I heard somewhere that you should only take Maximas to the dealer for oil changes because they have better filters that the auto parts stores cannot get for our engines. Is there any truth in that. I have almost 3,000 miles on mine should I use synthetic or regular oil??

 

Where's Bill when you need him?

 

 

Yes, the OEM filter is apparently very high in quality. But you can purchase them from the dealer.

Bill told me that he would use these filters in this order.

1. STP S6941
2.
3. Nissan OEM

There is no reason you should have to take your car to the dealer for the oil change if you can obtain one of these filters yourself.

 

Still researching other possibilities.


2003MaximaSE_TE,

Besides the STP S6941, the only confirmed appropriate filter for a 2k2 to 2k3 Maxima is a Nissan OEM filter. The 2k2-2k3 Maximas now use the same filter as the lat model SR20DE Sentras, so if you have to find another filter just look up the filter cross reference for a 2k2 Sentra with a SR20DE. The oil pressure was changed for the VQ35, thus making a 95 to 2k1 VQ30 oil filter not optimal to use on the 2k2-2k3s......And please don't buy Frams.

Use Castrol GTX 5W/30 for 3k intervals until you get to 10k to 12k on the odometer, as the VQ takes a while to fully break-in. Then start using a good full synthetic such as Mobil 1 or Amsoil.

 

Thanks again most helpful!

 

I heard that the new smaller filters actually came with 2k1's right before 2k2s came out. Just some trivia for you..

 

Lol now where can I buy this filter lol.

 

So Amsoil and Mobil1 filters are not acceptable ways to go anymore? Or is that just from a fudiciary decision? I have not read the oil thread in a while...

 

STP S6941 - AutoZone

Nissan OEM - Nissan Dealer, VQ35DE Part Number 15208-00006; Don't let them sell you the VQ30DE filter part number 15208-00001. They will try to if they don't have the first one in stock.


Again, there are other aftermarket ones, but they are only spec'd for the VQ30. I would consider them an alternative only to the ones above.

 

I think Bill prefers the cheap filters now and changes them often.

 

They do not have that filter. Is the Mobile 1 a good filter?


http://www2.autozone.com/servlet/UiB...ction=loadPage

 

I've seen the STP S6941 at every AutoZone I've been to in my area.


If you insist on spending a lot of money and getting a Mobil 1, get the M1-110.

 

These recommendations are for the VQ35 only. The bypass valve pressure reading is what is in question here for the VQ35 since they changed the oil pressure at idle and at speed for these engines (they were lowered). It looks as though Nissan has specified the SR20DE filter for use with the VQ35 as well. I don't know what the bypass valve psi rating is for the SR20DE Nissan OEM filter.....

 

Gotcha...I looked through the threads and is there just one dedicated to filter discussions like the oil spreadsheet?

 

I just bought 2 of them last week at my local Autozone....

 

Not yet.....

 

To me, the Amsoil ones do not offer any distinct advantages in their specified SDF-13 size, especially for the money.

 

Synthetic is great, but not for the first 10,000 miles, you want to use regular oil for break in!

John

 

Bill, I thought that the Bosch 3323 was also OK, or is that only for the V30 engine?

 

It is, it just hasn't made my list yet as I have a couple of other Bosch's to examine as well.....I'm just going to choose the best one.

 

Bill, I just put on the Pureone PL14622 on my 2k2....I hear it is also a good filter to use instead of oem...could u confirm this??? I just took a try at it since it was the same size as oem and never had any problems with the pureone's...

 

It is, but I have a couple of issues with Purolators in General:

A) Their relative outside can thickness; it's on a par with being 30 to 50% thinner than the outside can thickness on STPs, Boschs, Mobil 1's, etc.

B) Bypass valve is on the bottom rather than the top of the filter, which isn't optimal.

The 14610, IIRC, is a bigger filter than the 14622, which I believe is tiny. I may have these reversed. Otherwise it is similar to the new OEM VQ35DE filter now used by Nissan.

If I had to go Purolator would prefer using the bigger 14610, but Purolator has yet to release a PureONE version of that filter.

The 14620 is out due to an inherent design "flaw" that can allow leaks.



For the price you're paying for the PureONE, the Bosch 3323 would do just as good of a job and would not have the concerns I listed above since it is made by Champion Labs.....

 

I'll keep that in mind and will try the Bosche next time...Thanks Bill!

 

i did my last oil change w/oem filter and mobil 1.
so i thought i would go to the dealer for every other oil change so i can get the lube job, well guess what, they don't need a lube job.
so i am a dum dum!

so you can save a lot of $$$ by doing the change yourself. the oem filters are only $5 from the dealer.
kj

 

I'm getting close to 10,000, and I'm driving to FL at Christmas (5 days at World Golf Village, whoo hoo!)

Bill, have you had any chance to look at the Bosch filter(s) since September?

I'm still trying to decide about going synthetic. I've put many thousands of miles on a variety of cars with a 5k interval, and dino oil.

If I go synthetic, I'm probably going to want to have a longer interval (but maybe not.)

Too many freakin' decisions. If I can get Mobil One at a decent price (and I don't know what 'decent price' will be, yet), that might be the kicker. Off to Walmart.com to check prices.

 

Please advise on the Fram filters - is there a specific reason why you advise against this brand?

I ask because I have been using Fram for years on various Hi-Po cars with no problems. I used them on by '96 Max and have been using them on my '02Max, which now has 26K on the odometer, no oil-reltaed problems to date.

If there is a technological/design flaw, Max owners need to know- and so does Fram!

Thanks,
Tony

 

Cheap materials. You won't notice any problems necessarily. But other filters do a much better job.

 

Curious about the Fram oil filters- is there a technological reason why you recommend against buying Fram?

Thanks,
Tony

 

I don't think that there is anything wrong with any filter if you change it enough. But, some people have their opinions.
With the millions of cars with every filter imaginable, you would think that millions of cars would break down instantly.

But, if you can spend $25k on a car, why skimp on the oil & filter?

http://www.motorvate.ca/auto/maxima/...oil_filter.htm
http://www.ntpog.org/reviews/filters/filters.shtml
http://minimopar.net/oilfilterstudy-mopar.html
http://minimopar.net/oilfilterstudy.html
http://www.salemboysauto.com/faqs/faq-30.htm
http://www.tognottisautoworld.com/Pr...ter_Racing.asp
http://www.theautochannel.com/e_about/filters.html
http://www.shoclub.com/lubrication-o...n-oilpart3.htm

If bigger is better, the STP 6941 is the best. Thats the old school neantherdal way of looking at it. Plus, it also fits the KA24DE Altima. And, I will try to fit one on other Nissan(vg/qr/qg/RWD/FWD...) applications soon.
Now, if I could only find a better(cheaper) supplier than Autozone.

I don't think that the filter change has anything to do with the bypass pressure change. Its is most likely a Renault cost cutting move. Smaller filter=cheaper filter=less oil during fillup=bonus for beancounters
Change some specs to throw everybody off and sell more filters for profit=another bonus