3DazeGrace

hey all,

for this new client im probably going to be driving about 150 mi roundtrip/day all highway

do i still need to change oil every 3,000 or can i get away with a little more? because thats like less than every month

thx

Progress

iTrader: (26)

What year? Even without knowing, I'd say switch to M1SS and change it every 5-10k.

If you have a 5.5, just keeping filling it, it'll empty on its own.

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

Impossible to determine w/o an oil analysis done. Plain and simple

NismoMax80

iTrader: (6)

well the manual states if mostly long highway trips like you stated, every 7500 miles instead of 3750. like stated, we don't know your model, but typically you can double your regular interval.

Jeff's answer is best, but unlikely you'll do it.

Bobo

It helps to know what year your car is and what kind of oil and filter you plan on running.

Changing oil every 3K, unless the car is sitting a lot or used for mostly short hops, is an absolute waste of money.

If you are running a decent quality dino oil and filter, I suspect you could easily go 5K given the nature of your planned driving routine.

With a decent quality synthetic oil and filter, you should be able to safely extend that to 7,500 miles. Amsoil, Redline or German Castrol oil should see you further yet.

One problem with Mobil 1 is that it has a tendency to shear and it isn't a particularly "heavy" 30 weight oil to begin with.

However, as Jeff92Se suggests an oil analysis would help.

Blackstone Labs is a popular UOA company.

3DazeGrace

thanks guys

just to answer your question it is a 2002 6 speed with about 60k miles

i never asked for special oil, i just take whatever they put in it, i've been changing my oil every 3k miles but since i've been driving more its been typically less than 3 months, i'd be comfortable with extending 1000 or 2000 miles more... 7500 seems risky though as oil changes aren't really that expensive and i get 48c to the mile anyways

what is M1SS oil? can i ask for special oil at any place or will they look at me funny. also i have no idea what filter i'm using. i dont know much about cars, i do computers

lastly what is an oil analysis?

Bobo

It is in your best interests to start learning something about cars. You have been a member of this website for 18 months now. There is a wealth of information at your fingertips.

One of the most critical areas of maintenance is routine replacement of fluids. I don't mean simply oil changes. At 60K you should have replaced your transaxle gear oil by now and flushed your radiator at least once.
Your clutch fluid, power steering fluid and brake fluid also needs to be replaced periodically.

Do you know what weight oil you have been using? Obviously, it isn't synthetic oil. Along with good quality oil, it is also important to use a good quality oil filter. In your case, a Nissan OEM filter is probably the best way to go.

An oil analysis is a process where you sent in some of your used oil after it is drained and have it analyzed.

I would start by perusing the stickies in the 5th Gen Forum as well as the Fluids and Lubricants forum. Familiarize yourself with your owners manual as well.

If you want to know more about used-oil analysis, see www.bobistheoilguy.com

3DazeGrace

actually this account is only 18 months old

i've been a member of this site since i've owned my 95 maxima which was back in 2000, so i've been on this site for 6 years

that account got terminated because i got into a scuff with one of the more ignorant moderators

i'll try to make some time to read the stickies, i read a ton of stuff and don't have much time, so its hard to be up on everything

NismoMax80

iTrader: (6)

interesting

Pearl96Max

iTrader: (151)

Yes, very interesting...

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

And which "ignorant" moderator was that?

Love_00_Max

I use 10W30 for 5K (mostly highway miles) and my last UOA was well within the desired numbers.

3DazeGrace

i cant remember and dont really care they are very immature and dont have time for that

but it kinda went like this thread is going, a buncha smug comments from 3 or 4 different "regulars" ... oh well

i just come here for info now, not the greatest place to make friends

Bobo

You asked for feedback and you got it.

steven88

iTrader: (28)

use a decent oil such as pennzoil yellow...and a decent oil filter such as super-tech...and you can safely do 3000 miles!

make sure to add some of this too...it will help with gas mileage!

Jibberish18

If you're using conventional oil, try going 5000 miles. Change out the oil and see what you think. If it feels, looks and smells like it can go a little longer than go for it. You're not really giving the engine much stress on the highway. If you go with synthetic, I'd pick a good oil filter (possibly one that holds more dirt) and go a good 10K miles before changing.

Love_00_Max

[QUOTE=Jibberish18]If it feels, looks and smells like it can go a little longer than go for it. QUOTE]

Only an oil analysis report would tell you if you can extend a "specific oil" or not. I do my reports every 30K miles and stick to Chevron oils.

Now if you said the same about ATF (if it looks red it is good to go for another xK miles) then you would be misleading folks out here.... Nissan trannies are brutal on oils.!!!

Jibberish18

Of course and I completely agree. But I don't have the time or the will to send out my oil to get analyzed. That being said I just determine how long I'd like it in their by some of the 5 senses I have. Yeah pretty stupid way of doing it, but to me it's not that important.

But if people would really like to know the technicalities of what's happening in their oil then do as Love_00_Max says and send your stuff to Black Lab.

STARR

iTrader: (1)

My friend use to commute 250 miles a day in his GXE 5speed Maxima, the 1 before they put the 255hp VQ and 6 speed in, he routinely went 10k on dino fluid, Castrol GTX, when he changed it, the oil still had a gold tint, never did an oil analysis but he just recently sold the car with over 220k, no burning oil, no smoke, and excellent gas mileage, most of his commute was 80-100mph

10-15k on Mobil 1 is very doable with all highway miles, but it's up to you

steven88

iTrader: (28)

damn, i think 10k is overkill for regular dino...

STARR

iTrader: (1)

10k may be overkill but he was a diesel mechanic and at the time he was strapped, still that was an excellent engine and the Castrol GTX is among the best dinos on the market, plenty of times I have come across threads on the oil forum with owners running 7500 miles on it and they can take it to 8000 or 9000 miles with their driving habits.

I really wanna see a change in the US oil change industry, at least the car makers will have to take the 1st step, not just the Germans.

Love_00_Max

You can be assured running good dino oil on a VQ30 for 5K miles with no problems. I have done oil analysis on Castrol GTX 5W30 and Chevron 10W30 and they both were run for 5K miles non highway miles (10 miles back and forth to work) with excellent results.

This forum captures other folks results which could be used for your reference as to how many miles to go between oil changes...

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/...?ubb=forum;f=3

Good luck!!!