Doing my first oil change

[airborne]

MAC AFRIC 8" (200 mm) Oil Filter Plier | Adendorff Machinery Mart

Fits up to 8" in diameter. Three-Position slip joint design to quickly adjust the size. Right-angle teeth grip while turning in either direction. Long Handles reach into tight spaces. Soft, comfortable grips offer nonslip control.

www.adendorff.co.za

this one

So before I buy the pump, I decided to measure the dipstick of the honda and the xtrail.

Xtrail:

View attachment 1221854


Honda:

View attachment 1221856

They are both wide but pretty thin, just about all dipsticks are like that so I don't see why it shouldn't work on either.

 

[Smugs]

You're doing it wrong

Safety glasses only comes the 2nd time, first time you have to learn the lesson of Buddha, life is suffering.

Engage safety squints...

 

[bwana]

Safety glasses only comes the 2nd time, first time you have to learn the lesson of Buddha, life is suffering.

Some are born with common sense, some not.

 

[airborne]

Some are born with common sense, some not.

Yeah good luck with trying to hammer a screwdriver through a filter in a confined space, well laid plans are often discarded in the heat of battle..

 

[bwana]

Yeah good luck with trying to hammer a screwdriver through a filter in a confined space, well laid plans are often discarded in the heat of battle..

It's not difficult. A flat head will pop right through it with a slap of the hand.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

5W30 is the factory spec that is selected as a median to be able to cover as wide a possible temperature range that will be found in all the markets a vehicle is sold into globally.

In Sa because we are in Africa and it gets flipping hot 5W40 is perfect to ensure the oil viscosity doesn't get too thin at operating temps.



Which Honda charges R1100 for an oil change, that's a good deal?!

Honda sells the oil filter for R115, it's used on just about all Honda vehicles apparently so I'm assuming that's why it's so cheap.

Honda Helderberg.

Honda always have a Christmas oil change special.

 

[airborne]

It's not difficult. A flat head will pop right through it with a slap of the hand.

You couldn't have worked on many different vehicles to make a broad generalisation like that.

And not all filters use the same thickness metal plate, some are possibly not far off coke tin thickness and you may be able to just casually "pop right through it with a slap of the hand", others are not far off car body plate and I've struggled to put a screwdriver through even with a hammer and bit of space.

But maybe you are a ninja and hammering things with your hands is normal...

 

[B-1]

Engage safety squints...

View attachment 1221868

I just close my good eye and then wonder why the other one is so much worse than the good one.

 

[bwana]

But maybe you are a ninja and hammering things with your hands is normal...

No, normally I use my hands and one of those rubber grippy things I keep to open jars and twist it off. Only sometime do I need to use a screwdriver or wrench or go all ninja on it.

 

[unobeat]

As a first timer doing DIY oil change, you will be fine and make sure you have the correct tool to open the sump plug bolt to drain oil. Take your time and not rush it.
I love my Shell oil and i used GUD filters and OEM oil filters for my cars with no issues to date.

 

[rh1]

Here is my 2c, bearing in mind I change my own oil every 10,000km on my Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

1. I am a fan of Motul and LiquiMoly (because they actually meet the specs required for my car). I see that there is no particular spec for the Nissan like there is for BMW, Alfa, Merc, etc. This is good news for you because you can shop around. I would personally recommend LiquiMoly TopTec 4100 5W40, or Motul X-Clean 5W40. Both are full synthetic oils.
2. Your car requires synthetic oil, so stick with it.
3. As others have pointed out, get a sumpie. I like to empty my old oil into an empty oil bottle and then clean out the sumpie with dishwashing liquid and water to keep it clean.
4. Oil filter - GUD Z350 (Midas will have it for you).

Now here is the pro-tip: DO NOT TOUCH THE SUMP PLUG!
The reason I suggest not touching the sump plug is because I recommend getting one of these: Oil Extractor Pump
Pull out the dip stick, push the pipe down the dip stick hole and turn it on. Gets out the same amount as you would if you pulled the sump plug, but it means you don't risk ****ing up the plug or the thread, and you don't need to replace the washer. Its worth the money and takes 2-3min to drain the oil.
I got myself that pump after I had limited movement after recovering from COVID. Even my mechanic has realised its a life saver.

Regarding dirty hands... get yourself a box of nitrile gloves
Idle car for 2-3min to get the oil just a little bit thinner and easier to extract (or drain).

The pump is working like a charm, noisy little thing. Busy pumping the oil. No spill as yet.

Bought the GUD Z350 as recommended and Shell HX8 full synthetic 5W40.

In January I could not get the oil. Manage to get now in February. Also bought the air filter at Nissan.

So all system go.

 

[killerbyte]

The pump is working like a charm, noisy little thing. Busy pumping the oil. No spill as yet.

Bought the GUD Z350 as recommended and Shell HX8 full synthetic 5W40.

In January I could not get the oil. Manage to get now in February. Also bought the air filter at Nissan.

So all system go.

Wipe up any oil that spills immediately to avoid it staining the floor.

If you miss a spot... some brake/parts cleaner will work to get it out. Followed by hot water, sunlight and a scrubbing brush.

 

[rh1]

Wipe up any oil that spills immediately to avoid it staining the floor.

If you miss a spot... some brake/parts cleaner will work to get it out. Followed by hot water, sunlight and a scrubbing brush.

So far so good. The old oil filter came loose easily. I did not need to use the oil wrench/strap. I managed to catch all the oil in a bakkie, no spill as yet. Hands are slightly dirty.

 

[rh1]

There was no need for the trolley jack and jack stands. I could slide under with my 102kg body easily enough.

 

[rh1]

Oh before I forget. My owners manual stated to warm the car up for 5 minutes and then let the car cool for 10 minutes before draining the oil.

 

[killerbyte]

So far so good. The old oil filter came loose easily. I did not need to use the oil wrench/strap. I managed to catch all the oil in a bakkie, no spill as yet. Hands are slightly dirty.

hope you hand tightened the filter.

 

[rh1]

hope you hand tightened the filter.

I did.

 

[Geoff.D]

Oh before I forget. My owners manual stated to warm the car up for 5 minutes and then let the car cool for 10 minutes before draining the oil.

The 5 minutes is to get the oil nice and hot. The 10 minutes is to prevent you from burning the H out of your fingers, hands and arms.

 

[SauRoNZA]

The 5 minutes is to get the oil nice and hot. The 10 minutes is to prevent you from burning the H out of your fingers, hands and arms.

And it’s warm to make it thinner and therefore let it drain better/faster.

 

[rh1]

The 5 minutes is to get the oil nice and hot. The 10 minutes is to prevent you from burning the H out of your fingers, hands and arms.

I figured as much. I posted it as there was a debate in the beginning of the thread about how long should the engine run, before draining the oil.