VQ35DE new engine break-in - why 3750 for the 1st oil change?
#1
why 3750 for the 1st oil change?
What a funky number to get your oil change at. Anyone know why 3750 miles instead of 3000 miles? Think I'm going to get it changed at 1500 miles after reading in another thread how the oil gets really dark after 1000 miles. Any thoughts or comments?
BTW - I'm the proud new owner of a 03 Silver SE. Got it a week ago and racked up 500 miles on it over the weekend. Talk about breaking it in gently...
Answer:
Actually it has been proven that VQ engines who switch to synthetic early (less than 3k) have had elevated levels of silicon and other wear metals, a possible sign of insufficient engine break-in. srbarnes4ever's oil anlayses in my oil spreadsheet immediately come to mind. There are a couple of other members with similar results as well.
Unfortunately, no one has analyzed a VQ from birth showing how a dino vs. synthetic 3k change intervals for the first 10k differ......
VQ "break-in":
1) Use a good dino oil such as Castrol GTX 5W/30:
2) Change at 500 miles, 1k, 4k, 7k
3) At 10k, go with a synthetic and go normal intervals.
At least use the OEM 15208-9E000 oil filter at each oil change. DO NOT use that garbage 16208-65F00 OEM filter Nissan is trying to push on all VQ35DE owners.
BTW - I'm the proud new owner of a 03 Silver SE. Got it a week ago and racked up 500 miles on it over the weekend. Talk about breaking it in gently...
Answer:
Actually it has been proven that VQ engines who switch to synthetic early (less than 3k) have had elevated levels of silicon and other wear metals, a possible sign of insufficient engine break-in. srbarnes4ever's oil anlayses in my oil spreadsheet immediately come to mind. There are a couple of other members with similar results as well.
Unfortunately, no one has analyzed a VQ from birth showing how a dino vs. synthetic 3k change intervals for the first 10k differ......
VQ "break-in":
1) Use a good dino oil such as Castrol GTX 5W/30:
2) Change at 500 miles, 1k, 4k, 7k
3) At 10k, go with a synthetic and go normal intervals.
At least use the OEM 15208-9E000 oil filter at each oil change. DO NOT use that garbage 16208-65F00 OEM filter Nissan is trying to push on all VQ35DE owners.
#3
You dont have to get a oil change every 3k or 3750 or even 4k. It all depends on a varity of factors like weather conditions, your driving habits, etc, etc etc. I change mine every 5k and havent had a problem. When i took my car to get 30k service done, the tech said It was in superb condition, and I really took care of my max.
#4
Re: why 3750 for the 1st oil change?
Originally posted by maximalex
What a funky number to get your oil change at. Anyone know why 3750 miles instead of 3000 miles? Think I'm going to get it changed at 1500 miles after reading in another thread how the oil gets really dark after 1000 miles. Any thoughts or comments?
BTW - I'm the proud new owner of a 03 Silver SE. Got it a week ago and racked up 500 miles on it over the weekend. Talk about breaking it in gently...
What a funky number to get your oil change at. Anyone know why 3750 miles instead of 3000 miles? Think I'm going to get it changed at 1500 miles after reading in another thread how the oil gets really dark after 1000 miles. Any thoughts or comments?
BTW - I'm the proud new owner of a 03 Silver SE. Got it a week ago and racked up 500 miles on it over the weekend. Talk about breaking it in gently...
3750...
#6
Re: why 3750 for the 1st oil change?
Originally posted by maximalex
What a funky number to get your oil change at. Anyone know why 3750 miles instead of 3000 miles? Think I'm going to get it changed at 1500 miles after reading in another thread how the oil gets really dark after 1000 miles. Any thoughts or comments?
BTW - I'm the proud new owner of a 03 Silver SE. Got it a week ago and racked up 500 miles on it over the weekend. Talk about breaking it in gently...
What a funky number to get your oil change at. Anyone know why 3750 miles instead of 3000 miles? Think I'm going to get it changed at 1500 miles after reading in another thread how the oil gets really dark after 1000 miles. Any thoughts or comments?
