Hey i just bought a Datsun Stanza and i want to give it a service before i drive it too much. If any one has any ideas where the best place to go is. And if anyone could help me with air filter part number, what kind of oil to put in it would be great.
Thanks!!

welcome.

my biggest piece of advice is TRUST NO-ONE.

get your dad, or your brother, or your aunty...whoever knows about cars that you know PERSONALLY to work on it. even if it's a friend's brother's uncle or whatever - at least it's a lot more local to you that someone who runs a business and sees a chick who knows nothing about cars as a cashcow (please pardon the expression there...!).

next thing you'll need a recond engine coz your inlet manifold gasket has blown and it's gonna cost you $3000 and a month of work.

seriously - TRUST NO-ONE.

and any supercheap or auto one or repco should be able to help you out with an air cleaner.

i would recommend a good oil (like Pennzoil) 15W-40 (or the regular 20W-50 if you can't find that.) but seriously, the stanza engines are bulletproof if you keep the oil changed regularly and use tannin based coolant instead of water or glycol based coolant in the radiator. tannin coolant is a little more expensive, but you change it less often and is less conductive to electrolysis.

The most common grade of oil that most older cars use is 20w 50 grade oil.
Thats what I run in my 120y.
About the air filter number, just go along to any spare parts store ie Repco, Autobarn, Burson Auto parts and just explain what you need and they will have all the part numbers listed and what model/year of your car and away you go.

Hope I was of some help, bye for now.

Both of the comments above are dead right. Also, whenever you change your oil, a change of oil filter is also good insurance.Change your oil every 5-8ooo km's or at least once a year, whichever comes first.

Channie - Welcome to the wonderful world of Datsun ownership.
What the other guys are saying is right..... mechanics tend to try to rip women off (I know, I have a mechanic in the family). Just a suggestion - why don't you try to get hold of a workshop manual for your stanza & a couple of tools, you could probably make do with an oil filter remover & a cheap socket set from K-Mart - then you'll be able to service your car whenever you need + learn a bit about it in the process.
In my neck of the woods, the general concensus is that Penrite is one of the best oils you can get, but you pay for it!

Maybe if you buy the oil etc, and batt your eyelashes right. (and maybe get a carton of beer) One of the sydney members Will give you a hand.

HI This is actually Whoridas wife writing this - do wat i did.

I spoke to our local mechanic, - one u know n trust VERY well, n ask if they can show u the ropes, n how to service your own car n stuff like that!

I did n now i can service my own car n the stuff i learnt is priceless.

its a good thing to now - how to service your own car n fix lil problems that may arise!

granted the hubby hasnt really needed my help he has the 1200 not me, but he knows i am willing to have a go n try n help him out as best i can with the engine n stuff

Thanks so much for everyone's help and advice i really appreciate it .

I dont want to be one of those chicks that just have no clue, i wanna learn about my car and how to look after it and not rely on my bf (who's VERY jealous by the way coz he only drives a suzuki swift!! so the lil gf has a more powerful car!).

My friend is a panel beater so he'll help me out as much as possible and my friend that sold me the car has given me some tips which will help.

I really want to find a service manual, ive been looking on ebay but there arent any in australia .

Thanks again for everyone's help!! Feel free to PM me if anyone has any more info and i'll defionately post some pics when i get it painted!

Service manuals are usually avalible from public librarys.
Elliott.

You can quite often find service manuals at swap meets. They're always a pleasant walk and you may find other bargains as well.