## ENGINE LUBRICATION

### Oil Pan

#### REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

##### 1.6L (GA16DE) Engine

Fig. 1:Oil pan torque sequence — 1.6L (GA16DE) engine

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
3. Remove the undercovers.
4. Remove the oil pan plug and drain the oil into a container.
5. Remove the front exhaust tube.
6. Remove center crossmember assembly.
7. Remove the support brackets from the sides of the oil pan.
8. Remove the oil pan mounting bolts. Using the oil pan seal cutter tool KV10111100 or equivalent, separate the oil pan from the engine.

   WARNING
   Do not drive the seal cutter into the oil pump or rear oil seal retainer portion, for the aluminum mating surfaces will be damaged. Do not use a prybar to remove the oil pan; the flange will be deformed.

9. Clean all the sealing surfaces.

   To install:

10. Apply sealant to the rear oil seal retainer.
11. Apply a 0.128–0.177 in. (3.5–4.5 mm) continuous bead of liquid gasket to the oil pan mating surface.
12. Install the oil pan and torque the oil pan mounting bolts/nuts in sequence to 56–73 inch lbs. (6.3–8.3 Nm).
13. Install the oil pan support brackets.
14. Install the center crossmember.
15. Install the front exhaust tube.
16. Install the undercovers.
17. Using a new gasket, install the oil pan plug and tighten the plug to 21–28 ft. lbs. (7–8 Nm).
18. After 30 minutes of gasket curing time, refill the oil pan with the specified quantity of clean oil. Operate the engine and check for leaks.
19. Connect the negative battery cable.

##### 2.0L (SR20DE) Engine

Fig. 2: Aluminum oil pan bolt torque sequence — 2.0L (SR20DE) engine

Fig. 3: Steel oil pan bolt torque sequence — 2.0L (SR20DE) engine

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Raise and support the vehicle safely.
3. Remove the engine undercover and drain the oil.
4. Remove the lower steel oil pan bolts in the reverse of installation sequence. Remove the steel oil pan. Insert tool KV10111100 or equivalent, between steel oil pan and aluminum oil pan. Tap the tool around the perimeter of the pan to cut the gasket material.
5. Remove the oil baffle bolts and oil baffle. Remove the front exhaust tube.
6. Set a suitable jack under the transaxle and raise the engine.
7. Remove the center crossmember from the vehicle.
8. If equipped with an automatic transaxle, remove the transaxle shift control cable.
9. Remove the compressor gussets and the rear cover plate.
10. Remove the aluminum oil pan bolts. Loosen aluminum oil pan bolts in reverse order of the tightening sequence.
11. Remove the two transaxle mounting bolts and refit the them into vacant holes at the bottom of the oil pan. Use tool KV10111100 or equivalent, to cut the gasket material.
12. Remove the two transaxle mounting bolts that were relocated and remove the pan from the vehicle.

    To install:

13. Clean the oil pan rail of all liquid gasket and apply a new bead of 5⁄32 inch (4.5 mm) thickness to the aluminum oil pan rail.
14. Install the aluminum oil pan and torque bolts No. 1–16 to 12–14 ft. lbs. (16–19 Nm) and bolts No. 17–18 to 5–6 ft. lbs. (6–8 Nm) in the opposite order of removal.
15. Install the two transaxle mounting bolts, rear cover plate, and the compressor gussets.
16. Install the automatic transmission shift control cable (if equipped).
17. Install the center crossmember member, front exhaust tube, and the baffle plate. Tighten the baffle plate mounting bolts to 56–66 inch lbs. (6.4–7.5 Nm).
18. Clean the steel oil pan rail of all liquid gasket and apply a new bead of 5⁄32 inch (4.5 mm) thickness to the steel oil pan rail.
19. Install the steel oil pan and install the bolts. Tighten the oil pan bolts in the proper sequence to 56–66 inch lbs. (6.4–7.5 Nm) and wait 30 minutes before refilling crankcase with oil.
20. After 30 minutes, refill the crankcase with oil and reconnect the negative battery cable.
21. Start the engine and check for leaks.

