Nissan = FAIL

13705 Views 37 Replies 19 Participants Last post by jukebox360, Sep 30, 2009

ChristineK

Discussion Starter · Aug 29, 2009

I know I have your attention :yes:

You are ready like a pack of Dogs about to pounce on its unsuspecting prey :-\

Ok I changed my oil today in the SugarCube.

To complete this task you first drain the oil from the pan, no problem there. Next get out your 10MM socket and remove 4 bolts from the belly pan to gain access to the oil filter :roll: you "Could" get the oil filter out with out completing this step but good luck! Let me know how that works out for you. Now you know the nice folks at Spiffy Lube will be happy to over torque these 4 tiny bolts stripping them out for you no extra charge.

Next loosen the oil filter, oh wait it is a teeny tiny bit smaller than the standard import oil filter wrench, so it slips and does not loosen the filter, Humm time to get the pipe wrench out. Be careful, the pipe wrench can cut the filter or gnarl it up. You say grab the filter at the base closest to the block due to it is extremely reinforced there and can get a good bite with the pipe wrench, good idea. The filter is recessed!

Now you have it loose, great!, wait it is completely horizontal so removing it with out spilling dirty oil is 100% impossible. :roll:

This same procedure is done on the Titan too, WHY???? to make this even stupider the Titan is line fed so it could have been located anywhere any angle.

Humm most cars oil filters are angled slightly for this very reason.

The Fram filter fit the wrench just fine, not the stock filter.

I used fully synthetic oil with a 15K mile guarantee and I applied a very strong 10lb pull magnet to the filter and fastened it. I plan to cut the filter apart after the next change to see how much metal I caught.

If you are a do it yourself person like me, have fun and don't forget the tarp.

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1 - 20 of 38 Posts

Mr.Bubble

· #2 · Aug 30, 2009

Thank you for the heads up. 1st years oil changes on the dealer. Hopefully they will get it right.

ChristineK

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 30, 2009

17 views and one reply means everyons gone to Spiffy Lube and has not had the pleasure of experiencing this yet ;D or you have not yet had your oil changed. Spiffy Lube type joints use reclaimed oil. If the guy drags over a hose from the roof rack and fills your oil it is certified reclaimed. If you pay HUGE you get first run oil.

Certified reclaimed is kind of chocolaty looking from the pipe and not that sweet honey color.

none

· #4 · Aug 30, 2009

I stopped using Jiffy Lube after they overfilled a classic car of mine & blew a gasket (well, me AND the car LOL).

The most difficult car to change oil on was my SR20 powered 240sx. The oil filter had to be found by touch, as it was buried under a tangle of wires & hoses. Come to think of it, all the Nissan products I've owned have been difficult in this aspect... but it was never enough to make me mad or regret the car. You learn how to bend plastic splash guards back without removing all the bolts. As for oil spilling, I never had a car that didn't get messy when the filter came off, but nothing that couldn't be solved with a rag at the ready.

txstarla

· #5 · Aug 30, 2009

Went to the dealer today for my first oil change and check. All is well. I don't use Jiffy/spiffy whatever lube or do it myself, so I encounter none of those problems. It sounds like a lot of trouble to go through for a $30 oil change. And my dealer is great so I enjoy going there...

Nigal

· #6 · Aug 30, 2009

txstarla said:
Went to the dealer today for my first oil change and check. All is well. I don't use Jiffy/spiffy whatever lube or do it myself, so I encounter none of those problems. It sounds like a lot of trouble to go through for a $30 oil change. And my dealer is great so I enjoy going there...

Plus ya get that 20-30 minutes of walking around the GTR in the show room.

dink74

· #7 · Aug 30, 2009

FTW = http://www.turbowholesale.com/product.php?productid=7183

Or buy from a dealer who does 3 years free oil changes and tire rotation. 3 for free program I love it.

Dink

AGCube

· #8 · Aug 30, 2009

Hey Christine,

Like you, also I have a Titan ;D. While I don't have my Cube yet, still waiting. I know what you mean about locations for routine maintenance items such as the air filter, spark plugs and especially the oil filter.

My Titan has a thin metal plate, which must be removed to access the oil filter. Sounds like the Cube uses the similar small screws that hold it's plate on. If you are not unreasonably very careful they will strip. I'm only guessing the plate is there to keep areas clean and minimize air turbulence for better fuel mileage on the Cube. It sure does make you wonder what are the design engineers thinking when they come up with these locations :no:. I guess they are not changing these item themselves.

ChristineK

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 31, 2009

AGCube said:
Hey Christine,

Like you, also I have Titan ;D. I know what you mean about locations for routine maintenance items such as the air filter, spark plugs and especially the oil filter.