BTW - I'm the proud new owner of a 03 Silver SE. Got it a week ago and racked up 500 miles on it over the weekend. Talk about breaking it in gently...
I personally change my oil every 3,000 miles because a) it's easy to remember, and b) oil is vital to your engine, and an extra oil change a year is a cheap way of helping extend your engine life. Sure, depending on your driving habits, it may not be too dirty (i.e. not much gunk and carbon in it) at the recommended change period - but for $30 I'd rather have it a little too clean...
#7
Nissan could state any mileage they want to. Defining exactly 3750 miles sounds so specific that it will envitably influence people to assume that it MUST be done, and be performed by Nissan's authorized service dealers to boot.
Fact is people are going to do what they want to do anyhow. Yes, you will get those people who 1) follow exactly what the mantenence booklet says, 2) enthustists who reduce the recommendations to whatever suits their preference, and 3) owners who don't give a flying fauk what anyone says, I know that there are people who practically never change the oil.
Every car is driven differently. Personnally I did an intital oil/filter change at 1500 miles to rid engine of break-in particulate. I used Castrol GTX, then to Castrol Syntec Blend. I just switched to Mobile 1 and I am planning to increase oil/filter change interval from 5K-7K to 9-10K. I can see a bunch of you all gasp in disbelief, but I drive at least 75+ miles a day, 95% of that on the highway. I am comfortable with that, as most of you are with your own regimine. Yes, ask others what they do and why, then do what makes you happy.
_________________
2K Super Black SE 5 Speed
Fact is people are going to do what they want to do anyhow. Yes, you will get those people who 1) follow exactly what the mantenence booklet says, 2) enthustists who reduce the recommendations to whatever suits their preference, and 3) owners who don't give a flying fauk what anyone says, I know that there are people who practically never change the oil.
Every car is driven differently. Personnally I did an intital oil/filter change at 1500 miles to rid engine of break-in particulate. I used Castrol GTX, then to Castrol Syntec Blend. I just switched to Mobile 1 and I am planning to increase oil/filter change interval from 5K-7K to 9-10K. I can see a bunch of you all gasp in disbelief, but I drive at least 75+ miles a day, 95% of that on the highway. I am comfortable with that, as most of you are with your own regimine. Yes, ask others what they do and why, then do what makes you happy.
_________________
2K Super Black SE 5 Speed
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally posted by BiggD23
If you have an oil question...go to bill99gxe! The oil guru!
If you have an oil question...go to bill99gxe! The oil guru!
my 02 has 6500...i was going to go synthetic next oil change..i'll wait till 10K
Although, bill..whats the difference with the good vs. garbage filters? why is one better?
#12
Re: why 3750 for the 1st oil change?
Originally posted by maximalex
.."At least use the OEM 15208-9E000 oil filter at each oil change. DO NOT use that garbage 16208-65F00 OEM filter Nissan is trying to push on all VQ35DE owners."
.."At least use the OEM 15208-9E000 oil filter at each oil change. DO NOT use that garbage 16208-65F00 OEM filter Nissan is trying to push on all VQ35DE owners."
#15
Yes, the 9E000 was originally designed for the VQ. The 65F00 is Nissan's effort to cost-cut and combine OEM filter parts. I have a parts guy monitoring when the 9E000 is officially discontinued, as I suspect it will be in the near future.
#16
Originally posted by bill99gxe
Yes, the 9E000 was originally designed for the VQ. The 65F00 is Nissan's effort to cost-cut and combine OEM filter parts. I have a parts guy monitoring when the 9E000 is officially discontinued, as I suspect it will be in the near future.
Yes, the 9E000 was originally designed for the VQ. The 65F00 is Nissan's effort to cost-cut and combine OEM filter parts. I have a parts guy monitoring when the 9E000 is officially discontinued, as I suspect it will be in the near future.
#17
Originally posted by clipse
So the OEM 15208-9E000 oil filter is still available at all Nissan dealerships??? If so,I'm gonna try and buy a bunch at one time just incase they decide to phase it out sooner.