##### 2.4L (KA24DE) Engine

###### Altima

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Raise the front of the vehicle and support it safely.
3. Drain the oil from the oil pan.
4. Remove the engine undercover.
5. Remove the bolts securing the steel oil pan to the aluminum oil pan in reverse order of the tightening sequence.

   Fig. 4: Oil pan loosening and tightening sequence — 2.4L (KA24DE) engine

6. Install a seal cutter between the steel oil pan and the aluminum oil pan
7. Tapping the cutter with a hammer, slide it around the entire edge of the oil pan. Take care not to damage the aluminum oil pan.
8. Remove the steel oil pan.
9. Remove the baffle plate and oil strainer.
10. Remove the front suspension member.
11. Remove the A/C compressor gussets.
12. Remove the rear cover plate.
13. Remove the aluminum oil pan retaining bolts in reverse order of the tightening sequence.
14. Insert a seal cutter between the oil pan and the cylinder block.
15. Tapping the cutter with a hammer, slide it around the entire edge of the oil pan. Take care not to damage the aluminum oil pan.
16. Lower the oil pan from the cylinder block and remove it from the engine.

    To install:

17. Carefully scrape the old gasket material away from the pan and cylinder block mounting surfaces and then apply a continuous bead (3.5–4.5mm) of liquid gasket around the oil pan. Install the pan within five minutes or else this step will have to be repeated.
18. Install the aluminum oil pan and tighten the mounting bolts in sequence, to 13 ft. lbs. (17.5 Nm).
19. Install the baffle plate
20. Install the steel oil pan and torque in sequence to 61 inch lbs. (7 Nm).
21. Wait 30 minutes before refilling the crankcase to allow for the sealant to cure properly.
22. Install the rear cover plate.
23. Install the front suspension member.
24. Install the A/C compressor gussets.
25. Install the front suspension member.
26. Install the engine undercovers.
27. Lower the vehicle.
28. Fill the crankcase to the proper level.
29. Connect the negative battery cable. Start the engine and check for leaks.

###### 240SX

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Raise the front of the vehicle and support it safely.
3. Position a hoist on the engine and support the engine.
4. Drain the oil pan.
5. Disconnect the tension rod bolts at the transverse link.
6. Separate the front stabilizer bar from the side member.
7. Remove the left and right engine mounting bolts.
8. Disconnect the lower steering joint.
9. Disconnect the power steering tube bracket at the left tension rod.
10. Remove the bolts and lower the front suspension member while supporting it with a jack. It is only necessary to lower the suspension member 2.36 in. (60mm).
11. Remove the oil pan retaining bolts.
12. Insert a seal cutter between the oil pan and the cylinder block.
13. Tapping the cutter with a hammer, slide it around the entire edge of the oil pan. Do not drive the seal cutter into the oil pump or rear seal retainer portion or the aluminum mating surface will be deformed.
14. Lower the oil pan from the cylinder block and remove it from the front side of the engine.

    To install:

15. To install, carefully scrape the old gasket material away from the pan and cylinder block mounting surfaces and then apply a continuous bead 0.138–0.177 in. (3.5–4.5mm) of liquid gasket around the oil pan. Install the pan within 5 minutes or this step will have to be repeated.
16. Install the oil pan and tighten the mounting bolts. Start tightening the bolts from the center and work towards the ends.
17. Torque the oil pan bolts to 57–61 inch lbs. (6.4–7.5 Nm) for 1993–94 vehicles or 12–14 ft. lbs. (16–19 Nm) for 1995–96 vehicles. Wait 30 minutes before refilling the crankcase to allow for the sealant to cure properly.
18. The remaining components are installed in the reverse order from which they were removed.
19. Fill the crankcase to the proper level.
20. Connect the negative battery cable. Start the engine and check for leaks.
21. Recheck the oil level.

