I am about due for my G's first oil and filter change. How difficult a job is this and do I have to replace the oil drain plug gasket every oil and filter change ?

 

have you change oil before?? And yes you do have replace the drain plug gasket every time.

 

I havent replaced my crush washer EVER (4 oil changes) as long as you dont fuggg it up you dont have to replace it.
-GP-

 

^^^wow thats pretty good... i just do it just in case.. its cost like what 25 cents ? Its cheaper just to buy one while i buy my OEM filter at the dealer.. instead of finding a leak... having a oil leak on the way to the dealership.. waisting gas to go the to the dealership and then paying the 25 cents

 

The hardest thing about changing the oil is finding a good way to get the car up in the air. I use ramps but I have to first get the car on 2x6s to get the front end NOT to hit the ramp. Once on the ramps, I use a cordless drill with a 3/8" adaptor to fit a 10mm socket. It's way faster to remove the 10 gazillion bolts that hold the underbody cover this way. Once that's removed, it's standard, drain oil, get filter off (I use a strap wrench), swap filter, put plug back in and refill.

 

I'm still on the gasket that came with the car after 8 changes. There's a hole in the underpan that you can access the filter from. It's a tight fit but it works, you don't need to take it off. Just stuff a rag in there to catch the oil that spills.

 

go buy a fumoto drain valve...you never have to remove your drain plug anymore after you install the valve...just turn and it drains

 

i got the Fumoto valve too, but the only downside to the Fumoto valve is that it drains pretty slow.... very slow actually (even after I warmed the engine to get the oil less viscous)

 

gives you time to pop open a beer or 3 while it drains...you could clean up the engine bay at the same time

 

What type Fumoto Drain Valve do you use ? The one with or the one without the nipple ??

 

I just changed my oil for the third time in 6400 miles last night. Having a cordless drill with a 10mm socket makes this job super easy. I put mine up on jack stands with hockey puck buffers and a floor jack. Rotated the tires at the same time.

It's super-easy to change the oil on this car... filter is right on the bottom in the front. Kudos to Nissan for making this easy!! Beats the heck out of the Q (filter buried above p/s pump), My truck (thread the filter over three different things with a secret combination), my mom's old 88 Maxima (buried halfway up on the back side of the engine with a secret route to get it out while oil runs all over the exhaust)...

Speaking of oil changes... is anyone else amazed at how small the oil filters on this car? Looks like something that goes on a motorcycle! I bought the secondary part number filter that is a little longer, but it's still thimble sized.

Heath

 

If you think this oil filter is small, you should see the one for my Scion xB. It is so small, I thought it was for a riding mower!

 

when puttin the oil filter back on, take some oil on your finger and spread it around the outside of the oil filter where it contacts (rubber part). This will help the oil filter from being seized up or gettin stuck on there next time your try to take it off. It won't be stuck stuck, but it'll be super hard to get off and u might need a filter wrench.

Also, taking off the fill cap makes it drain faster, so does having the car heated up, careful if its just right after a long drive, you can burn yourself.

 

Well, just changed the oil & filter for the first time in my G. I went with Mobil 1 Extended Performance Filter and Oil (5W-30 / 5 Gal. container / Wal-Mart). Aside from all of the screws, that you have to remove in order to remove the plastic underpan, it was a pretty simple task. I used the original gasket for the oil pan drain plug. Snugged it up and then took it for a test drive. Next, I checked for leaks.
Dry as a bone !
I will install a "new" gasket, at the next change.