🔧 Altima - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Change

You’ll drain the old engine oil, replace the oil filter, then refill with the correct oil. This keeps your engine lubricated, reduces wear, and helps the engine last longer.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.75-1.5 hours

---

⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the car with jack stands (never rely on a jack).
• ⚠️ Engine oil can be hot; let the engine cool 15-30 minutes to avoid burns.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off belts/exhaust; wipe spills immediately to prevent smoke/odor.
• ⚠️ No battery disconnect is required for this service.

---

🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (8-quart minimum)
• Funnel
• Ratchet
• 14mm socket
• 10mm socket
• Torque wrench (10-60 ft-lb range)
• Oil filter wrench (cap-style or band-style)
• Flat trim clip tool
• Shop rags

---

🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (0W-20 full synthetic) - Qty: 5 quarts
• Oil filter - Qty: 1
• Drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

---

📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Altima on level ground, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Run the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off. This helps the oil drain faster, without getting dangerously hot.
• Open the hood and remove the oil fill cap (helps the crankcase vent while draining).

---

🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and support the front of the car

• Use a floor jack to lift the front of the vehicle at the proper front jacking point.
• Set the vehicle down onto jack stands and give the car a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable.

Step 2: Remove the lower splash shield access (if equipped)

• Use a 10mm socket to remove any small bolts holding the access panel.
• Use a flat trim clip tool to pop out plastic clips (pry under the center pin first). Clips break easily—work slowly.
• Move the panel aside so you can reach the oil drain plug and oil filter.

Step 3: Drain the old engine oil

• Place the drain pan under the oil pan drain plug.
• Use a 14mm socket and ratchet to loosen the drain plug, then finish removing it by hand.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip (typically 5-10 minutes).

Step 4: Reinstall the drain plug with a new crush washer

• Wipe the drain plug and the oil pan sealing surface using shop rags.
• Install a new drain plug crush washer on the drain plug.
• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a torque wrench with 14mm socket and Torque to 34 N·m (25 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the oil filter

• Reposition the drain pan under the oil filter area (a little oil will spill).
• Use an oil filter wrench to loosen the filter, then spin it off by hand.
• Make sure the old rubber gasket came off with the old filter (a stuck gasket can cause a major leak).

Step 6: Install the new oil filter

• Put a thin film of fresh oil on the new filter’s rubber gasket (use a dab of new oil from the bottle).
• Spin the new filter on by hand until the gasket touches the engine surface.
• Tighten by hand an additional 2/3 turn after gasket contact. Hand-tight is usually enough.

Step 7: Reinstall the splash shield access (if removed)

• Reinstall clips using the flat trim clip tool (push the outer body in, then press the center pin).
• Reinstall bolts using a 10mm socket.

Step 8: Refill with new oil

• Lower the car off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Insert a funnel into the oil fill hole.
• Add 4.9 qt (4.6 L) of 0W-20 full synthetic (this is the typical refill amount with filter change for the 2.5L).
• Reinstall the oil fill 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 look underneath for leaks around the drain plug and oil filter.
• Wait 5 minutes, then check the dipstick and top off if needed (use the funnel).

Step 10: Reset the oil/oil filter maintenance reminder (if it’s on)

• Use the steering wheel buttons to open the info display settings and navigate to Settings > Maintenance > Oil and Filter.
• Select Reset (or set the new interval) and confirm.

---

✅ After Repair

• Recheck the dipstick level after your first short drive (5-10 minutes) and top off if needed.
• Confirm there are no fresh drips under the car the next morning.
• Bring used oil and the old filter to an oil recycling center/auto parts store for proper disposal.

---

💰 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 0.7-1.0 hours.

---

🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.