##### 3.0L (VE30DE and VG30E) Engines

Fig. 5: Oil pan bolt removal sequence — 3.0L (VE30DE and VG30E) engines

Fig. 6: Steel oil pan tightening sequence — 3.0L (VQ30DE) engines

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
3. Connect a lifting device to the engine and apply upward pressure to take the engine weight off the engine mounts.
4. Remove the oil pan plug and drain the oil into proper safety container.
5. Remove the undercovers from under the engine.
6. Remove the exhaust front pipe mounting nuts and bolts.
7. Lower the front exhaust pipe assembly.
8. Remove the engine mount insulator-to-crossmember nuts and bolts.
9. Remove the center crossmember-to-chassis bolts and the crossmember.
10. Remove the oil pan-to-engine bolts, in sequence. Using the oil pan removal tool KV10111100 or equivalent, separate the oil pan from the engine.

    WARNING
    Do not drive the seal cutter into the oil pump or rear oil seal retainer portion, for the aluminum mating surfaces will be damaged. Do not use a prybar, for the oil pan flange will be deformed.

    To install:

11. Clean all the sealing surfaces. Apply sealant to the ends of the front cover/oil pump gasket and to the ends of the rear oil seal retainer gasket.
12. Apply a continuous bead of liquid sealer to the mating surface of the oil pan.

    NOTE: Be sure the liquid sealer is 0.138–0.177 in. (3.5–4.5mm) wide.

13. Tighten the oil pan mounting bolts to 5.1–5.8 ft. lbs. (7–8 Nm) by reversing the removal sequence.
14. Install the exhaust pipe connection.
15. Install the center crossmember. Torque the center crossmember-to-chassis nuts/bolts and the engine mount bolts to 57–72 ft. lbs. (77–98 Nm).
16. Install the undercovers to the engine. After 30 minutes of gasket curing time, refill the oil pan with the specified quantity of clean oil. Operate the engine and check for leaks.

##### 3.0L (VQ30DE) Engine

Fig. 7: Aluminum oil pan torque sequence — 3.0L (VQ30DE) engines

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Drain the engine oil and remove the engine undercovers.
3. Remove the steel (lower) oil pan bolts in the reverse sequence of the torque sequence.
4. Insert a seal cutter between the steel and aluminum oil pan.
5. Tapping the cutter with a hammer, slide it around the entire edge of the oil pan. Be careful not to damage the aluminum mating surface of the upper oil pan.
6. Remove the steel oil pan and the oil strainer.
7. Remove the front exhaust pipe and its support.
8. Hang the engine at the right and left side engine slingers with a suitable hoist.
9. Position a suitable jack under the transaxle.
10. Remove the crankshaft position sensors (REFERENCE and POSITION) from the oil pan.
11. Remove the front and rear engine mounting nuts and bolts.
12. Remove the center crossmember assembly.
13. Remove the engine drive belts.
14. Remove the air conditioner compressor and the compressor mounting bracket.
15. Remove the rear cover plate and the lower transaxle bolts.
16. Remove the aluminum (upper) oil pan bolts in the reverse sequence of the torque sequence.
17. Insert a seal cutter between the aluminum oil pan and the engine block.
18. Tapping the cutter with a hammer, slide it around the entire edge of the oil pan. Be careful not to damage the mating surfaces of the oil pan or engine block.
19. Remove the oil pan assembly.
20. Remove the bolts that secure the baffle plate and remove the baffle plate.
21. Remove the O-rings from the cylinder block and oil pump body.

