longest interval between oil changes
08-28-2005, 01:39 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 278
longest interval between oil changes
What is the longest interval for oil change and believe your Max is still ok? I only drive on weekends and I have 13k miles on my 03 Max now. The last time I changed oil was March 05, but I only added about 2k miles since. I guess I will change oil over the Labor Day week when I am off 
08-28-2005, 02:00 PM
#7
Originally Posted by kenny
I have been using the dealer for oil changes. I don't know what kind of oil they use. Wow, 15k with Mobile synthetic!? What much does that cost you?
I think it was something like $38 for the oil and a Mobil 1 oil filter.
08-28-2005, 04:49 PM
#14
OhOh I use AMSOIL full synthetic. You can go long intervals without changing the oil. I just did mine after 10k and it still looked really good. But you DO have to change the filter, at most every 5k miles. If you don't you could end up having serious issues in the end when the filter gets loaded with particulate matter and then stops working properly which WILL happen.
08-29-2005, 06:56 AM
#15
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 40
I use M1 and change every 3/3000. Synthetic is awesome, but it does not increase the interval between changes. The interval is set to 3/3000 for ALL oils because the oil becomes contaminated, detergents dissipate, and protection becomes reduced.
Check out Pat Goss. He is extremely knowledgeable about all car repairs and maintenance.
Check out Pat Goss. He is extremely knowledgeable about all car repairs and maintenance.
08-29-2005, 07:23 AM
#17
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Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 6,190
Originally Posted by kenny
What is the longest interval for oil change and believe your Max is still ok? I only drive on weekends and I have 13k miles on my 03 Max now. The last time I changed oil was March 05, but I only added about 2k miles since. I guess I will change oil over the Labor Day week when I am off
Look at www.lubecontrol.com. They offer a product, LC20, that helps to extend oil change intervals and cleans the engine. I would strongly consider buying some of that and trying it if you continue your present practice.
Alternatively, you should be changing your oil every 6 months.
08-29-2005, 07:46 AM
#19
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Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 6,190
Everyone is missing the point. He is a low-mileage driver and needs to change his oil more often than every 5K as that will extend him beyond a year.
The 3K, 3 month oil-change interval is a myth perpetrated by the oil companies and lube joints. Even severe service with a Maxima only dictates a 3,750 mile OCI.
I have to laugh at the idiots who are changing Mobil 1 synthetic oil at 3K, 3 month intervals - they obviously have more money than brains!
Just a suggestion, kenny: stop going to the dealer for oil changes. Buy a Nissan OEM filter from the dealer and change the oil yourself or get a friend to do it for you if you don't know how. Also buy a decent quality dino oil.
You are NOT a candidate for synthetic oil.
The 3K, 3 month oil-change interval is a myth perpetrated by the oil companies and lube joints. Even severe service with a Maxima only dictates a 3,750 mile OCI.
I have to laugh at the idiots who are changing Mobil 1 synthetic oil at 3K, 3 month intervals - they obviously have more money than brains!
Just a suggestion, kenny: stop going to the dealer for oil changes. Buy a Nissan OEM filter from the dealer and change the oil yourself or get a friend to do it for you if you don't know how. Also buy a decent quality dino oil.
You are NOT a candidate for synthetic oil.
08-29-2005, 08:03 AM
#20
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 290
Originally Posted by boondoxmax
i go 5000k between changes and use castrol gtx.
08-29-2005, 08:10 AM
#21
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Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 6,190
Originally Posted by 00Max00
5000K oil change interval???!!! I'm wondering you have been in the world long enough to drive that much miles and having the chance to change your oil once. Your engine must be made by space alien's exotic aerospace material...
08-29-2005, 08:30 AM
#22
Originally Posted by Bobo
I have used Castrol GTX most of the time but have never extended it beyond 4K. I strongly suspect that he is fine on Castrol GTX up to 5K provided that the car sees a decent amount of highway miles. I wouldn't go 5K on dino oil with mostly city driving.
...
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08-29-2005, 09:16 AM
#25
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Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 6,190
Originally Posted by silversurfersg
just did 21k on synthetic in a year whoops. normally 10k is fine for synthetic but i didnt have the time to change it.
08-29-2005, 04:56 PM
#28
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 40
Originally Posted by Bobo
The 3K, 3 month oil-change interval is a myth perpetrated by the oil companies and lube joints. Even severe service with a Maxima only dictates a 3,750 mile OCI.
I have to laugh at the idiots who are changing Mobil 1 synthetic oil at 3K, 3 month intervals - they obviously have more money than brains!
I have to laugh at the idiots who are changing Mobil 1 synthetic oil at 3K, 3 month intervals - they obviously have more money than brains!
1) Manufacturers recommended maintenance is usually based on an expected life of 100,000 miles. I want my engine to last much longer.
2)For most vehicles, exclusive highway driving, 5,000 miles is a good number. Exclusive severe driving which includes beltway driving (beltway is not the same as highway driving) than 3,000 miles is absolutely the way to go. Also keep in mind it is never better to go longer, if there is any question of your driving always go with the severe driving schedule for your car.
3) I drive in traffic a LOT!!!
4) Are you jealous I can AFFORD it???
Just kidding, but I didn't appreciate the comment! 
08-29-2005, 05:34 PM
#29
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 278
Originally Posted by Bobo
Everyone is missing the point. He is a low-mileage driver and needs to change his oil more often than every 5K as that will extend him beyond a year.
The 3K, 3 month oil-change interval is a myth perpetrated by the oil companies and lube joints. Even severe service with a Maxima only dictates a 3,750 mile OCI.
