DizZL3

I was wondering if any of you do your own oil changes? and was wondering if it would be worth it to do your own or is it just too much of a hassle? Of course you would need to jack it up somehow, what do you guys do for this jacks or ramps? also what type of oil do you use?

zzmmrx0xmzz

I'm pretty sure most of us do our own oil change. It isn't difficult. Ramps will probably by the easiest unless your car is lowered and can not clear the ramp. Theres only one bolt you remove to drain the oil and then you just replace the filter and add oil when you finish. For the specific type of oil to use, just go to your local auto parts store and tell them your make and model and they'll tell you which to use.

VEvolution

lol a better question would be how many of us don't do our own oil changes..

get a jack and jack stands from sears for like 30 bucks, get some basic hand tools, and have somebody show you whats going on for the first time.. you seem like you could use all the help you can get.. everyone has their tastes but i would use a good name 10w30 oil

Laevateinn

iTrader: (3)

I do it myself. I use the cheapest 5W-30 SN Grade Energy Conserving II Oil with an oil filter that has a bypass valve. You don't have to jack it up. the filter and the plug are easy to access. I do it for about 30 mins because I let it drain for a good amount of time But I'm not sure if 3rd gens use 5 or 4 quarts

BigLou55

iTrader: (6)

I do my own, I use Pennzoil 5w30(personal preference) and a supertech ST7317(cheap and decent) filter. just get help the first time and you will see why most here don't pay someone to do this job.

mrjasonlyrics

Totally a DIY. All you need is a jack, stands for safety, your 10w 30 oil and filter, funnel, standard wrench set and a oil drain pan. The filter should be tightened wrist tight so it should come out by the turn of hands. It's too easy to change oil and you don't have to sit and twiddle your thumbs and wait for them to do something you can do yourself.

Besides it was very good exerience knowing you just did your own oil change

BenStoked

iTrader: (7)

I grab a couple of 2"x6"x12" and drive on those. there is plenty of clearance to get a wrench on the drain plug, and to put a drain pan underneath.
using a jack and stands, or ramps is a waste of my time, making it a 15 minute job

James92SE

iTrader: (31)

Yeah, no reason (if stock height) to mess with jacking it up to change the oil. Not sure about the VG but the VE is so/convenient to do the oil on. It can be done in about 10 minutes start to finish.

Only women pay somebody to change their oil

chrome91

iTrader: (1)

dont even need a jack or anything, 3rd gen oilpan is easy to get at and the filter is up top. i change my own oil on all my vehicles, just crawl under, drain it, change the filter, spray it all down with brake cleaner, new oil, and boom

oil depends on the climate, cold *** you should use 0W-40 and warmer you should use 10W-30. i just ran 5W-30 Castrol synthetic in the 3rd gen yearround, 5W-30 Royal Purple in the truck yearround and 10W-30 in the Supra being summer only

YearOfTheGus

iTrader: (2)

I'm dropped on Eibachs, and I still don't need to use a jack. :P Just turn the wheel completely to the right. The only consideration is finding a drain pan short enough to clear the oil pan.

Matt93SE

iTrader: (44)

I own 7 cars. If I paid for oil changes, I'd be broke. Haven't paid for an oil change in about 8 years.

shiloh51933

iTrader: (5)

One of the easiest lube jobs around in the 3rdgen Maxima VG or VE block. I enjoy doing the lube job on my Maxima, really I enjoy doing work to her in general. Anyway, I started using Castrol Full Synthetic Extended Life about a year ago with a can of Restore Engine Treatment. Before that I was using a Synthetic blend by Valvoline(high mileage 75,000+), I used this immediately after buying her about 3 years ago. Oil filters vary at times when I get a good deal w/oil but normally Bosch, K&N or Mobil 1 oil filters(I never use Fram). Regardless of oil type I still change her about every 3,000 miles, yes even w/ the extended brand. I use the extended brand because she seems to really like the stuff. I use a full synthetic(Mobil1 or Syntec) trans fluid as well. Coolant and everything else is oem brand fluids.... Good Wrenching.

maximo018

iTrader: (6)

Lmao your crazy

maximagician

the vg oil filter is mounted upside down but has good access (i like to put a funnel under it when draining to direct the flow)
the ve filter is even easier right under the front

i jack up the car a little since its lowered and my drain pan is big

also, i used to buy the oil drain plug washers at the dealership for like a buck each
but reuse them lately if i forget a new one(parts stores have plastic ones that work too)

other reasons i like to change my own is i let it drip dry longer than quick service places
and i fill the new filter halfway and let it soak in to prevent dry start(myth?)
also make sure the old oil filters gasket came off with the old filter
having the old one stick on the engine will cause a leak

Cliff Clavin

iTrader: (11)

I have never paid anyone to change the oil on the Maxima. I use the Toyota filter and specific synthetic oil. Many shops will just use a cheap, generic filter and bulk dino oil.

Plus, it takes like 15 minutes, not a very difficult job on this car.

MrGone

iTrader: (30)

I've never paid for an oil change. On my VE with eibachs I could still do it without jacking up the car but IIRC I did anyway to make it easier most of the time. I used Castrol GTX 5w30 and 10w30 along with Napa gold filters on mine religiously. Nowadays I would use Delvac 1300/Delo 400, whichever one is cheaper, they are both 15w40 or Rotella T6 5w40 if you want to use synthetic or live in a colder climate.

