HowTo: Change Oil (06+ M35 - Y50)

Forum for Infiniti M35 and M45, and Nissan Fuga owners.
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Ilya
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Car: 2011 M56x but I spend a lot of time on my 2015 Kawasaki Vulcan S. Former owner of a 2007 M35x. Also take care of my wife's 2016 QX60.
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Figured I'd put this out there for anyone who was interested in changing their own oil but wasn't feeling very comfortable. I have a 2007 M35x so, at the least, this would be the same for the 2006 M35. I haven't seen the V8 or the 08/09 car so I can't say if this process is any different. This should give you the general idea though.

*Disclaimer* - I am not liable for anything you do to your car. This is just a basic walkthrough.

I took the pics with my HTC EVO 4G from Sprint (love this phone). End of shameless plug lol.

Task: Change The Motor Oil
Time: No more than 30 minutes (at the slowest pace - I do it in about 10-15)
Tools/Supplies Needed:
  • 14mm wrench to loosen oil pan drain bolt
  • Oil Filter wrench (or lots of strength) to loosen oil filter
  • 10mm socket + maybe one extension to take off the splash shield
  • 5qt's of your favorite 5W-30 Oil (I prefer Castrol GTX if using conventional oil or AMSOIL XL Synthetic if using Synthetic oil)
  • Oil filter (I prefer either Mobil 1 or Napa Gold)
  • Some sort of oil collector to catch the old oil and store for proper disposal
  • Some rags
  • Car jack and proper support (so you don't get crushed)
Process:

1) Jack the car up in a safe manner so you can get under it to do the work.

2) Remove the front underbody splash shield using the 10mm socket + extension (if need be):

Image

You will be then left with this:

Image

3) Unscrew the drain plug and drain the oil into your catch basin using the 14mm wrench you have. Let it drip until there is barely anymore drip left. Screw the plug back in as tight as you can.

Image

Image

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4) Unscrew the oil filter and let that drain (I completely remove it - not shown in the picture). Prior to installing new oil filter, take your finger and dip it in FRESH OIL and gently lube the rubber seal on the new oil filter. Then install the new filter and get it nice and tight. Use the rags to clean up the oil that's on the stabilizer arm, etc.

Image

5) Check to make sure the filter is on tight and the drain plug is good. Re-install the splash shield (reverse of removal) and lower the car to the ground.

6) Pour in the 5qt's of new oil.

Image

7) Start the car and let it run for a bit. Check to see if the oil pressure light has gone off. Check the level after a couple of hours of just sitting on a flat surface and for any wet spots on the splash shield (if you open the hood, you can see the filter if you look straight down the front of the motor).

8) Mission accomplished. Most folks say enjoy a beer after you're done but since I don't drink alcohol, I enjoyed a soda. You've just changed your own oil and saved some money.
Last edited by Ilya on Sat Jul 20, 2013 8:59 am, edited 3 times in total.


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dvan
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Damn, I wish i has a car lift like that in my garage lol

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Ilya
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Car: 2011 M56x but I spend a lot of time on my 2015 Kawasaki Vulcan S. Former owner of a 2007 M35x. Also take care of my wife's 2016 QX60.
Location: Charlotte, NC
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dvan wrote:Damn, I wish i has a car lift like that in my garage lol
I'm lucky that I live at home still (23) and that my pops built a sick a** garage lol. Took us 2.5yrs to build it (just me, my two older brothers, and him doing it) but it pays off now lol.

cruzad3r
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Car: 2006 M35x fully loaded
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u have a frikin lift at your home? OMG mad jealous right now

other than that, you should add this thread to the FAQ thread - good job, still jealous but good job! :D

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WhoDey456
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Car: 2006 M45 Sport
Location: Des Moines, IA

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So is this the same for an M45?

tigerclaws1318
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Car: 2006 M45 Sport

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WhoDey456 wrote:So is this the same for an M45?
Yes except it takes 5.7 quarts of oil.

DoN_BLaZe34
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Car: 2007 M45 Sport - Sold
2006 FX45 - Traded
2014 Q70S 5.6 - Sold
2017 Q70L 5.6 - Current
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Great writeup. Out of curiousity, how many ppl change their own oil versus taking it to a the dealership or a shop?

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NycGMONyc
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Car: M45 06 sold
370z 09 trade
M35x 09 totaled
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I take mine to the dealer only $20.00 bucks and they let me ride around in a G( i drop it of at lunch time and pick it up after work, Marine cant be late)

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Ilya
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I do it myself because I can. lol.

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wizard8873
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if i have time. can get 10 - 15k miles out of my oil so usually time it with the 15k mile services. tried it once and without a lift, it's a pita with that undercover.

would make a quick suggestion, for the parts that lie under the filter or anywhere where oil can drip, take some aluminum foil and wrap it around the part. oil will drip on the foil and then you can take it and throw it away.

