91 Q45 - I'm back

[QShipTrooper]

Haven't been here since last April or so. Just wanted to report the 91 Q45 just passed 77K miles and is running strong! After purchase at 67K had the chains and guides done and flushed the transmission/ replaced with synthetic, new upper links, struts all around, new Borbet Type T 16's rims and Pontenza RE-950's. Haven't touched anything since except 3 oil changes with Mobil 1. And please don't try and scare me Dennis, the car needs nothing contrary to your preaching about all the plenum hoses and fuel injectors Oh yeah, the original battery did die on me one really hot day in August, but I just happened to be in a NAPA parking lot! What a coincidense. What prompted my return was this last oil change I did myself. What is up with that filter placement!!! I'm not sure if I did the right thing but I had to remove the air cleaner assembly completely and remove one of the charcoal cannister hoses just to get at it. Then spilled oil all over the place because it's sideways of course and has to come out from underneath. Sheez. I remeber way back someone saying something about a filter with built in socket extension but couldn't find it in the archives. How do you guys do the filter changes?

[PalmerWMD]

Trooper:Glad to have you back!:thumbupWas wondering were you'd been.As for your question:

You do the filter from the bottom.It's a hassle but thats the way.

A common cause for MAF or MAF connector failures is doing it the way u desribed.Cuz they are not supposed to be disconnected except very rarely.

And if the charcoal canister gets damaged in any way (the connector there isnt real strong) it's $267 for a new one.

Just gotta play contortionst from the bottom.

Fred...

[QShipTrooper]

Thanks. I had the car up in the air (2 feet) and the plastic cover was off. I did not see any way to do this from underneath. Guess it needs to be on a lift? I was real careful with the MAF connector and charcoal canister. Glad I did take it all out though. Was able to dump out a bunch of sand and the screen had some leaves stuck on it. The hose clamps were loose as well (probably from the last air filter change). Probably why the car "seems" to run better now. Cool. Oh yeah, Techron. Just ran some of that with last fill up - which could also be a contributor. Next plans are complete intake and fuel system cleaning at 85K.

[PalmerWMD]

it doesnt need to be on lift.You can jusst crawl under it and with a little contortion get to the filter.I did it just with a ramp the last few times I did it myself.

Fred...

[greg_atlanta]

I agree that it's awkward and messy. My $10 or $20 labor cost is well spent paying someone else to do it.

:pface

[aaacomp]

I personally remove the air box and carbon cannister from the top ( If you've done it once it's a 5 min deal)to inspect the carbon cannister or remove the oil filter. Just try it once and you won't get under the car again to change the filter.........................:thumbup

[aaacomp]

I

[szh]

I agree that it's awkward and messy. My $10 or $20 labor cost is well spent paying someone else to do it.

:pface

Yes, indeed!!!

I tried to do it once, and decided that it was a lot easier to simply take it to the Infiniti dealer and let them deal with it. Here in California, you are also stuck with disposal of the old oil, etc.

The extra cost of the dealer changing it is worth it!

Z

[longrunQ]

thats funny

I took my car to the "10 minute lube" here in town and it took them 45 minuntes to figure out how to remove the 91 q45 airfilter.

It was hilarious.

[DAEDALUS]

Yeah, that's funny, if a little cruel too. I've changed the oil from both top and bottom, and I personally prefer going in from the bottom. I take my used oil down to Pepboys here in CA--the guys know me well enough to roll the drum over when they see me coming.

[911/Q45]

I also change the filter from the bottom. Even the dealer leaves some fasteners off the belly pan, quick lubes are probably worse. Bumbling might be funny, but that's where damage comes from. Maybe I'm lucky, but my garbage service not only picks up used oil, they gave me a drain pan/jug and plastic bags for the filters.

[Stoneage_Turbo]

"I remeber way back someone saying something about a filter with built in socket extension but couldn't find it in the archives"

its a K&N Oil filter , my G20 gets one every 2500 miles with 3.5 fresh quarts of mobil 1 , coarse my filter is at the top of the head beside the right strut tower :ylsuper

[fxjackso]

If you stick with one brand of filter get a cheap filter wrench that fits over the end of the filter and uses your 3/8" drive handle. It makes the bottom up contortions easier.

My previous car was a Q45a, so the standard version seems like a breeze.

[reggiegsd]

I found a ratcheting claw that fits over the end of the filter and lets me get it from underneath the car. Hunt around until you find a tool that works. Saves allot of aggravation and possible damage.

[AZhitman]

Get the $11.95 (or so) coupons and take it to a shop (with a case of Mobil 1 and a Nisssan filter) then hang out and watch the work.

OR take it to a Mobil station for $35 and get the same service!

[landtodd]

End-cap wrench for the Nissan-branded filter I think is size "H." Even Pepboys carries a compete selection. Makes this job a breeze. It's virtually impossible to do from the bottom otherwise.

I wouldn't fool with the MAF connector unnessesarily, and I sure wouldn't let someone else fool with it!