So the OEM 15208-9E000 oil filter is still available at all Nissan dealerships??? If so,I'm gonna try and buy a bunch at one time just incase they decide to phase it out sooner.
It's still available at all Nissan and Infiniti dealers.
Keep in mind I am purely speculating about its future.
#19
Originally posted by Jules Maximus
What is the difference between the two filters? I just bought an oil filter over the weekend for my first change. I was amazed at how tiny the Nissan filter is. I've seen bigger fuel filters!
What is the difference between the two filters? I just bought an oil filter over the weekend for my first change. I was amazed at how tiny the Nissan filter is. I've seen bigger fuel filters!
#20
I guess I win the oil-change-frequency award. Regardless of miles, I always change the oil in my two Maximas and my girlfriend's G20 every payday (twice a month). During the winter months, I may do it once every month--depedning on whether or not I can withstand the weather conditions. Changing oil is like having money: you can never have too much.
#22
Originally posted by DARHAW-MAX
I guess I win the oil-change-frequency award. Regardless of miles, I always change the oil in my two Maximas and my girlfriend's G20 every payday (twice a month). During the winter months, I may do it once every month--depedning on whether or not I can withstand the weather conditions. Changing oil is like having money: you can never have too much.
I guess I win the oil-change-frequency award. Regardless of miles, I always change the oil in my two Maximas and my girlfriend's G20 every payday (twice a month). During the winter months, I may do it once every month--depedning on whether or not I can withstand the weather conditions. Changing oil is like having money: you can never have too much.
Changing oil is NOT like having money. You are just plain wrong on this.
#23
Why the emphasis on OEM filter.....wouldn't a FRAM or some other brand from a company that SPECIALIZES in filters be better than OEM NIssan? We all know how Nissan cuts corners, so what makes you think that they make the highest-quality or most effective oil filter? Just curious.
#24
Because both have been cut open and examined. Frams are still sub-par quality.
Nissan has cut corners by going to the 65F00 filter on most of its model line, but they still make the much better made 9E000 filter.
The recommendations issued aren't shots in the dark, and the spreadsheet has links to these pictures for all to judge what's comfortable for their own needs.
Nissan has cut corners by going to the 65F00 filter on most of its model line, but they still make the much better made 9E000 filter.
The recommendations issued aren't shots in the dark, and the spreadsheet has links to these pictures for all to judge what's comfortable for their own needs.
#25
Id like to drop my opinion on this.
I agree with "DARHAW-MAX" somewhat..
i have a 95 auto w/ 150k+.. after 1500 miles on my oil its useless. i can tell that my gas mileage is horrible and the inital highway acceleration is not very responsive.
Ive ALWAYS changed my oil @ every 2000 miles b/c the car just feals better it self. None of that oh wait ~"whats that weird sound from my engine, as soon as i sucpect its been about 2000k its on, oil change. takes 5 mins & costs $8 a time.
Fram 7307 filters i believe. sometime's i even spoil my car by gettin the (DG) double guard filter. woo hooo are those any better for the xtra 2-3$.
I use only penzoil oil only. Im very fearful of switching to synt after this long of my engine attapted to a reg oil.
my 2 pennies.
i have a 95 auto w/ 150k+.. after 1500 miles on my oil its useless. i can tell that my gas mileage is horrible and the inital highway acceleration is not very responsive.
Ive ALWAYS changed my oil @ every 2000 miles b/c the car just feals better it self. None of that oh wait ~"whats that weird sound from my engine, as soon as i sucpect its been about 2000k its on, oil change. takes 5 mins & costs $8 a time.
Fram 7307 filters i believe. sometime's i even spoil my car by gettin the (DG) double guard filter. woo hooo are those any better for the xtra 2-3$.
I use only penzoil oil only. Im very fearful of switching to synt after this long of my engine attapted to a reg oil.
my 2 pennies.
#27
Here is my plan what do you think???
