oil change

[LuckyLuke]

I am planning to do my own oil change in the future. I have a few questions...

How many quarts do I need? Any idea how I can lift the car up? Is it like changing tires lifting the front up?

[SVTCOBRA]

Owner's manual will show you....I always look every time I change mine cause I've got 4 to do.
I use Rhino Ramps (autozone) to do my oil changes. If your car has been lowered, get a couple of 2x6's to put in front of the ramps. Put a brick behind one of the rears.
If you do use a jack, make sure you check the FSM for jacking points and always use jack stands!!
Next, I use a cordless drill to zip off all of those bolts on the skid plate.
Always change your oil with it warm/hot....drains quicker and better.
Also, always make sure the oil filter gasket comes off with the oil filter.
I buy 5 quart jugs of M1, so it's ez to pour the old oil back into the jug to take to a recycle center or automotive store.
wife is home....got to run....I'm sure more will chime in. Telcoman has pics..

[timmy0257]

Owner's manual will show you....I always look every time I change mine cause I've got 4 to do.
I use Rhino Ramps (autozone) to do my oil changes. If your car has been lowered, get a couple of 2x6's to put in front of the ramps. Put a brick behind one of the rears.
If you do use a jack, make sure you check the FSM for jacking points and always use jack stands!!
Next, I use a cordless drill to zip off all of those bolts on the skid plate.
Always change your oil with it warm/hot....drains quicker and better.
Also, always make sure the oil filter gasket comes off with the oil filter.
I buy 5 quart jugs of M1, so it's ez to pour the old oil back into the jug to take to a recycle center or automotive store.
wife is home....got to run....I'm sure more will chime in. Telcoman has pics..

good walk through. i need to drive my G up on ramps to install the grounding wire for the transmission.

wife is home? dooooes she not like you posting here? jk

[curtiscr87]

I change my oil pretty much same as you SVT but my ramps like to slide do you have same issue? Exactly where and how are you using the 2x6s?

[SVTCOBRA]

wife is home? dooooes she not like you posting here? jk

haha, no I had steaks marinating and was time to start cooking! Which means time to attack some beerz!!

Curtis, my rhino ramps have little rubber thingies at the front to help prevent them from sliding, but they have maybe once or twice. You have to go slow.

I would put the 2x6 up against the front tires then the ramps against the 2x6 so that there was 6 inches between the tire and ramp. this would give the front end a little lift before hitting the ramps. It worked well on my cobra which I had lowered.
I also had to drive my cobra up on 2x6's in order to get a floor jack under the front.

[biggie]

I pretty much do the same as SVT, just pull mine up on 2x4s to get a jack under the front crossmember and sit ramps under the front tires (since the front bumper doesn't allow me to drive up on ramps). I'm also anal and after I pull the drain plug I jack up the rear to make sure all the oil from the pan drains out (but again most don't deem that needed).

Really ready for that metal skid plate from Tollbooth so I don't have to take all those bolts out each time.

[joe603]

I have similar ramps...but don't need the 2x6 boards as mine isn't lowered. Just go to autozone or similar store for a good selection.

Here's a few tips:

1. Charge your cordless drill...you'll save a ton of time when you take off the plastic shield underneath the engine. And yes, it does make the job easier by taking it off!

2. For oil, I use Royal Purple (I've used these guys online...great prices and fast shipping!: http://www.americanmuscle.com/royal-purple-oil.html )

3. For the filter, I recommend you use OEM from Nissan. Your local dealer can supply them or the dealers that sell parts online.

4. Make sure to have a drain bucket. They sell these at autozone and it helps with keeping your floor clean.

Not 100% on the quantity and weight...check your manual.

[biggie]

Forgot to mention, Lowes/Home Depot have cheap 5 gallon buckets with lids, it what I use to store the old oil before taking it to the auto parts places. If you don't want to refill the 5 qt jug like SVT does.

And yes the drain catch pan for draining the oil is key. And placement of it to make sure no oil misses it (couple times ago I missed a little, doh).

[SVTCOBRA]

Cheap store brand kitty litter works great on getting up spills!!!

Years ago, I did not remove the old oil filter gasket from the block before putting on the new filter (88 bronco II 4x4). When I backed out of the driveway I left a foot wide brown stripe of oil!!!!
The kitty litter got it all up and bleached the striped whiter than the rest of the drive.
I keep a bag of Food Lion kitty litter in my building for any spills.

Need Oil Change article in Maintenance with all of these how-to/tips in the FAQ.

[biggie]

^True, I keep a bag of kitty litter around.

But my poor floor sees a lot (Auto to Manual swap and full suspension replacement/engine swap/turbo install all in the last 2 years). Then there is the oil changes on 3 cars.

[telcoman]

Owner's manual will show you....I always look every time I change mine cause I've got 4 to do.
I use Rhino Ramps (autozone) to do my oil changes. If your car has been lowered, get a couple of 2x6's to put in front of the ramps. Put a brick behind one of the rears.
If you do use a jack, make sure you check the FSM for jacking points and always use jack stands!!
Next, I use a cordless drill to zip off all of those bolts on the skid plate.
Always change your oil with it warm/hot....drains quicker and better.
Also, always make sure the oil filter gasket comes off with the oil filter.
I buy 5 quart jugs of M1, so it's ez to pour the old oil back into the jug to take to a recycle center or automotive store.
wife is home....got to run....I'm sure more will chime in. Telcoman has pics..

I don't use 2x6's

I just jack up my G with a 4 ton hydraulic jack and place the ramps underneath the front wheels
I just did my 40th oil change. I loosen the wheel lug nuts before jacking up my G every other oil change as I rotate my tires the same time.



I save gallon plastic orange juice containers to pour the old oil into and drop them off at Pep Boys where I usually purchase my oil when its on sale.
Tomorrow they have a black friday sale of 5 qts GTX including a purolator filter for $6.99
I usually use Infiniti oil filters that I purchase at the dealer along with Infiniti Air and cabin filters.
I have a supply of purolator and Fram filters that were free with oil purchases
As you can see from the pictures I have a collection of tools acquired over the years.
As SVT indicated a cordless drill is a big help in removing the fourteen 10mm bolts holding the fiberboard shroud underneath the engine blocking access to the oil filter.
It is also best to purchase oil by the case. Don't assume that your engine does not use oil. Some do and others report that their engines don't. Mine recently used 2 quarts over 4k miles .
You will also need an oil filter removal tool as well a 1/2 and 3/8 set of sockets.
I purchased mine at Sears.
Also open the oil filler cap before draining out the warm oil as it will allow more oil to drain.
While the oil is draining remove the filter as its removal will allow more oil to come out of the drain hole.
Open a fresh qt of oil and place oil on your finger and run your finger over the new oil filter gasket. I usually wipe around the oil filter housing with a rag prior to installing the new filter. Make it as tight as you can by hand and then use a cap wrench to tighten another 1/8"
I also have kitty litter for any spills but I have an old plastic shower curtain that I place on my driveway that makes it easy to wipe up any spills. Having a creeper makes it easy to roll around while underneath your vehicle.





Telcoman

[tollboothwilley]

Of course, its best if you have one of these....so you have 14 less bolts to take off during the process.








I'm just saying....

I'm making them for the G37 and 2007+ G35 Sedans right now too.