and Nissan’s manuals don’t say exactly which year. The 2015 sedan manual lists 5W-30, the 2018 manual lists 0W-20, and we didn’t have a 2016 or 2017 manual to settle it. Capacity changed too: 3.125 quarts in the 2012 manual and 3.75 quarts in the 2015 manual. Rather than guess, we leave those cells blank. Check the capacities page in your own manual, or ask a Nissan dealer to look it up by VIN.
The Versa Note is the same story: the 2015 Note manual lists 5W-30 and 3.375 quarts, and the 2019 Note manual lists 0W-20 and 3.75 quarts.
The 2021–2025 sedan is blank for a different reason: Nissan’s owner’s manuals for those years were not available to us, and we don’t copy the 2020 numbers forward without checking them. The engine is the same 1.6-liter, but grades and capacities can change between printings, so use the capacities page in your own manual.
Synthetic or conventional?
The 2020 manual asks for synthetic 0W-20 if you don’t use Nissan’s own oil. Older manuals allow conventional oil: the 2015 and 2018 sedan manuals list 10W-30 conventional as an option when the main grade isn’t available. If you do that, return to the listed grade at the next change.
How often to change the oil
The 2020 Versa is on a fixed schedule: oil and filter every 7,500 miles or 6 months; for later years, check your manual. The 2012–2019 sedan and the Versa Note are on 5,000 miles or 6 months in the 2018 and 2019 manuals. The first-generation Versa was on 7,500 miles or 6 months, or 3,750 miles or 3 months in severe use. Heavy stop-and-go use, such as ride-hail or delivery driving, often fits the severe column. See how often to change oil and, to find your next date, the oil change due calculator.
FAQ
What kind of oil does a Nissan Versa take?
0W-20 for the 2018–2020 Versa sedan and the 2019 Versa Note (for 2021–2025, check your manual); 5W-30 for the 2012 and 2015 sedans and the first-generation Versa.
How much oil does a Nissan Versa hold?
4.375 quarts with the filter on the 2020 Versa, and 3.75 quarts on the 2015 and 2018–2019 sedans. The 2009–2012 Versa with the 1.8-liter holds 4.875 quarts.
Does a Nissan Versa need synthetic oil?
The 2020 manual says yes, unless you use Nissan’s own oil; for later years, check your manual. Older Versas can use the grade in the manual, synthetic or conventional.
Milealot is an independent site, not affiliated with or endorsed by Nissan North America. Nissan, Versa, and Versa Note are trademarks of their owner and are used here only to name the vehicles.
Sources
- 2009 Nissan Versa Owner’s Manual (hatchback and sedan; capacities, tires, towing) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan Owner’s Manual (capacities, tires, towing) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2015 Nissan Versa Sedan Owner’s Manual (capacities, tires) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2018 Nissan Versa Sedan Owner’s Manual and Maintenance Information (capacities, maintenance schedule, towing) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2015 Nissan Versa Note Owner’s Manual (capacities, tires) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2019 Nissan Versa Note Owner’s Manual and Maintenance Information (capacities, tires, maintenance schedule, towing) (checked November 12, 2026)
- 2020 Nissan Versa Owner’s Manual and Maintenance Information (capacities, tires, maintenance schedule, towing) (checked November 12, 2026)
- Nissan USA, 2010 Versa maintenance schedule by component (checked November 12, 2026)