changing oil
03-29-2001, 03:56 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hey everyone,
I'm new to maxima.org so i dont know if this has ever been posted and if it has sorry. Does anyone here change there own oil? If so, is it hard because i have thought about it but everyone says it is to hard, especially putting in the oil filter. Thanks
I'm new to maxima.org so i dont know if this has ever been posted and if it has sorry. Does anyone here change there own oil? If so, is it hard because i have thought about it but everyone says it is to hard, especially putting in the oil filter. Thanks
03-29-2001, 03:59 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,528
Based on the following thread I'm pretty sure people change their own oil:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=29762
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=29762
03-29-2001, 09:28 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,335
RBa, it's worth the effort when you put in synthetic w/ a good quality filter...shops that do this charge over $30...4 quarts of synthetic cost $16 and a good filter is like $8...thats $24 which is usually about $10-15 cheaper than a shop charges
03-29-2001, 11:09 PM
#6
Originally posted by MrBurner
RBa, it's worth the effort when you put in synthetic w/ a good quality filter...shops that do this charge over $30...4 quarts of synthetic cost $16 and a good filter is like $8...thats $24 which is usually about $10-15 cheaper than a shop charges
RBa, it's worth the effort when you put in synthetic w/ a good quality filter...shops that do this charge over $30...4 quarts of synthetic cost $16 and a good filter is like $8...thats $24 which is usually about $10-15 cheaper than a shop charges
The place I go to charges around 50 bucks after tax for synthetic. I just stick to regular.
03-29-2001, 11:16 PM
#7
Originally posted by RBa
I guess I'm just lazy....Plus I don't have any of the right tools.
The place I go to charges around 50 bucks after tax for synthetic. I just stick to regular.
I guess I'm just lazy....Plus I don't have any of the right tools.
The place I go to charges around 50 bucks after tax for synthetic. I just stick to regular.
03-29-2001, 11:34 PM
#8
Originally posted by Y2KevSE
You don't need much... the jack in your trunk, 14 mm wrench, filter, 4 1/4 quarts of oil, and a crush ring (I don't use this). It'll save you a lot of money doing it yourself..... you can save the extra cash and get yourself a mod every so often.
You don't need much... the jack in your trunk, 14 mm wrench, filter, 4 1/4 quarts of oil, and a crush ring (I don't use this). It'll save you a lot of money doing it yourself..... you can save the extra cash and get yourself a mod every so often.
So a 14mm wrench, what the hec is a crush ring?...
03-30-2001, 07:16 AM
#9
Originally posted by RBa
So a 14mm wrench, what the hec is a crush ring?...
So a 14mm wrench, what the hec is a crush ring?...
03-30-2001, 09:27 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,985
DANGER!!!DANGER!!!
Do NOT get under your car with the factory jack!! It is not very sturdy. You can use it to jack it and use a jack stand for less than $20. Or buy a set of ramps also for under $20. Many owners here have changes their oil WITHOUT jacking up the car, just by turning the wheels!
Changing your own oil is good! At least you know that you changed ALL the oil and that it is of the right grade and brand. My car takes longer than 10 mins to drain out so when Jiffy lubes changes your oil in 10 mins they are changing just MOST of your oil.
Changing your own oil is good! At least you know that you changed ALL the oil and that it is of the right grade and brand. My car takes longer than 10 mins to drain out so when Jiffy lubes changes your oil in 10 mins they are changing just MOST of your oil.
03-30-2001, 10:03 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 722
Originally posted by Max-w/o-aCause
Hey everyone,
I'm new to maxima.org so i dont know if this has ever been posted and if it has sorry. Does anyone here change there own oil? If so, is it hard because i have thought about it but everyone says it is to hard, especially putting in the oil filter. Thanks
Hey everyone,
I'm new to maxima.org so i dont know if this has ever been posted and if it has sorry. Does anyone here change there own oil? If so, is it hard because i have thought about it but everyone says it is to hard, especially putting in the oil filter. Thanks
03-30-2001, 10:22 AM
#12
Re: DANGER!!!DANGER!!!
Originally posted by theMax
Do NOT get under your car with the factory jack!! It is not very sturdy. You can use it to jack it and use a jack stand for less than $20. Or buy a set of ramps also for under $20. Many owners here have changes their oil WITHOUT jacking up the car, just by turning the wheels!
Do NOT get under your car with the factory jack!! It is not very sturdy. You can use it to jack it and use a jack stand for less than $20. Or buy a set of ramps also for under $20. Many owners here have changes their oil WITHOUT jacking up the car, just by turning the wheels!
You don't trust the factory jack? I wouldn't leave my car up for a long period of time, but jack stands are the way to go if he doesn't mind spending $20... which he should.
03-30-2001, 10:35 AM
#13
Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 30
Re: DANGER!!!DANGER!!!
Originally posted by theMax
Do NOT get under your car with the factory jack!! It is not very sturdy. You can use it to jack it and use a jack stand for less than $20. Or buy a set of ramps also for under $20. Many owners here have changes their oil WITHOUT jacking up the car, just by turning the wheels!
