SkoorbMax

00 SE. I'm using Mobil1 right now. Car is at 55k and I've been on mobil 1 full synthetic for 8k and a syn blend from 37-47k (bought the car at 37k). How much oil should I normally expect to go through? It seems I might be "using" (definitely not leaking, and I don't believe burning) perhaps as much as a quart every 2500 miles.

And in regards to nissan plugs (I presume it has the factory plugs) is it time to change these suckers? Can't say whether it's been done before or not! I will be going with OEM replacements or some copper plugs (all I know is I'm not paying a lot of platinums!).

Thanks

Colonel

I have a 2K1, and use AMSOil and use about 1/4-1/8 of a qt per 3K miles.

I pulled the plugs at 28.5K and they looked good. But I replaced mine hunting down a fuel consumption issue. The plugs were good and not fuel fouled, but I still did not want to put "old" plugs back in.

At minimum you will want to "break" the plugs and reseat them using anti-seize grease. Just insurance for future. Supposedly they go 100K, I bet they are done at around 50-60K. So, you might just want to replace them. There is a copper replacement, do a search around and people have put NKG Copper replacement numbers up.

Good luck!

SoonerFan

iTrader: (5)

just replaced my plugs. i have 62,000.
car runs smoother and getting better milage

theMax

You shouldn't be using much oil at all? Are you using 5w30?

Platitumn plugs are good for 100K, Coppers for 30K, this is the max, I would reccomend replacing sooner.

Since plugs are cheap I replace with Plats every 30K.

Mom's2kGLE

A qt evry 2500 seems a bit much, I use M1 5-30 and go through far less than an 1/8 every 3500. As for plugs, couldn't hurt with the miles youve got. I did mine with the NGK plats from dlr at 32k, I too was looking for a driveability prob and figured theyre out so put new ones in. 4 of the 6 were near perfect and the other 2 had a little odd wear to them but nothing to worry about. Good luck.

mike_bresnahan

50k plus and I've never added a drop of oil between 7500 mile oil changes.

are you sure someone didn't swap your VQ for a wankel?

bigdo26

iTrader: (3)

Ya i've never added oil between changes either - try to do every 4000 miles with Mobil 1, but tends to push 5000-5500. Never any additions of oil though, it always stays to the max line

SkoorbMax

Well in truth I find that checking the oil on these cars is difficult. On my sentra I take out the dipstick and it's easy to read and a long distance between L and H, but on the maxima the distance is shorter and even when it's been sitting all night there is oil up higher on the dipstick (I know you can use a cloth but I seem to get different readings a lot. I guess I suck!). Plus to my deficit my car is on a very slight incline parked most of the time now. In actual fact it may be a quart every 5000 miles or so. But I would say it's probably no less than that...

BTW since going to fully syn I'm going to be changing the oil every 5-6k miles, using a nissan filter each time. I think anymore than that is overkill (even 5-6k is quite possibly over kill).

I think I'll try the plugs this weekend. I've never changed them before but it can't be that hard (famous last words).

Todds_max

You don't suck, the tube/stick design does. It's like the tube holds some oil until you remove and reinsert the stick several times to evacuate the tube, then you can ALMOST get an accurate reading. It definitely takes practice. sometimes it helps to read both front and back to get a clearer reading. I try to pull it out fast after that last reinsertion, maybe it helps to prevent oil from dripping back on the stick.

My max has 18,200, I just performed an oil change and as usual, there was no measurable usage. It had been almost 6,300 since my last change. Two highway trips from Nashville to Gulf Coast so I don't feel that was too many miles. I'm using Mobil 1 10w-30. Since cooler weather is coming, I will probably switch to 5w-30 next change.

Regarding platinum plugs... several have mentioned in this post, and I have heard many others comment as well; Platinum plugs come nowhere near living up to their quoted 100,000 mile life expectancy. They might last that long, but their performance definitely deteriorates well before 100,000.

SkoorbMax

Glad it's not just me re: Reading oil.

I should mention I use 5w-30 if I haven't. I suppose perhaps that could contribute to some of the usage? It never gets cold in AL anyway, but I'm going on the manual recommendation.

MaximaMan77

Not only does it not ever get cold there it gets hot. Being that you are talking about oil loss now, at the end of summer, the 5w-30 could be part of your problem. I run M1 10w-30, it has better shear stability than a 0 or 5 weight oil.

SkoorbMax

So in cases where a person is not likely to experience temps cold enough for the 5w requirement you'd recommend 10w? It's an answer I've honestly had a hard time getting out of people about the question. On the one hand it seems that 5w-30 and 10w-30 handle the same top temp, but 5w-30 handles a lower one. So, one might think that 5w is better to get just based on that, but if that was the case what's the point of 10? I use 10w-30 in my 93 sentra year round. Course that car LEAKS oil, but then it does have 171k miles on it

MaximaMan77

Lower weight oils have a lower viscosity. That means they will flow better at lower temps. The 10w-30 will not flow as well at VERY low temps but not be as prone to shearing and breaking down.

We will be lucky I we see one day of temps below 0F in 5yrs. Just run 5w-30 in the winter and you'll be fine.

MannyNJ2k2max

iTrader: (3)

change mine every 3500-3800 and never had my dipstick
read anything lower that what it was after the oil
changes

MannyNJ2k2max

iTrader: (3)

Mobil 1 10w30 most of the year- 5w30 in winter months(nov-march)

SkoorbMax

So, essentially what you're saying is that the 10w-30 is probably better to use vs. the 5w for lubrication, except that the 5w's cold flow more than offsets this benefit in the winter.

It rarely gets below 20 F in Birmingham I think.

MaximaMan77

That about sizes it up.

trey

Hey manny, so you change your oil to 5w-30 in nov. and then keep it in til march? I was planning on doing that same schedule. Thats four months so a quality oil should be able to last that i would think?

MannyNJ2k2max

iTrader: (3)

yup- thats what the master mechanic @ my lube place advised me to do- 5W30 is much better for the cold starts in the winter months

TimW

iTrader: (6)

A qt in 3K miles is within spec for VQs (and Nissan in general). There are alot of people who have this. It doesnt get worse or smoke.

SkoorbMax

Cool - also didn't you used to have a Maxima? or do you still have the maxima? Havnig recently found out that a G35 sedan (my wife doesn't like two seaters unfortunately) is available with a 6 speed and starts at only $30k I've started dreaming...probably that's all I'll do though