Jiffy Lube put in wrong oil filter. Is that ok?

svneo · Aug 17th, 2003, 05:19 PM

I took my 2003 Xterra on a cross-country trip this summer and got my oil changed at Jiffy Lube in Massachusetts. I just changed it myself since then and noticed that they had put on the wrong oil filter. It is about twice the size of the recommended one, is there anything harmful about having the wrong filter? there must obviously be a reason why they have different sized filters.

Thanks

jadcock · Aug 17th, 2003, 06:31 PM

Check out my post in the thread about a Pathfinder having oil pressure problems from a few weeks ago. Basically, they stock filters that will fit a wide variety of applications, regardless of the "correct" part number. The thread size and gasket diameter on your Xterra might be the same as, say, a Ford F-150 (for example). The "correct" filter for your X is probably vastly different from the "correct" filter for an F-150, but since the same filter can fit both vehicles, they try to strike a balance between the two designs. And that's just an example -- the filter they put on your truck might really fit 10 different vehicles, who knows.

This is another reason why maintenance should be done, if not at home, by a Nissan dealership, who will at least stock the correct part numbers for the vehicle. In the end, it probably made no difference that the part from Jiffy Lube was either a generic part made to fit many vehicles, or maybe it was a genuine mistake -- and they installed the wrong one. Or maybe they were out of the correct one and went and found one that worked. Apparently it didn't do any engine damage because you got home okay. I'd just take it as a lesson learned.

Hotshotnissan · Aug 17th, 2003, 07:14 PM

hahaha my friend took his car there to and they put the wrong oil aint that shit lolololololol that has to suck..

svneo · Aug 17th, 2003, 08:52 PM

They also put the wrong weight oil in when I was there. They wrote the correct oil filter on my ticket, but they put in the one that goes on the 4-cyl xterra instead. Whether it was an accident or just that they didn't have the right one, I don't know. I'll never go back to Jiffy lube again.

Hotshotnissan · Aug 18th, 2003, 09:45 PM

hell no i wouldn't

lewisnc100 · Aug 19th, 2003, 01:58 PM

Actually you're lucky if they're smart enough to get the skid plate back on. I went to them too long, and the idiot manager came up to me one time to let me know that my skid plate was only being held on by 3 bolts out of somethine like 10, he didn't realize that it was because the morons there are too lazy to tighten the bolts and in many cases don't even put them all back in.

I never went back but unfortunately my wife did and her VW skid plate came off at 80mph on the highway, Jiffy Lube had to buy a new one.

If you go to any of these oil change places do yourself a favor and check the skid plate bolts after you leave, most likely you'll find some loose, missing, or head missing. I really can't imagine not doing it myself anymore after watching these idiots.

svneo · Aug 19th, 2003, 03:02 PM

That happened to me with my pathfinder. I was down to 3/10. I don't know if those skid plates do much anyway. Atleast the one on the xterra is metal.

jadcock · Aug 19th, 2003, 08:09 PM

I took my skidplate off for the time being. While getting my brother-in-law's 200SX repaired at a local dealership, I slipped under the X they had on the showroom floor and I think the skid plate is the exact same part that came on the Hardbodies!

From what I can see, it mostly protects the front steering linkage and possibly the front crank area, but I think you'd have to be doing some pretty hardcore rock crawling to need the services of that front plate. It's a pretty heavy piece, and I think it's beneficial in the right circumstances, but especially if you don't do any hardcore stuff in rock fields, I personally think it's just extra weight.

dadster · Aug 20th, 2003, 04:14 PM

I'll have to respectfully disagree about the oil filter. The two Nissan currently uses are both small, but do the job. The Mobil 1 filters are M1-110 for the 4 cyl. and M1-108 for the V6.

I use the larger filter for the 4 cyl. on my V6 Altima. First changed over at 7500 miles when I switched to Mobil 1. No problems at all.

In fact I'm considering going to an even larger filter, M1-105.

The larger filter has several advantages:
-more oil capacity
-larger filtering area
-more surface area for heat dissipation

My '87 Nissan Van came with a dinky little filter as well. I matched up a considerably larger filter and used them for 140K miles.

Don't worry about the filter size, just make sure they put one on and put oil in as well!

Fred

BTW: I browse this forum for my son's '97 Hardbody. Good stuff!

jadcock · Aug 20th, 2003, 06:32 PM

Dadster, I'm not sure I follow your post. On the one hand, you advise to not worry about the filter size; the stock filters do the job. On the other, you're considering different filter sizes. Why do you consider going to different sizes, given that the stock filters have plenty of capacity for a stock engine?

In some cases, certain afterkmarket filters have "more filtering capacity" but simply stuff more pleats into the same space, thereby reducing flow. What's more important, capacity or flow? I don't know; I tend to leave that up to the oil system engineers, who designed the system with the factory-sized filter in mind. You can never go wrong putting the factory stuff on.

That's not saying you can't necessarily improve something the factory did, but when you put on something non-stock, you never know if it's really gonna be "better" or not. Better on one spec (capacity for instance) sometimes means a compromise on another (flow for instance). I'm sure anything Mobil 1 makes will be of a good quality, but you're never really sure with the aftermarket.

How many miles does your son's Hardbody have? These are great, bullet-proof trucks!

dadster · Aug 21st, 2003, 11:47 AM

jadcock:

So as to not hijack the thread, either of the filters for the Xterra will fit and filter well.

I like to use the largest filter which will fit primarily for additional oil capacity and more filter material. Modern engine oil systems have more than enough pressure to sustain adequate flow.

My son has 110K on the Hardbody with only an alternator replacement as a major service item. My experience with Nissan's has been fantastic!

Fred

jadcock · Aug 21st, 2003, 04:30 PM

Fred,

This is my first Nissan...never really considered the brand before, but got the truck cheap because of the miles (approaching 177k) and I've loved having it as part of the family! I bought it last November and haven't done a thing to it (well, except for the IAT sensor and oil changes) in the 6,000 miles I've had it. So far, so good!

qx4'n · Aug 23rd, 2003, 02:00 PM

My local Nissan dealer charges $26 for an oil change. I'll be going there next time. I went to one place that charged me $10 just to remove my skid plate. They use good oil but I won't be going back.

jadcock · Aug 23rd, 2003, 03:12 PM

Do the V-6 engines require you to remove the skid plate? I can get to my oil filter through the right front wheel well pretty easily...don't even have to remove the wheel...but then again, I have the I-4 engine. The only thing I've had to remove the skid plate for is to get to the radiator drain (and I took the stabilizar bar off while I was under there...).

Aug 23rd, 2003, 04:41 PM

the reason the skid plates only have a few bolts holding them on is either someone didnt tighten them OR they used an impact gun and broke a few. which does happen quite a bit.