Changing your own oil is good! At least you know that you changed ALL the oil and that it is of the right grade and brand. My car takes longer than 10 mins to drain out so when Jiffy lubes changes your oil in 10 mins they are changing just MOST of your oil.
Do NOT get under your car with the factory jack!! It is not very sturdy. You can use it to jack it and use a jack stand for less than $20. Or buy a set of ramps also for under $20. Many owners here have changes their oil WITHOUT jacking up the car, just by turning the wheels!
Changing your own oil is good! At least you know that you changed ALL the oil and that it is of the right grade and brand. My car takes longer than 10 mins to drain out so when Jiffy lubes changes your oil in 10 mins they are changing just MOST of your oil.
03-30-2001, 10:54 AM
#15
Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 80
Paul is right
You are risking alot having a Jiffy Lube type place change your oil. I've had experiences where they overfill the crankcase, use the wrong weight oil, and just don't do what they say they do (check power steering fluid, etc.)
Some guy making $5/hr (or $50/hr for that matter) is not going to care about your car 10% as much as you do.
Its worth the $7-$10 dollars for oil and a filter and an hour of your time (mostly to clean up) to make sure that something as important as an oil change is done right.
Plus, it always seems that the guy vacuuming your rug is the one that just climbed out of the pit and is covered in used oil.
Some guy making $5/hr (or $50/hr for that matter) is not going to care about your car 10% as much as you do.
Its worth the $7-$10 dollars for oil and a filter and an hour of your time (mostly to clean up) to make sure that something as important as an oil change is done right.
Plus, it always seems that the guy vacuuming your rug is the one that just climbed out of the pit and is covered in used oil.
03-30-2001, 12:32 PM
#16
Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 218
you also need a philips screw driver to remove the little screws for the panel covering the oil filter. That is the annoying thing about changing the oil is that thing. Also torque down your drain bolt if at all possible to avoid over tightning. It's alway's better to buy the tools and do it yourself because i don't want any grease monkey's getting in my ride. Hell i love buying tools
03-30-2001, 01:41 PM
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally posted by Y2KevSE
You can get to the filter from underneath the car. I'm too lazy to take off the plastic thingies.
You can get to the filter from underneath the car. I'm too lazy to take off the plastic thingies.
03-30-2001, 02:58 PM
#19
why I dont go to the dealer anymore
first off, I'm lazy when it comes to sliding under the car. I'd rather pay.. I really dont care about the cost.. But not anymore.
I've had a leak with the pathfinder and they left the old filter stuck up in the plastic shroud. spilled everywhere. They consistantly put in whatever they want, regardless of what you ask. You may never know either. Last time they put 10W-30 when I asked for 5W-30, and whatya know it was below freezing the next week. so pissed. They've tracked oil on my mats and the leather on my steering will smells like oil for a week. This is three different dealers. They just dont care. I've found its better for me just to do it myself. I sleep better at night.
I also went to Mobil 1. I figured a syn change is $25 (with nissan filter) which is the same cost as the dealer for dino. So I spend the same and get 10x better oil.
and to add the the debate, I think under normal conditions and up to 3K, dino and syn will be the same. But the VQ lends itself to spirited driving. I do it for the added insurance. I use a 4500 interval for syn. 3000 for dino. Again, Syn is prolly good to 7500 or more, but I do it just because. If I was leasing, I would most likely have stayed with Dino. but given there's a chance I'll have the car a long time, I decided on syn.
I've had a leak with the pathfinder and they left the old filter stuck up in the plastic shroud. spilled everywhere. They consistantly put in whatever they want, regardless of what you ask. You may never know either. Last time they put 10W-30 when I asked for 5W-30, and whatya know it was below freezing the next week. so pissed. They've tracked oil on my mats and the leather on my steering will smells like oil for a week. This is three different dealers. They just dont care. I've found its better for me just to do it myself. I sleep better at night.
I also went to Mobil 1. I figured a syn change is $25 (with nissan filter) which is the same cost as the dealer for dino. So I spend the same and get 10x better oil.
and to add the the debate, I think under normal conditions and up to 3K, dino and syn will be the same. But the VQ lends itself to spirited driving. I do it for the added insurance. I use a 4500 interval for syn. 3000 for dino. Again, Syn is prolly good to 7500 or more, but I do it just because. If I was leasing, I would most likely have stayed with Dino. but given there's a chance I'll have the car a long time, I decided on syn.
03-30-2001, 02:59 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,985
factory jack
This jack is fine to change your tire or check your brakes but it is not safe to be crawling under your car. I bought a pair of ramps for $16. I don't know specifics on the maxima jack but read an article where most factor jacks tested can fall over if the car is pushed to the side.
03-30-2001, 03:02 PM
#21
roger that!
the car is just too low!! if the jack were to fail, or who knows what, it would be all over. just jack stands or ramps. I have ramps, spent a whopping $18. just make sure you get long ramps, the front of the max will not clear most metal 7+ inch raise ramps. I have 6inch abs style.. nothing you cant find at walmart/pepboys.
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