BIGIRISHSTL

All I just purchased a 2014 and I've read all sorts of stuff on here and other places about break in. I just wanted to know what a normal break in would consist of. I've heard of Dino oil but have no idea what that is? Plus all the rpm talk about not going above such and such. Any help or insight as this is truly my first new car, like 6 miles on the odometer new! Here's a pic of both my babies now.

CS_AR

Congratulations! What does your owner's manual say about break in and the first oil change? My last new cars suggested leaving the break in oil in for full run until the MM said it was really time for a change. I haven't had a new Nissan yet.

NCSUpilot

Manual says basically drive it nice until 1200 miles. If I remember, don't go above 4k RPM, don't use the cruise control or tow anything. Plus, avoid hard braking for the first 500 miles (I think). Double check what it says in the manual to make sure my numbers are right.

It mentions nothing specific about changing the oil before the first scheduled changed (3750 or 7500 depending on which schedule you follow.)

Most of the consensus on here is to use regular oil (Dino oil) before changing over to synthetic (if you're planning to do that.)

Welcome to the club!

Compusmurf

My father has been building and repairing cars all his life. I asked him and he suggested for the first 300 miles, never, ever run it at "same speed" ex 55mph for any length of time and to change the oil at 300, 1200 and then regular intervals afterwards. The 300mile oil change is supposed to clean out the metal chips, factory junk and seat in shavings and crap. From 300-1200 miles try to vary the speeds.

He's also a firm believer in magnets on the oil filter to keep the particles trapped there. Of course, all this was based on cars before the 1990's when manufacturing tolerances weren't quite as tight and computer controlled as they are today.

However, I've always followed his advice.

Now, saying that, if you want to avoid any kind of break in period, you can always buy a Bugatti Veyron. I watched a "how it's made" type of show on it and they do a 1000 hour break in with their engines right at the factory for you. Of course, for $1.9 million they should provide a driver too!

BIGIRISHSTL

Great stuff guys. I think it has synth in it now so I was going to go easy for a K then change oil and then drive normal. I would think the parameters or variances with computers would avoid most of the break in but the most important thing I would guess are the pistons and the cylinder sleeves to mate correctly. Should I change to Dino and then change back at a K to synth?

gizzsdad

Actually - your car likely has the marginal Nissan Ester oil. Many cars do come the factory now with synthetic, but our Maxima is not one of them.

Literally millions of owners use the manual recommended full OCI with no negative effects. I can't quite go there, so I change with conventional at about 1,500, blend at about 4,000, and synthetic at about 7,000. But I follow this because it makes me feel good, and not because it has any magical engine life extending guarantees.

The myth about engines not breaking in properly on syn has been widely discredited.

As for driving practices, NCSUpilot was pretty spot-on!

BIGIRISHSTL

Awesome info. I noticed the dealer has an oil change sticker which makes me think they changed it. I guess i can call them and ask. The other thing is I'm not familiar with the abbr. OCI. Can you explain more?

gizzsdad

Sorry - Oil Change Interval

assiduous

did you get lifetime powertrain as part of the deal? These 2014s have insane deals right now.

BIGIRISHSTL

Thanks for the abbr. breakdown! I will follow manual and go easy on it till a thou miles.

The 2014 are crazy deals. I got a brand new one with 6miles that was cheaper than a 3k mileage from the start of '14 used. I got a ten year warranty through Nissan for $2k and no deductible so very excited about that. Plus I can get refund for any of it I don't use. I got a loaded tech and sport with everything including the butler for $$29k :-) So now I have 2 Maximas!!!