How to remove the oil filter and where is the drain plug on 94 Q45? Thanks

[94 Q45]

Hi, I am trying to do an motor oil change and I wonder where is the drain plug located and what is the best way to remove the oil fiter since it is located in a hard to reach location. Any information would be helpful. Thanks a lot.

[Jesda]

The oil drain plug is on the passenger side of the oil pan. The filter is on the front of the engine. To access it, you have to remove the underbelly cover and then get at it from the bottom.

Have a flashlight handy for the filter!

[NPostman]

I remove the filter from above which is for some reason looked down upon, no pun intended. I simply removed the intake hoses.

[Jesda]

Removing from the top is seen as a negative because it involves disconnecting and reconnecting the MAF connector, which is rather brittle and prone to failing.

[5seryan]

The filter is a pain in the *** to get off anyways... as much as you might enjoy working on your own car, it mught be worth the $20 to have someone else mess with it. But More power to you if your up to the challenge.

[Q45tech]

The reason you PAY an Infiniti Technican to change the oil is for the inspection wherein he gives you a written [RANKED] list of the things he sees that need repairing every 90 days that way you can budget and plan and hopefully decide how best to spend the $3,000 annual costs.

Dealers have only two sources of income and Nissan doesn't pay after warranty expires. It is their job to find things they can get paid for to repair.

[q45j30guy]

I saw your post and know your pain when it comes to removing the oil filter. I have owned my Q for 3 years and change the oil every 3K or 3 months and have become very skilled in the art. I do remove mine from the top, however I do so with out removing of disconnecting anything.

I place my left hand between 2 of the fan blades and rotate the fan blade counter clock wise taking my hand and arm along for the ride. I then reach to the right and grasp the oil filter and loosen it. once removed I stand it on end so not to drain oil out of the filter. I insert my index finger in the threaded hole of the filter. I them move my arm back to the left with filter in hand place the filter in between two of the fan blades pulling the filter up (which is moving the fan blade in a clockwise direction) bingo! The fan blade acts like a trunstile in the process.

I find it to be very quick and easy method very very little hassleHope that helps

[FDR Dippin]

You can remove the oil filter by hand? No oil wrench?Can others do this....... have I been shrimping out?

[q45j30guy]

yes, I do remove the filter by hand. I do make sure to oil the rubber o-ring and do not over tighten the filter. On and off in less then 5 minutes. The worst part is the oil is hot and my index finger take the brunt of the heat when removing. I just use a shop rag as a hot bad to cure this problem.

[DrewQ45]

I saw your post and know your pain when it comes to removing the oil filter. I have owned my Q for 3 years and change the oil every 3K or 3 months and have become very skilled in the art. I do remove mine from the top, however I do so with out removing of disconnecting anything.

I place my left hand between 2 of the fan blades and rotate the fan blade counter clock wise taking my hand and arm along for the ride. I then reach to the right and grasp the oil filter and loosen it. once removed I stand it on end so not to drain oil out of the filter. I insert my index finger in the threaded hole of the filter. I them move my arm back to the left with filter in hand place the filter in between two of the fan blades pulling the filter up (which is moving the fan blade in a clockwise direction) bingo! The fan blade acts like a trunstile in the process.

I find it to be very quick and easy method very very little hassleHope that helps

Pure genius... I'm trying that next, even though I doubt it will work with my big hams.

As an addition, I've found that jamming a bunch of paper towels (or a shop towel) under the filter prior to unscrewing greatly reduces spillage to the point where there is no dripping down to the floor.

[Q45tech]

Oil Change, what drips, drips on the tech who then sprays in off with cans of brake cleaner thus none drips on YOUR FLOOR.

[qsiguy]

Just a tip about changing the oil filter in ANY car. Make sure the old o-ring comes off with the old filter. Every once in a while the o-ring may stick to the engine and if you put the new one back on with two o-rings you will have a huge oil leak. Hasn't happened on my Q but it did happen on my old Land Rover Discovery. I had a 007 smoke screen for a bit until I fixed it. A friend that owns an auto shop said that happens rarely but you should watch for it.

FYI.

[Jesda]

The reason you PAY an Infiniti Technican to change the oil is for the inspection wherein he gives you a written [RANKED] list of the things he sees that need repairing

Thats a good point. Me, I pay the dealer because I'd rather watch baseball on a big screen TV than spend my time removing that damn underbelly cover.

[94 Q45]

Hi, thanks for the infomation, everybody, I did the motor oil change yesterday and it was not that hard, just have to get access to the oil filter from top, I removed the air intake hose and take the filter off from the top. I put in 6.2 quart of oil. No leaks after the change, which is good, but I think I put too much oil in the pan because the oil on the oil check stick is above the full mark. I want to know should I drain some oil out so that the pan is not so full. Thank you.

[DrewQ45]

With 6.2qt you're okay.

Funny we're talking about oil changes cause I just completed mine night before last. I say 'completed' because the K&N oil filter I gotwas defective and wouldn't screw on straight. There was a definate wobble when turning it and it wouldn't mate up flush to the seat. Anyway, let the car sit overnight (it was 10 PM), took it back and it's all good now.

I also did my drain and refill of the transmission. Each oil change, I remove the plug and let it drain as much as possible then refill with new fluid. I let the car sit overnight with the front passenger side jacked up while draining the fluid. You'd be surprised how much fluid slow drains slowly after the initial heavy flow. I empted the drain pan and left it to drip overnight... The next day, it was almost half full. I'd say in all I removed 5-6qt.
Modified by DrewQ45 at 7:43 AM 8/25/2006

[94 Q45]

Hi,DrewQ45, I want to change my ATF now and can you tell me exactly where the ATF drain bolt and refill bolt is located and what are the torque specification on these bolts and also is there a serviceble ATF filler in the 94Q45? Thank you for the direction.

[ceningolmo]

Do you have a FSM? I believe the FSM lists the torque ratings for nearly every bolt on the whole car. If you don't have one, hit Wes up... he can email it.

The drain plug for the ATF is on the drivers side of the transmission pan. Jack up the passenger side of the car, loosen the bolt, and go have dinner. It will take a while to drain. After dinner, go sit in the car and shift through each of the gears...the flood gates will open when you shift it. Go have dessert. By the time you are done with dessert you should have pretty well drained the pan.

transmission filter is located at the front of the engine bay on passenger side, and it is not easy to get to. The only time I can remember having ready access to it was when I had the radiator out while doing the chain guide job.

make sure you check http://www.q45.org for details. Wes and Jesda have lots of good info regarding this stuff on there.