Even in college I changed my oil in -2*F weather in my snow covered apartment complex parking lot because I had put off changing out the 10w30 over a Thanksgiving break and my old Durango wasn't too happy about starting. Although that is something I'd rather not repeat.

DizZL3

Oh I know how to change oil and such I worked at an automotive shop for a long time and did plenty of them. I was just curious to see what everyone else used and/or methods. I usually got really good discounts working there so I never really bothered to do them myself. But, I've been bored and want something productive to do since quitting there. Especially since something this easy isn't really worth paying for. Thanks for the input. I think I will go buy some stuff and do it myself then. Every time I changed my Vg's, I just put it in the air so it was really quick lol.

Rods03Max619

iTrader: (5)

Agreed, it is very easy, my first car I've been doing it, to me, I got hooked on doing **** on my own instead of mechanics taking all my cash, GL.....

chrome91

iTrader: (1)

2f is nothing, changed the trucks oil in around -20c last week. -45c today with the wind so im not even taking the thing out lol

MrGone

iTrader: (30)

someone didn't learn how to convert celcius to fahrenheit

chrome91

iTrader: (1)

someones country didnt go to metric like pretty much the rest of the world

mrjasonlyrics

For real

7mJoe

Changing my own oil is one of the most rewarding things I do for my car; plus, it's a cake of piece. I haven't lowered my Max so it's even easier. 5W30 is what I generally use. Sometimes I alternate back and forth between 10W. Really though, it just depends on the pricing at the store.

yeah, thats my max

Easy and quick as im sure you have found out by the rest of the posts. My 4th gen is dropped so i just jack it up to make it easier. always use penzoil platinum(personal pref) 5w-30(live in new england so need a somewhat neutral weight). usually a fram filter, cheap and as long as you change your oil like you should, the filter will work fine.

ShocknAwe

iTrader: (3)

thought this was a troll thread.

Laevateinn

iTrader: (3)

I just did mine earlier today. I'm not a fan of branded oil as long as they're SN Grade and Energy conserving. They just go through the same certification system and if they passed as an SN grade oil then they're high quality regardless of price. Synthetic and non-synthetic is a different topic though. Using oil additives that didn't originally come with the oil is just a waste of money and increases the risk of clogged sections. If you would like to restore the engine to almost brand new, then change oil sooner than scheduled for at least a year.

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

I do my own and I use jack stands cause I would have to purchase lowered ramps, I use pennzoil 10w/40...with Wix/Purolator filters.....it's worth it too me cause these mechanic/oil changers lack real mechanic skill and all they do is f**K PPL's cars up!

road_warrior05

I've changed my own oil since I've had my Maxima for the past three years. However, now I'm at college and I can do it in the parkin lot with no problem, but I don't know what to do with the old oil in the drain pan. What do you guys do with your old oil?

Laevateinn

iTrader: (3)

Autozone, Oreilly, etc... they recycle it for free. Be green

WesCTR

iTrader: (2)

as a citizen of the United States of America, this is funny.

shiloh51933

iTrader: (5)

Couldn't be closer to the truth. Back in the day my older brother brought his '93 Mustang Notch Back 5.0 to one of these quick lube places b4 going to the track just so he'd have new oil. So he get's to English Town and notices she's just sounds/feels off, you know how we know our cars right. So he decides to dump some of the supposedly new oil right. The oil was all broken down and messed up looking. They were supposed to fill her up with Mobil1 or something but obviously used some other kinda of shyt!! Right there on the spot we had to clean that stuff out and make sure we got all of that bad oil flushed out. Luckily somebody there had some of the oil he needed and the right size oil filter to boot. Immediately after draining her out and running some good oil through only to drain again to make sure she was clean/free of the that quick lube crap. She was back running the way she should and after a day of running her on the track he changed the oil/filter again to make sure all was good.

ShocknAwe

iTrader: (3)

seems like a waste of oil to me. why would it take 3 drains to get it all out? 100% never comes out yes but the vast majority does if you let it drain for more than 5mins. Could it have just been the wrong weight and made the engine run funny? Maybe it was recycled oil which was a different color than you were used to? Recycled oil is still good. Not for my car lol or your brothers track car but for a daily driver it is.

chrome91

iTrader: (1)

in automotive technician school you have to learn metric and imperial so i know both well but it would be easier to just use metric

shiloh51933

iTrader: (5)

Listen, when you have a new Mustang with as much invested as he had nothing is a waste. Really I was surprised that he actually let somebody else actually change the oil to begin with. You live and you learn, we were still young back then though. It probably was recycled oil at wrong weight but it was supposed to be new full synthetic from an unopened bottle, atleast that's what he told them he wanted. I've never tried recycled personally but if it works good that's cool.

BenStoked

iTrader: (7)

Only if you're too canukistani to understand fractions.
our education system might be fubar, but at least they taught us that.

ujm

I do my own oil changes and do not use ramps. If I am not careful, the old oil filter can leak a bit and make a mess.

I've been using Pennzoil High Mileage oil in 10W/30 and whatever filter is there.

I change it every 3000 miles, rain or shine.

Walmart seems to have the best deal on oil, and filters are cheap there as well.

Augustus Maximus

iTrader: (6)

Oil change? What's that...never heard of it .