🔧 Altima - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

This job drains the old engine oil, replaces the oil filter, and refills your Altima’s 3.5L V6 with fresh oil. Clean oil protects the timing chain, bearings, camshafts, and variable valve timing system.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Let the engine cool until it is warm, not hot. Hot oil can burn skin.
• ⚠️ Support your Altima with jack stands before going underneath. Never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Wear safety glasses and nitrile gloves. Used engine oil is messy and can irritate skin.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off the exhaust and drive belt area. Wipe spills right away.
• ⚠️ Do not overtighten the drain plug or oil filter. The aluminum oil pan threads can be damaged.
• ⚠️ 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 drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch drive torque wrench
• Oil filter wrench, 65mm 14-flute cup style
• 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, SAE 0W-20 full synthetic - Qty: 5.1 quarts
• Engine oil filter - Qty: 1
• Engine oil drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Altima on level ground so the oil level reads correctly after refilling.
• Set the parking brake and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Warm the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off. Warm oil drains faster.
• Open the hood and remove the oil filler cap. This helps the oil drain smoothly.
• A crush washer is a soft sealing washer on the drain plug. Replace it every oil change to help prevent leaks.
• A torque wrench is a tool that tightens a bolt to an exact tightness. This helps avoid stripped threads.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and Support the Front

• Use the floor jack, rated 2-ton minimum to lift the front of your Altima at the front center jacking point.
• Place the jack stands, rated 2-ton minimum under the front side pinch weld lift points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands and give the car a small shake to confirm it is stable.
• Never crawl under a car on a jack.

Step 2: Position the Drain Pan

• Put on safety glasses and nitrile gloves.
• Slide the drain pan, 8-quart minimum under the engine oil drain plug at the bottom of the oil pan.
• Place the pan slightly behind the plug because oil will shoot outward at first.

Step 3: Drain the Old Engine Oil

• Use the 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive ratchet to loosen the engine oil drain plug.
• Remove the plug by hand while pressing inward slightly, then quickly pull it away.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to a drip.
• Use shop towels to wipe the drain plug and the oil pan sealing surface clean.

Step 4: Replace the Drain Plug Washer

• Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug by hand.
• Install the new engine 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 the threads start crooked and can damage the oil pan.
• Use the 14mm socket and 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the drain plug to Torque to 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs).

Step 5: Remove the Old Oil Filter

• Move the drain pan, 8-quart minimum under the oil filter area.
• Use the oil filter wrench, 65mm 14-flute cup style with the 3/8-inch drive ratchet to loosen the oil filter.
• Spin the oil filter off by hand. Keep it upright as much as possible because it will be full of oil.
• Check that the old rubber filter gasket came off with the old filter. A gasket is the rubber sealing ring on the filter.
• Use shop towels to wipe the oil filter mounting surface clean.
• Double gaskets cause major oil leaks.

Step 6: Install the New Oil Filter

• Dip a gloved finger in fresh SAE 0W-20 full synthetic engine oil.
• Lightly coat the new oil filter’s rubber gasket with oil. This helps it seal and come off easier next time.
• Thread the new engine oil filter on by hand until the gasket touches the mounting surface.
• Tighten the filter by hand an additional 2/3 turn after gasket contact.
• If using the oil filter wrench, 65mm 14-flute cup style, tighten gently only. Do not crush the filter.
• Torque to 17.7 Nm (13 ft-lbs) if using a torque wrench and filter cup.

Step 7: Refill the Engine Oil

• Lower your Altima back onto level ground using the floor jack, rated 2-ton minimum.
• Place the funnel into the engine oil filler opening on top of the engine.
• Pour in about 4.8 quarts of SAE 0W-20 full synthetic engine oil.
• Reinstall the oil filler cap by hand.
• Wait 2 minutes, then pull the dipstick, wipe it with shop towels, reinstall it fully, and check the level again.
• Add oil in small amounts until the level reaches near the full mark. Total capacity with filter is about 5.1 quarts.
• Add slowly near the full mark.

Step 8: Start the Engine and Check for Leaks

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-60 seconds.
• Use safety glasses and look underneath for leaks around the drain plug and oil filter.
• Shut the engine off and wait 5 minutes for oil to drain back into the oil pan.
• Use shop towels to wipe the dipstick, then check the oil level again.
• Add more SAE 0W-20 full synthetic engine oil with the funnel if needed.

Step 9: Reset the Maintenance Reminder

• Use the steering wheel controls to turn the ignition ON without starting the engine.
• Use the display controls to go to Settings > Maintenance > Oil and Filter.
• Select Reset, then confirm the reset.
• If your display shows separate reminders, also reset Settings > Maintenance > Oil and Settings > Maintenance > Filter.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Recheck the oil level after your first short drive, then top off only if needed.
• ✅ Look under the front of the car after parking for any fresh oil drips.
• ✅ Recycle the used oil and old filter at an auto parts store, service shop, or local recycling center.
• ✅ Record the mileage and date of the oil change for your maintenance history.
• ✅ Do not overfill. Too much oil can cause foaming, smoke, leaks, or engine damage.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $45-$85 USD equivalent (parts only)

You Save: $45-$75 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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