I did this mod first on my '08 LE and just cut my new '11 Platinum tonight. It was time for the first oil change and I hate, HATE, pulling that cover off. Pulling that cover adds at least 15-20 minutes to the job and I get debris in my eyes every time. So then I thought of this:

After the cut I use a Dremmel to clean up the edge and then put a strip of black self-adhesive door edge trim around the hole to keep from cutting myself on the sharp edge. It looks clean and sure makes oil changes (the filter anyway) much faster. It is a little messier but I can still catch all of the oil in a regular drip pan.

Nissan, as you can see in the pics, placed a cross hair right under the filter. That is where I make the cut.

The hole saw and bit are on the pricey side (about 40 or 50$ at Home Depot) but I have now used mine twice. Wear earplugs, gloves and safety glasses if you give this a shot.

For that money you could have bought a 4X4 cover which has an access door for the filter.

For that money you could have bought a 4X4 cover which has an access door for the filter.

Link to part and number?

Subscribed....I'd like to know where to get this 4x4 cover too.

Or you can use a mityvac that you stick a tube down the dipstick tube to suck the oil out.

Or you can use a mityvac that you stick a tube down the dipstick tube to suck the oil out.

I wouldn't even consider that an oil change-- let alone that it doesn't help get to the filter. I even go so far as to flush oil through the motor and pan while the drain plug is out-- usually about 1/2 quart. I want ALL of that old oil out of there.

For that money you could have bought a 4X4 cover which has an access door for the filter.

Mine is a 4X4, you talking about a Titan?

Don't forget to get an Fumota oil drain valve to really clean up he process..

I cut out a larger opening on mine and added an aluminum hinge piece of aluminum deck plate with a single thumb latch to secure it. Works great and got all the pieces from scraps, except the $5 latch.

John,
Do you feel like doing another one?

Two maybe?? :schla24:


Rob

scr38 - Can you please post the link for the 4x4 cover you were talking about?

I'd like to see this 4x4 cover too. I hate pulling that plate to get to the filter. Bad design on Nissan's part.

I'd like to see this 4x4 cover too. I hate pulling that plate to get to the filter. Bad design on Nissan's part.

Nissan's have been that way for a long time. My 82 Datsun 720 PU 4X4 had a similar plate under the engine you had to pull when doing an oil change. It was steel and alot heavier, almost 30 years later and not much has changed. Oh, wait! It's plastic now :D!

Check this Mod, it may be just the thing you are looking for! My Oil Filter Access Mod.

http://www.titantalk.com/forums/1101660-post8.html

Check this Mod, it may be just the thing you are looking for! My Oil Filter Access Mod.

http://www.titantalk.com/forums/1101660-post8.html

That is very cool! Exactly what I would want. If I only had the time and the means to do that...

Niiiiice TitanBlue!

The offroad skidplates are $$$$... I looked into getting one then called around the salvage yards... Going through salvage was tough because of being specific, they didn't know the difference, si I gave up... The other catch about the Offroad plate is that you have to get the brackets too. I've contemplated doing this same mod but I kinda like having cover down there.