Nissan Murano
Engine Oil Change Guide
How to change the motor oil and filter in
a 3rd generation 2015 to 2018 Nissan Murano with the VQ35DE 3.5L V6 engine.
2017 Murano 3.5L V6 |
Oil Filler Cap |
Twist Off Counterclockwise |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the third generation (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and perhaps
also the revised 2019 & 2020 model years) Nissan Murano SUV in
changing the motor oil and replacing the oil filter on the VQ35DE
3.5 liter V6 engine. Owners of other Nissan and Infiniti vehicles such as the Rogue, Pathfinder, Armada, Versa, Sentra, Altima, Maxima, Leaf, 370Z, GT-R, Frontier, Titan, NV200, Q50, Q70, Q60, QX30, QX50, QX60, QX70 and QX80 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. A few compatible replacement oil filters with their part numbers are as follows: Mobil 1 M1-108, Fram XG6607, Bosch 3300, Purolator PL14612, Wix 51358, Royal Purple 356753, Pennzoil HPZ-37 and ACDelco PF1237. The tools needed to complete this procedure include a floor jack, two jack stands, a plastic pry bar tool or a flathead screwdriver, a 14mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet, an automotive funnel, a Lisle 63600 oil filter wrench with an extension bar and six U.S. quarts of new SAE 0W-20 oil. |
||
|
||
Partially Remove Dipstick |
Turn Front Wheels |
Raise Front of SUV |
The
first three steps are to warm up the engine for a few minutes, park on a
level surface and turn off the ignition. Warming up the engine will help suspend the contaminants within the old oil and also allow it to drain out more quickly. Then engage the emergency / parking brake and place wheel chocks on both sides of the rear wheels to prevent the SUV from moving. Open the hood, twist off the oil filler cap in the counterclockwise direction and partially remove the yellow plastic handled dipstick. Removing the oil filler cap and lifting up the oil dipstick handle an inch or two will help prevent a vacuum from forming and also allow the old oil to drain out more quickly. Turn the steering wheel all the way to the right (passenger side) in order to give yourself better access to the front right wheel well where the oil filter is located. Carefully raise the front of the SUV with the floor jack and two jack stands. |
||
Plastic Under Engine Cover |
"Skid Plate" |
Pry Out Center of Fastener |
Slide
under the front passenger side of the engine bay with a flathead
screwdriver, the 14mm socket, a 3/8" drive ratchet and the used oil catch
basin. Locate the black plastic service access cover on the under engine cover or "skid plate". Pry out the center of each pop rivet fastener before pulling out the base of the fastener. |
||
Pop Rivet Removed |
Service Access Cover |
|
Continue removing the other pop rivets on the service access panel. | ||
Four Pop Rivets Removed |
Open Service Cover |
|
Lower the service access cover. | ||
Black Metal Oil Pan |
Oil Drain Bolt |
Used Oil Catch Container |
Locate
the black metal oil pan. The black metal oil drain bolt or "plug" is situated on the rear edge of the oil pan. Slide the used oil catch basin to just below the oil drain bolt. |
||
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Drain Out Old Oil |
Replace Oil Drain Bolt |
Loosen
the oil drain bolt by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with the
14mm socket and a 3/8" drive ratchet. 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. Allow the old oil to drain out for at least a few minutes or until the flow slows down to just an occasional drip. Inspect the oil drain plug and the crush washer. If necessary, replace the crush washer. The washer or "gasket" for the oil drain plug is Nissan part number 11026-01M02. Spin in the oil drain plug a few turns in the clockwise direction by hand to prevent it from becoming cross threaded. Tighten the oil drain bolt in the clockwise direction with the 14mm socket and the 3/8" drive ratchet to just past hand tight or about 25 lb-ft of torque. If you have a torque wrench, the service manual specification for the oil drain plug is 22 to 29 lb-ft of torque. Double check that the oil drain bolt is tight before moving on to the next steps. |
||
Replace Service Cover |
Replace Pop Rivets |
|
Raise
