Fluids and Lubricants Motor oil, transmission oil, radiator fluid, power steering fluid, blinker fluid... wait, there is no blinker fluid. Technical discussion and analysis of the different lubricants we use in our cars.

What weight oil do you use, and how many miles on your car.

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Old Jul 26, 2008 | 01:20 PM
  #1  
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What weight oil do you use, and how many miles on your car.

I still use 5w30, conventional, in my car at 163K. And people wonder why I still get ~32mpg on the highway.
Old Jul 26, 2008 | 01:34 PM
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I was using 5W30 since I bought the car new. Recently I found out I was buring 2 quarts of oil every 2K miles. The dealer suggested to switch to 20W50 and bring the car back in 1,000 miles. Dealer said 20W50 is fine for the hot So Cal summer. Tech told me the oil had a burnt smell to it when he drained the old stuff.
Old Jul 26, 2008 | 01:40 PM
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20w50 is extremely heavy. I have no clue why the dealer would suggest something so heavy, I would step down to something like a 10w40. 20w50 is making your engine work a lot harder than it needs to work to do it's job. Step down to a 10w40 atleast and you will have a better running engine, it will start easier, you'll get better gas mileage, and the car will perform better and have quicker responce. If you need that heavy of an oil to keep oil in the engine then there is a bigger problem somewhere that needs to be figured out.
Old Jul 26, 2008 | 02:19 PM
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Try Valvoline high milage.
Old Jul 26, 2008 | 02:22 PM
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32mpg highway? How???? I got an '01 and can barely get 28....and that's going the speed limit......
Old Jul 26, 2008 | 02:30 PM
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Mobile1 EP 5W30 + Mobile1 filter
73k miles
no oil burning problem, 20mpg in city, 28mpg on highway

Last edited by jasonmax; Jul 26, 2008 at 06:14 PM.
Old Jul 26, 2008 | 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by VQP0WER
32mpg highway? How???? I got an '01 and can barely get 28....and that's going the speed limit......



Couldn't tell ya really, but staying in the 75-80mph range, right around 3000ish rpm seems to be where my car gets the best gas mileage. Theoretically your car gets the best gas mileage at whatever rpm your car makes peak torque. I don't think these cars make peak torque that low so I could only assume that I can still go faster and get better gas mileage, lol.


I have no real explanation for it though.
Old Jul 26, 2008 | 06:03 PM
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Originally Posted by OhOhMax
Couldn't tell ya really, but staying in the 75-80mph range, right around 3000ish rpm seems to be where my car gets the best gas mileage. Theoretically your car gets the best gas mileage at whatever rpm your car makes peak torque. I don't think these cars make peak torque that low so I could only assume that I can still go faster and get better gas mileage, lol.


I have no real explanation for it though.
Is that what the Odometer comp says or are you actual calculating it out based on gallons used.
Old Jul 26, 2008 | 06:12 PM
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I'm running 03 Auto and usually around 75 mph the trip comp shows 28-29 mpg, how true it is, I don't know....I use Royal Purple 10W40 and WIX, I found Mobil 10W30 to thin and definitely 5w30 way too thin to even think about using in 100 degree fahrenheit and drag strip visits....
Old Jul 26, 2008 | 06:15 PM
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Originally Posted by CMax03
I'm running 03 Auto and usually around 75 mph the trip comp shows 28-29 mpg, how true it is, I don't know....I use Royal Purple 10W40 and WIX, I found Mobil 10W30 to thin and definitely 5w30 way too thin to even think about using in 100 degree fahrenheit and drag strip visits....
how do you know "too thin"?
Old Jul 26, 2008 | 06:18 PM
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we have a "fluids and lubricants" subforum here....which is where this thread is going!
Old Jul 26, 2008 | 06:29 PM
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Originally Posted by jasonmax
how do you know "too thin"?
Always heard a light ticking sound like a lifter when I run 10W30 Mobil. So I tried 10W40 Mobil but could not find it easily. I felt the 10W40 RP solved the light ticking sound @ idle..IMO
Old Jul 27, 2008 | 11:25 AM
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0W30 German Castrol. Mobil 1-Wix-Hastings; filters. 125K on car.