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Ilya
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I just use shop rags. I got plenty of em.

thomasm35
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Car: 2007 Infiniti M35

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Did you measure how much oil came out of your engine?

Most of the M35 engines seem to burn oil - I found oil consumption on mine to vary from 8oz to 24oz. per 3k mile oil change interval. I started measuring at 30K miles and now have 50K miles

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Ilya
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Nope I did not. I probably should keep an eye on that, but from my reading it looks like only the VK was affected. I'll have to keep an eye on it.

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wizard8873
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IlyaKol wrote:Nope I did not. I probably should keep an eye on that, but from my reading it looks like only the VK was affected. I'll have to keep an eye on it.
VQ35 had a tendency to burn oil as well, same with the VK45 and QR25. IIRC, it's not so much the engine as it is the cat. Nissan skimped on the parts and they would break up during use and get sucked back into the engine at times resulting in oil burning after time. At least that was what I found on the Altima forum.

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telcoman
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IlyaKol wrote:I just use shop rags. I got plenty of em.
I use an old plastic shower curtain that the wife was throwing out. Makes it easy to wipe up any spills.

Just did my 38th oil change last Saturday on my G35

Telcoman

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Ilya
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I have one of those shop rugs for that, but I wipe the small stuff that leaks onto the frame with rags. I had an EPIC BP type oil spill in my garage the oil change before last. My pops and my brother didn't empty the drainer that my dad built (tall neck so it goes up like 6ft) and I started to drain my oil and had to open the plug to drain it mid-drain. What happened? Oil shot out of the drain plug like 5ft and covered most of the floor lol.

myother45isalesbaer
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Car: 2004 M45 Q70 awd,4.5

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You have your own lift. If I had your money I'd burn mine. You are making me green with envy. I would have loved one of those when I was younger than 57. Nice write up, but it looks like a lot of work. Me thinks I will let the home town guys do my oil changes. Now I know why I can't get the $29.99 specials. Oh, to have a lift when I was into doing real car repairs. I am most jealous.

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Ilya
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Lol thanks.

roiayiti
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Car: 2007 Infiniti M35

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Is is ok to change your own oil placing the vehicle on an incline using a service portable ramp? I don't have a lift at home :gapteeth:

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szh
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roiayiti wrote:Is is ok to change your own oil placing the vehicle on an incline using a service portable ramp? I don't have a lift at home :gapteeth:
Yes, but it would be best to keep the car as level as possible to get all the oil out of the drain.

I have been thinking that I could do this with ramps at my place because the driveway slopes down from my garage! So, I could back the car in, put the ramps down, and then drive the car out. This way, it should end up relatively level facing outwards. :gapteeth:

But, every time I think "time for it", I realize that the labor cost at a local shop (they charge me $15 ...) is so worth it. I buy my own oil and OEM filter anyway, and they can easily dispose of the old oil, etc. And, this place near my house will let me watch the work so that I can be sure they do the right thing.

Makes the decision to do my own at home become a big heavy sigh moment ... :squint:

Maybe I will do it at least once with my 15 year old son so that he learns how to.

Z

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szh
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One thing different about my Y34 though ... there is a flap in the lower heat shield that only needs two screws to be removed, and the flap lowered, to gain access to the oil filter and drain plug.

The heat shield does not need to be entirely taken of! :chuckle:

Z

myother45isalesbaer
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I have to agree with SZH. There was a time when changing oil on your cars was fun. Today it is almost not worth it. With the cost of the oil and filter plus environmental disposal charges its really worth paying to have it done. Especially if you bring your favorite oil and filter and are able to watch the mechanic do it. I don't get to watch, but for $25 I know what oil he is putting in and the filter he is using. With 3 cars I just cannot justify me spending a few hours doing it myself anymore. Plus as I get older the back and shoulder pains the next day make the $25 even more worth it. My OP.

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Ilya
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Definitely true. I used to be in the garage every weekend. Now? Can't even get myself out of bed to drive it to work lol. That may be more the fault of work than the car though lol.

myother45isalesbaer
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IlyaKol wrote:Definitely true. I used to be in the garage every weekend. Now? Can't even get myself out of bed to drive it to work lol. That may be more the fault of work than the car though lol.
DANG! Don't you have your own personal car lift? I understand where you are coming from. It get to the point where the aches and pains do not justify spending a few dollars to have some one else do it. I actually miss changing my own oil. I wish I had your lift. I still can motor around the underside of my cars and loved to do it. Today it is just not worth it anymore. It just plain sucks to get old, but now I understand why my father gave it up. Getting out of bed and cleaning up to go to work was an easy job. Now its a major effort and I miss working hands on with my cars.

Take care my good friend.


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