Cost of synthetic oil not worth it
01-16-2005, 02:53 PM
#121
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Originally Posted by Armelius
Here: http://cartalk.com/board/showflat.ph...b=5&o=&fpart=1
What is wrong is the dealer telling you there's nothing wrong. You know it's not supposed to shift like that. I'm assuming this car is still under warranty. Keep going back until they fix it.
I could go into my normal rant about late model VWs but I won't. As a former VW owner and fan, though, I must say that Volkswagen has done a marvelous job of squandering, there's no other word for it, their reputation for building reliable cars. What a shame.
Drivers wanted!
And this: http://cartalk.com/board/showflat.ph...b=5&o=&fpart=1
What is wrong is the dealer telling you there's nothing wrong. You know it's not supposed to shift like that. I'm assuming this car is still under warranty. Keep going back until they fix it.
I could go into my normal rant about late model VWs but I won't. As a former VW owner and fan, though, I must say that Volkswagen has done a marvelous job of squandering, there's no other word for it, their reputation for building reliable cars. What a shame.
Drivers wanted!
And this: http://cartalk.com/board/showflat.ph...b=5&o=&fpart=1
I'm STIIIIIILLLLLLL waiting for you to offer some real proof.
01-16-2005, 02:54 PM
#123
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The cost of not changing your oil like your manual says.
01-16-2005, 03:06 PM
#125
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Let me guess. You change your oil every 30,000 miles like torkaholic and have own a vwmaxima too?
01-16-2005, 03:13 PM
#126
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Originally Posted by Armelius
Let me guess. You change your oil every 30,000 miles like torkaholic and have own a vwmaxima too?
C'mon, at least keep the few facts you have straight. I do 10,000 on my G35 and one year (about 9,000) on the wife's Sequoia.
You've been smacked, owned, and stacked, and you're just lashing out now.
01-16-2005, 03:23 PM
#127
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Sorry, but I believe you are the one who posted about 30,000 mile oil changes. I don't know where Jeff went but he posted about the increase in gas mileage. 02 Max just wants to see inside my valves, which right now I have no reason to take off the valve cover except to show off.
No, I still get factory spec power and gas mileage. I have the miles on my car and the experience.
You have a fine car in that G35, I wouldn't put synthetic in it though. Just doesn't need it and if it's new (definately newer than my Maxima) you should change your oil like the manual says. The new Z was 3,000 miles if I remember correctly. I passed the Nissan test on the Z btw. I still like the G35 better.
No, I still get factory spec power and gas mileage. I have the miles on my car and the experience.
You have a fine car in that G35, I wouldn't put synthetic in it though. Just doesn't need it and if it's new (definately newer than my Maxima) you should change your oil like the manual says. The new Z was 3,000 miles if I remember correctly. I passed the Nissan test on the Z btw. I still like the G35 better.
01-16-2005, 04:11 PM
#128
Originally Posted by Armelius
How am I flip flopping? Nothing from Nissan. Nothing in Haynes or Chiltons. And I even posted topics from renouned mechanics.
Why don't you post over there? Tell them I am flip flopping and ask their opinion. I think we need an unbiased opinion about nissan maxima high mileage and synthetics don't you?
Volkswagon-You picked a bad example. I am not impressed with any Volkswagon products they are overrated and over priced. They are probably made in China too, since Volkswagon is the largest car manufacturers in China and Mexico.
I laugh at that 1.8 Volkswagon. My 95 max has more power and gets better gas mileage that their piece of crap four banger with a rubber band in it. I have seen too many people unhappy with their new Volkswagons. Maybe that synthetic oil will help them sell to more consumers but it won't do a thing for me.
I laugh at that 1.8 Volkswagon. My 95 max has more power and gets better gas mileage that their piece of crap four banger with a rubber band in it. I have seen too many people unhappy with their new Volkswagons. Maybe that synthetic oil will help them sell to more consumers but it won't do a thing for me.
01-16-2005, 04:12 PM
#129
Originally Posted by Armelius
Let me guess. You change your oil every 30,000 miles like torkaholic and have own a vwmaxima too?
01-16-2005, 04:15 PM
#130
Originally Posted by Armelius
Sorry, but I believe you are the one who posted about 30,000 mile oil changes. I don't know where Jeff went but he posted about the increase in gas mileage. 02 Max just wants to see inside my valves, which right now I have no reason to take off the valve cover except to show off.
No, I still get factory spec power and gas mileage. I have the miles on my car and the experience.
You have a fine car in that G35, I wouldn't put synthetic in it though. Just doesn't need it and if it's new (definately newer than my Maxima) you should change your oil like the manual says. The new Z was 3,000 miles if I remember correctly. I passed the Nissan test on the Z btw. I still like the G35 better.
