aDDandrew

iTrader: (3)

So i decided to change my own oil from now on . Took me about an hour, plus cleaning the mess I made. One concern I have is, how tight does the oil filter have to be? Other than that, I think it went pretty well.

All the ingredients for an oil change


Draining her


nasty synthetic oil


Fresh out the bottle


Wtf do I do with the nasty oil?

SchismX

iTrader: (1)

Looks like you need to invest in a good oil drain pan.

Hraesvelg

iTrader: (1)

+ 1

and take it to an oil change place to recycle it.

Or do what I do and pour it out in the back yard.

Chromex319

iTrader: (5)

This is a great investment.

http://www.automotivetools4less.com/...9496cfe7c94d2e

JK

omegamanex

iTrader: (2)

Oil filter goes on 2/3 turn after it makes initial contact with the filter seal.

as for the used oil, any kragen or autozone type store should take it for recycling for free.

SoldzMyZ

iTrader: (11)

Yeah don't go crazy over tightening the oil filter. Doing so can mess up the rubber seal causing an oil leak (that happened to me on my eclipse. No permanent damange though but lost almost all my oil). Just a 2/3 turn after it is on their "finger tight".

Also buy an oil drain pan. You can buy it at autozone for less than $10. Buy it, place the used oil in the drain pan, and take it back to autozone (or kragen, or pepboys) to recycle for free.

Just a personal tip, I have an oil drain pan, but the oil (or any fluid for that matter ) is transported, I use an old big bottle of bleach. I find that its easier to transport than the massive oil pan I use and more secure to prevent spillage. I just turn the oil drain pan against the garage wall upside down and resting on the wall to drain into the bleach container.

aDDandrew

iTrader: (3)

I thought about the oil pan after I got her up on jacks lol, my laziness got the best of me so i used mom's cooking foil pans . Oil pan will be on the top of my to do list tomorrow.

mclovin.too

iTrader: (5)

Always nice to see someone working on their own car.

FYI next time, no need to jack up the back end too.

davidv

iTrader: (2)

I like the 100-piece tool kit. I think you need one wrench.

Nexx

iTrader: (41)

+1, its actually better to have the front end up higher so that the oil runs towards where the drain hole is located.

jZ08

I use this Dow Corning DC4 on the oil seal when I'm changing the oil filter on my airplane. I have a calibrated snap-on torque wrench and can confirm that the hand tighten, then 2/3rds turn will put you right in the ball park for the specified torque for a filter.

What DC4 looks like

If you're really picky about knowing how your engine is doing use these guys to do an oil analysis. Blackstone-Labs They compare your engine against its brethren at the same point in the engine's life. I.e., your VQ35DE oil analysis will be compared against other VQ35DE engines.

From the photos that oil looks like it was ready to come out a while ago, but I'm kinda finicky.

I've got 400 miles to go on my engine break-in. I can't wait to pop her cherry.

jenner1

changing your oil is a pretty silmple process but for the time and the pain in the *** of getting rid of your used oil all the time I just run it through a drive through lube service. Most reputable shops will carry good oils like amsoil and royal purple; plus if anything happens regarding loss of oil and engine damage its the shops problem not yours. Most shops will keep a computer record linked to your vin number as well so there will always be a record of changing your oil if you have to have any warranty work done on your engine.

wasyed

Hey aDDandrew I was wondering where you purchased the Royal Purple and if you dont mind me asking for how much? The only reason I ask is because I found it at a local walmart for $6+ and was wondering if thats a good price per qt. I'll be doing my first oil change on my 350z soon but was looking around for decent oil first of course. I've always used mobil 1 syn. on my maxima and altima but wanted to try out the royal purple in the Z.
I think it was $6.68/qt or $6.95, Decent price?
Thanks in advance

mclovin.too

iTrader: (5)

j.arnaldo

...I used to do my own oil changes, but carpal tunnel syndrome's got the best of me, so now I actually have to pay for it (I take my own 5W30 MOBIL 1 and filter, OF COURSE!). I'm getting therapy to improve the condition, though...sob...

Xzero

iTrader: (2)

I am also a first time oil changer(on my Z!) I've many jobs working on engines & have done thousands of oil changes back in the day but I've been lazy and kept getting free oil changes & getting most of my fluids changed from the dealership so that I would have records.

But know I'm like "Screw that!" My fluids are always clean so I may as well do everything but the tranny(5AT) myself & write down mileage when I do it!

I'll save on all the dealer fees & I get to pick what goes in my car now!

Amsoil & ATE all the way!