Can somebody on this forum pls. tell me where the oil filter is located on this car? This is going to be my first oil change for my baby. What side of the car do you have to raise up in order to get to your oil filter? A pic will help a lot. thanxs.............

 

I can't answer your questions but I just wanted to remind you to get your drain plug washer from the dealer. It's just a lil washer ring that u put on ur oil plug, it's pretty important.

 

Try searching the site. I remember someone posted a step by step how to do oil change on the Z about 3 month ago.

 

Go buy some Rhino Ramps and drive the car up. The filter is on the passenger side, but the oil won't drain very well if you just lift that side.

10mm nut driver for the splash guard, 14mm for the drain plug, and a big pair of channel locks for the filter. Have fun

 

You mentioned RHINO RAMPS. What's the diff. between this and the ramp that I bought at Sears?

 

Preferably, you'll want to raise your car equally w/Rhino Ramps or any other ramps that you may find available. The filter will be on the passenger side of the car. Since this is your first oil change, you'll probably want to either invest in a Nissan oil filter wrench attachment or a super grip oil filter wrench as the first change is the worst (the oil filter gasket is seemingly glued on). I had to hammer in a screwdriver at three different locations in order to get the filter to a degree where it would easily screw off by hand.

After that, the rest of the changes are cake

 

To remove the oil filter you need to remove the undercover first. This is from the 350Z Service Manual:

ENGINE MAINTENANCE
Changing Engine Oil
ALS0007D
WARNING:
. Be careful not to burn yourself, as the engine oil may be hot.
. Prolonged and repeated contact with used engine oil may cause skin cancer; try to avoid direct
skin contact with used oil. If skin contact is made, wash thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner as
soon as possible.
1. Warm up engine, and check for oil leakage from engine components.
2. Stop engine and wait for 10 minutes.
3. Remove drain plug and oil filler cap.
4. Drain engine oil.
5. Install drain plug and refill with new engine oil.
Oil specification and viscosity:
. Refer to MA-11, "RECOMMENDED FLUIDS AND LUBRICANTS" .
Oil capacity (Approximate)
Unit:
(US qt, lmp qt)
Drain and refill
With oil filter change Approximately 4.7 (5, 4-1/8)
Without oil filter change Approximately 4.4 (4-5/8, 3-7/8)
Dry engine (Overhaul) Approximately 5.4 (5-3/4, 4-3/4)
CAUTION:
. Be sure to clean drain plug and install with new washer.
. When filling oil, do not pull out oil level gauge.
Oil pan drain plug:
: 29.4 - 39.2 N·m (3.0 - 4.0 kg-m, 22 - 28 ft-lb)
. The refill capacity depends on the oil temperature and drain time. Use these specifications for
reference only.
. Always use the dipstick to determine when the proper amount of oil is in the engine.
6. Warm up engine and check area around drain plug and oil filter for oil leakage.
7. Stop engine and wait for 10 minutes.
8. Check oil level. Refer to LU-6, "Inspection" .
Changing Oil Filter
ALS0005D
REMOVAL
1. Remove undercover with power tool.
2. Using an oil filter wrench (special service tool), remove the oil filter.
CAUTION:
. The oil filter is provided with a relief valve. Use genuine
NISSAN oil filter or equivalent.
. Be careful not to get burned, the engine oil may be hot.
. When removing, prepare a shop cloth to absorb any oil
leakage or spillage.
. Do not allow engine oil to adhere to the drive belts.
. Completely wipe off any oil that adheres to the engine
and the vehicle.
PBIC0819E
MA-18

ENGINE MAINTENANCE
INSTALLATION
1. Remove foreign materials adhering to the oil filter installation surface. A
2. Apply engine oil to the oil seal contact surface of the new oil filter.
D
B
SMA010
SMA229B
E
3. Screw the oil filter manually until it touches the installation surface,
then tighten it by 2/3 turn. Or tighten to specification.
Oil filter:
F
: 14.7 - 20.5 N·m (1.5 - 2.0 kg-m, 11 - 15 ft-lb)
G
H
4. After warming up the engine, check for engine oil leakage.
5. Check oil level and add engine oil. Refer to LU-6, "ENGINE OIL" .

 

The under cover has like 10 screws holding it. It comes right off. Then you will see the filter. Pretty easy. Better if you have an electric screw driver.

 

The Sears ramps might work fine also, but the Rhino's accomodate low cars better than most ramps I've used.

 

Thanks for the help guys, now on to the fun part........time to change my oil !

 

About a year ago I posted a detailed procedure in a thread that I called "Oil Change 101 - What You Need" that covered how to change your own oil and filter if you're not that familiar with doing it on the Z.

See HERE for the link.

WayneTN