im going to get my oil changed after only 1500 miles, now is this a total waste of money or is it good for the car. I really wanna just go in the service department for some issues like the shimmy and hard shifting. I have a 04 max with the serial number with xxxx9200, and i thought these problems didnt occur with those numbers???? i also hear a funny noise when i drive like around 10mph or accel when im around 10 mph but i cant decribe the noise..,any one know what im talkin about??
Get backto me if u can Thanks.

 

Does this noise sound like a rattle and occur at about 2000 RPM? If so, it might be a lose heat shield (there have been a few prople reporting this problem).

As for the oil change, I first changed mine around 2000 I believe. If all you are after is for them to fix these issues then you can skip the oil change and just schedule a time to look at your issues.

 

Is the noise almost like bubbling/running water/whoosh sound? Air in the heater core if it is. The dealer can help with this, but it will eventually bleed out by itself.

 

If you read the manual under the oil change section. It's says, the factory oil placed into the vehicle is basically great and you may wait longer to change the oil.

 

Silver - you gave xxxx9200 as your VIN serial. The VIN serial has only six digits in it. Did you mean the 9200 as the last four digits? If so, there have been 12 '04 Maximas built so far with VIN # ending in 9200, beginning with 809200 back in February of '03 - 17 months ago, and ending with 919200, Built in May of this year.

Or perhaps you meant 9200XX, which means your car was built in May of this year? Considering your low mileage, I would guess that might be the case.

Also, do you have the VDC/TCS package? Sometimes those can emit strange noises when they kick in. I have a silver SL with VIN 920120 with VDC/TCS, and sometimes I get strange sounds (like when I exceed 20MPH in reverse, or hit a pothole while turning sharply). But everything seems to work fine, in spite of the sounds.

In the old days, I would get my first oil change at 1,000 miles. But with the Maxima, I feel the engine workmanship is so good that no oil change is necessary before the recommended time (3750 miles?).

My car shifts fine. You definitely should expect your auto to shift fairly smoothly. Tell the dealer this must be fixed.

Based on posts here, most of the cars above 900000 seem to be relatively shimmy-free. Is your shimmy a vibration of the steering wheel from side to side at a certain speed range, or more of a vertical wheel vibration like a tire out of balance?

 

I wanted to change oil at 1000 just to be safe, got around to it at 1180. was a qt low around 900. I kinda have hard shifting when cold, but the TSB is before my VIN.

 

If you read other manufacture's which use Variable valve timing, they put a special break in oil in and they say under no circumstance should you change it before the recomendation. Changing it out too early or switching to synthetic with low milage both cause the engine to not break in properly which in the long run causes it to inneffiecient and use more fuel for less power.

I know I was going to get a 04 TL before I got my MAX and it has something that calculates when to change the oil based on how you drive (I think there are sensors in the oil lines that test aspects of it) and Acura says even if it hasn't told you change the oil by 10K miles, don't. If it tells you to do so after only 1K miles do so.

Personally I changed mine at 3750 like the dealer told me to.

 

To my knowledge Nissan doesn't use specially formulated oil from the factory for break in. I always use conventional oil for the first two oil changes on a new or rebuilt motor to let the rings break in properly.

After the first two, it's okay to go with synthetic.