Here is a good read for you about filters... BTW, I don't believe that any filter works effectivelly after 3-4K...

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy.html

 

Popular belief is that Motor Oil has to be changed every 3,000-miles, because it gets "dirty".
Oil industry spends millions of dollars annually to promote that idea.
95% of auto mechanics believe it is true and promote it to their customers.
The "DIRT" in a Motor Oil is ancient MYTH, passed on from father to son, and now to some daughters too!
But it is FALSE assumption!
It is not true and not based on any scientific fact or ANY evidence.
The prooven FACT is that you do not have to change Motor Oil for up to:

15 years or 150,000 miles if you use:
SynLube™ Lube-4-Life®
The FIRST Oil you do NOT change !


This is from synlube.com

 

For your washroom reading pleasures, here are a few more links:

1,000,000 miles (yes, it is 1 million) Mobil1 test:
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/all/eng...obil1_oil.html

Some Honda guy's filter analysis:
http://www.ntpog.org/reviews/filters/filters.shtml

Amsoil oil/filter recommended intervals:
http://www.amsoil.com/lit/g1490.pdf

Mobil1 website is a little more obscure than Amsoil's when it comes to recommended oil/filter change intervals and I could not find any info other than for Mobil1 7500 Extended life oil that is good for 7500 miles... Enjoy...

 

How good is the maxima oem one?

 

It's just fine. Some like Purolator PureOne, but I think they're more expensive.

 

Around here, Purolator PureOne is actually cheaper... but its only a couple bucks difference...

 

Well, the next time I'm across the line I'll look because they are about Cdn$5 more where I live than Nissan OEM.

 

The Nissan VQ engine has an aluminum block and is not a sludge monster. Your statement has no relevance to a Maxima, whatsoever.

 

Is the VQ in the 3.5L?

 

Would you mind explaining what do aluminum block, sludge and an oil filter have in common As far as I know, aluminum block is softer than steel one and will generate more shavings as a result. Correct me if I am wrong...

As far as the filter change goes, I think they are effective for 3-4K, after that it gets less effective and the crap is not filtered out properly. Some of those studies I mentioned the links for are confirming what I am saying too...

 

I think this discussion is turning into the fuel filter discussion we had a few weeks back on if and how often a fuel filter should be changed on 5th gen :

 

Here is another Mobil1 study on LS1 engine. It is from 2003 but may be worth while considering. They used 5K filter (Napa Gold) change with top up:

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/mobil1.html
http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/s.../oil-life.html

Their recommendation: "Based on the results we've got here, we'd recommend 8,000 miles between oil changes on an engine that uses no oil at all, perhaps 10,000 miles on an engine that uses some oil, and 15,000 miles or beyond with a filter change every 5,000 miles."

I use 3-4K filter and 6-7K oil...

 

Great, good stuff, lol!

 

when i first got my car in 2003 with 22k.......I didn't change the oil or the filter for 9000miles!!!! =/ stupid me. I didn't know how important an oil change was. I'm glad my car is still running. engine sounds kinda loud and not that responsive compared to my friends maxima. My car is at 40k miles.

 

Lots of good stuff here... so I'll add my .02. I've recently started using the "5000 mile between changes" oil with an OEM filter. Seems to work well. I recently used a quart of "Lucas" oil additive and so far have been very pleased with it. If anyone else here has a "Lucas oil" story, please do tell. It says that it will prolong your oil life by 50%. With that, I could go to 7500 miles before my next change... not likely. Oil threads are always good for multiple opinions and ideas.

 

I just did 6k on my Purple Oid synthetic oil. The car worked great, nothing was wrong with it.

 

I drive in NYC.. wouldnt go above 5k. Usually do 4k though.

 

My sister changes the oil on her '97 Altima every 15,000 to 20,000 miles. It's got 160k on it now and runs fine. My dad put 80k on 4 Ford Explorers (company trucks). All non-synthetic. Oil changes at 10k like clockwork. No problems.

I change mine at 3,000 anyway because it's cheap and easy.

 

I won't necessarily fault you dad because he was driving a company truck, but your sister should give her head a shake. Her 97 Altima would benefit from two applications of AutoRX. I question how much longer that engine will last at OCIs of 15 to 20K.

 

Ok

here we go ill try to cover alot of stuff here

First off BOBO has been dead on in everything he said.

In response to the aluminum shavings question, if you got aluminum shavings in your oil somthing really really wrong.

filters CAN go past 3k, depending on brand, and id bet the M1 one can do 7.5k at least, probally good for 10k or more.

Oil can go past 3k, esspescially GTX and Synthetics.

As to the guy who said that the manufacture expects 100k from there cars and thats why they reccomend what they do, i do 5k changes on M1 and either PureOne or M1 filters and i expect AT LEAST 250k from this engine.

To the sister w/ the altima, probally not worth the auto-rx, start changing the oil every 3-5k and see how long it will go, but if shes doin 15-20k on synthetic just shorten them up a little and use the RX.

To the guy w/ the lucas, what kinda oil are you using with that 5k? id reccomend against lucas because it can cause foam in the oil which is a big no no. if you want a good oil additive use either LC (mentioned by bobo, i use it in all my cars) or Valvoline synpower oil treatment, i just got some supposedly it has tons of moly in it but i would only use a little as it is very thick and too much moly isnt good i dont think.


Im sure there is plenty more stuff here im forgetting to cover, but that should help out a little, and again everything bobo has said i believe is correct

 

I just wanted to add a little bit. The Nissan OEM filter can also go 7.5k, the OCI for a mostly-freeway car is 7.5k and there's no recommendation on changing the filter between oil changes.

 

......... .

 

I drive 5000-6000 miles per month, 95% Interstate, so I usually go with a ~2 month interval. Which works out to 12k to 13k usually. I run only Mobil Synthetic 5w-30 with a Nissan or K&N oil filter. I only change the filter when I change the oil. I have been doing this since I bought the car with 17k on the odo. It is now past 150k. The valve train still looks clean (looking inside the valve cover) and the engine does not smoke, ever, requires no additional oil for the first 10k miles (the same as when I got it), gets 28mpg, and runs like new. The VQ is simply an awesome motor. Actually the whole car has been GREAT. Other than scheduled maintenance, I have not had to do ANYTHING to this car (except for fixing the VIAS).

I wouldn't recommend going as far on oil and filters if you are not doing the type, and amount of driving I do.

 

Have you ever considered sending an oil sample to Blackstone Labs for a UOA?
It would give you some insight on whether what you are doing is fine for your vehicle.

How long are you planning on keeping this car? It may be running fine at 150K, but will it make it to 250K is the obvious question.

 

With the condition the engine is in right now (finally broken-in ) 250k should not be difficult. My only question is will it make it to or past 300k (we will find out in a couple years)

I am not too worried about it. I can handle a motor swap in my garage easily. Which WILL need to be done in the future, since I plan on keeping this car indefinately. The only question is, will I have to do the swap at 250k or 300k?

 

Spend $20 on a UOA at Blackstone Labs and you might get some insight to the answer of that question.