Oil change tricks

The Gas and Diesel Engines - VQ40De, VK56DE, YD25DDTi, V9X, Transmission, Transfer Case, Oil, Differentials, Axles, Exhaust...

Moderator: volvite

jrherr55
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:39 am
Location: North Carolina

Oil change tricks

Postby jrherr55 » Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:48 am

Anyone have any special tricks they do when changing the oil filter on the Pathfinder to keep oil from getting all over the underside? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've made a mess several times.


User avatar
deermjd
Posts: 459
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:24 pm
Location: Birmingham, Alabama

Postby deermjd » Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:16 am

Some people remove the skid plate while changing the oil. I just use the access hole in the skid plate and wipe up the spilled oil with some shop towels. Nissan added a little oil drain channel under the oil filter but it could be better.

fleurys
Posts: 288
Joined: Tue May 12, 2009 5:03 am
Location: Ste-Catherine, QC
Contact:

Postby fleurys » Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:24 pm

what year you have ?

jrherr55
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:39 am
Location: North Carolina

Postby jrherr55 » Fri Dec 23, 2011 1:00 pm

2010

fleurys
Posts: 288
Joined: Tue May 12, 2009 5:03 am
Location: Ste-Catherine, QC
Contact:

Postby fleurys » Sat Dec 24, 2011 8:36 am

sorry can't help on this one :-)

twinblown
Posts: 172
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:13 pm
Location: Central Florida

Re: Oil change tricks

Postby twinblown » Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:03 am

jrherr55 wrote:Anyone have any special tricks they do when changing the oil filter on the Pathfinder to keep oil from getting all over the underside? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've made a mess several times.
It helps iy you place a rag in the area below the filter prior to removing it :wink:

dared3vil00
Posts: 144
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:23 pm
Location: Canada

Postby dared3vil00 » Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:10 am

deermjd wrote:Some people remove the skid plate while changing the oil. I just use the access hole in the skid plate and wipe up the spilled oil with some shop towels. Nissan added a little oil drain channel under the oil filter but it could be better.
Out of curiosity why does a 2WD pathy have skid plates?

skinny2
Sponsored Member
Posts: 1531
Joined: Sat Dec 26, 2009 10:07 pm
Location: BFE, Ohio

Postby skinny2 » Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:47 am

given the way the skid fits in smoothly, my guess is it improves aerodynamics/fuel mileage. I'm sure it does offer some protection of road debris as well and that's welcome on any vehicle. I dont' think it stands a chance on any rocky trails beacuse it's a pretty lightweight unit. FWIW, I drive mine on mining roads all the time and rarely put it in 4x4, but i do mash up against gravel/mud chunks so I'm sure there are 4x2 owners that benefit as well.

I always take mine off. I tried the access panel once and thought it was more hassle/mess than the minute or two it takes to pop the skid.

User avatar
MonkeyMike
Posts: 283
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:28 pm
Location: Chicago Suburbs

Postby MonkeyMike » Tue Jan 24, 2012 1:25 pm

dared3vil00 wrote: Out of curiosity why does a 2WD pathy have skid plates?
because it protects the oil pan. 2wd trucks have oil pans, just like 4wd trucks. just because you only have 2wd doesn't mean you aren't going to drive on fire roads / trails / fields / etc... remember, rocks hide. you usually don't see them before you hit them.

~mike

User avatar
Tech
Posts: 395
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:46 pm

Postby Tech » Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:28 pm

Take the box the filter comes it, open both ends, flatten it. Fold it lengthwise. tuck it under the drip channel (access panel swung out of way). Reach in from the side of the skidplate and undo filter. Let it drip before removing. stand up filter and pull out from side. If you pull it out the little hole, you'll cut yourself and drip oil.

bakerbaker
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue May 08, 2012 4:44 pm

Postby bakerbaker » Wed May 16, 2012 6:57 am

I use old socks and cut the ends out and use it over my arm to prevent the drain slide from cutting my wrist's. After I am done I use the sock to clean up the mess.

staynlean
Posts: 197
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:28 pm
Location: Memphis Tennessee

Postby staynlean » Wed Nov 07, 2012 1:47 am

Out of curiosity why does a 2WD pathy have skid plates?[/quote] Really?

Tzvier
Posts: 78
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2012 1:06 pm
Location: Higher Elevations

Postby Tzvier » Wed Nov 07, 2012 10:06 am

Out of curiosity why does a 2WD pathy have skid plates? Really?
curbs.

User avatar
eieio
Sponsored Member
Posts: 1841
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:42 am
Location: Prescott, Az.

Postby eieio » Wed Nov 07, 2012 1:14 pm

Tzvier wrote:
Out of curiosity why does a 2WD pathy have skid plates? Really?
curbs.
:lol:

User avatar
Zen_master
Posts: 276
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2013 7:42 pm

Postby Zen_master » Thu Dec 26, 2013 7:05 pm

Tech wrote:Take the box the filter comes it, open both ends, flatten it. Fold it lengthwise. tuck it under the drip channel (access panel swung out of way). Reach in from the side of the skidplate and undo filter. Let it drip before removing. stand up filter and pull out from side. If you pull it out the little hole, you'll cut yourself and drip oil.
Just completed an oil change and had oil run down the anti-sway bar and the skid plate. Will try this next time. Thanks for the tip


Return to “R51 Engine, Driveline and Powertrain”