Last edited by JwaxMax99; Jul 28, 2008 at 09:06 AM.
Old Aug 15, 2008 | 06:12 PM
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wifes car 235k
mine 213k

both use 10-40 and run like champs. mine gets just short of 35 mpg on hwy. city is about 26.
Old Aug 16, 2008 | 12:38 PM
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I thought about trying the Amsoil 0w30 . We're getting 28-28.5 now. I'd like to break the 30mpg mark. Car is all stock though.
Old Aug 16, 2008 | 02:20 PM
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I've used AMSOIL 0w-30 since it was introduced in the mid-90's. It's an outstanding product. I was running AMSOIL's 5-30 or 10w-30 before then, and those oils typically make engines run smoother and quieter than they do with competing oils. However, the 0w-30 made a noticeable improvement in overall operation over AMSOIL's regular line of oil.

AMSOIL's 0w-30 offers outstanding wear protection, extremely low volatility, excellent high and low temperature performance, high shear strength and a robust additive package making it capable of extended drain intervals. I sell a lot of this oil to our members.

Concerning mileage, I can surpass 30 mpg on both my 4th gen Maxima and 5th-gen equivalent, stock I-30, driving responsibly.
Old Aug 16, 2008 | 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted by talkinghorse
I've used AMSOIL 0w-30 since it was introduced in the mid-90's. It's an outstanding product. I was running AMSOIL's 5-30 or 10w-30 before then, and those oils typically make engines run smoother and quieter than they do with competing oils. However, the 0w-30 made a noticeable improvement in overall operation over AMSOIL's regular line of oil.

AMSOIL's 0w-30 offers outstanding wear protection, extremely low volatility, excellent high and low temperature performance, high shear strength and a robust additive package making it capable of extended drain intervals. I sell a lot of this oil to our members.

Concerning mileage, I can surpass 30 mpg on both my 4th gen Maxima and 5th-gen equivalent, stock I-30, driving responsibly.
tell me more.
Old Aug 16, 2008 | 06:08 PM
  #18  
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5w30 always - either castrol gtx or pennzoil

236.000 KM on the car no oil burning or leaking
Old Aug 17, 2008 | 07:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Blackwind
tell me more.
That's a pretty broad question.

I've been using AMSOIL 0w-30 essentially since it was introduced....it's the most efficient and highest performing passenger vehicle oil in the AMSOIL line-up. The oil offers superior wear protection and longer service compared to competing oils. I've sold a lot of this oil to our members (and others); and while not very scientific, people who switch to this oil typically report that their engines run quieter and smoother. I live in south TX and I have had absolutely no issues with oil consumption, even in the heat...AMSOIL 0w-30 can be used where 0w-30, 5w-30 or 10w-30 is recommended. My commute is ~70 miles/day, and I typically change the oil/filter every 6-months, spring and fall, with ~10,000 miles on it. If one of the vehicles sit and don't accululate the miles, I defer the oil change for up to a year. The engines on the Max and I-30 are amazingly quiet and smooth; and from what I can see by looking in the oil filler cap, they are perfectly clean inside. I've had the oil analyzed prior to changing and results show below average wear metals and additive levels sufficient to provide continued service. AMSOIL recommends up to 35,000 mile/1-year drain intervals, or up to 17,500 mi/1-yr in severe service. AMSOIL categorizes vehicles with over 100K as severe service.

Last Oct, AMSOIL reformulated this oil to provide even greater performance. The oil was supplemented with a proprietary ashless anti-wear system for improved heat and viscosity control and TBN was boosted by 10 percent, to 13.2. A lubricant with a high TBN is better able to neutralize acids, retard oxidation and corrosion, enhance lubricity, improve viscosity characteristic and reduce the tendency of sludge buildup.

Let me know if you have any other questions or would like a price quote on the oil. If you send me a PM with your e-mail address, I can send you a tech data sheet on the oil (or any other AMSOIL product). thx

Last edited by talkinghorse; Aug 17, 2008 at 06:45 PM.
Old Aug 30, 2008 | 04:46 PM
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I use Mobile1 10w30 along with a Mobile1 filter on my car (5th gen) with ~136k miles.

