Re: Changing Oil - Nissan Pathfinder XE

#1

Great idea! I have also been looking into the remote mount filter system.
Pricey though.

Just to add to the "trick", maybe poke the hole in the filter from the
engine compartment side (top). Then put your funnel or small catch basin
under the filter and rotate it until the hole is on the bottom. You should
spill less oil that way. And immediately below the filter is the starter. I
just rebuilt mine and I'm pretty certain that some of the failure can be
attributed to all the oil caked onto/into it.

DS

"Mike" <spamsucks (AT) not (DOT) com> wrote

Quote:

Actually you should be able to use a screwdriver to puncture the old
filter.
I've never been so anxious to change my oil before to test out this new
trick!

"John D." <jcdech (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:e821bab6.0306220915.365626a (AT) posting (DOT) google.com...
That sounds like a solution, even if it adds more time to the process.

Due to the thin/soft metal of most oil filters, I would think that a
very sharp icepick sharply tapped with a small hammer would make the
"drain hole" quicker so you could get the funnel under there sooner
before too much oil came out. Besides, oil might dribble down the
drillbit and all over the drill!

I have the same problem on my 1995 Nissan 200 SX SE (as do all the
Sentras with the GA16DE engines): The oil filter is in the back
mounted horizontally. When it is removed, oil does come out and drip
down the side of the engine no matter how fast you are unscrewing it,
and some of the oil runs down onto the exhaust pipe but it's not too
much and can be wiped off.

Still, I think the horizontal mounted filter is a poor design idea.

I'll try the hole & funnel idea next time myself!

John D.

"Mike" <spamsucks (AT) not (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:<8ZhJa.2945$Lo6.868 (AT) nwrdny03 (DOT) gnilink.net>...
I know this post is a bit old but my friend just recently told me a
secret
trick. Have not tried it yet but will on the next oil change.

Take a center punch or drill bit (if you can get a drill down there)
and
place a small hold in the filter, then you can place a funnel in the
area
and let the oil drain a while before taking the filter off.

If anyone else tries it let us know how you make out.

Mike

"'nuther Bob" <none1 (AT) none (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:89vidvs0auqrkiohchd4k11q8072qgrn0u (AT) 4ax (DOT) com...
On Sat, 31 May 2003 14:16:00 -0400, "Mind Melt"
proximo (AT) petitmorte (DOT) not> wrote:

On Thu, 29 May 2003 20:48:22 -0500, "Ben"
bmsarro (AT) bellsouth (DOT) net>wrote:

When I remove the oil filter, oil drains directly onto the
starter.
Is
this
the correct way to do this? I have tried removing the drain plug
from
the
oil pan and the oil fill cap and leaving it to drain for several
hours
but,
there is still oil in the filter that drains onto the starter. I
don't
want
to damage the starter. Any ideas, suggestions, comments.....?
Thanks.

No way to get around it. There's always going to be oil in the
filter.
Put the
new filter on right away and wipe the oil off.

They should make engineers pull the cars into their offices and
change
the oil over their fancy carpet... or better yet, over their latest
stack of designs. Maybe then they'd place filters in areas where you
can get a pan under them to catch _all_ the oil that drips out
before
the freakin thing squirms out of your hand and makes a giant mess
under the car.

My Nissans have had some of the _worst_ oil filter locations.

Bob

#2

I don't think the Nissan engines are the worst design.

Have you ever tried the oil filter removal from the mid 80s Honda Accord?

It's between the engine and the firewall and unlike the Maxima that I can reach
from up front right without the car on ramps I couldn't even get under there and
see it before I drove the car onto the ramps.

I think it's the nature of the beasts. I recall a Chevy somewhere along the
line in the 40s, 50s or 60s where you could buy a kit to move the oil filter to
a vertical position. You then could change it from the hood side of the engine
without it running down your arm and onto the driveway. I think it was a
bracket, a container the filter went into and a couple of lines that moved the
filter to the side of the manifold on the Chevy 6 engines.

So it's not only Japanese engines that have this annoying trait.

I usually run high pressure water out of the garden hose over the filter area
and below it on the Maxima after I've wiped up as much as I can. I still get a
small spot on the garage floor after an oil changewhen I've only driven the car
a couple of blocks to test things out after an oil change.

