Nissan Maxima
Engine Oil Change Guide
How to change the motor oil and filter
for the VQ35DE 3.5L V6 in an 8th generation 2016, 2017 and 2018 Nissan Maxima.
2016 Maxima 3.5L V6 Engine |
Twist Off Oil Filler Cap |
Pull Up Oil Dipstick |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the eighth generation (2016, 2017, 2018 and probably also
the 2019 and 2020 model years) Nissan Maxima sports sedan in
changing a burnt out fog light bulb in the front bumper cover. Owners of other Nissan or Infiniti vehicles such as the Versa, Altima, Juke, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Murano, Xterra, Pathfinder, Sentra, Cube, Armada, Leaf, Quest, Frontier, 370Z, GT-R, Titan, Kicks, NV, NV200, G25, G37, M35 and M37 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. A few compatible replacement oil filters with their part numbers are as follows: Fram PH6607, Bosch 3300, Purolator PL14612, Nissan 15208-65F0E, Wix 51358, Royal Purple 356753, Mobil 1 M1-108, Bosch D3300, Pennzoil HPZ-37, ACDelco PF1237 and Motorcraft FL816. The tools needed to complete this procedure include a floor jack with two jack stands or automotive ramps, a flathead screwdriver, a 14mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet, a used oil catch basin, an automotive funnel and 6 U.S. quarts of new SAE 0W-20 oil (5 1/8 U.S. quarts capacity specification). |
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Raise Front of Car |
Passenger Side Engine Bay |
Pry Out Center of Fastener |
The first three
steps are to warm up the engine for a few minutes, park the car on a level
surface and turn off the ignition. Warming up the engine will help suspend any contaminants within the old oil and also allow it to drain out more quickly. Engage the emergency / parking brake and place wheel chocks on both sides of the rear wheels to prevent the car from moving. Open the hood, twist off the oil filler cap in the counterclockwise direction and partially remove the yellow plastic handled dipstick. Removing the oil filler cap and lifting up the dipstick will help prevent a vacuum from forming and also allow the old oil to drain out more quickly. Carefully raise the front of the car with the floor jack and securely support it with at least two jack stands or alternatively you can use automotive ramps. Slide under the front passenger side of the engine bay and locate the black plastic oil pan access cover. The oil pan is located next to the exhaust pipe. |
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Remove Pop Rivets |
Pry Out Base of Fastener |
Last Pop Rivet |
To remove the pop rivets on the oil pan access panel, first pry out the center part of each fastener and then pry out the base of the fastener. | ||
3 Pop Rivets Removed |
Pull Down Access Cover |
Black Metal Oil Pan |
Set the three pop
rivets aside in a safe place.
Open the plastic access panel and wedge it open against the ground. Once the access cover is out of the way, you'll be able to see the black metal oil pan. The oil drain bolt is located at the rear edge of the oil pan. |
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Used Oil Catch Container |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Draining Out Old Oil |
Slide the used oil
catch basin to just below the oil drain bolt. Loosen the oil drain bolt by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with the 14mm socket and a 3/8" drive ratchet. Be careful when you remove the oil drain bolt. The old oil might still be hot enough to burn your fingers. Spin out the oil drain bolt by hand in the counterclockwise direction. Allow the old oil to drain out into the basin for at least a few minutes or until the flow slows down to just an occasional drip. Inspect the crush washer on the oil drain bolt and replace it if necessary. |
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Replace Oil Drain Bolt |
Bottom Wheel Well Liner |
Pry Out Center of Fastener |
Re-insert the oil
drain bolt and spin it in a few turns by hand in the clockwise direction to
prevent it from becoming cross threaded. Tighten the oil drain bolt in the clockwise direction with the 14mm socket and a 3/8" drive ratchet to just past hand tight. If you have a torque wrench, the service manual specification for the oil drain bolt is 26 lb-ft. The oil filter is situated on the passenger side of the engine bay near the wheel well and it is hidden by a black plastic access panel. Remove the pop rivet on the bottom edge of the panel. |
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Remove Pop Rivets |
Wheel Well Engine Cover |
Pry Up Base of Fastener |
Then remove the four other pop rivets on the access cover. | ||
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Top Rear Pop Rivet |
