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Nissan Armada 5.6L V8 Engine Oil Change Guide
How to change the motor oil and replace the filter in a 2004-2015 Nissan Armada with the VK56DE 5.6L V8 engine.

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2012 Armada 5.6L V8
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Twist Off Oil Filler Cap
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Pull Up Oil Level Dipstick
This automotive "how-to" guide was specifically written to assist owners of the first generation (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015) Nissan Armada equipped with the VK56DE 5.6 liter V8 engine in changing the motor oil and replacing the oil filter.

Owners of other Nissan or Infiniti vehicles with the VK56DE 5.6L V8 engine such as the Titan, QX56, Patrol, Pathfinder, NV2500, NV3500, and NV Passenger may also find these DIY oil change instructions to be helpful.

The items needed to complete this procedure include a 10mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet, a 14mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet, a used oil catch container, an automotive funnel, 7 quarts of new SAE 5W-30 oil, and a new oil filter.

A few compatible new canister style oil filters with their part numbers are as follows: Purolator PL14610, Bosch 3323, Mobil 1 M1-110, Royal Purple 10-2867, K&N HP-1010, Fram PH7317, Wix 51358, Mann ML 1008 and Pennzoil HPZ-37.



 
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Oil Pan & Drain Bolt
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Oil Filter Above Skid Plate
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Engine Metal Skid Plate
The first two steps are to warm up the engine for a few minutes and then park the vehicle on a level surface.

Warming up the engine will help suspend any contaminants within the old oil and allow it to drain out more quickly.

Then pop open the hood, twist off the oil filler cap in the counter clockwise direction and pull up the yellow handled oil level dipstick a few inches.

Removing the oil filler cap and pulling up the dipstick will help prevent a vacuum from forming and allow the old oil to drain out more quickly.

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Remove 10mm Bolts
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Two Bolts At Rear Edge
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2 Screws On Metal Arms
Slide underneath the engine and locate the black metal oil drain bolt at the bottom of the black metal oil pan.

To access the old oil filter, you'll need to remove the black metal under engine skid plate.

The skid plate is held in place by six 10mm bolts.

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Remove 10mm Screw
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Two Screws On Front Edge
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10mm Socket & Extension
There are two 10mm bolts on the rear edge of the skid plate, two bolts above the metal arms near the front of the plate, and the final two bolts are recessed at the front edge of the plate.
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10mm Bolt Removed
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2nd Front 10mm Bolt
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Removed Recessed Bolt
To remove the two recessed bolts on the front edge of the skid plate, you will need either a deep well 10mm socket or an extension bar.
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6th & Last Bolt Removed
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Front Skid Plate Removed
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6 10mm Bolts Removed
Pull the skid plate off from the bottom of the vehicle and set it aside in a safe place along with the six 10mm bolts.
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Old Canister Oil Filter
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Position Used Oil Basin
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Remove 14mm Drain Bolt



 

Move the used oil catch container to just below the drain bolt.

Remove the drain bolt by turning it counter clockwise with the 14mm socket and ratcheting wrench.

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Drain Out Old Oil
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Tighten Oil Drain Bolt
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Slide Basin Forward
Allow the old oil to drain out for at least a few minutes or until the flow slows to an occasional drip.

Re-insert the oil drain bolt by hand to prevent if from becoming cross threaded and tighten it to just past hand tight or about 25 ft lbs of torque.

Carefully slide the used oil catch basin forward to just below the old oil filter.

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Spin Off Old Oil Filter
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Dip Pinky Finger In Oil
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Lubricate Oil Filter O-Ring
Twist off the old oil filter in the counter clockwise direction and allow the oil to drain out for a few minutes.

If you have trouble turning the old oil filter, you may need to use an oil filter wrench.

I recommend buying the Mobil 1 M1-110 oil filter since it has excellent reviews on Amazon.

Dip your pinky finger in some new SAE 5W-30 oil and lubricate the rubber o-ring on the new oil filter.

Lubricating the rubber o-ring will help the filter form a better seal and make it easier to remove during the next oil change.

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Spin On New Oil Filter
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Line Up Metal Skid Plate
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Insert 10mm Bolts
Spin on the new oil filter in the clockwise direction and tighten it to about 1/4 to 1/3 turn past hand tight.

Do not over tighten the new oil filter or use the oil filter wrench to tighten it. Over tightening the oil filter may damage the rubber o-ring and lead to an oil leak.

Double check that the oil drain bolt and new oil filter are tight before moving on to the next steps.

Line up the metal skid plate over the bottom of the engine and thread in the 10mm bolts by hand.

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Tighten 2 Bolts At Rear
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Tighten 2 Front Recessed Bolts
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Tighten the six skid plate bolts until they are snug with the 10mm socket and ratcheting wrench by turning them clockwise.

Double check that the skid plate bolts are tight before moving on to the next steps.

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Tighten All 6 Bolts
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Insert Automotive Funnel
Insert the automotive funnel in to the oil filler hole and pour in about 6 quarts of the engine's 6 7/8 quarts total capacity for an oil change with filter replacement.

(The engine's oil capacity for an oil change with filter replacement is 5 3/4 imperial quarts or 6.5 liters.)

It is far better to have slightly less oil than necessary in an engine than too much.

You may not need to use the entire 6 and 7/8 quarts of new SAE 5W-30 oil depending on how long you allowed the old oil to drain out.

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Pour In New 5W-30 Oil
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Replace Oil Filler Cap
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Check Dipstick Oil Level
Temporarily replace the oil filler cap by twisting it on clockwise and push down the oil dipstick handle.

Run the engine for a few minutes, turn it off, and allow it to rest for 5 to 10 minutes so that the oil will drain back down to the oil pan.

Pull out the engine oil level dipstick, wipe it clean, re-insert it and pull it out again to check the oil level.

Slowly add in more oil and repeatedly check the level on the dipstick until it reaches just at or below the upper hole at the tip of the dipstick.

Once the oil level is correct, twist on the oil filler cap and replace the dipstick.

To reset the oil service indicator, press the Trip button to choose the oil service menu item, move the joystick to choose the "Reset" button and press "Enter". The oil service indicator should reset.

Be sure to record the oil change in your Armada's service records. It's also a good idea to watch your driveway or parking spot for drops of oil and check the oil level on the dipstick several times during the next few days.

For more, check out my other Nissan Armada Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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