My Titan has a thin metal plate, which must be removed to access the oil filter. Sounds like the Cube uses the similar small screws that hole it's plate on. If you are not unreasonably very careful they will strip. I'm only guessing the plate is there to keep areas clean and minimize air turbulence for better fuel mileage on the Cube. It sure does make you wonder what are the design engineers thinking when they come up with these locations :no:. I guess they are not changing these item themselves.

I imagine the belly plate is a turbulence/drag reducer but what a drag to remove every 2 months. My S-10 has a basin and tube to claim the oil spillage from the filter and drains it right to the oil pan drain location, very thought out.

My Fit has the oil filter at an angle so no spillage.

Pejay66

· #10 · Aug 31, 2009

What a woman :yes:

Pejay66

coolguy

· #11 · Aug 31, 2009

thanks for the heads up, christine. we always do our own oil, too. at least almost any car will be easier than the corrado!

Rubiks

· #12 · Sep 1, 2009

Christine,
I had the same issues, I could not get the oil filter off, I had to drive a screwdriver through the filter to get enough torque to remove the filter, very frustrating, not what I wanted to do to my new vehicle.

txstarla

· #13 · Sep 1, 2009

Nigal said:
txstarla said:

Went to the dealer today for my first oil change and check. All is well. I don't use Jiffy/spiffy whatever lube or do it myself, so I encounter none of those problems. It sounds like a lot of trouble to go through for a $30 oil change. And my dealer is great so I enjoy going there...

Click to expand...

Plus ya get that 20-30 minutes of walking around the GTR in the show room.

Amen brother!

none

· #14 · Sep 1, 2009

My Nissan dealer doesn't have any cars in the showroom

Definitely no GTR anywhere on the lot

TBrack

· #15 · Sep 1, 2009

sounds like this car needs a filter relocation kit

I'll take a look at it when my change is due but it should be an easy install...

none

· #16 · Sep 1, 2009

Just slap a cooler on the front in true JDM style and route the filter in-line at the time

Boxcar

· #17 · Sep 1, 2009

Agreed a Cube oil change is no fun. I ended up using a flat head and a rubber mallet to break the original oil filter free. I'm not sure what it is with car manufactures (all I've encountered) and over tightening the first filter, but they all seem to do it.

Christine I'm not a fan of Fram filters. Have you ever considered the K&N HP-1008? They're cheap for the peace of mind they give me. Plus they have a nice wrench head on them for breaking them loose when you want it out. Just don't get crazy tightening it. I was always told to go hand tight.

BTW Mazda did the same thing on my RX-8 and RX-7. Except both filters where pretty much vertical, making it impossible to not drip oil when removed. None of them seem to use their brains on the routine maintenance part of it. Just wait until you have to change a belt on the Cube. That's a ton of fun too. :roll: The joys of fishing a belt while only being able to use one hand. The other is busy with the auto tensioner.

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none

· #18 · Sep 2, 2009

Boxcar said:
Just wait until you have to change a belt on the Cube. That's a ton of fun too. :roll: The joys of fishing a belt while only being able to use one hand. The other is busy with the auto tensioner.

That is any modern car, though. Serpentine belts & the associated tensioner are a blessing.

ewraven

· #19 · Sep 4, 2009

Boxcar said:
Christine I'm not a fan of Fram filters. Have you ever considered the K&N HP-1008? They're cheap for the peace of mind they give me. Plus they have a nice wrench head on them for breaking them loose when you want it out. Just don't get crazy tightening it. I was always told to go hand tight.

Agreed, Fram oil filters are the worst. I definately recommend against them. I've heard of a shockingly large number of them failing while in use and destroying engines.

I actually used Amsoil filters on my Dakota when I had it.

On every Nissan I have ever owned, I used genuine Nissan oil filters. They are supposed to be well put together.

NAPA Gold oil filters are very good ones too.

Check out http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

About getting at hard to get filters, I have a filter wrench that is a gripper thing. It is just a cup shaped piece of rubber that is like 1 millimeter thick that allows one to grip the filter with there hand. Just wipe the filter off first to remove any oil/grease and it works great at removing them.

I picked that gizmo up at Wal-Mart for like .99 cents around fifteen years ago and I have yet to see another one. In that fifteen years I've never had to use a wrench or anything other than my hand that that gizmo to remove an oil filter. I'm thinking that one could make something similar from an inner tube.

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none

· #20 · Sep 4, 2009

Fram filters are fine. I've used them on cars & trucks for years.

In fact, the factory Nissan filer looks like a Fram inside. Can't imagine Nissan slapping an inferior product on there...

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