5 Pop Rivets Removed |
Pull Off Access Cover |
Set the five pop
rivets aside in a safe place. Remove the plastic access panel and set it aside. |
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Access Cover Removed |
Move Used Oil Basin |
Old Oil Filter Location |
Carefully slide the used oil catch container to just below the old oil filter. | ||
Twist Off Counterclockwise |
Dip Finger In New Oil |
Lubricate Rubber O-Ring |
Twist off the old
oil filter in the counterclockwise direction. Allow the old oil to drain out from the old oil filter and the filter receptacle for at least a few minutes. Dip your pinky finger into some new oil and lubricate the rubber o-ring gasket on the new oil filter. Lubricating the rubber o-ring will help it form a better seal, prevent oil leaks and also make the filter easier to remove during the next oil change. |
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Twist On New Oil Filter |
Replace Access Cover |
Push In Pop Rivets |
Make sure the
rubber o-ring from the old oil filter is not still attached to the engine. Twist on the new oil filter in the clockwise direction to about 1/3 to 1/2 turn past finger tight. Double check that the oil filter is tight before moving on to the next steps. Line up the filter access cover and replace the upper pop rivets. |
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Filter Access Cover Secured |
Replace Under Engine Cover |
Push In Pop Rivets |
Replace the other
pop rivets on the oil filter access cover including the one on the underside
of the engine. Double check that the oil drain bolt is tight. Replace the plastic oil pan access cover. |
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Oil Pan Cover Secured |
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Push the pop rivet pins back into place to secure the oil pan access cover. | ||
Lower Car From Stands |
Insert Automotive Funnel |
Pour In New Oil |
Carefully lower the
car from the jack stands by using the floor jack. Insert the automotive funnel into the oil filler hole. The VQ35DE 3.5 liter V6 engine's total capacity specification for an oil change with a filter replacement is 5 & 1/8 U.S. quarts (or 4.8L). So you'll need 6 U.S. quarts of new SAE 0W-20 oil. (Save the remaining amount of oil so that in the future you'll only need 5 quarts for the next 7 oil changes.) It is far better to have slightly less oil than necessary in an engine than to overfill it. Running an engine that has been over filled with oil may lead to sluggish performance or possibly cause damage to seals and gaskets. I recommend only pouring in about 4.75 to 5 U.S. quarts of oil at first to help avoid over filling the engine. |
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Replace Oil Filler Cap |
Check Dipstick Oil Level |
Replace Oil Disptick |
Temporarily replace
the oil filler cap by twisting it on in the clockwise direction. Start the engine and allow it to idle for at least a few minutes. Then turn off the ignition and allow the new oil to drain back down to the oil pan for at least five to ten minutes. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean with a paper towel, fully re-insert it and then pull it out again to check the oil level. If necessary, slowly pour in the rest of the 5 1/8 quarts of oil and repeatedly check the level on the dipstick until it reaches just at or below the top of the cross hatched area near the "H" that indicates the "Full" or "Maximum" line. You may not need to pour in the entire 5 1/8 quarts of oil in order for the level on the dipstick to reach the "Full" line. Once the oil level is correct, replace the dipstick and tighten the oil filler cap. To reset the oil life meter, press the left or right arrow buttons until the "Settings" option is displayed on the screen. Then press the "OK" button. Pull down on the "OK" button to navigate down to the "Maintenance" option. Press the "OK" button to enter the maintenance menu. You should see "Oil and Filter" selected as the first option. Press "OK". Thumb down to choose "Reset' and press "OK". Then thumb down to "YES" and press "OK" to confirm the oil life meter reset. If you previously saw a "MAINT REQD" (maintenance required) reminder light, it should now be off the gauges on the dashboard. Be sure to record the oil change in your vehicle's service records. It would also be a good idea to check your driveway, parking spot or garage for any fresh drops of oil that may indicate a leak from the oil drain bolt or the new oil filter. Please
check out all of my
2016-2018 Nissan Maxima DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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