I had been bringing it into the dealer for the $15 standard (probably 10w30) oil changes...now that i started putting 92 octane gas in, i am going to go w/ synthetic...is this reccomended? does it make a difference? how much is it per oil change? i've heard mobil 1 5w30 fully synthetic formula is one of the best types out there...any feedback is appreciated

 

The owner's manual says not to use SYNTHETIC oil.

 

hmm...thats odd, most of the people on this board do

 

Call me crazy.. but if the Nissan Manual does in fact state NOT TO USE SYNTHETIC OIL, (i'm gonna have to check tommorrow, it's in my car), then I would prolly assume that Nissan knows whats best, and wouldn't risk it..

I wonder if you called them to ask, whether or not they would give you the exact reasoning behind that warning? or just say "Because we say so!!"?

 

Not sure what owners manual you are reading.....

I put Mobil One 5W30 in at 4K.....I just give the oil to the dealer and pay for the labor and filter..I was quoted about 60 dollars for a synth change at the dealer...ouch...I actually got a freebie on the labor and filter as my car was in for all sorts of stuff(my well known engine mount problem).....can't imagine it being more than 20 dollars for the labor and filter....

In any event you may get 10 different answers depending what people think...I like the ideas of the low flow temps.....not that it gets all that frigid here in MA but we sometimes do have streches of sub ten degree days.

I'm goning to use it all the time for whatever that is worth

 

Are you sure? Have you read the owners manual or are you just talking out your a**? I seem to recall the owners manual as saying use of synthetics is acceptable as long as the synthetic meets or exceeds the same the quality grades as regular oil (SG/SH) and the change interval is maintained.


The cost per quart is anywhere from 3 to 4 times more for synthetics. After a few oil changes it starts to add up quick. Unless you race regularly or operate under extreme conditions you probably will never need the extra benefits. Changing your oil regularly will do just as good a job of protecting your engine without the extra cost.

If you are going to go synthetic, Mobil 1 and Amsoil come highly recommended.

 

I also use Mobil Syn 5W30 @ $4.29 a quart (and so do a lot of other people). I'm sure someone would've caught the "Do not use synthetic" by now.

 

I use Mobil 1, but realistically any oil should work fine. There are numerous previous topics on this subject (try the search link, above).

 

I didn't see anywhere where it says synthetic is not good. It actually said some oils such as synthetic may improve engine durability or something of that nature. don't have my book b/c I don't have my car but I do remember reading in the book.

 

I was told that synthetic would void my warranty(by a auto parts worker) but I called two dealers and they said as long as it's what is recommed by the book it's fine.

 

What about if you live someplace where it doesn't dip much below 50?? (Lik southern CA) Wouldn't 10W-30 be fine??

 

I remember seeing a diagram in the manual that says 10W30 is acceptable down to 32 F or somewhere around freezing, while 5W30 is acceptable for all temp ranges.

 

UH . . I think you mean never MIX Synth with Dyno oil.

Pretty BIG typo . . . ya think?

DW

 

I am in arizona so it rarely gets below 50 degrees here...should i be putting in 5w30 or 10w30? or should i go w/ 5w30 synthetic? does synthetic actually make your car run any better? is it worth the extra $20 per oil change or is it just a waste of money?

 

Since the manual says 5W30, why not just use that? Plus %w will flow better when cold so it will protect better.

Is Synthetic worth it? Well it's a fact that it protects better, especially at high temps. Since you live in Az, why not use it? Also, synthetics does not void your warranty. That is just another one of those things that makes owning nissan a horrible exprience, dealers will do anything not to warranty the car.

Before you ask: you can use synthetic Mobile 1 5W30 + nissan oem oil filter for atleast 7500 miles before change. Look at my sig for lab proven results.

-Shing

 

Yes, the manual says 5W30, and it is one of the recommended oils. I know I'm going against most opinions on this board, but I think 10W30 is way better for the kind of driving that we enthusiasts tend to put our maxes thru. Where is the advantage of 5W30 best realized?? In cold (below 0 F) where you find yourself starting your engine very often with a cold engine block. The 5W30 will flo better in the cold, that's it. After that, when your car gets warm, the 10W30 is better for you. Why? Because it is better able to handle the high temps that aggressive driving will make your engine generate, and not break down as quickly as 5W30.

Another thing, part of the reason that 5W30 is the "recommneded" oil is because the EPA has pushed manufacturers to emphasise that oil becuase the thinner oil will give the car slightly better fuel economy. If fuel economy was that important, I think we'd all be driving 4 bangers, or EVs. Feul econmoy is important to me, I don't drive a V-8 or SUV As aggressively as I may drive I still don't get below 20 MPG. As I pass an Expedition doing around 80 I think to myself 'That thing must be drinkin' a gallon a second"

If you watch closely in oil commercials, when they talk of best resistance against viscosity breakdown, the manufacturer usually puts a footnote saying that the viscosity test is done on their thicker grade.

Having said that, if I were in Arizona, I would go with 10W30 Synthetic because I don't have any issues with the cold and the hot summers there will stress the hi end vicosity of your oil, and synthetic is always better, especially at the extremes of temp.

Just my 25 cents

DW

 

Dec MOTM uses Castrol GTX, heck I did the oil change on it.

: laughing @ Hogan again,,, dude, am I getting paid for these endorsements? Royalties? :

 

I asked for 5W-30, and the dealer put in 10w-30 anyway... i didnt mind at the time, but now its 29 degrees out. I hate them sometimes! Doing my own changes from now on.

I'm in the south and the dealers here insist on 10W because of the summers and lack of sub-zero weather. But I'm with you guys on the 5W, why go higher until you need to?

personally if you change at 3000-ish, and dont drag race your car every day, then just about any 5w/10w-30 dino oil is fine.