No, I still get factory spec power and gas mileage. I have the miles on my car and the experience.
You have a fine car in that G35, I wouldn't put synthetic in it though. Just doesn't need it and if it's new (definately newer than my Maxima) you should change your oil like the manual says. The new Z was 3,000 miles if I remember correctly. I passed the Nissan test on the Z btw. I still like the G35 better.
01-16-2005, 04:19 PM
#131
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That's the service manual on the Pathfinder.
01-16-2005, 04:33 PM
#133
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Probably. I have it. Right now my wife has the Pathfinder and I will look at it when she gets back.
01-16-2005, 05:22 PM
#135
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Two nissan books. One the service manual and one the owner's manual. If I remember right the owners manual had more detail about dusty or harsh weather conditions. I would say that regular oil can be good up to 7,500 miles. There was quite a few times I was gone for over six months at a time and had to change the oil before starting the pathfinder and occassionally replace the battery. If I knew how long I was going to be gone I would of done a few things different but in the end it didn't really matter.
01-16-2005, 07:04 PM
#136
Originally Posted by Armelius
Look at Tom and Ray on Car Talk. Two mechanics that have degrees from MIT. Do you think they use synthetic oil?
http://www.cartalk.com/content/colum...August/04.html
here tom and ray say that 15k mile drain intervals are fine on synthetic oil.
http://www.cartalk.com/content/colum...August/04.html
here tom and ray say that it's ok to use syn in vehicles that came with dino oil
http://www.cartalk.com/content/featu...nter/tips.html
here tom and ray recommend mobil-1 syn for cold climates
so basically you're totally owned.
also, you said in another thread (http://forums.maxima.org/showpost.ph...5&postcount=20) that you use 87 octane gas. but here you say that you should follow the instructions in the owner's manual. doesn't your manual say to use only premium fuel?
01-16-2005, 07:54 PM
#137
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Posts: 210
Originally Posted by Armelius
Sorry, but I believe you are the one who posted about 30,000 mile oil changes. I don't know where Jeff went but he posted about the increase in gas mileage. 02 Max just wants to see inside my valves, which right now I have no reason to take off the valve cover except to show off.
No, I still get factory spec power and gas mileage. I have the miles on my car and the experience.
You have a fine car in that G35, I wouldn't put synthetic in it though. Just doesn't need it and if it's new (definately newer than my Maxima) you should change your oil like the manual says. The new Z was 3,000 miles if I remember correctly. I passed the Nissan test on the Z btw. I still like the G35 better.
No, I still get factory spec power and gas mileage. I have the miles on my car and the experience.
You have a fine car in that G35, I wouldn't put synthetic in it though. Just doesn't need it and if it's new (definately newer than my Maxima) you should change your oil like the manual says. The new Z was 3,000 miles if I remember correctly. I passed the Nissan test on the Z btw. I still like the G35 better.
Your use of your own situation as conclusive proof is just like the 90 year old man who, through puffs on his chain smoked cigarette, declares that smoking never hurt anyone. He is overgeneralizing, and so are you. I've driven for as many miles as you, mostly on syns, and my engines are spotless and I've never had a failure. Shall I use that to generalize that syns are perfect and right for everyone??? That's what you're doing with your experience and dino.
OK, precisely why would you not put syn into my G35? Once again, here's a link to my first fill of German Castrol 0w-30 (run for only 4k miles as it was the engine's first syn run and I wanted to get all the remaining dino purged out as quickly as possible). CLICK HERE FOR G35's FIRST UOA . Please, we know your opinions. Please tell me exactly why and how a dino would have done better, and why I should expect better from a dino over 10k miles of usage? And on a subjective level, my VQ was noticeably smoother at all rpm and less harsh at high rpm with the switch to syn. Sorry, but if nothing else, I will listen to my own engine before I listen to you.
Forgive me for being persistent, but I still have not seen either a real, technical explanation for how you think dino is better than syn, and you have offered no proof, as we syn users have, to support your position.
01-16-2005, 09:19 PM
#138
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Well, I have used dino-weed oil in all my cars and constantly got well over 200,000 miles with no loss in gas mileage and performance. I lived in North Dakota and doesn't matter if you use synthetics or not you still have to plug your car to an electrical outlet to heat the oil.
I am not saying anything about oil superiority here. If I did I would give it to the syn because of lack of hydrocarbons to gum things up. It doesn't matter though because you are going to damage your engine more by starting it cold than running it with oil circulating. We agreed on that.
