LtLeary

I just had my 30000 mile service completed about a week ago (Radiator and CVT fluid changed, Fuel Injectors serviced, etc) and while I can't say I noticed any improvement in performance (read acceleration,) I have noticed that my MPG went up about 5 MPG! I've had my 09 for about 8 months now and have always averaged about 26Mpg...now I'm getting about 31. Quite a difference. (I'm a creature of habit driving the same route, almost every day for about 1K miles a week so I can't attribute mpg change to road conditions.)

What I'm not real clear about is what may have been the key differentiator. I change the oil every 5K Miles with Mobil 1, and keep a close eye on fluids and filters, and rotate tires every 10K as well. Always use 93 Octane (mobil or Sunoco only) so I'm assuming the Fuel Injector servicing may be the biggest contributing factor (I can't imagine just changing the CVT Fluid would have this big of impact.)

Any thoughts on where the improved fuel economy may have come from?

MadMax07SL

Owned it less than a year, and you're over 30,000 miles? Man, that's brutal!

My 07 says to change the CVT fluid at 100,000 miles, were you suposed to change yours at 30,000, or was this just personal choice?

And that's great mileage, even before the service, I wish my 07 could do something even close to that...

LtLeary

Well, I don't guess it was "required" as it is listed under the "Premium Maint" section on the Maintenace schedule but as long as I was at the "$500 Dollar Store" (My nickname for any service dept as I can never seem to go to one without dropping that much) I opted to go for the "Premium Maint."

Maxima2009

I think you are supposed to change your oil every 3750 miles.

LtLeary

Well, They list 2 options. Every 3750 or 7500. As I drive primarily Highway (+98%) and not city, with my average commute of 90 miles each way, I split the difference and settled on 5000 (plus, it is easier for an old man like me to determine when I need an oil change)

I believe the 3750 number is for Stop and Go or Short Trips in the city (or severe schedule.) But, you are right that Nissan DOES recommend the 3750 number for their "Premium Maintenance Option" but caveats that it is NOT necessary in order to maintain the warranty.

Maxima2009

When I read the manual it said to change the oil every 3750 it did not give me an option depended on the way I drive. I would love to change the oil every 5000 miles.

LtLeary

Take a look at page 7 in the "2009 Service and Maintenance Guide." It is one of the smaller books included in the "Owners Manual" binder! The guidance listed is quite similar to the Chryslers/Honda/BMW/etc of the world where the advocate different schedules based on how you use the vehicle.

lightonthehill

Added to the fact LtLeary is doing open highway driving (FAR easier on the oil than stop-and-go driving) is the fact he is using Mobil 1, which would probably lubricate just fine for 50K miles, if it weren't for the fact we need to change it occasionally because of the contaminants it is accumulating.

7K miles is a fairly common change point for synthetic oil. 5K is pampering. Just as the 30K CVT fluid change is pampering, but then we tend to pamper what we love. I would be surprised if the CVT fluid change increased the MPG, but then my experiences with the CVT are fairly limited (to five months, to be exact). The fuel injector service probably helped the MPG.

To be totally honest, I don't recall ever having heard of a service trip making such an improvement in MPG on a vehicle that was doing fine before the service. I am very impressed.

NiteCrawler

iTrader: (1)

I just got world that now nissan is going 10k on oil changes now using synthetic..wtf noway for me but i get free oil changes aslong as i own the car so what u guys think fair or BS........

NismoMax80

iTrader: (6)

what is your source for this? ask any "expert" and they will tell you 10k is easy for synthetic. I do 7500. once no more warranty i will do at least 10k intervals.

98GleMax

nice somebody needs to post a 100k mileage check up im due for one soon

NiteCrawler

iTrader: (1)

my SOURCE was the dealer after getting my 9k oil change and a printout to why they doing it...and of course the lil sticker they posted the top left corner of the windsheild sating my next OIL change would be due at 19k... idk..!!!!!!!!!

lightonthehill

Regardless of oil type, I would not go 10K before the FIRST oil change. I personally plan to use only dino oil the first two changes. But after that, if I switch to synthetic, I would have no concern about going 10K between changes, as long as I knew they were putting in a quality filter each time. Synthetic oil is almost indestructable. If it weren't for the contaminants any oil collects, I would feel comfortable going 20K between changes with synthetic oil.

It will be interesting to see how many Nissan dealers mention this new option to ORG members when they go in for an oil change.

LtLeary

Or an affectation..Intellectually, I agree with Light (these intervals could be extended quite a bit) but sometimes it is hard to "change" unless you are forced to (e.g. I prefer Agip Synthetics to Mobil 1 but it is darn difficult to find here!)