How To: Oil & Filter Change

[SarahLovesHer300zx]

In lieu of a recent post, while I was under the car today I took some pics and put together this how to. Everyone's got to start somewhere and changing the oil is a great start.

You'll need:
wood blocks or wheel chocks
floor jack & jack stands or ramps
4qt oil (I use 10w30 full synthetic)
Oil Filter (I use K&N HP2008)
14mm socket for oil drain plug


Start by setting the e-brake and putting chocks under the rear wheels


Find the floor jack point in the middle of the front steering assembly

Heres a different view


And set jack stands under the frame rails (square rails that run front to back about a foot from the edge of the car)


I usually leave the floor jack in place as extra support.

Unscrew the oil filler cap to relieve pressure in the system


Place your drain pan under the oil filter and drain plug, and unscrew them letting the old oil drain


Once the old oil stops flowing, screw the drain bolt in (I hand tighten and then use a socket until it's good and tight. You don't have to put the force of god behind it, torque specs are usually less than 30 ft/lbs) and install a new oil filter (hand tighten and then tighten an extra 1/4 turn with wrench) I like to use the K&N filter HP2008, it has a 1" nut welded on the top so its easier to get on and off than regular filters.

You can now lower the car and add 4qt of oil via the oil filler cap. Put the cap back on, start the car, let it run for a few mins, turn it off and check oil level with the dipstick.

[z.Leinbach]

your engine is beautiful

[evildky]

If someone needs a write up to change their oil, they probably should not be changing thier own oil.

[itsa300zx]

If someone needs a write up to change their oil, they probably should not be changing thier own oil.

I agree 100%

[SarahLovesHer300zx]

If someone needs a write up to change their oil, they probably should not be changing thier own oil.

But if someone wants to learn, they've got to start somewhere.

I'm sure most people get the gist of it, but might not know where certain things are, hence the pictures. If I hadn't found a how-to for my outback I probably would have drained the transmission fluid instead of the engine oil. Those boxer engines are so small that the oil drain plug is forward of the front axel (where I'd never look) and the transmission drain plug is exactly where the oil drain plug is on most other cars..

I'm just trying to contribute and help my fellow z owners..

[evildky]

In highschool, I had a stepbrother drained his girlfriends automatic trans fluid in a failed attempt to change her oil. Yes you gotta learn somewhere, haynes, chiltons, FSM, I still have a collection.

[z.Leinbach]

its honestly a beguiners mistake, almost all of us have done, it happens, but it is no reason to shun those away who want to learn, especailly those who actually show active interest in learning.