Next, we have the oil change issue. You say 10,000 miles is great for an oil change. I say it's best to get any potential damage from cold starts out of your engine as soon as possible.
Some of you say things about VW and Corvettes that's great. I know people with GM products that their engine went fine on synthetic and then blew up. I believed they got around 300,000 miles on their engine and they tell me it was 500,000. I did the math and figured it right. They don't use synthetics anymore and I didn't dissuade them.
On the octane question I already had a discussion on that some time ago with SuperSteve moderator or something and got banned for a week or something because of a similar post to this one. The only thing I found that these engines don't like is ethanol. Ethanol will get us crappy gas mileage and should be avoided as much as possible. You don't get the same amount of power (are they called btu's in gas) from ethanol as you do with regular unleaded gas.
These engines are build better and stronger than other V6's, you can do some seriously naughty things with low oil, redlining, and nitrous without doing the damage you would be doing to other V6's.
Toxi- you posted a VW link that said 30,000 was possible on synthetic but they also said you might want to start thinking about changing it at 9,000. They could of said 50,000 for all I care. It was your post though.
02 max- Your engine is different than mine. I am sure you know those differences. I am just saying to you that it would be better to change your oil frequently, than to keep it in there with your superior oil. When your car is worth less than 10k look me up if you want to sell it. Then we will see if it was worth it to use synthetic. What mileage do you think that will be?
Southeast- I am using this an example as what one moderator has said to me and what it says in the book about changing oil. Little bit of a double standard if you are are the one who gets banned for a week isn't it?
Nowhere are top and ray going to say that there isn't much difference between mystery dino-oil brand and mystery syn oil because they would get sued.
I remember an additive brand in the early 80's all the way to the early 90's that made the same claims as synthetics. They had their own infomercial on TV one of the first infomercials. What happened? They lied?
Oil companies are bigger than most other companies with the exception of maybe car companies. They can make the same claims and get away with it. Look at car companies. They can sell Durango's, Fords, high priced GM's and have tremendous recalls. Do you really think an automobile is worth nearly 30,000 dollars? I don't. I think auto's are the biggest waste as far as throwing away money. They depreciate as soon as you get them. Those europeans have trains. They don't care if gas goes to 5 dollars a gallon. We do. Here and you know that there is hardly any public transportation like there is in other towns. How often do you see someone walking on 41?
If I am owned it isn't by my car.
I am not saying anything about oil superiority here. If I did I would give it to the syn because of lack of hydrocarbons to gum things up. It doesn't matter though because you are going to damage your engine more by starting it cold than running it with oil circulating. We agreed on that.
Next, we have the oil change issue. You say 10,000 miles is great for an oil change. I say it's best to get any potential damage from cold starts out of your engine as soon as possible.
Some of you say things about VW and Corvettes that's great. I know people with GM products that their engine went fine on synthetic and then blew up. I believed they got around 300,000 miles on their engine and they tell me it was 500,000. I did the math and figured it right. They don't use synthetics anymore and I didn't dissuade them.
On the octane question I already had a discussion on that some time ago with SuperSteve moderator or something and got banned for a week or something because of a similar post to this one. The only thing I found that these engines don't like is ethanol. Ethanol will get us crappy gas mileage and should be avoided as much as possible. You don't get the same amount of power (are they called btu's in gas) from ethanol as you do with regular unleaded gas.
These engines are build better and stronger than other V6's, you can do some seriously naughty things with low oil, redlining, and nitrous without doing the damage you would be doing to other V6's.
Toxi- you posted a VW link that said 30,000 was possible on synthetic but they also said you might want to start thinking about changing it at 9,000. They could of said 50,000 for all I care. It was your post though.
02 max- Your engine is different than mine. I am sure you know those differences. I am just saying to you that it would be better to change your oil frequently, than to keep it in there with your superior oil. When your car is worth less than 10k look me up if you want to sell it. Then we will see if it was worth it to use synthetic. What mileage do you think that will be?
Southeast- I am using this an example as what one moderator has said to me and what it says in the book about changing oil. Little bit of a double standard if you are are the one who gets banned for a week isn't it?
Nowhere are top and ray going to say that there isn't much difference between mystery dino-oil brand and mystery syn oil because they would get sued.
I remember an additive brand in the early 80's all the way to the early 90's that made the same claims as synthetics. They had their own infomercial on TV one of the first infomercials. What happened? They lied?
Oil companies are bigger than most other companies with the exception of maybe car companies. They can make the same claims and get away with it. Look at car companies. They can sell Durango's, Fords, high priced GM's and have tremendous recalls. Do you really think an automobile is worth nearly 30,000 dollars? I don't. I think auto's are the biggest waste as far as throwing away money. They depreciate as soon as you get them. Those europeans have trains. They don't care if gas goes to 5 dollars a gallon. We do. Here and you know that there is hardly any public transportation like there is in other towns. How often do you see someone walking on 41?