DS wrote:

Quote:

Great idea! I have also been looking into the remote mount filter system.
Pricey though.

Just to add to the "trick", maybe poke the hole in the filter from the
engine compartment side (top). Then put your funnel or small catch basin
under the filter and rotate it until the hole is on the bottom. You should
spill less oil that way. And immediately below the filter is the starter. I
just rebuilt mine and I'm pretty certain that some of the failure can be
attributed to all the oil caked onto/into it.

DS

"Mike" <spamsucks (AT) not (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:k8pJa.7301$Kg7.5319 (AT) nwrdny01 (DOT) gnilink.net...
Actually you should be able to use a screwdriver to puncture the old
filter.
I've never been so anxious to change my oil before to test out this new
trick!

"John D." <jcdech (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:e821bab6.0306220915.365626a (AT) posting (DOT) google.com...
That sounds like a solution, even if it adds more time to the process.

Due to the thin/soft metal of most oil filters, I would think that a
very sharp icepick sharply tapped with a small hammer would make the
"drain hole" quicker so you could get the funnel under there sooner
before too much oil came out. Besides, oil might dribble down the
drillbit and all over the drill!

I have the same problem on my 1995 Nissan 200 SX SE (as do all the
Sentras with the GA16DE engines): The oil filter is in the back
mounted horizontally. When it is removed, oil does come out and drip
down the side of the engine no matter how fast you are unscrewing it,
and some of the oil runs down onto the exhaust pipe but it's not too
much and can be wiped off.

Still, I think the horizontal mounted filter is a poor design idea.

I'll try the hole & funnel idea next time myself!

John D.

"Mike" <spamsucks (AT) not (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:<8ZhJa.2945$Lo6.868 (AT) nwrdny03 (DOT) gnilink.net>...
I know this post is a bit old but my friend just recently told me a
secret
trick. Have not tried it yet but will on the next oil change.

Take a center punch or drill bit (if you can get a drill down there)
and
place a small hold in the filter, then you can place a funnel in the
area
and let the oil drain a while before taking the filter off.

If anyone else tries it let us know how you make out.

Mike

"'nuther Bob" <none1 (AT) none (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:89vidvs0auqrkiohchd4k11q8072qgrn0u (AT) 4ax (DOT) com...
On Sat, 31 May 2003 14:16:00 -0400, "Mind Melt"
proximo (AT) petitmorte (DOT) not> wrote:

On Thu, 29 May 2003 20:48:22 -0500, "Ben"
bmsarro (AT) bellsouth (DOT) net>wrote:

When I remove the oil filter, oil drains directly onto the
starter.
Is
this
the correct way to do this? I have tried removing the drain plug
from
the
oil pan and the oil fill cap and leaving it to drain for several
hours
but,
there is still oil in the filter that drains onto the starter. I
don't
want
to damage the starter. Any ideas, suggestions, comments.....?
Thanks.

No way to get around it. There's always going to be oil in the
filter.
Put the
new filter on right away and wipe the oil off.

They should make engineers pull the cars into their offices and
change
the oil over their fancy carpet... or better yet, over their latest
stack of designs. Maybe then they'd place filters in areas where you
can get a pan under them to catch _all_ the oil that drips out
before
the freakin thing squirms out of your hand and makes a giant mess
under the car.

My Nissans have had some of the _worst_ oil filter locations.

Bob

#3

On my 95, I have always removed the filter from above. Just reach down,
unscrew it and remove. Of course oil then leaks out onto the starter and
exhaust, etc. It's not hard to reach.

I've had to drive a screwdriver through filters in the past just to be able
to remove them. I can't believe I never thought of this trick before.

DS

"John D." <jcdech (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

Quote:

Good idea, DS, but I can barely see my filter from the top let alone
reach it to turn it!

John D.

"DS" <davidscott (AT) shaw (DOT) ca> wrote

Great idea! I have also been looking into the remote mount filter
system.
Pricey though.

Just to add to the "trick", maybe poke the hole in the filter from the
engine compartment side (top). Then put your funnel or small catch basin
under the filter and rotate it until the hole is on the bottom. You
should
spill less oil that way. And immediately below the filter is the
starter. I
just rebuilt mine and I'm pretty certain that some of the failure can be
attributed to all the oil caked onto/into it.

