Where in the heck is the oil filter?

[justindye2001]

I bought an 03 sedan a little while ago, and i went to change the oil today, and for the life of me i couldn't find the oil filter. Can someone help me with a diagram or pictures or anything?

[zozoka1212]

Ok welcome to nico,

here is alink for the online infiniti manual. It is under maint. DIY. There is a little diagram shows where and how to. Don't get scared once you select your model and year it is the same from 03 till 06. So select 06 and you good to go.

so here is the link.

http://www.infiniti.com/iapps/techpubs

Zozo

[SVTCOBRA]

The 03's are located under the spair tire in the trunk.... Don't listen to zozo, he been drinking with me again....

Welcome to Nico!!!Have you posted them pics???

[zozoka1212]

HE HE HE



Oh yeah pics please.

zozo

[soul_hfk]

WOW SVT

welcome

[joe603]

Take off the air diffuser...it will make the job easier and less messy. The filter should be easy to spot...

[SVTCOBRA]

Joe's right here!! I didn't the first time and made a mess.Lots of little bolts, but well worth the time it takes.

[justindye2001]

where's the air diffuser?

[Cali 2 Balti G]

It may not help for this job but you should buy a shop manual.

[SVTCOBRA]

It is a plastic shield or cover under the car. It extends from the bumper back about 2 or 3 feet. It's secured by a bunch of bolts....maybe 10mm bolts?? Once you remove this, you will have ez access to the filter and oil plug.

Check http://www.phatg20.net/ for online manuals.

[zozoka1212]

SVT come back to the table. We still have half a bottle left from last night.

Zozo

[telcoman]

justindye2001

You can save yourself a considerable amount of money by doing your own oil changes. I've been doing it for over 40 years on every one of my vehicles every 3k to 3500 miles.Obtain the following before you start;

1- A good set of ramps2- a 3 ton hydraulic jack3- An oil filter wrench for the G35 oil filter4- A 14mm socket 1/2 drive for the oil drain plug5- A 10mm 1/4 inch socket for the bolts to remove the fiber board shroud blocking access to the oil filter6- New oil filters from your local Infinity dealer7- 5 quarts of 5w-30 oil. I use Pennzoil or Quaker State or whatever is on sale8- Plastic jugs for the old oil. I use old empty plastic orange juice containers9- A plastic oil container to drain the used oil into as well as a plastic funnel to hold near the drain plug in case it is windy so the oil does not make a mess as it drains. (Pep Boys or any auto supply store)10- Funnels to pour in the new oil & to drain the oil from the above container into 2- 3 qt containers mentioned above. You can drop those off at any place that changes oil for proper disposal. Pep Boys etc11- Old rags and paper towels12- A creaper that makes rolling under the vehicle easier

Locate the jack point under the vehicle near the front door (see owners manual) & place the hydraulic jack at that point to raise the left side. Place ramp under front wheel. remove jack & raise the other front wheel & repeat raising the other wheel & place ramp under the other front wheel. Never work under a vehicle supported by a jack alone. This should be done on a level concrete surface. Remove the 12- 15 10mm bolts and the plastic retainer holding the shroud. I also use a cordless drill with an adapter for the 10mm 1/4 socket.

I also found that tire rotation can be done at the same time since you are already jacking up the vehicle. By using an adequate hydraulic jack lifting the vehicle high enough will raise both the front & rear wheels. Loosen the lug nuts on both the front & rear wheels prior to jacking up the vehicle. You will need a 21mm 1/2" socket for the lug nuts. I also use a 1/2" torque wrench for this. By combining tire rotation an an oil change you are saving yourself about $100. It should not take more than an hour.

By scheduling this for a time when your wife wants you to do something that you really do not want to do you'll have an excellent excuse.Have fun

[SVTCOBRA]

Only thing I would add to the list is some cheap cat litter for any possible spills.

zozo,I can't keep up .....getting too old!

[zozoka1212]

LOL

back to the thread.

Cat litter is a good idea.

Telcoman, nicely detailed help.

Zozo

[SVTCOBRA]

Yes, good job Telcoman !! (I also torque my wheels to spec)

[telcoman]

Yes I neglected to mention the cat litter for any oil spills. My memory ain't what it used to be. I also forgot that after rotating tires and torqueing the lug nuts, they should be retorqued & checked after a few days just to be sure nothing is loose. Only takes a minute or two.

Telcoman

[Cali 2 Balti G]

justindye2001

You can save yourself a considerable amount of money by doing your own oil changes. I've been doing it for over 40 years on every one of my vehicles every 3k to 3500 miles.Obtain the following before you start;

1- A good set of ramps2- a 3 ton hydraulic jack3- An oil filter wrench for the G35 oil filter6- New oil filters from your local Infinity dealerLocate the jack point under the vehicle near the front door (see owners manual) & place the hydraulic jack at that point to raise the left side. Place ramp under front wheel. remove jack & raise the other front wheel & repeat raising the other wheel & place ramp under the other front wheel. Never work under a vehicle supported by a jack alone. This should be done on a level concrete surface.

1,2 - why would you need ramps AND a floor jack - wouldn't be easier to just drive up the ramps Maybe you meant to say jack stands.

3 - Is there something special about the G35 filter or do you mean just get a filter wrench

6 - I get my oil changed at Nissan dealers - oil change is cheaper at Nissan than at Infiniti - The filters may be cheaper too. won't they both say Nissan on them?

Other than that you are right on.

[telcoman]

1,2 - why would you need ramps AND a floor jack - wouldn't be easier to just drive up the ramps Maybe you meant to say jack stands.

3 - Is there something special about the G35 filter or do you mean just get a filter wrench

6 - I get my oil changed at Nissan dealers - oil change is cheaper at Nissan than at Infiniti - The filters may be cheaper too. won't they both say Nissan on them?

Other than that you are right on.

Yes it is easier to drive up ramps which I do with my wife's Honda Civic, however the plastic below the bumper on the Infiniti is low enough where attempting to drive up the ramps would cause damage. Therefore I use the hydraulic jack. It only takes a few minutes longer. Although I have them I do not use jack stands. I prefer the ramps which are safer.Over the years I've acquired an assortment of oil filter cap wrenches. They are designated A thru F or G and each will fit on the end of the many oil filter sizes. A factory Infiniti oil filter may use a different cap wrench size than a Fram filter for the same vehicle. To be sure you are getting the correct size, take a new Infiniti oil filter with you to Pep Boys or whatever auto supply store you use. I usually tighten the new filter as tight as I can by hand & then use the cap wrench to tighten another 1/8 turn.

I also have a three prong oil filter removal tool that will allow an oil filter removal no matter how tight the old filter may be.

I find it to be a big pain to schedule an oil change, drive somewhere to get it done & then have to wait. I'd much rather do it myself in my driveway. I have speakers in my garage and can listen to either Howard Stern or Car Talk while I'm working. My wife usually leaves me alone.

Telcoman

[SVTCOBRA]

I get my filters at my local Nissan dealer.I plan on getting them to flush my transmission too eventually instead of Infiniti.

Ramps & low front ends:

I keep a couple of two by eights (or maybe tens) in my building to put in front of my ramps. You can do this if your front end is too low.

I had lowered my 97 cobra and had to drive up on the lumber just to get a floor jack under it. Also had to use the lumber to get it up the ramps.

I prefer ramps over jackstands too.