It seems a bit heavy and I may use a 5w next time.
Old Aug 31, 2008 | 12:17 AM
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Was runnig royal purple 5-30 but have switched to mobile one 0-30w
Old Sep 11, 2008 | 08:29 PM
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Originally Posted by OhOhMax
Couldn't tell ya really, but staying in the 75-80mph range, right around 3000ish rpm seems to be where my car gets the best gas mileage.
At 82 MHP my 04 Max (with 6-speed, in top gear) is turning at 3,000 RPM. But I get much better mileage driving about 65 MPH. The wind resistance against the car at 82 is much worse than at 65. I think that driving 55 MPH would probably give me even better mileage, but I can't drive that slowly.
Originally Posted by OhOhMax
Theoretically your car gets the best gas mileage at whatever rpm your car makes peak torque. I don't think these cars make peak torque that low so I could only assume that I can still go faster and get better gas mileage, lol.
Internal Combustion Engine Design 101 says that you get the best mileage at the RPM that produces peak torque. And peak torque in the 04 VQ engine is supposed to occur at 4,400 RPM. But if you have ever seen a torque curve for this engine, it is very flat from about 2,400 to about 4,800 RPM. So I don't think, for this engine, that the absolute peak torque point = the optimum operating engine speed for economy. And that theoretical operating point does not consider wind resistance -- which happens in the real world.

Last edited by SilverMax_04; Sep 11, 2008 at 08:32 PM.
Old Sep 12, 2008 | 06:55 AM
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10W30 W/ 134K MILES

TRYING TO SEE WHAT DIFF MAKES GOING 5K MAKES OPPOSE TO MY USUAL 3K
Old Jul 26, 2012 | 10:15 AM
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01' max....5w 30, 225.000 miles . Rebuilt tranny one year ago.
Old Jul 30, 2012 | 07:00 PM
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Mobil1 0W-40 wal-mart has good prices on it.
Old Aug 5, 2012 | 08:38 AM
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Blend of Rotella T6 and Mobil 1 TDT @ 97k.
Old Aug 7, 2012 | 12:39 PM
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Rotella T6 in the fast toys
Mobil1 5w30 15k in the BMWs so I don't have to bother in the winter
Whatever 15w40 is cheapest (of Delo 400/Delvac 1300/Rotella T5) in everything else.
Old Aug 12, 2012 | 04:31 PM
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i've been running 5-30 syntec since i bought the car in '04. the car had 62,xxx then and has 185,xxx now.
Old Aug 16, 2012 | 07:22 PM
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Valvoline high mileage 5w-30 in my 99 max. 213k leaks a little in between oil changes. 31-32 mpg if I can keep it around 55-65mph. As you know that is impossible with these vehicles. 23-27mph overall.
Old Aug 21, 2012 | 07:24 PM
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Originally Posted by maximadave
I was using 5W30 since I bought the car new. Recently I found out I was buring 2 quarts of oil every 2K miles. The dealer suggested to switch to 20W50 and bring the car back in 1,000 miles. Dealer said 20W50 is fine for the hot So Cal summer. Tech told me the oil had a burnt smell to it when he drained the old stuff.
I've run 5w30 (Castrol & Valvoline) in my '97 Maxima forever (180K miles). It's never used any oil. I bought a 2012 Maxima this year and put 5w30 syntax in it. Hoped it would help mileage and lifetime. We'll see.
Old Aug 21, 2012 | 08:00 PM
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5w30 Castrol GTX
233k miles.

Old Sep 12, 2012 | 08:51 AM
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10w30 Union 76 syn blend with a mobil filter
144K
2001 Maxima SE
Old Sep 12, 2012 | 09:09 PM
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10-30w castrol and 194k
Old Sep 15, 2012 | 07:58 PM
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kinda off topic but..

How often do ya'll change ur oil? I have an 03 maxima. Doesn't leak but it burns oil quick. 125,000k
Old Sep 19, 2012 | 10:00 PM
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I use 10w40 Castrol HM and Fram Xtended Guard every 3000 miles. No leaks or burning of oil on my car and its at 221k.

I got my last oil change for $13 + tax. Basically a STEAL cause I get the 5qt. Gallon from Walmart and the oil filter is $9 itself. (Did it myself)
Old Sep 19, 2012 | 10:12 PM
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5w-30 Castrol GTX with mobil1 filter, 150K
Old Oct 9, 2012 | 04:37 PM
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Pennzoil Ultra 5w-30 , 64 k on car .
Old Oct 12, 2012 | 06:24 AM
  #38  
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135k Mobil 1 Extended Performance with K&N Filter. 5w30, Should I use 10w30?
Old Oct 12, 2012 | 06:25 AM
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135k Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full Synthetic with K&N Filter. 5w30, Should I use 10w30?
Old Oct 12, 2012 | 06:26 AM
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135k Mobil 1 Extended Performance Full Synthetic with K&N Filter. 5w30, Should I use 10w30? & how good is the Mobil 1 compared to pennzoil platinum?



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