VQ35DE engine. Changed oil and filter using dino and OEM filter at 1200 miles. Changed again at 4000 miles using dino and OEM filter. Plan on going to Mobil 1 5w30 synthetic at the 7000 mile OCI using OEM 9E000 filter and running the Mobil 1 5w30 for a 5000-7000 mile OCI. I would then continue with the Mobil 1 5w30 and OEM filter changes every 5K-7K miles. Live in SW Missouri and most of the driving is highway minimum one way trip is normally 15 miles. Temp range 90's summer and 0 winter. Suggestions? Problems?
Thanks
Thanks
#28
Originally Posted by Pitbull
VQ35DE engine. Changed oil and filter using dino and OEM filter at 1200 miles. Changed again at 4000 miles using dino and OEM filter. Plan on going to Mobil 1 5w30 synthetic at the 7000 mile OCI using OEM 9E000 filter and running the Mobil 1 5w30 for a 5000-7000 mile OCI. I would then continue with the Mobil 1 5w30 and OEM filter changes every 5K-7K miles. Live in SW Missouri and most of the driving is highway minimum one way trip is normally 15 miles. Temp range 90's summer and 0 winter. Suggestions? Problems?
Thanks
Thanks
I would perform changes at 7 and 10k miles, with the change at around 13 to 15k being the time to switch to synthetic. Looks like a good plan otherwise.
#29
Originally Posted by naerok
I change mine every 5k and havent had a problem.
Funny how people have 30k on their car and think they must be doing something right because it made it that far...
I feel sorry for whoever you sell it to because you wouldn't dare to own up to the problems it's going to face.
#31
I will be changing the oil after the break in period. 1000 or 1200 miles on my 05 SE. I then will do another change in about a month because right after X-Mas I drive cross country. I will be using a Mobil 1 M1-105 filter and Castrol GTX 5W30.
#33
Originally Posted by E55AMG2
Bill:
I switched to swnthetic @ the 3750 oil change. Mobil 1 5w30 supersyn since then and nothing else. Im willing to have my oil analyzed as a guinea pig for someone who went so synthetic right away. Let me know.
I switched to swnthetic @ the 3750 oil change. Mobil 1 5w30 supersyn since then and nothing else. Im willing to have my oil analyzed as a guinea pig for someone who went so synthetic right away. Let me know.
That's fine.
The main think you'll notice with a VQ35 is that it will take 20 to 25k and possibly longer to fully "seat" and break-in. This is most telling in the silicon and some wear metal levels, which will be elevated, especially if 3k intervals are used.
#34
Originally Posted by Cheezwiz
Yet
Funny how people have 30k on their car and think they must be doing something right because it made it that far...
I feel sorry for whoever you sell it to because you wouldn't dare to own up to the problems it's going to face.
Funny how people have 30k on their car and think they must be doing something right because it made it that far...
I feel sorry for whoever you sell it to because you wouldn't dare to own up to the problems it's going to face.
G35-VQ35 Used Oil Analysis Results
2001 Sequoia UOA Results
EDIT: As food for thought, I've added two more results. These are both from Porsche vehicles (no, alas, not mine...). In the Cayenne, the owner left the factory fill Mobil-1 0w-40 in for almost 20,000 miles!. As you can see, his breakin metals are still there, but otherwise, there's no indication of trouble. The Boxter received arguably more severe treatment -- relatively short miles, but the oil was left in for five years. See the results for yourself. Now, I would not recommend either "strategy" for anyone, but these do show that extended use of oil is not an automatic, per se death sentence for an engine.
The Cayenne UOA.
The Boxter's UOA.
#35
the numbers don't lie
Originally Posted by Torkaholic
He won't be close to having a problem with a 5k change interval. Have you ever sent used oil off for lab analysis? Those of us who do so regularly have discovered the obvious: modern engines in good health easily go far longer than two or three thousand miles, even on dino oil. The link below is to the lab results on the first "transitional" fill of synthetic I ran in my VQ35 for 4,000 miles. As you can see, with wear metals almost non-existent and the TBN (total base number, or acid neutralization capacity) still at 4.5, this oil was between 1/3 and 1/2 used up -- plenty of life left. With the engine finishing the maturing process, I'm moving on toward a full 10,000 per oil change. The first couple runs, I will do intermediate UOAs to just to be safe, but given the VQ's general strength, this will not be a problem. I'm also posting a UOA from my wife's 2001 Sequoia, not a vehicle commonly referred to here, but a useful example of a short tripper who at six months and 4,500 miles, has not used up but maybe 1/4 of the capacity of its oil. Try some lab tests, they're typically only around $25 and they will open your eyes to some of the silly oil myths from the 1950s that still persist.