If I am owned it isn't by my car.
01-16-2005, 09:44 PM
#139
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 210
Originally Posted by Armelius
Well, I have used dino-weed oil in all my cars and constantly got well over 200,000 miles with no loss in gas mileage and performance. I lived in North Dakota and doesn't matter if you use synthetics or not you still have to plug your car to an electrical outlet to heat the oil.
{snip}
Next, we have the oil change issue. You say 10,000 miles is great for an oil change. I say it's best to get any potential damage from cold starts out of your engine as soon as possible.
{snip}
Toxi- you posted a VW link that said 30,000 was possible on synthetic but they also said you might want to start thinking about changing it at 9,000. They could of said 50,000 for all I care. It was your post though.
{snip}
I remember an additive brand in the early 80's all the way to the early 90's that made the same claims as synthetics. They had their own infomercial on TV one of the first infomercials. What happened? They lied?
{snip}
If I am owned it isn't by my car.
{snip}
Next, we have the oil change issue. You say 10,000 miles is great for an oil change. I say it's best to get any potential damage from cold starts out of your engine as soon as possible.
{snip}
Toxi- you posted a VW link that said 30,000 was possible on synthetic but they also said you might want to start thinking about changing it at 9,000. They could of said 50,000 for all I care. It was your post though.
{snip}
I remember an additive brand in the early 80's all the way to the early 90's that made the same claims as synthetics. They had their own infomercial on TV one of the first infomercials. What happened? They lied?
{snip}
If I am owned it isn't by my car.
You think it's best to remove cold start wear debris? Click on the link in my previous post. There is hardly any debris there. Again, can you prove your assertion with some EVIDENCE?
Just be straight about who said what. Just because I posted a link in which an automaker endorses 30k changes does not mean I do them (though I'll probably push out beyond 10k with a couple UOA supporting that).
The Slick-50 crowd has nothing to do with reputable synthetic oil makers. That's a false comparison. Just because one person lies about something does not mean that the next does. You know that. Come on.
If, in fact, you do change oil as often as it appears you do, you ARE owned by your car. . . I'm a Marine Corps reservist recalled to active duty, and I'm lucky to get three weekends per month at home with my family. I'll be darned if I'm going to spend any more time fiddling with oil changes than I have to. You're right that the VQ V-6 is a hardy design that can stand up to all kinds of punishment. It certainly does not need to be babied with a 3/3 oil change regimen. As someone else asked, do you automatically change out your tires at 10k miles?
Ooooops, we've digressed. You still have not proven your original point. My experience and my EVIDENCE clearly show that syns are well worth the money I spend on them.
01-17-2005, 05:13 AM
#140
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,327
Yeah, slick-50. How many people bought into that? Where is it now? North Dakota is a meaner animal than New Hampshire. New Hampshire probably has more trees than the whole state of North Dakota.
It doesn't take a few minutes to do an oil change. I haven't spent much time working on the Maxima. Struts/shocks, starter (a few times), knock sensor, brakes, abs master cylinder and rotors (brake system I didn't work on), and spark plug replacement, not mentioning the occasional battery and speakers.
Never have I need to work on the engine with the exception of belts, pcv and throttle body cleaning (all not really the engine). Almost forgot I had a few wheel bearings and a cv joint.
I attribute a well kept engine to the frequent oil changes and manufacturers design.
Why don't you do a poll for all the old maxima owners (over 180,000 miles) and ask them if they use synthetic or dino-weed?
It doesn't take a few minutes to do an oil change. I haven't spent much time working on the Maxima. Struts/shocks, starter (a few times), knock sensor, brakes, abs master cylinder and rotors (brake system I didn't work on), and spark plug replacement, not mentioning the occasional battery and speakers.
Never have I need to work on the engine with the exception of belts, pcv and throttle body cleaning (all not really the engine). Almost forgot I had a few wheel bearings and a cv joint.
I attribute a well kept engine to the frequent oil changes and manufacturers design.
Why don't you do a poll for all the old maxima owners (over 180,000 miles) and ask them if they use synthetic or dino-weed?
01-17-2005, 05:39 AM
#141
Originally Posted by Armelius
Some of you say things about VW and Corvettes that's great. I know people with GM products that their engine went fine on synthetic and then blew up. I believed they got around 300,000 miles on their engine and they tell me it was 500,000. I did the math and figured it right. They don't use synthetics anymore and I didn't dissuade them.
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