How do I change my oil?

Serendipity

Car is a 2000 Nissan Maxima.

I have 4 quarts of Mobil 1 5W-30 oil that I bought, is there anything else I need besides the oil filter? I will pick up one at Pep Boys today.

Also, the car loses a bit of oil (1/8 - 1/4 quart) between oil changes, I can see it leaking out the bottom of the oil pan, but it's a very small leak. Should I be concerned?

Thanks!

bruss

Your supposed to change it? Oh no.....

Serendipity

bruss wrote: »

Your supposed to change it? Oh no.....

Very funny.

Just don't feel like taking it to a mechanic right now, so I'd like to do it myself.

heiney9

If you have to ask..................try to see if there is a Nissan forum on-line. It's pretty hard to do it wrong, but as with all makes of cars some tricks and tips can go a long way to making the job easier.

I know on my car there is a certain sequence of "events" that need to be done in a particular order to make things go smoothly.

H9

strider

Drain plug gasket, buncha rags if you don't do it often, drain pan so you can recycle it.

FWIW, if you've got an oil leak, synthetic's only going to exacerbate it.

Serendipity

Yes, looking for "tips & tricks" to make this easier. I remember when I did a search Jstas said something about coating the oil filter with oil, is that required?

Eric W

Find out where it's leaking from by cleaning it off and then looking carefully. Could be your upper oil pan leaking. I had a 97 Maxima that did the same thing and it has practically the same engine.

You can also go here for more maxima advice. www.maxima.org

Eric W

appadv wrote: »

Yes, looking for "tips & tricks" to make this easier. I remember when I did a search Jstas said something about coating the oil filter with oil, is that required?

Just smear a little bit of new oil around the rubber gasket of the new filter.

Serendipity

It's a small leak though, the difference barely registers on the dipstick reading (it's always at full everytime I check) - should I be concerned about switching to synthetic?

bobman1235

I know I'm gonna catch a lot of flak for htis, but if you don't know what you're doing, and money is a concern, why not just take it to a Jiffy Lube type place? In general they're cheaper than doing it yourself, or at least the same price, and it takes all of 15 minutes.

heiney9

Have you checked to make sure 4Q is enough oil? Also be sure to change the filter; that's more important than the actual oil.

Serendipity

bobman1235 wrote: »

I know I'm gonna catch a lot of flak for htis, but if you don't know what you're doing, and money is a concern, why not just take it to a Jiffy Lube type place? In general they're cheaper than doing it yourself, or at least the same price, and it takes all of 15 minutes.

I don't like the local Jiffy Lube. Just do a search of their BBB complaints...

PhantomOG

don't overtighten the new filter... or you'll pay for it next time.

heiney9

appadv wrote: »

Yes, looking for "tips & tricks" to make this easier. I remember when I did a search Jstas said something about coating the oil filter with oil, is that required?

Just as an example on my oil filter housing there is a drain plug for the filter in addition to the oil pan drain plug.............those are little things that unless you are familar with the car you might not know, etc, etc.

Eric W

bobman1235 wrote: »

I know I'm gonna catch a lot of flak for htis, but if you don't know what you're doing, and money is a concern, why not just take it to a Jiffy Lube type place? In general they're cheaper than doing it yourself, or at least the same price, and it takes all of 15 minutes.

This is why:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCAJ8ULnaI

heiney9

PhantomOG wrote: »

don't overtighten the new filter

good advice for any oil change. Do it by hand and then just a little snug with a wrench.

Serendipity

heiney9 wrote: »

Have you checked to make sure 4Q is enough oil? Also be sure to change the filter; that's more important than the actual oil.

The manual states 4Qq without filter, 4.25Q with filter. I had to add maybe 1/8 quart recently due to the leak, but as stated before it's barely noticeable.

bobman1235

appadv wrote: »

I don't like the local Jiffy Lube. Just do a search of their BBB complaints...

Doesn't have to specifically be Jiffy Lube, plenty of other local shops.

