ok , i bought stock oil filter and 5L of costral 5-30 oil. I tried to change my oil
this morning. I read the owner maunel book, I though it was gonna be easy, just open the plug and let oil out. Then I found out I had to use jack to lift my car. My dad doesn't need a jack to change oil on his lumina. this is my first time change oil myself. I didn't expect that, but i lift my car with a jack anyway. then I couldn't find the plug for draining oil....I already checked this website http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/511 it has pics where the plug is, but I couldn't find it, is that because this website offers 4th gen maxima? is 2000 maxima has same plug place as 4th gen maxima ? can someone show me a pic where I can find my plug plz.........I know i'm dumb...sry..

 

I've changed my oil without jacking it up once, and then with jacking it up. If it's time to rotate your tires I would definatly do that at the same time, but if it's not you can get away with pretty good access to the filter and the drain plug by turning your wheel all the way to the right (learned here on the forum). If you are taking the wheels off it's really easy, just take the wheel off and remove the low piece of plastic in your wheel well, 2 bolts and 2 push pin screw things. Removing the piece you will be able to look squarely at you oil filter.

But you need to know where the drain plug is, the website link that you had was pretty much the same place yours should be, you can ID the oil pan by the grooves or ridges, it's right behind the front right tire, the drain plug is a 14 mm bolt that is facing the rear of the car at an angle. If you need to see it, your gonna have to get your head on the inside of the right tire under your car and look up ( Jack stands and a buddy with a cell phone if your going under).

Good Luck

 

PS, jack your wheels ALL the way to the right. This makes it much easier to get to the oil filter, which is located underneath the crank pulley at the far passenger side (behind some plastic guards).

All in all, I'd have to say the Maxima is the easiest car I've ever owned as far as changing the oil. All my other ones were a pain (with the oil filter all the way on the backside of the block, etc.) and pretty much REQUIRED that I used ramps to get it up high enough for me to fit way underneath.

 

Please make damn sure that if you are jacking your car up that you are placing jack stands under both wheels!! Car ramps are even better (just mho as I've been using ramps for years.)

Also remember that when you first open that drain bold the oil is going to gush out of the hole ..... make sure that you have a large enough drain pan to catch all of the oil.

Mr. P

 

As I said to you on the weekend, take the car to a looby-loo before you f#ck something up. Next thing we'll here is "Help my engine has seized up because all the oil drained out because I didn't put the drain plug in properly and it fell out".

I give you credit for doing the job yourself, but certainly you must have a buddy/dad with some mechanical expertise that can give you some assistance and/or supervise you.

 

Not trying to be condescending, but did you think to look in your owner's manual? It has step-by-step directions + pictures. There's a lot of good info in there, but few people seem to take the time to look. If you purchased your car used and it didn't come with one, you can view/download the manual for free at www.nissan-techinfo.com.

 

If you know what the oil pan looks like, so should have no problem finding the drain plug and changing the oil. THe max is one of the easiest cars to change the oil on

 

Yes, true but for us lowered/bodykit folk, we can't use ramps. infact, i have to use TWO jacks to to get my car in the air. the first one is a sizzor jack to lift up the car enough.... and then i use the bigger jack now that the sizzor jack raised the car enough so it would fit.


as for the oil, it is so simple. i just did it this past weekend. the oil filter is really tiny for such a massive engine, but o well. the oil pan is located right next to the filter, it is hard to miss it. i think that before you try to attempt to do it with the wheels turned, you should jack up the car and see where everything is.

-Chris

 

I did turn the wheels to the right when i did this
I jsut couldn't see the plug..i could reach the filter without problem. the oil pan is a low black plastic box in front of filter right? I think that's the thing. I though the plug was a screw right under the belt wheel which is pretty difficut to reach. If the plug is almost same spot as the website, then I must missed it. Glad i didn't take the screw (which I have no idea what it does) off. I'll try tomorrow with 2 jacks, I was kinda scared too, get under a 3500 pounds car with a little jack....btw..how much is a ramp? never seem 1..

 

Check your local car parts store fro ramps. Some dont carry them probably because of safty issues. It would be kind of a PITA to jack up the car and put it on stands every time you wanted to change your oil.

As for ramps with lowered cars or with body kits, Just make your own ramps. I made some out of a few pieces of 2x4. Im running Eibachs and have no problem fitting the homemade ramps under the bumper. They give me a few extra inches which is enough room to do what I need to.

 

Found out a couple of weeks ago that the Titan (5.6L V8) uses the exact same filter as us, so now I dont feel so bad.

 

yea.. 1 more thing to confirm...our engine is 3.0l means i need to put 3 liters of oil in? or someone told me I have to put 4.5L in...?

 

Its actually 4.25 quarts with a filter change.

3.0L is the displacement of the combustion chambers (how much fuel and air fit in your engine).

 

For god's sake do NOT put 3 liters of oil in it.... 3.0l refers to the engine displacement, NOT how much oil...

IIRC, the engine takes about 4.5 quarts...

 

lololololo thx

 

Do you have any pics? I am curious how you made them support that much weight. it would be nice to be able to use ramps again!!! thanks.

-CHris

 

Sorry Blkmax I forgot about you guys with the body kits/ lowered sleds. Car ramps can again be bought in just about any auto parts store or you can go to Sears and get them.

Please please do not get under a car that is held up the car's jack stand there is just too much chance of getting hurt.

Mr. P

 

just curious how young a brother you are

 

No problem Mr. P! - are you telling me that i drive a sled???!!! lol.

yes, never rely solely on a jack stand, i used two jack stands, and a pnematic jack to support the car when i work on it. also, when doing suspension, put your tires under the car just in case... it is better to scuff a rim then to be hurt.

-Chris

 

i did not read all the replies. until i lowered the car, i never jacked-up the car. yea i had to get under it to get to the drain bolt. now i just jack up the pass side, barely, top get the oil pan under...

 

Dear BL_asd:

As I was saying before (twice), take the car to a looby-loo or get someone to help you. I was originally concerned about you f#cking up the car. However, I am now convinced that there will be an imminent death in the Maxima community, lol!

Obituary reads: "Newbie crushed by weight of falling Maxima."

Get some help!

 

OK guys...i really apperciate ur help. the changing oil was done 10 mins ago, my dad helped me...i finally found that little damn plug..it faces the back of the car, not as same position as the damn owner's book pic. i didn't need to jack up the car. I'm 20 years old, next month i'll turn to 21. I never had a car b4, I jsut got my car last month, i was sharing a car with my dad before. I have developed passion and hobbit about cars during this past month.....hey, at least i know what a oil filter look like now ..i'm trying to learn more, i'm noob and i really appriciate ur help

 

holy crap, dude. look, i'm sorry about how harsh this is going to sound, but you have no business getting anywhere near your car with a wrench. i respect your willingness to do your own maintenance, but you really need to clip a $14.95 coupon out of the sunday paper to your local grease jockey, and let them handle it. at the very least, have someone who has some experience help you.

seriously guy, i am not trying to be a jerk.

 

Welcome to the org, post in the regonal forum and find some peeps to help you. I found some local help to swap my springs and learned a lot.

Don't just put 4.5L of oil in. Put in 3 and then check the level. Then put a little more in at a time until the dipstick reads full. Wipe the dipstick between checks.

 

And use a rag to wipe the dipstick clean, its not a popsicle, LMFAO!

 

glad to hear the oil change went well... and really glad to hear that your dad helped you out... from the questions you were asking, sounded like you needed a bit of help...

not to be a jerk or anything... just my initial thoughts...