So I have an '05 G35s 6MT with about 4000 miles on it. So I took it in (not to the dealer) for an oil change. I have since noticed a fairly large oil puddle on my garage floor (seems like maybe 1/2 a quart or so). Extremely unhappy, I checked the oil level, which was down a touch, and tool it back to the shop. They tell me it is "frame oil". he told me that on this car, there is no way to remove the oil filter without a bunch of oil spilling out onto the frame, and subsequently onto your garage floor. Anyone else experience this? He told me it was true for all of the 3.5L Nissan/Infiniti vehicles. I had an '02 Maxima, and never noticed this problem.

 

In short, those guys SUCK.

I changed my oil for the first time at 2200. I removed the plastic shield that covers the bottom of the engine to give myself better access.

If those guys aren't familiar with how to change oil on the G and drop the filter then it's very likely the oil from the filter and filter attach point puddled on the plastic cover and then puddled in your garage.

When I completed my oil change, I wiped everything down and didn't have an issue at all. I initially made a bit of a mess because the oil filter was roasting hot when I removed it and I dropped it in the drip pan. it was my own fault - I was too stupid and lazy to get a glove. If I hadn't removed the plastic shield, I could see how it would be easy to make a mess and not be able to see it to clean it up.

Yet another reason I change my own oil. No one cares about my car as much as I do. You let idiots near your car and end up with oil on your garage floor.

No thanks. I'll gladly burn my fingers again to know it's done correctly.

 

Never take your car to one of these places, they dont give a $hit.

 

I think the oil change places in general have a lack of care when cleaning up, or doing things right for that matter. This is why I will either change my oil my self (in the warm months) or take it to the dealer. I think you have a better ground to stand on if you go back to the dealer and say WTF is this crap.

 

Unfortunately I am over an hour away form the closest dealer. I have used this place before (for my wife's Touareg) and they have been good. I will give them one more shot and ask that they remove the plastic shield as to not make a major mess. Hopefully that's all it was.

 

By all means, use a quick oil change service if you want a hig school kid who probably never picked up a wrench before he started the job changing your oil.

Plus, I would think a legitimate oil change place would at least have the resources to look up the correct procedures for any given vehicle. In the owners manual it specifically says to remove the under body cover.

I'll change the oil myself. That way I KNOW it got done correctly. Besides, how else can I justify buying new tools when I want them!! LOL

 

I made an ungodly mess. And I'm a neat guy by nature.

I decided not to remove the splash shield -- just loosened the four bolts closest to the filter so I could bend it around to get it out. I should've known better. Big mistake. The second I loosened that filter oil gushed out of it all over the inside of the splash shield (aka "splash maker") and dribbled down my arm, over my shirt, across my face and of course onto my clean garage floor.

I went through half a roll of paper towels wiping up the mess. The frame rails were not an issue. I'm sure your guy did the same thing, except didn't take the time to clean out the shield and it dribbled out through the access hole for the pan plug.

I expect this kind of shoddy service from myself, but if I were paying for it I'd be hot. Go somewhere else where they care about what they're doing.

 

It could also be that they didn't put in the washer for the oil plug. I did that once on my Maxima and had to do another oil change to put the washer in. I also use brake cleaner to remove all the excess oil around the oil filter and plug.

 

++1

 

That's seriously lame. It's true that oil changes can get messy but there should never be pools of oil, after the drive home. If you had half a quart on the garage floor, you probably left as much or more on the road to your house. That's insane.

I guess there is not much you can do other than never go back. I would still check the drain plug to make sure it's on right and not leaking.

 

I don't understand why they these places don't even think about about removing the plastic shield, isn't it common sense? It's only a few bolts so take them off and clean the inside of the shield, if it's still leaking, they may have not changed the washer and used the old one.

I was ok with the same washer for 1 oil change but the second time, it started to leak so it's best to change it everytime.

 

check the oil filter too to make sure it's hand tight and not leaking there...

 

I would skip going back to that place anymore. If changing your own oil isn't an option, there are still plenty of other oil change places to use.

The biggest pain about changing the oil is getting past the underbody panel. some oil change places will charge an extra $12 to remove it and replace it but in the end it's worth it.

 

Do you guys know if the Infinity uses the same oil plug washers as Nissan. The ones I'm talking about are a curved, thin copper washer. As opposed to solid aluminum type. Thanks.

 

To answer your question: Nissan and Infiniti use the same copper crush washers at the drain plug.

The long version and my opinion, which you didn't ask for but you're getting anyway (free of charge!): You'll hear the other side of this debate momentarily I'm sure, but my opinion is not to bother with replacing the copper crush washer. Unless of course you won a free pile of them -- a $1 value! -- with the purchase of your $35K G. I've owned five new Nissans and Infinitis over the last 15 years and changed my own oil every 3500 miles on all of them. No dealer monkeys for me, much less the pimply faced kid at the Jiffy Lube. Never changed the crush washer once over hundreds of thousands of miles and dozens and dozens of oil changes.

As long as you don't torque the heck out of the drain plug (which you shouldn't), that copper washer won't really crush anyway. It'll stay on there nice and disc-shaped for at least 10 years. (That's as long as I'll vouch as it's as long as I've kept the same Nissan.)