New Guy, How to access oil filter?

[MrBlue]

Greetings, New Guy Here. We just purchased a 1996 4X4. We changed the oil and filter today. Is there an easier way to get to the oil filter without having to remove inner splash shield?Thanks,MrBlue

[Big-Bird]

No. The shield must be removed in order to access the oil filter.

The only other way around that is to plumb in an after market oil filter relocation kit which is not worth the money.

[goomba1]

on both of my hbs and the other two i have worked on the easiest way i have found is going in from the top down to the left under the intake manifold. it is almost impossible to get from underneath. hope that helps!
Modified by goomba1 at 7:03 PM 1/11/2010

[seang]

When I bought my truck, the passenger side splash shield was gone because some dumbass lube tech must have torn it off in a hurried frenzy to get the filter. The previous owner might have been a dumbass, and did that himself, but I don't know.

I cut my own splash shield from pleather I bought at a fabric store, and zip tied it into place - it works great. When I need to change my oil filter, I just cut some zip ties from the front part of the shield, turn the wheels to the right, and there's my filter - accessable with a socket type wrench.

I would suggest that you run a splash shield for good measure. Alot of s*** gets kicked up by the tires.

The stock replacement shield was like $55 (if I remember correctly), so I made my own, and it's been holding up fine for 3 years now, even with all that nasty Michigan weather lol.

[PEZi]

where exactly is the filter on the HB? i feel its gotta be close to the same spot as mine but mine is easily accessible from the top

maybe there's more crap in the way on the KA fuel injected models

[seang]

where exactly is the filter on the HB?

It's under the intake manifold, in about the same place as my old naps-z as far as I can remember.

If you try really hard; you can just barely get at it with a regular, band type filter wrench; and I do mean barely.

there's more crap in the way on the KA fuel injected models

Indeed

[xscorex]

did they change after 95? on my 95 pathfinder 4x4 v6 I can see the oil filter pretty as you please from the top, looks easy as pie to grab and pull off. However on my 95 HB 4 cylinder, its a mightmare. I have to reach my left arm down around all kinds of stuff and can barely grab it, sometimes it takes an hour or more of pure frustration to get ahold of the filter.

[BronkStang]

i have two friends that work at jiffy lube, they hate my '97. they like the '94, something about 8 cylinders gets them scratching their heads...

the easiest way like seang stated is through the splash shield

[RT22]

Is filter access why i see so many nissan hard bodies with the splash pan hanging down on the passenger side? Do oil change places just bend it to access filter? Have always noticed on Nissan HB when they approach almost all have the splash guard hanging on passenger side LOL, mine did until I drilled a hole and zip tied it up

[seang]

Do oil change places just bend it to access filter?

Yes, they don't care about your details, just get you through as fast as they can.

[kibatheloanwolf]

Which is why I do my own oil changes.

All I do is reach beside the engine and twist my hand and mine comes off

[RT22]

I have mine done and since putting zip tie on they must reach around it. it is still there many oil changes later. I get mine done as for 30 bucks for castrol and filter it is not much more than doing it myself and I stay clean and do not have to haul oil off for disposal. That is the one thing that is so cheap I pay to get done LOL