🔧 Altima - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Change

Changing the oil and filter on your Altima keeps the V6 lubricated and helps prevent internal engine wear. You’ll drain the old oil, replace the spin-on oil filter, then refill with the correct oil and reset the oil reminder.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.8-1.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the car with jack stands (never the jack alone).
• ⚠️ Engine oil can be very hot—let the engine cool 15-30 minutes if needed.
• ⚠️ Wear gloves and safety glasses; oil is slippery and messy.
• ⚠️ Keep the drain pan ready before loosening the drain plug.
• Battery disconnect is not required for this job.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 14mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• Torque wrench (10-100 Nm range) (specialty)
• 65mm 14-flute oil filter cap wrench (specialty)
• Oil drain pan (8-quart minimum)
• Funnel
• Shop rags
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (5W-30 full synthetic) - Qty: 6 quarts
• 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.
• Warm the engine 2-3 minutes, then shut it off. Warm oil drains faster.
• Open the hood and remove the oil fill cap to help the crankcase vent while draining.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and support the front safely

• Use a floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum) to lift the front at the correct front jacking point.
• Place jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum) under the proper support points and lower onto them.
• Give the car a gentle shake to confirm it’s stable before going underneath.

Step 2: Drain the old engine oil

• Slide the oil drain pan (8-quart minimum) under the oil pan drain plug.
• Use a 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratchet to loosen the drain plug, then finish by hand.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip (usually 5-10 minutes).
• Remove the old drain plug washer and install the new oil drain plug crush washer.

Step 3: Reinstall the drain plug

• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a torque wrench (10-100 Nm range) (specialty) and 14mm socket to tighten: Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).
• A torque wrench is a tool that clicks when the correct tightness is reached.

Step 4: Remove and replace the oil filter

• Move the oil drain pan (8-quart minimum) under the oil filter area (some oil will spill).
• Use the 65mm 14-flute oil filter cap wrench (specialty) to loosen the old filter, then spin it off by hand.
• An oil filter cap wrench is a cup-shaped tool that grips the filter for removal.
• Make sure the old rubber gasket didn’t stick to the engine (wipe the mounting surface with shop rags).
• Lightly coat the new filter’s rubber gasket with fresh oil (finger wipe).
• Install the new filter by hand until the gasket touches, then tighten with the cap wrench and torque wrench: Torque to 18 Nm (13 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Refill with fresh oil

• Lower the car off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Place a funnel in the oil fill opening and add 5.1 quarts (4.8 L) of 5W-30 full synthetic.
• Reinstall the oil fill cap hand-tight.

Step 6: Start, check for leaks, and set the oil level

• Start the engine and let it idle 30-60 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and wait 3-5 minutes for oil to drain back.
• Use the dipstick to verify the level is near the “H” mark; top off as needed using the funnel.
• Look underneath for leaks at the drain plug and oil filter.

Step 7: Reset the oil maintenance reminder

• Using the steering wheel buttons, go to: Settings > Maintenance > Oil & Filter > Reset.
• If you don’t see “Maintenance,” check: Settings > Maintenance and reset the oil interval there.

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✅ After Repair

• Recheck the dipstick the next day (cold engine, level ground) and top off if needed.
• Wipe any spilled oil and keep an eye on your driveway for drips.
• Dispose of used oil and the old filter properly (most parts stores accept it).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹3,500-₹7,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹2,000-₹4,000 (parts only)

You Save: ₹1,500-₹3,000 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary by area; this job is typically about 0.8-1.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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