G35-VQ35 Used Oil Analysis Results
2001 Sequoia UOA Results
EDIT: As food for thought, I've added two more results. These are both from Porsche vehicles (no, alas, not mine...). In the Cayenne, the owner left the factory fill Mobil-1 0w-40 in for almost 20,000 miles!. As you can see, his breakin metals are still there, but otherwise, there's no indication of trouble. The Boxter received arguably more severe treatment -- relatively short miles, but the oil was left in for five years. See the results for yourself. Now, I would not recommend either "strategy" for anyone, but these do show that extended use of oil is not an automatic, per se death sentence for an engine.
The Cayenne UOA.
The Boxter's UOA.
G35-VQ35 Used Oil Analysis Results
2001 Sequoia UOA Results
EDIT: As food for thought, I've added two more results. These are both from Porsche vehicles (no, alas, not mine...). In the Cayenne, the owner left the factory fill Mobil-1 0w-40 in for almost 20,000 miles!. As you can see, his breakin metals are still there, but otherwise, there's no indication of trouble. The Boxter received arguably more severe treatment -- relatively short miles, but the oil was left in for five years. See the results for yourself. Now, I would not recommend either "strategy" for anyone, but these do show that extended use of oil is not an automatic, per se death sentence for an engine.
The Cayenne UOA.
The Boxter's UOA.
One more consideration for those of you who do a lot of stop and go commuting - on some machines (e.g., farm tractors), the oil change interval is by the number of hours of operation. If you do a lot of slow driving, you could be putting more wear on the engine than someone who drives farther (more miles) because you are running your engine a longer amount of time, though putting equal or even less miles on your car.
#36
Originally Posted by maximalex
What a funky number to get your oil change at. Anyone know why 3750 miles instead of 3000 miles? Think I'm going to get it changed at 1500 miles after reading in another thread how the oil gets really dark after 1000 miles. Any thoughts or comments?
BTW - I'm the proud new owner of a 03 Silver SE. Got it a week ago and racked up 500 miles on it over the weekend. Talk about breaking it in gently...
BTW - I'm the proud new owner of a 03 Silver SE. Got it a week ago and racked up 500 miles on it over the weekend. Talk about breaking it in gently...
The number 3750 * 1.6 = 6000 Kilometers. That's why it is so funky.
#37
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (29)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Middleboro/Carver, Ma
Posts: 4,572
So i have one quick question about the 9e000, on the application chart on the box it would cover an a33 3.5 2004 I35? I know this is a fairly stuipid question but I'm so careful about covering my butt w/warranty.
Also, I originally wasn't to concerned with my break-in oil consumption but at 15k the oil still gets considerably contaminated and loses about .25qt between 3k mile dino 5/30 changes. (I also have the cold start vct rattle??) Break-in was done "by the book" with it's first drive being on the highway for about an hour, but I was varying the speed most of the time between 40-60mph. By 400 miles it used .5 quart, by 800 it was done another 1/2 qt, I had it changed at 1200 miles because it was very contaminated from blow-by and what not, it really looked crappy and broken-down. I'm very curious as to what everyone thinks about this, I'd also like to hear from other 3.5 owners break-in consumption amounts.
((Oh one quick favor to ask also, I'm not trying to clutter this thread, and this info might be pertinent to my situation, I only need help finding a post... one time at about 1k miles I was moderatly accelerating from a stop, I was at 1/4 throttle and it happened between 2-3k in 1st gear. I swear it was mildly detonating under light load, it sounded like that classic marbles in the exhaust sound, If possible could someone guide me to the thread about the pre-cat problem, I can't search and I've scanned back almost 20 pages, TIA.))