    To install:

22. Install the baffle plate to the oil pan and tighten the mounting bolts to 22–27 inch lbs. (2.5–3.1 Nm).
23. Apply sealant to the front and rear seal of the oil pan.
24. Install new O-rings to the cylinder block and the oil pump body.
25. Apply a 0.177–0.217 inch (4.5–5.5mm) continuous bead of liquid gasket to the upper oil pan mating surface and install the oil pan. Tighten the mounting bolts in sequence to 12–14 ft. lbs. (16–19 Nm).
26. Install the oil pan strainer and tighten the mounting bolts to 12–14 ft. lbs. (16–19 Nm).
27. The balance of installation is the reverse of the removal procedure.
28. Apply a 0.177–0.217 inch (4.5–5.5mm) continuous bead of liquid gasket to the lower oil pan mating surface and install the oil pan. Tighten the mounting bolts in sequence to 57–66 inch lbs. (6.4–7.5 Nm).

    NOTE: Wait at least 30 minutes before refilling the engine oil.

29. Tighten the oil pan drain plug to 22–29 ft. lbs. (29–39 Nm).
30. Install the engine undercovers.
31. Refill the engine oil with the proper type and amount of fluid.
32. Start the engine and check for leaks.

##### 3.0L (VG30DE and VG30DETT) Engine

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Remove the oil pan plug and drain the oil into a container.
3. Remove the engine undercover.
4. Remove the engine oil filter and oil filter housing assembly.
5. Disconnect the A/C tube clamps.
6. Remove the tension rod securing bolts on both sides and loosen the traverse link bolts on both sides.
7. Disconnect the steering column lower joint.
8. Disconnect the engine mounts and raise engine using a suitable lifting device.
9. Remove the power steering gear bracket from the suspension crossmember.
10. Support the crossmember and remove the crossmember fixing bolts.
11. Remove the power steering tubes from crossmember.
12. Lower the crossmember.
13. Remove the oil pan bolts, in sequence.
14. Using the oil pan removal tool KV10111100 or equivalent, separate the oil pan from the engine.

    WARNING
    Do not drive the seal cutter into the oil pump or rear oil seal retainer portion, for the aluminum mating surfaces will be damaged. Do not use a prybar or screwdriver, for the oil pan flange will be deformed.

15. Remove the oil pan.
16. Clean all the sealing surfaces.

    To install:

17. Apply sealant to the oil pump gasket and the rear oil seal retainer.
18. Install new oil pan gasket. The use a continuous 0.138–0.177 inch (3.5–4.5mm) bead of liquid gasket. If using a liquid gasket, allow the gasket to cure for five minutes before assembly.
19. Install the oil pan and torque the bolts in sequence as follows:
    1. Tighten the M6 bolts to 55–73 inch lbs. (6.3–8.3 Nm).
    2. Tighten the M8 bolts to 12–15 ft. lbs. (16–21 Nm).
20. Raise the center crossmember. Torque the center crossmember fixing nuts/bolts to 29–36 ft. lbs. (39–49 Nm).
21. Reconnect the A/C lines and the power steering tubes to the crossmember.
22. Reconnect the power steering bracket to the suspension crossmember.
23. Lower the engine and connect the motor mounts.
24. Using a new washer, install the oil pan drain plug and tighten the plug to 22–29 ft. lbs. (29–39 Nm).
25. Install the tension rod bolts on both sides and tighten the mounting through bolt to 80–100 ft. lbs. (108–135 Nm).
26. Connect the tension rod to the lower control arm and tighten mounting nuts as follows:
    1. Convertible models torque to 69–83 ft. lbs. (93–113 Nm).
    2. Non-convertible models torque to 80–94 ft. lbs. (108–127 Nm).
27. Connect the stabilizer links and tighten the mounting nuts to 41–47 ft. lbs. (56–64 Nm).
28. Reconnect the steering column lower joint and tighten the lower pinch bolt to 17–22 ft. lbs. (24–29 Nm).
29. Using a new gasket, install the oil filter and oil filter housing assembly. Tighten the oil filter housing bolts to 12–15 ft. lbs. (16–21 Nm).
30. Install the engine undercover.
31. Lower the vehicle.
32. Refill the oil pan with the specified quantity of clean oil.

    NOTE: If a liquid gasket was used, wait at least 30 minutes for material to cure before refilling engine with oil.

33. Start the engine and check for leaks.