Welcome to NJ (-10F all the way to 102F)... *sigh*
Got new car 95'MAx 5spd 88K "unknown" history mileage on it.

Major tune up about to start.

Gunk engine flushing done
Mobil1 Full Synthetic comes out as the clear winner.

My question: 5w-30, 10w-30 ? Both? any other grade? why?

Thanks in advance for the input.

 

What I was just told is to use 5w30 exclusively until high mileage (80k) then switch to 10w30 if desired

 

10-30 as you get older. I'd say switch to 10w-30.

 

5w-30=winter/fall ; 10w30=spring/summer

 

5w30 all year synthetic Blend

 

5W-30 all the time. The 5 stands for the thinness in the winter. The 30 stands for the thickness at normal operating temp.

So 10w-30 would be the same in normal operating temp, and thicker in the winter.

The manual recommends 5w-30.

 

Make sense due to thickness...hmmm...

 

RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY NUMBER

- Gasoline Engine Oil
From -20 to +100 F (5w-30) Preferred
From 0 to +100 F (10w-30)

SAE-5W-30 viscosity oil is preferred for all ambient temperatures. SAE 10W-30 viscosity oil may be used if the ambient temperature is above 0 F (-18 C)



**

Information obtained from page 9-6 of 1997 Nissan Owner's Manual, and for your safety, read carfeully and keep in your vehicle at all times.

 

How many oil changes are you planning on doing in a year?

 

I don't go by the year, every 5K miles instead since it's full synthetic (whatever time takes me to get to 5K, could be a month sometimes)

 

Either just stick with 5w30 all year long or change to 5w30 around Oct/Nov and then to 10w30 around April/May