DS

"Mike" <spamsucks (AT) not (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:k8pJa.7301$Kg7.5319 (AT) nwrdny01 (DOT) gnilink.net...
Actually you should be able to use a screwdriver to puncture the old
filter.
I've never been so anxious to change my oil before to test out this
new
trick!

"John D." <jcdech (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:e821bab6.0306220915.365626a (AT) posting (DOT) google.com...
That sounds like a solution, even if it adds more time to the
process.

Due to the thin/soft metal of most oil filters, I would think that a
very sharp icepick sharply tapped with a small hammer would make the
"drain hole" quicker so you could get the funnel under there sooner
before too much oil came out. Besides, oil might dribble down the
drillbit and all over the drill!

I have the same problem on my 1995 Nissan 200 SX SE (as do all the
Sentras with the GA16DE engines): The oil filter is in the back
mounted horizontally. When it is removed, oil does come out and drip
down the side of the engine no matter how fast you are unscrewing
it,
and some of the oil runs down onto the exhaust pipe but it's not too
much and can be wiped off.

Still, I think the horizontal mounted filter is a poor design idea.

I'll try the hole & funnel idea next time myself!

John D.

"Mike" <spamsucks (AT) not (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:<8ZhJa.2945$Lo6.868 (AT) nwrdny03 (DOT) gnilink.net>...
I know this post is a bit old but my friend just recently told me
a
secret
trick. Have not tried it yet but will on the next oil change.

Take a center punch or drill bit (if you can get a drill down
there)
and
place a small hold in the filter, then you can place a funnel in
the
area
and let the oil drain a while before taking the filter off.

If anyone else tries it let us know how you make out.

Mike

"'nuther Bob" <none1 (AT) none (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:89vidvs0auqrkiohchd4k11q8072qgrn0u (AT) 4ax (DOT) com...
On Sat, 31 May 2003 14:16:00 -0400, "Mind Melt"
proximo (AT) petitmorte (DOT) not> wrote:

On Thu, 29 May 2003 20:48:22 -0500, "Ben"
bmsarro (AT) bellsouth (DOT) net>wrote:

When I remove the oil filter, oil drains directly onto the
starter.
Is
this
the correct way to do this? I have tried removing the drain
plug
from
the
oil pan and the oil fill cap and leaving it to drain for
several
hours
but,
there is still oil in the filter that drains onto the starter.
I
don't
want
to damage the starter. Any ideas, suggestions, comments.....?
Thanks.

No way to get around it. There's always going to be oil in the
filter.
Put the
new filter on right away and wipe the oil off.

They should make engineers pull the cars into their offices and
change
the oil over their fancy carpet... or better yet, over their
latest
stack of designs. Maybe then they'd place filters in areas where
you
can get a pan under them to catch _all_ the oil that drips out
before
the freakin thing squirms out of your hand and makes a giant
mess
under the car.

My Nissans have had some of the _worst_ oil filter locations.

Bob

#4

My car info is in my first post above.

Yes, it IS some work but at 53, I guess I'm not in a big hurry
anymore...if I ever was (I DO have lots of patience).

Plus, in these hot summer temps outside here now in the Southwest, I
take my time anyway. Besides, under the car I'm in the shade!

John D.

"DS" <davidscott (AT) shaw (DOT) ca> wrote

Quote:

What year and model do you have? Mine is a 95 SE V6 4x4 and I have no
troubles getting the filter out from above. It takes a slight twist though.
I do the rest from underneath (without even using ramps or jackstands). I
can then clean up any spills from below. Your method seems like a lot of
extra work. It usually takes me 15 minutes max.

Anyway, to each their own. I have to do mine this week. Maybe I'll try doing
the whole job from below.

DS

#5

Quote:

Bob (Still changing his oil in the street instead of in his
pristine driveway, just in case :-)

Funny you should mention that. I once put fresh Mobil 1 in my Talon Turbo
along with a new oil filter. I started it up and heard a weird sound. The
sound was 4 litres of $26 Mobil 1 spraying all over my driveway. On closer
inspection, it turned out the o-ring on the filter was defected and allowed
the pressurized oil to spray out. What a mess!

One good thing though, I went back to the store that I bought the oil and
filter from and they replaced both free of charge.

DS

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Re: Changing Oil - Nissan Pathfinder XE

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