Also, I originally wasn't to concerned with my break-in oil consumption but at 15k the oil still gets considerably contaminated and loses about .25qt between 3k mile dino 5/30 changes. (I also have the cold start vct rattle??) Break-in was done "by the book" with it's first drive being on the highway for about an hour, but I was varying the speed most of the time between 40-60mph. By 400 miles it used .5 quart, by 800 it was done another 1/2 qt, I had it changed at 1200 miles because it was very contaminated from blow-by and what not, it really looked crappy and broken-down. I'm very curious as to what everyone thinks about this, I'd also like to hear from other 3.5 owners break-in consumption amounts.
((Oh one quick favor to ask also, I'm not trying to clutter this thread, and this info might be pertinent to my situation, I only need help finding a post... one time at about 1k miles I was moderatly accelerating from a stop, I was at 1/4 throttle and it happened between 2-3k in 1st gear. I swear it was mildly detonating under light load, it sounded like that classic marbles in the exhaust sound, If possible could someone guide me to the thread about the pre-cat problem, I can't search and I've scanned back almost 20 pages, TIA.))
#38
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (29)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Middleboro/Carver, Ma
Posts: 4,572
My freind just bought a new hyundia and it also recommends 3750, One thing to point out is that car makers came up with the 3k interval before I was born, take into account just the advances in metal technology alone since then that have resulted in less blow-by in a newer engine.
#39
Originally Posted by maximalex
What a funky number to get your oil change at. Anyone know why 3750 miles instead of 3000 miles? Think I'm going to get it changed at 1500 miles after reading in another thread how the oil gets really dark after 1000 miles. Any thoughts or comments?
BTW - I'm the proud new owner of a 03 Silver SE. Got it a week ago and racked up 500 miles on it over the weekend. Talk about breaking it in gently...
Answer:
Actually it has been proven that VQ engines who switch to synthetic early (less than 3k) have had elevated levels of silicon and other wear metals, a possible sign of insufficient engine break-in. srbarnes4ever's oil anlayses in my oil spreadsheet immediately come to mind. There are a couple of other members with similar results as well.
Unfortunately, no one has analyzed a VQ from birth showing how a dino vs. synthetic 3k change intervals for the first 10k differ......
VQ "break-in":
1) Use a good dino oil such as Castrol GTX 5W/30:
2) Change at 500 miles, 1k, 4k, 7k
3) At 10k, go with a synthetic and go normal intervals.
At least use the OEM 15208-9E000 oil filter at each oil change. DO NOT use that garbage 16208-65F00 OEM filter Nissan is trying to push on all VQ35DE owners.
BTW - I'm the proud new owner of a 03 Silver SE. Got it a week ago and racked up 500 miles on it over the weekend. Talk about breaking it in gently...
Answer:
Actually it has been proven that VQ engines who switch to synthetic early (less than 3k) have had elevated levels of silicon and other wear metals, a possible sign of insufficient engine break-in. srbarnes4ever's oil anlayses in my oil spreadsheet immediately come to mind. There are a couple of other members with similar results as well.
Unfortunately, no one has analyzed a VQ from birth showing how a dino vs. synthetic 3k change intervals for the first 10k differ......
VQ "break-in":
1) Use a good dino oil such as Castrol GTX 5W/30:
2) Change at 500 miles, 1k, 4k, 7k
3) At 10k, go with a synthetic and go normal intervals.
At least use the OEM 15208-9E000 oil filter at each oil change. DO NOT use that garbage 16208-65F00 OEM filter Nissan is trying to push on all VQ35DE owners.
no this WILL NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO BE BROKEN IN PROPERLY, nissan uses a special oil thats put into the engine upon assembly, this oil is used to allow all gaskets to seal properly and is thick enough to provide enough protection for all the metal shavings and what not to come off as the motor is freshly built and is being broken in
#40
Originally Posted by xamxes
no this WILL NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO BE BROKEN IN PROPERLY, nissan uses a special oil thats put into the engine upon assembly, this oil is used to allow all gaskets to seal properly and is thick enough to provide enough protection for all the metal shavings and what not to come off as the motor is freshly built and is being broken in