Syn changes at 5000-7500 (or even higher if you want), so the $$$ works out to be the same. I'm really thinking about it. the only negative thing I have heard is in regard to going syn in the tranny and the seals leaking, not the engine. Also, I have always heard not to change to syn until 10K or the engine wont be properly broken in. I know that my engine has changed throughout 10K, its really mellowed out now at 12K. I think I will change soon.

 

Ive been using Royal Purple Synthetic Oil and I love it. My gas mileage has increased as well as torque and horsepower..
http://www.RoyalPurple.com

 

Mobil 1 5W30 ... this thing is under extreme temps so I'm not sure I buy the argument a few posts back that 10W30 is better in the heat ...




[Edited by ohboiya on 12-09-2000 at 01:33 AM]

 

Humm, but the weird thing is my GF's dad's 3000 GT is recommended to use 10w-30, i know twin turbo creates a lot of heat but why not 5w-30 since ppl are saying 5w and 10w when they are heated, they are the same (heat protection), also i live in WA, the temp gets down to 30F in winter.

And also, i dont' know any of you read import tuner magazine last month, they dynoed a honda car with 10w-30 and 5w-30 oils, 10w-30 oil obviously was too think for imports, cuz the car lost couple of HP when using 10w-30 oil, but gain a little hp when using 5w-30.


Anyone?
Tim

 

5 and 10 are for cold weather... 30 is for hot. so 5W30 and 10W30 will be the same when hot.

 

Well now I have a question--What about useing diffent weights depending on the temp(summer and winter)? Or should I just stick with one weight

Thanks

 

That's what I do- 10w-30 in summer May-september 5w-30 fall and spring and if milegae is right for a change, 0w-30 in winter. I live in central Iowa and it gets REALLY cold sometimes. We have weeks where the temp is below true zero with windchills of -10 to -70 for the high temp. You want the thinnest starting viscosity for those temps!

 

I JUST CHANGE MY OIL JUST 10 MINUTES A GO I PUT VALVOLINE SYNTHETIC IN MINE IT COST $4.27 AT WALMART I USED IT BEFORE ON MY TRUCK WHICH KNOW HAVE MY MAX. AND ALSO THE MANUAL DONT TELL YOU HOW MANY QUARTS IT TAKES BUT I WENT TO THE DEALER AND ASK THEM HOW MANY AND THEY SAID 3QTS& 8oz. I do my oil changes myself

 

IN MY OLD CAR I SWITCHED TO SYNTHETIC WHEN I WAS OVER 100,000 MILES, AND I REALLY FELT THE DIFFERENCE IN PERFORMANCE AND SMOOTHNESS. I'LL DEFINITELY SWITCH TO CASTROL SYNTHETIC, BUT PROBABLY WILL WAIT TILL 10K MILES.
PEACE

 

summer i used 10w40 and now since it's cold i been using 5w30 ...car drives good no prob...stay away from synthetic oil.....nah good for maximas.......

 

stay away from synthetic...nah good for maximas and never use slick...just change oil regularly....in the summer i had used 10w40 and car performed fine...engine sounds powerful...now i'm using 5w30, because it's cold...as it gets warmer i'll increase to 10w30 then back to 10w40 wjen it gets really hot. My engine works hard daily and i would stay away from from jerk off oils......

 

nah .. you're wrong ...

 

ohboiya , 5W30 probably does great (Especially Mobil1) in the heat. I'm just saying that 10W30 does better (Especially's Mobil 1 . . if they made it

yo_its_ok, In an ideal world, I would beleive the labels, b/c both 10W30 and 5W30 have 30 weight specs. But think about it, The 5W has to have more of those viscosity stretching chemicals which will un-doubtedly compromise the performance of the oil at the extremes of its range. The 10W30 oil has a norower range to work with, therefore less compromise, therefore better performing . . .in its range. In the cold, 10W30 ain't all that, but in the heat, it'll beat a 5W30.

DW

 

Hi, I know is been a while since this thread is over.
Anyway, I am interested of replacing my mineral base engine oil with full syntec and looking at royal purple, amsoil or mobil 1.

Which one is the best for the value of money? and What is the good price for royal purple and amsoil per qt (5W30)

I found at courtesy nissan for $4.99/qt (5W30)

Thank you

 

Mind explaining your position?? How about some data or at least a decent explaination why synthetic oil is bad for the engine. I have a whole bunch of data waiting for you..

 

"nah good for maximas"

emm ok...

got any proof? I guess all the major oil companies don't know what they are doing... they spend millions in R&D for nothing... yup, that must be it.

-Shing

 

Hey! Maybe he changes is oil every 2000 miles too!

 

Moble 1

 

I've used Mobil 1 in all my cars from a twin turbo supra since 94 to a v8 SHO since 97 and with a good oil filter you can't go wrong. And I'll put it in My Max at the next oil change. Mobil 1 all the way.

 

hey, this thread has been over for awhile but i just went to the store and they now have mobil 1 0w30...should i get this instead of 5w30? here are my conditions...i am constantly racing/flooring the accel. and i live in arizona where in the winter it rarely dips below 50 and in the summer it is usually around 100-120...next oil change is in about 500 miles so i need to know what i should use? i'm planning on mobil 1 but i'm just not sure what type...0w30, 5w30, or 10w30? for my conditions, whats the best?

 

I put Synth oil in my first oil change.. Then asked somone at work and they said i should have waited till 5 thousand miles for my engine to break in.. So I got all scared and called the dealer right up.. He said that my friend was crazy and that synthetic oil is great.. especially since we live in WNY.. hmm.. anyways he said the most IMPORTANT thing to remember was to never switch back to regular oil!!!