Can someone please point out to me where is the oil filter on my 88
maxima?
thanks

 

hahahahhahah....must be new....welcome to the board.....the oil filter is on the fire wall side of the motor. I get to mine by leaning in from the passenger side of the car and reaching in with my left hand....just reach in on the fire wall side of the motor, you will feel it, and you can see it if you use a flashlight. Also some people get to it from under the car while it is on ramps....it is easier to unscrew from this position but I cannot figure how to drop it out from underneath...but some people use this method. I just use the fram (not the best filter) suregrip so I can remove and install with out using a filter wrench...since you can get a good grip on it even with a little oil on your hand....but all in all the oil is a PITA to change....good luck.

Carson

 

Filter is on the firewall side of the motor, near the engine mount. There are probably 2 ways to get at it. I find it the easiest getting to it from under the car, but some people can pull it from the top. It's messy so be warned.

S

 

thanks guys....

 

you may want to drape some plastic grocery bags across the meshy part of the exhaust pipe directly under the filter so you dont get oil down in it. that way you wont have to deal with smelling burning oil for a few days.

 

I've gotten it down to a science which eliminates raising the car. but at first, it involved 2 helpers and lots of beverages, and endless strings of profanities. I always found it easier to pop the hood and reach down behind the brake master cylinder. there's almost a clear path from there to the oil filter. in fact, I could never get the thing out any other way. just make sure the engine's cool and long sleeves help. the heater hoses may get in the way at first, but you can work around them. just unscrew the filter and fish it out. but be careful not to break off the little black wire near the oil filter. that goes to the oil pressure sending unit. I broke that off one time and wondered why the gauge registered 0 psi.

and ohh yeah... not to brag, but the oil filter in my 94 sentra is directly accessible from underneath. no profanity or special maneuvers are required. I loved my maxima, but I don't miss changing the oil. I guess that's why I'd wait until 8,000 miles before changing it?

Dan

 

When you try to get it from the bottom, the shift linkage, lower engine brace and exhaust all get in the way. Def. wait til the car is cold. Hot oil is more viscous, so you can drain that after it's been running, and then wait til the motor cools before getting to the filter. BTW, GReddy makes an oil filter relocation kit, universal for all Nissans. Might be worth checking out for you DIYers. And the 3rd gen filter is right on top. Go figure.

 

I always change the oil filter from underneath the car. The trick is that you have to disconnect the exhaust flange (2 bolts with nuts) right under the filter.

I use a plain wire or coat hanger to pull the flexible part of the catalitic converter away to the left side (hooking the coat hanger wire somewhere in the lower control arm), and voila!
Before I reassemble the flange, I wipe off the dripping oil from the lower engine brace, so it won't drip on the exhaust pipe later and smoke.

By the way, I use 2 "drive on" ramps to change oil, (available at most auto stores) it is a lot faster than jacking the car up (safely!).

If you wanna get one, make sure, that you get the type of ramp that you have to put together from 3 pieces (1 metal, 2 hard plastic), because if you get the ramp made of only one piece of metal, most likely the front spoiler of your Maxima will hit the ramp FIRST before you could roll on with the tires.

Geza