Since I drive my car so little, I've been doing 6 month oil changes in the past with Mobil 1 5W-30 and 9E000 filter. My last change was in May, but this time with M06 German Castrol 0W-30. Given that GC is a great quality oil, I figured I do a filter change this time? I've driven about 4000 miles since then.

 

The oil you are using will provide good protection for the full length of Nissan's OCI recommendation. You can change the filter now if it will make you feel better, and it certainly won't hurt anything to do so.

 

Makes sense, but to really gauge how much longer I can go I'll need a Blackstone test right? Or can I go til May w/o worry?

 

An analysis will tell you the level of any contaminants and/or wear metals present in the oil and will give you an assement of the oil's physical properties. From that information one can determine if it's suitable for continued use.

You have a few choices...change the oil/filter now; change just the filter; do an analysis and base your decision on that; or just keep driving it until spring. The most conservative choice is to change the oil and filter now...Nissan oil/filter change recommendations on my 4th and 5th gen cars say 7500 miles or 6-months under normal service. Severe service recommendations are 3750 mi/6-mos. While many of today's better synthetics are capable of more, there's only one oil I am familiar with that's specifically formulated and recommended for extended drains up to a year (and provides a warranty to cover the consumer). If you do a lot of idling or short trip driving, particularly in your area of the country where it's cold, condensation could have accumulated in the oil...and a new full-flow filter will not remove condensation.

While an analysis will tell you for sure what you've got, the $20 or so you save in not having it done can go toward an oil change...then you know you're good. You just have do do what you are comfortable with.

I accumulate more miles than you do (~20K/yr) and my driving environment is much different than yours; however, I typically do an oil/filter change every 6-months, fall and spring.

 

Remember, filters catch particles, and particles come from driving. No matter how much time has passed, if you haven't done too many miles then you don't need to change your filter.

As talkinghorse said, the biggest problem with a high time/low mileage OCI is water accumulation: water vapor enters the crankcase over time, but there aren't enough miles to work it all out. In some cases, water can start breaking down the oil, which is not something that a filter change will address.

German Castrol is known to be one of the most robust, stable oils you can get. It's mostly (if not entirely) PAO-based, which means it won't attract water and will remain consistent in its performance even in the presence of water. No widely available 30-weight PCMO is better in those respects besides maybe Amsoil's stuff, which is formulated specifically to that end. So, even in the worst-case scenario, I think you'll be okay.

That said, if it's worth it to you to think about this stuff in detail, it's definitely worth it to get an oil analysis. It's easy: once you get the sample kit, all you have to do is open your drain plug, let the oil drain for a few seconds, collect your sample, put the plug back in, and top off with fresh oil. Then, two weeks later, you have some very useful info that will let you get the most out of your oil and your car. $20 is not a large price to pay for that, if you think about it.

 

Thanks for the advice, I already requested a kit from Blackstone

 

I am in a similar situation and have a kit from Blackstone.

I will be sending in a sample of my Esso XD3, 0w30 PAO, full synthetic in late January, which will represent a 12-month OCI with somewhat less than 5,000 miles on the oil and OEM Nissan filter. The car is used for mostly highway driving, but sits at times for 3 or 4 days without being driven.

I have never had a UOA and am looking forward to the results, particularly given I use a K&N panel air filter.

 

I'll be very curious about that analysis, as I'm using the same oil and will only be driving about 8000 miles per year.. so my main concern is the oil's ability to deal with contaminants from sitting for days at a time.

 

It's not so much the sitting that will cause the condensation...it's short trips, particularly in cold temps.

In Bobo's case his total miles are low, but at least when he takes the car out he is able to run it at hwy speed, get it warm and ~boil off~ the condensation. I suspect n3983, who lives in New Jersey, has different usage patterns for his car.

 

So if my car does have frequent short trips, which it does. Once in a while, a good long highway trip 30+ min should burn off all condensation present?

 

see below

 

It would certainly help a lot...