Weekend+Nice Weather+Good Mood=Altima Coupe Oil Change!

All things Altima Coupe.
devilmagic
Posts: 541
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:24 am
Car: 2009 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5

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It Friday! Time to learn how to do our own oil change on our Altima Coupes (my is a 2.5L). Hope this 10-step tutorial will give some first timer an idea how to change your engine oil.

#1 **Start you car, Let your car warm up a bit (This allows the oil to drain better later on. However, if outside temperature is 100+ degrees, you may skip this step).

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#2 **Jack the car up, there are different jack points you can use, I choose the weaker point of the cars jack point, our manual will show you the other jack/lift points. Once you jack up the car, make sure you use a jack stand, here I used two 3Ton stands. You don't have to get the 3Ton stands, 2x 2Ton will do just fine (I just didn't want my face to get smashed in, also I don't have life insurance, so 3 ton sounds better than 2.. :rotfl jk!)

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Gather all necessary stuff: Tool sets, oil filter wrench/adapter head, Crush washer (1/2 or 1/4) for Oil drain plug, Oil Filter (I use Fram Tough Guard TG6607), x4.5Qt Full Synthetic / Blend (I use Mobile 1 5w-30 Full Synthetic), Waste oil pan/your neighbor driveway, shop towel, funnel, rubber glove/bare hand, and water (in case you get thirsty).

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(What the drain plug bolt look like, bolt locate very end of the oil pan, the last one facing towards rear)

#3 ** Get underneath the car like I did (front of the car). ** Locate the Engine oil pan. ** Use the proper size ranch (forgot the exact size), ** Turn the ranch Counter-clock wise (Turn Left) to unscrew the bolt lose, ** Use your finger to unscrew the rest until the bolt is out and the Coke Cola looking oil come out. Let it drain.

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#4 ** Meanwhile the oil is draining, back your self out a little and locate the Oil filter, the one on my is Firestone Oil filter. Use your hand or Oil Filter Ranch to loosen the Filter, take that dirty filter out and trash it (turn counter clock wise or Turn Left to loosen).

#5 ** Smoke break! (Let the oil complete drain)

#6 ** Install the New Oil Filter (Hand Tight), Screw back the drain plug with a brand new crush washer (Ranch Tight). (Both Clock-wise to tighten)


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#7 ** UnScrew Engine oil cap, Put in 4.5 Qt oil. (don't forget to screw cap back on once your done)

#8 ** Get your car down to level ground.

#9 ** Start your car, let the new oil to circulate. **Check your engine oil level (top off close to Max if necessary)

#10 ** Smoke Break again, give yourself a pat on the back, look at your car and say "F*ck Yea!".


I'm sure there are people out there that does it differently, If there is anything I did absolutely wrong, please feel free to let me know! This will conclude my version of the oil change - Good Luck guys :bigthumb:

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SHIFT_COUPE
Posts: 3887
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2007 3:36 am
Car: 2014 Infiniti Q50 AWD
Location: Bethel, CT
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Changing oil in a white shirt. You're brave!

Nice writeup!

On the 3.5 I usually crank the wheel all the way to the right and take the plastic cover off that reveals the oil filter. Much easier to get to.

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AlexM.
Posts: 1180
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 5:13 pm
Car: 2010 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5 Super Black
Location: Dallas TX

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Good write up! Should look nice and easy for those that have always questioned whether or not to do this themselves

devilmagic
Posts: 541
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:24 am
Car: 2009 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5

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SHIFT_COUPE wrote:Changing oil in a white shirt. You're brave!

Nice writeup!

On the 3.5 I usually crank the wheel all the way to the right and take the plastic cover off that reveals the oil filter. Much easier to get to.
Gotta look swag for the camera! I can't be wearing my usual plastic trash bags you know what im saying... lol

That is a very good observation there.. I did jack both side up.. because my driver side Stillen crap sideskirt is detaching itself from the double side tape.. so yea i jack that side up as well to readjust the support bars and re-taping it.. However, if some one who wish to just changing the oil, Passenger side jacked up will do fine... However, if someone is about 250-350 ib.. he might want to consider jack both side up.. :gotme hahaha no offense to any big dudes out there

devilmagic
Posts: 541
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:24 am
Car: 2009 Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5

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AlexM. wrote:Good write up! Should look nice and easy for those that have always questioned whether or not to do this themselves
yea once in a while i see people asking what kind oil to use, where to jack, where is filter, where is my car....

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bigplayer2382
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:01 pm
Car: 2010 Nissan Altima Coupe S 2.5

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nice write up, I came mainly to see what oil you used and part # for the filter lol. manual? there is like 300 some pages in that, this is just one page ;) lmao.

But Shift Coupe's post actually helped quite a bit.

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stevewaclo
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2011 11:11 am
Car: '08 Altima Coupe SE 6sp 105k
Location: Carson City, Nevada

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Good write up!

I'm also impressed you wore good clothes for the work. Confidence :chuckle: .

A few additional thoughts.

I make a point of spreading at least 1/2 acre of plastic under the car before I start an oil change. Between bumping the catch pan or dropping a hot filter, it seems no matter how careful I try to be, I end up with an EPA Superfund site on the garage floor :frown: .

Regarding lifting the car, I'm partial to drive-on ramps. They hang nicely on the wall and no fussing with jack stands and a floor jack.

Notice you have a rag handy, but one is never enough. I always have at least 4 handy :biggrin: .

Noticed you use Mobil 1. I switched over at 48k (following an oil analysis by Blackstone [$20]) and plan to go 10k, when I'll do another analysis and perhaps go another 5k. Following all testing, I may go to a 15k cycle permanently. I know, I know, oil is ultimately the best and least expensive investment you can make, but changing is such a pia. Plus, if you do some research (Blackstone is a good place to start), you will discover we have probably been changing oil way too much of late (3 months and 3k?...puhleeze :biggrin: ).

And finally, if you have to choose between "best oil" and "best filter", put your money into the filter and look for an API symbol on the oil can. Drove through the refinery area ofOakland recently and did not see any tanks marked WalMart :biggrin:


Of course there are many factors contributing to oil change intervals and if you sleep better at night, do what makes you comfortable. Modern engine tolerances and advanced oil make me feel comfortable at 15k. Now, if I could just figure out how to get an accurate reading on the dip stick in my 3.5 :crazy: !

Best wishes

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alphapig
Posts: 1972
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:52 pm
Car: Nissan Altima Coupe S 2.5
Location: NorCal

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Cool stuff.

I like the Mobil1 synthetic oil, I've been using it forever.

I recently did a SeaFoam treatment directly into the vacuum line, and it didn't smoke nearly as much as I expected. A lot less compared to a Mazda3 with same miles that got Mobil1 part-synthetic oil all its life.

I always take off the passenger wheel for very easy access to the filter.


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