I have to laugh at the idiots who are changing Mobil 1 synthetic oil at 3K, 3 month intervals - they obviously have more money than brains!
Just a suggestion, kenny: stop going to the dealer for oil changes. Buy a Nissan OEM filter from the dealer and change the oil yourself or get a friend to do it for you if you don't know how. Also buy a decent quality dino oil.
You are NOT a candidate for synthetic oil.
The 3K, 3 month oil-change interval is a myth perpetrated by the oil companies and lube joints. Even severe service with a Maxima only dictates a 3,750 mile OCI.
I have to laugh at the idiots who are changing Mobil 1 synthetic oil at 3K, 3 month intervals - they obviously have more money than brains!
Just a suggestion, kenny: stop going to the dealer for oil changes. Buy a Nissan OEM filter from the dealer and change the oil yourself or get a friend to do it for you if you don't know how. Also buy a decent quality dino oil.
You are NOT a candidate for synthetic oil.
08-30-2005, 01:17 PM
#30
Originally Posted by big_bogus
I take offense to the idiot comment.
1) Manufacturers recommended maintenance is usually based on an expected life of 100,000 miles. I want my engine to last much longer.
2)For most vehicles, exclusive highway driving, 5,000 miles is a good number. Exclusive severe driving which includes beltway driving (beltway is not the same as highway driving) than 3,000 miles is absolutely the way to go. Also keep in mind it is never better to go longer, if there is any question of your driving always go with the severe driving schedule for your car.
3) I drive in traffic a LOT!!!
4) Are you jealous I can AFFORD it??? Just kidding, but I didn't appreciate the comment!
1) Manufacturers recommended maintenance is usually based on an expected life of 100,000 miles. I want my engine to last much longer.
2)For most vehicles, exclusive highway driving, 5,000 miles is a good number. Exclusive severe driving which includes beltway driving (beltway is not the same as highway driving) than 3,000 miles is absolutely the way to go. Also keep in mind it is never better to go longer, if there is any question of your driving always go with the severe driving schedule for your car.
3) I drive in traffic a LOT!!!
4) Are you jealous I can AFFORD it???
Just kidding, but I didn't appreciate the comment! Just do a couple of oil analysis and you'll find out why changing oil at 3000 miles is a waste of money.
08-30-2005, 05:53 PM
#32
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 36
I've always gone by the 3K rule...I ran synthetic in my mustang but really don't buy into the benefit. Frequent oil changes are an easy way to guarentee performance from a motor...I had a friend (with more money than brains) that bought a brand new toyota tacoma who decided to see how long he could go without changing the oil filter....blew the motor at 40K
08-30-2005, 06:36 PM
#33
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: West Henrietta, NY
Posts: 831
BOBO - I know what you're saying. A LOT of people go OCD with maintenance and call EVERYTHING Preventative Maintenance. If the synthetic oil bottle's label does not look right they will only keep it in their car 1K miles and change it again. There is no eact black and white on this one guys. The only true way to tell is to visually inspect your oil at specific intervals and determine what is best for you. Personally I will never keep a car more than 100K miles anyways so I could care less. I change it every 6K miles and that to me is being on top of things. Would I ever change any car's oil at 3K miles intervals again? Never in a million years. The oil products out today are very different from the dyno oil. If you feel the need to change every 3K or so do it. I would however put money down saying the difference in longevity of an engine that is changed at 6K miles compared to 5K would be almost non existant.
What people seem to forget is how you DRIVE your car is the GREATEST factor in how long your major components will last. I could change my oil every 10K miles and my engine would probably last longer than somebody elses who changed their every 1K miles yet felt the need to redline their engine and show it 6K RPM revs on a regular basis. The BEST preventative maintenance you can do is to NOT BEAT ON THE CAR.
What people seem to forget is how you DRIVE your car is the GREATEST factor in how long your major components will last. I could change my oil every 10K miles and my engine would probably last longer than somebody elses who changed their every 1K miles yet felt the need to redline their engine and show it 6K RPM revs on a regular basis. The BEST preventative maintenance you can do is to NOT BEAT ON THE CAR.
08-31-2005, 08:25 AM
#38
Originally Posted by drock02
How do you change the filter but not the oil??? Filter every 3K, oil every 6K. You must be really fast 
LOL!!!
LOL!!!Reason for this: Mobil1 is good for at least 6K, but filter is not. Almost all filters are good for 3K maximum. Though, I did not have a chance to try out Mobil1 filter as they are not available in Canada yet...
08-31-2005, 08:31 AM
#39
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Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 6,190
Originally Posted by igzy
I do it on a cold engine and add only about 1/2 qt of oil... As you can see only a little bit comes out when you take off the filter and whatever oil is in the filter...
Reason for this: Mobil1 is good for at least 6K, but filter is not. Almost all filters are good for 3K maximum. Though, I did not have a chance to try out Mobil1 filter as they are not available in Canada yet...
Reason for this: Mobil1 is good for at least 6K, but filter is not. Almost all filters are good for 3K maximum. Though, I did not have a chance to try out Mobil1 filter as they are not available in Canada yet...
Since you live in Canada, you should strongly consider switching to Esso XD3 Extra, 0w30, full synthetic available only at Esso bulk plants. Its showing better UOAs on BITOG than Mobil 1 and is considerably cheaper.
A guy with a taxi fleet in Saskatchewan did a UOA on one of his taxis after 40,000 km and the XD3 was still good to go for quite some time.
Just avoid Fram oil filters.