🔧 Altima - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

This job drains the old engine oil, replaces the oil filter, and refills your Altima with fresh oil. Clean oil protects the V6 engine from wear, heat, and sludge buildup.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 45-75 minutes

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a flat, solid surface and support your Altima with jack stands before going underneath.
• 🔥 Let the engine cool for 10-15 minutes if it is hot. Warm oil drains better, but hot oil can burn skin.
• 🧤 Wear gloves and safety glasses. Used oil can irritate skin and eyes.
• 🔋 Battery disconnect is not required for this oil change.
• ♻️ Collect all used oil and recycle it properly. Do not pour it on the ground or into drains.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 14mm socket
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch drive torque wrench
• Oil filter wrench 65mm 14-flute
• Flat-head screwdriver
• Drain pan 8-quart minimum
• Floor jack rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• Funnel
• Shop towels
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil 0W-20 full synthetic - Qty: 5.1 quarts
• Engine oil filter - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Altima on level ground.
• Set the parking brake and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Start the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off. This slightly warms the oil so it drains faster.
• A jack stand is a metal safety support that holds the vehicle up after lifting. Never rely on the floor jack alone.
• A crush washer is a soft sealing washer on the drain plug. Replace it every oil change to help prevent leaks.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and Secure the Front

• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum at the front center jacking point to raise the front of your Altima.
• Place jack stands rated 2-ton minimum under the proper front support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Use wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Shake gently to confirm stability.

Step 2: Remove the Lower Access Cover

• Put on safety glasses and nitrile gloves.
• Use a flat-head screwdriver to release the plastic clips on the lower engine splash shield or oil service access panel.
• Move the cover aside so you can reach the oil drain plug and oil filter area.

Step 3: Position the Drain Pan

• Place the drain pan 8-quart minimum under the engine oil drain plug.
• The drain plug is the bolt at the bottom of the oil pan.
• Keep the pan slightly behind the plug because oil may shoot outward at first.

Step 4: Remove the Oil Fill Cap

• Open the hood.
• Remove the engine oil fill cap by hand.
• This lets air enter the engine and helps the oil drain smoothly.

Step 5: Drain the Engine Oil

• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to loosen the oil drain plug.
• Finish removing the plug by hand while keeping pressure inward until the last thread.
• Let the oil drain into the drain pan 8-quart minimum for at least 5-10 minutes.
• Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug.
• Wipe the drain plug clean with shop towels.

Step 6: Reinstall the Drain Plug

• Install the new oil drain plug crush washer onto the drain plug.
• Thread the drain plug into the oil pan by hand first. This prevents cross-threading, which means damaging the threads by forcing the bolt in crooked.
• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the drain plug.
• Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs)
• Do not overtighten the plug.

Step 7: Remove the Old Oil Filter

• Move the drain pan 8-quart minimum under the oil filter.
• Use the oil filter wrench 65mm 14-flute and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to loosen the oil filter.
• Spin the oil filter off by hand.
• Make sure the old rubber gasket came off with the old filter.
• A gasket is the rubber sealing ring on the filter. If two gaskets stack together, it can cause a major oil leak.

Step 8: Install the New Oil Filter

• Use a clean finger with a small amount of fresh 0W-20 full synthetic engine oil to lightly coat the new oil filter gasket.
• Thread the new engine oil filter onto the engine by hand.
• Tighten the filter by hand until the gasket touches the mounting surface, then tighten about 2/3 turn more.
• If using the oil filter wrench 65mm 14-flute with the 3/8-inch drive torque wrench, tighten lightly only.
• Torque to 17.7 Nm (13 ft-lbs)
• Hand-tight is usually enough.

Step 9: Refill the Engine Oil

• Place the funnel into the oil fill opening.
• Pour in about 4.8 quarts of 0W-20 full synthetic engine oil first.
• Reinstall the oil fill cap by hand.
• Wait 2 minutes, then pull the dipstick, wipe it with shop towels, reinstall it fully, and check the level.
• Add oil slowly until the level reaches near the full mark.
• Total refill with filter replacement is about 5.1 quarts.

Step 10: Start and Leak Check

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-60 seconds.
• Use safety glasses and look underneath for leaks at the drain plug and oil filter.
• Shut the engine off.
• Wait 5 minutes so the oil can settle back into the pan.

Step 11: Final Oil Level Check

• Use shop towels to wipe the dipstick clean.
• Insert the dipstick fully, remove it again, and read the level.
• Add oil with the funnel if needed, a little at a time.
• Do not overfill. The oil level should be at or just below the full mark.

Step 12: Reinstall the Lower Cover and Lower the Vehicle

• Use the flat-head screwdriver to reinstall the plastic clips for the lower splash shield or access panel.
• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to raise the front slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 2-ton minimum.
• Lower your Altima slowly to the ground.
• Remove the wheel chocks.

Step 13: Reset the Maintenance Reminder

• Turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Use the steering wheel controls to go to Settings > Maintenance > Oil and Filter.
• Select Reset.
• If your display shows a separate oil reminder, reset it under Settings > Maintenance > Oil.
• Turn the ignition OFF, then start the engine to confirm the reminder is cleared.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check under your Altima again after the first short drive for any oil drips.
• ✅ Recheck the dipstick level after the engine has been off for 5 minutes.
• ✅ Recycle the used oil and old filter at an approved oil recycling location.
• ✅ Record the mileage and date of the oil change.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $90-$160 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $45-$80 (parts only)

You Save: $45-$80 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.4-0.7 hours.

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