🔧 Altima - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

This job replaces the used engine oil and oil filter in your Altima. Fresh oil protects the 2.5L engine, reduces wear, and helps prevent sludge buildup.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground so the vehicle is stable and the oil drains correctly.
• ⚠️ Never get under the vehicle with only a jack holding it up. Use jack stands or ramps.
• ⚠️ Engine oil can be hot. Let the engine cool 10-20 minutes after warming it up.
• ⚠️ Wear gloves and safety glasses to protect your skin and eyes from used oil.
• ⚠️ Do not overtighten the drain plug or oil filter. Aluminum oil pans can be damaged by over-tightening.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 14mm socket
• 3/8-inch ratchet
• 3/8-inch torque wrench
• Oil filter wrench, 65mm 14-flute
• Flat-blade screwdriver
• Trim clip removal tool
• Oil drain pan, 8-quart minimum
• Long-neck funnel
• Floor jack, rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands, rated 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Shop towels

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil, 0W-20 full synthetic - Qty: 5.4 quarts
• Engine oil filter - Qty: 1
• Oil drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park your Altima on a flat surface and set the parking brake.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• 🌡️ Start the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off. Warm oil drains faster, but it should not be painfully hot.
• 🚗 Raise the front of the vehicle with a floor jack and support it securely with jack stands. A jack stand is a fixed safety support that holds the vehicle after lifting.
• 🔍 Open the hood and remove the oil filler cap. This helps the oil drain more smoothly.
• 🧾 Oil capacity is approximately 5.4 quarts with filter. Add slightly less first, then top off using the dipstick.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the Lower Engine Splash Shield Access Area

• Use a flat-blade screwdriver or trim clip removal tool to remove the plastic clips or fasteners from the lower engine splash shield area.
• Move the panel enough to access the oil drain plug and oil filter.
• Tip: Keep clips in a cup.

Step 2: Position the Drain Pan

• Put the 8-quart oil drain pan under the engine oil drain plug.
• The drain plug is at the bottom of the engine oil pan.
• Wear nitrile gloves and safety glasses before loosening the plug.

Step 3: Drain the Engine Oil

• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8-inch ratchet to loosen the drain plug counterclockwise.
• Remove the plug by hand once it is loose, and let the oil drain fully into the pan.
• Wait until the oil slows to a drip.
• Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug. A crush washer is a soft sealing washer that should be replaced each oil change.

Step 4: Reinstall the Drain Plug

• Wipe the drain plug and oil pan sealing area with shop towels.
• Install a new oil drain plug crush washer onto the drain plug.
• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use the 14mm socket and 3/8-inch torque wrench to tighten the drain plug to Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).
• Tip: Stop when torque clicks.

Step 5: Remove the Old Oil Filter

• Move the 8-quart oil drain pan under the oil filter area.
• Use the 65mm 14-flute oil filter wrench with the 3/8-inch ratchet to loosen the oil filter counterclockwise.
• Spin the filter off by hand and keep it upright as much as possible to reduce spills.
• Check that the old rubber gasket came off with the old filter. The gasket is the rubber sealing ring on the filter.

Step 6: Install the New Oil Filter

• Use your gloved finger to apply a light film of new 0W-20 full synthetic oil to the rubber gasket on the new oil filter.
• Thread the new filter on by hand until the gasket touches the engine.
• Tighten the oil filter by hand another 2/3 to 3/4 turn.
• If using the 65mm 14-flute oil filter wrench and 3/8-inch torque wrench, tighten to Torque to 18 Nm (13 ft-lbs).
• Tip: Hand-tight is usually enough.

Step 7: Reinstall the Lower Splash Shield

• Use the flat-blade screwdriver or trim clip removal tool to reinstall the plastic clips or fasteners.
• Make sure the splash shield is secure and not hanging down.

Step 8: Add New Engine Oil

• Lower your Altima back onto level ground using the floor jack after removing the jack stands.
• Place the long-neck funnel into the engine oil filler opening.
• Pour in about 5.0 quarts of 0W-20 full synthetic oil.
• Reinstall the oil filler cap.

Step 9: Start the Engine and Check for Leaks

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-60 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and wait 5 minutes so the oil can drain back into the oil pan.
• Use shop towels to wipe around the drain plug and oil filter, then check for leaks.

Step 10: Check and Top Off the Oil Level

• Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean with shop towels, reinstall it fully, then pull it out again.
• The oil level should be between the low and full marks.
• Add oil through the long-neck funnel in small amounts until the level is near full.
• Do not overfill. Too much oil can cause engine problems.

Step 11: Reset the Maintenance Reminder

• Use the steering wheel controls to turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Use the left/right arrow buttons to open the vehicle information display settings.
• Select Settings > Maintenance > Oil and Filter > Reset.
• Confirm the reset using the steering wheel OK button.
• If the menu wording is slightly different, choose the maintenance item for engine oil and reset it there.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Verify the oil level one more time after a short 5-10 minute drive.
• ✅ Look under your Altima for any drips near the drain plug or oil filter.
• ✅ Dispose of used oil and the old filter at a recycling center or auto parts store. Do not pour oil on the ground or into a drain.
• ✅ Record the mileage and date of the oil change.
• ✅ Recheck the oil level the next morning when the engine is cold and parked level.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $90-$160 parts + labor

DIY Cost: $35-$70 parts only

You Save: $55-$90 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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🎯 Ready to get started?

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