Don't get me wrong, it's cool that you want to do it yourself, and it's a good skill to learn, but unlike something like doing brakes (where you can save some major money), it's really not worth the hassle.

heiney9

appadv wrote: »

The manual states 4Qq without filter, 4.25Q with filter. I had to add maybe 1/8 quart recently due to the leak, but as stated before it's barely noticeable.

good so you have the owners manual.

Eric W

Ok more tips and tricks. Warm the car up some so the oil flows out easier taking more gunk with it but be careful not to burn yourself.

Disposable Gloves are useful. Lay newspaper/cardboard down as you're likely to make some mess when the filter comes off. Wear old clothes.

You might need an oil filter wrench if the old one is stuck on (happens sometimes). Use a 6 point wrench/socket on the drain plug instead of 12. On that note use the proper wrench (yours is metric). Dispose of the oil properly...

Changing oil is easy.

Serendipity

bobman1235 wrote: »

Doesn't have to specifically be Jiffy Lube, plenty of other local shops.

Don't get me wrong, it's cool that you want to do it yourself, and it's a good skill to learn, but unlike something like doing brakes (where you can save some major money), it's really not worth the hassle.

It's not that I don't completely trust Jiffy Lube/Pep Boys/etc. It's more due to the fact that the small leak recently got my attention...

ben62670

bobman1235 wrote: »

I know I'm gonna catch a lot of flak for htis, but if you don't know what you're doing, and money is a concern, why not just take it to a Jiffy Lube type place? In general they're cheaper than doing it yourself, or at least the same price, and it takes all of 15 minutes.

I know how to do it, but like Bob says why bother. It's cheaper/as cheap, and no mess.

Edit: If you do change it. Take some fresh oil on your finger tip and lube the O ring on the filter before installing it. Fill the filter with oil first if you can;) Nothing like dry firing an engine.

Motzart

How about take off the oil cap and flip the car on it's roof?

heiney9

bobman1235 wrote: »

Doesn't have to specifically be Jiffy Lube, plenty of other local shops.

Don't get me wrong, it's cool that you want to do it yourself, and it's a good skill to learn, but unlike something like doing brakes (where you can save some major money), it's really not worth the hassle.

I used to change my oil myself all the time until it became a PITA. Put it on jack stands, deal with scrapped knuckles, oil dripping everywhere, plus no where to recycle.

Now, I buy the M1 synthetic on sale by the case as well as factory recommended oil filters and pay my mechanic to do it. In the end it's about $60 twice a year and I don't have to deal with it. (I only put on 10K miles a year)

$30 oil
$15 filter
$15 labor

That's my recommendation also.

H9

Eric W

Oh yea one thing I forgot to mention- DO NOT FLUSH the engine oil with water. There was a thread on a Mustang forum where a kid thought he could flush his motor by running the garden hose into the crankcase.

Ricardo

A 2000 car, with what, 100,000 miles or so? Has it always used Mobil 1? If not, then DON'T use Mobil 1 unless you want to stat burning oil like crazy.

ben62670

Remember to put the drain plug back in before filling engine with fresh oil:D

Serendipity

Ricardo,

It's not burning any oil, it's just losing it in one spot.

thsmith

Both my son's Acura and Honda had over 100K and started using Syn oil. No oil leaks or usage.

See if a local Auto parts store will accepted your used oil. Autozone around here does.

I have 2 5 gallon cans I fill and empty autozone. I service my Harleys and cars because I do not trust most mechanics.

Mike Kozak

1. open gas door, 2. remove gas cap................never mind, take it to Jiffy Lube

AndyGwis

I love Speedee Oil change near my place. They change the oil, top off everything else (coolant, washer fluid, etc.), check all brakes, hoses, belts, fix the tire pressure, vaccuum, clean the windshield, etc. for like $25-$30. It would take me 5 hours and likely just as much money for supplies to do all of that. If you value your time and don't already have supplies, just get it done by someone good.