the service access cover back into place. Re-insert the pop rivets and then push in the center pieces to lock them into place. |
||
Service Panel Secured |
Front Passenger Wheel Well |
Pry Out Center of Fastener |
Move to
the wheel well by the front passenger side tire. The oil filter is located behind the black plastic wheel well liner. |
||
Pop Rivet Removed |
Pull Out Pop Rivets |
|
Pry out
the center of each pop rivet to unlock the fasteners. Then pry out the base of each fastener. |
||
Top Fasteners - Optional |
Lift Up Splash Guard |
Access Old Oil Filter |
I chose
to leave the top two pop rivets in place and just lift up the splash shield
to access the old oil filter. Set the pop rivets aside in a safe place. |
||
Move Oil Catch Basin |
Lisle Oil Filter Wrench |
Spin Off Old Oil Filter |
Slide
the used oil catch container to just below the old oil filter. I highly recommend using a Lisle 63600 oil filter wrench. It makes removing stubborn over tightened oil filters much easier. Spin off the old oil filter in the counterclockwise direction. |
||
Dip Finger Into New Oil |
Lubricate O-Ring Gasket |
Twist On New Oil Filter |
Allow
the old oil filter to drain out from the oil filter receptacle for at least
a few minutes. I recommend buying the Mobil 1 M1-108 oil filter since it has excellent reviews on Amazon from other Nissan owners. Dip your pinky finger into some new oil and lubricate the rubber o-ring gasket on the new oil filter. Lubricating the rubber o-ring on the new oil filter will help it form a better seal, prevent oil leaks and also make it easier to remove the oil filter during the next oil change. Make sure that the old 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 1/4 to 1/2 turn past hand tight. |
||
Replace Wheel Well Liner |
Push In Pop Rivets |
|
Replace the wheel well liner and re-insert the pop rivets. | ||
Splash Guard Secured |
Oil Level Gauge Warning |
|
Push in
the center parts of each pop rivet to lock the fasteners in place. There is a warning sticker on the front of the engine cover near the oil filler cap that reads "Never Pull Out Oil Level Gauge While Filling Engine Oil". |
||
Push In Oil Dipstick |
Insert Automotive Funnel |
Pour In New Oil |
Be sure to push the
oil dipstick all the way back into the engine before pouring in the new oil. Lower the automotive funnel into the oil filler hole. The VQ35DE 3.5L V6 engine's total oil capacity specification for an oil change with an oil filter replacement is 5 1/8 U.S. quarts (4.8 liters or 4 1/4 imperial quarts). To avoid over filling the engine with oil, I recommend only pouring in about 4.5 to 4.75 U.S. quarts of new SAE 0W-20 oil at first. Running an engine that has been over filled with oil may lead to sluggish performance or cause damage to gaskets and seals which could result in an oil leak. |
||
Replace Oil Filler Cap |
Check Dipstick Oil Level |
Oil Change Complete |
Replace
the oil filler cap by twisting it on in the clockwise direction. Start the engine and allow it to warm up for a few minutes. Then turn off the ignition and 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 then pull it out again to check the oil level. If necessary, slowly pour in more oil and repeatedly check the level on the dipstick until it reaches the top of the cross hatched area of the dipstick near the "F" that indicates the "Full" or "Maximum" level. You may not need to pour in the entire 5 1/8 U.S. quarts of new oil in order for the level on the dipstick to reach the full line. Once the oil level is correct, replace the dipstick and make sure the oil filler cap is tight. Be sure to record the oil change in your SUV's service records. To reset the oil life meter, follow these
steps: For more,
please check out all of my
2015-2018 Nissan Murano DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
If you found this guide to be helpful,
please consider making a small donation by clicking on the PayPal.com
"Donate" button located to the right of this paragraph. Thank you!
(Note: I am not a registered charity. Donations are not tax deductible.) |
Copyright 2024 © PaulsTravelPictures.com
All Rights Reserved ®
Paul's Travel Pictures is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. |
Privacy Policy About Paul & Author Contact Info