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Nissan Frontier 4.0L V6 Engine Oil Change Guide
How to change the motor oil and filter on a 2nd generation 2005-2016 Nissan Frontier with the VQ40DE 4.0L V6 engine.

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2016 Frontier 4.0L V6
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Oil Filler Cap & Dipstick
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Twist Off Oil Filler Cap
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the second generation "D40 Series" (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016) Nissan Frontier pickup truck in changing the motor oil and replacing the oil filter on the VQ40DE 4.0 liter V6 engine.

Owners of other Nissan or Infiniti vehicles such as the Navara, Versa, Maxima, Juke, Rogue, Altima, Xterra, Pathfinder, Murano, Cube, Armada, Leaf, Quest, Sentra, Teana, 370Z, GT-R, Titan, G25, G37, M35, QX56, QX60 and M37 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

A few compatible replacement oil filters with their part numbers are as follows: Mobil 1 M1-110, Fram PH7317, Bosch 3323, Purolator PL14610, Pennzoil HPZ-37, Wix 57356XP, ACDelco PF2057, Mann-Filter ML 1008 and Royal Purple 10-2867.

The tools needed to complete this procedure include a 14mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet, an 8mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet, a used oil catch container, a Lisle 63600 oil filter wrench, an automotive funnel and 6 U.S. quarts of new SAE 5W-30 oil.



 
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Lift Up Oil Dipstick
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Black Metal Oil Pan
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Oil Drain Bolt
The first steps are to warm up the engine for a few minutes, park the truck 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 chock both sides of the rear wheels to prevent the truck from moving.

Open the hood, twist off the oil filler cap in the counterclockwise direction and pull up the yellow handled dipstick an inch or two.

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

Slide under the front passenger side of the engine bay with the 14mm socket, a 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench and the used oil catch container.

The oil drain bolt is located on the left (passenger) side of the black metal oil pan.

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Used Oil Catch Basin
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Loosen Counterclockwise
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Drain Out Old Oil
Slide the used oil catch basin to just below the oil drain bolt.

Loosen the oil drain bolt by turning it counterclockwise with the 14mm socket and 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench.

Be careful when you remove the oil drain bolt. The old oil might still be hot enough to burn your fingers depending on how long you warmed up the engine during the first step.

Allow the old oil to drain out for at least a few minutes or until the flow slows down to an occasional drip.

If the oil drain bolt is equipped with a washer, inspect it and replace it if necessary. Here is a ten pack of compatible oil drain plug washers with their part number: Dorman 097-134.

Clean the area around the oil drain hole with a rag.

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Replace Oil Drain Bolt
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Oil Filter Access Cover
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Loosen Counterclockwise
Spin in the oil drain bolt by hand a few turns in the clockwise direction to prevent it from becoming cross threaded.

Tighten the oil drain bolt in the clockwise direction to just past hand tight or about 22 to 29 ft-lbs of torque.

Double check that the oil drain bolt is tight before moving on to the next steps.

To replace the old oil filter, you will need to remove the two bolts that secure the rectangular shaped access panel in place to the under engine cover or "skid plate".

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Two 8mm Screws
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Spin Out 2 Bolts
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8mm Bolts Removed
Remove the two bolts by turning them counterclockwise with the 8mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratcheting wrench.

Set the two 8mm bolts aside in a safe place.

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Pull Off Filter Access Panel
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Oil Filter Location
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Oil Filter Wrench
Remove the oil filter access cover and set it aside in a safe place.

You may be able to remove the old oil filter by hand, but it is far easier to use an oil filter wrench such as the Lisle 63600 attached to a 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench.

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Slide Basin Forward
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Loosen Old Oil Filter
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Spin Off Counterclockwise
Slide the used oil catch basin forward to just below the old oil filter.

Attach the oil filter wrench to the old oil filter and twist it off in the counterclockwise direction.

Allow the old oil to drain out from the filter receptacle for at least a few minutes.

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



 

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Dip Finger In New Oil
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Lubricate Rubber O-Ring
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Spin On New Oil Filter
Dip your pinky finger in to some new SAE 5W-30 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 it easier to remove during the next oil change.

Make sure that 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 hand tight.

Try to avoid over tightening the new oil filter to prevent from damaging the rubber o-ring gasket which may lead to an oil leak.

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Line Up Access Cover
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Push Cover Back In Place
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Tighten 8mm Bolts
Line up the filter access panel and push it back in to place.

Spin in the two 8mm bolts a few turns by hand to prevent them from becoming cross threaded.

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Tighten Clockwise
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Filter Cover Replaced
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Insert Automotive Funnel
Make sure that the two filter access cover bolts are secure before moving on to the next steps.

Insert the automotive funnel in to the oil filler hole.

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Pour In New Oil
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Replace Oil Filler Cap
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Push In Oil Dipstick
The VQ40DE engine's total capacity for an oil change with filter replacement is 5 3/8 U.S. quarts (5.1L).

It is far better to have slightly less oil than necessary in the engine than to over fill it.

Running an engine that has been over filled with oil may cause damage to gaskets, seals or other components.

Slowly pour in about 4.5 to 5 U.S. quarts of the new SAE 5W-30 oil.

Temporarily replace the oil filler cap by twisting it on in the clockwise direction.

Push down the oil dipstick.

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Check Oil Level
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Replace Dipstick
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Oil Change Complete
Start the engine, allow it to warm up for a few minutes and then turn off the ignition.

Allow the new oil to drain back down to the oil pan for at least 5 to 10 minutes.

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

If necessary, slowly pour in more oil and repeatedly check the dipstick until the level reaches just at or below the upper hole at the end of the dipstick which indicates the "Full" or "Maximum" line.

You may not need to pour in the entire 5 3/8 U.S. quarts (5.1 liters) of new oil to reach the "Full" line depending on how long you allowed the old oil to drain out.

Once the oil is at the correct level, replace the dipstick and make sure that the oil filler cap is tight.

Be sure to record the oil change in your truck's service records.

It is also a good idea to check your parking spot, driveway or garage for drops of fresh oil during the next few days which might indicate a loose oil drain bolt or a loose oil filter.

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

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