Hi, I am new to the forum. I bought a 98 SE automatic (wife made me get the auto) earlier this summer and am enjoying it :-). I have not done much in terms of mods at this point but welcome any suggestions. I am looking to make the car considerably faster.
I do have a question for you guys, I changed out all the fluids in the car and replaced the oil with Amsoil synthetic. I am curious, do any of you run Amsoil in your cars? I first heard about it at a race track once and I have friends that wear by their products. Amsoil recommends a 25K mile oil change interval and a 12.5K mile oil filter interval. I have put about 2200 miles on the car since I changed to Amsoil but am not sure if I have the guts to test a 25K interval. The oil looks perfect (as in new) upon inspection today. I have a buddy who runs it in his Expedition and he frequently goes 8-10K between changes. I have always been a believer in 3K mile changes so this appears drastic to me. If the properties are so much superior to other brands, then why isn't everyone running it in their cars.
Just curious as to whether any of you have similar experiences.

 

and still hold to the brainwashing the major oil companies have so sucessfully done in the past. Also Amsoil is one of the most expensive synthetics out there. So if you are serious, try to buy from one of the preferred customers that are running around here. Bill94GXe is one, Lordrandal is another. 25k is alot of miles to me too. But 10-12k should be no problem but I would change the filter a little earlier, like at 5-6k.

Also Amsoil does not spend a ton of $$ on marketing. It's mostly word of mouth. They spend their $$ on research

 

Sorry to hear about the auto problem.... he, he.

A few sites to check out for mods.....

https://maxima.org
http://grprete.jnet.net <----Great Y-pipe install walk-through!
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/9289/
http://web2.airmail.net/scutchen/max_faq/
-----These will give you something to think about...

There are many Amsoil users on this board. (I am one) Oil is a constant debate, and the reason everyone doesn't use the same oil is the age old deal.... Amsoil is a bit pricy, everyone has a favorite, and tests are run constantly to veryify claims.... You know the drill.

Good luck, and ask many questions....

 

Follow this link to the post created about Amsoil under Dealer/Shop Experiences:

<A HREF="https://maxima.org/forums/showthread.phtml?threadid=398">https://maxima.org/forums/showthread.phtml?threadid=398</A>

 

I use amsoil and change it at every 5K probably more frequently then nessasary but why not for only a extra $55 for four months better to play it safe then sorry in my opinion.Check out the 0W-30 2000 series amsoil it sais on the back that it's good for 35K.Ha.Ha.

 

Well if Amsoil says 25k miles and will even offer an engine warranty, by chaning it at 5k I think you are just spending more money than you need to be.

I use Mobile 1 and use it for 6000-7500 miles frequently. the oil has been sent and tested and even after 7500 miles is still good.

-Shing

 

Unless you are running under extreme conditions you can run those changes to at least 7-8K between changes. You are paying for extra protection, why not use it?

My $.02

 

You guys remember these days when the info just flowed w/o the idiotic senseless bickering? I really miss those days.

 

Yep .

 

Dood. Did you decide to get your new car from Canada?

 

Nope, I am buying from the dealer down the street. I would have gone to Canada but I could not sell my I30 so I am just trading it in now. Of course now there is a 3 week delay on my new max, I guess I will be getting it on Thanksgiving .

 

I don't think Amsoil "recommends" a 25k interval between oil changes. I think what they said is that they have tested cars that went that long with no problems - there's a difference.

I believe 7500 miles is prudent for synthetic. I also believe that while the oil may not break down for 25k I think it may become loaded with fuel and metal shavings (bearings wear - it's a fact), not too mention other chemicals as a result of combustion.

 

Have your read their website? They do recommend a 25k interval with a 12.5k filter unless it has been 6 months/12 months before you hit that mileage. Then, you change the filter and oil at those intervals.


And could you expand on that difference you allude to?


Nothing wrong with that baseline as it's pretty much accepted that 5k on any name brand dino oil is a safe interval. But your contention depends on the vehicle, as alluded to in my oil spreadsheet. Hondas tend to suffer from bearing wear MUCH MORE than Nissan's VQ or VG or VE motors. Oil breaks down depending on driving conditions, and is much more likely to break down sooner on vehicles with lower mileage/short trips than on vehicles with higher mileage and long trips.........

But at this point, I'm needlessly repeating myself....

 

Bill, isn't the full 25K predicated on your using their seperate filtration system (forgot exactly what it's called) and not the OEM style spin on filters?

 

I stand corrected. I hadn't visited their website in a while.

However, I can't believe they would make that claim - for the reasons I stated earlier. That 25k number is crazy. I run Amsoil or Mobil 1 in my car and it's significantly darker after 7.5K miles then when I poured it in. It must be blacker than black after 25k - I'm not willing to find out. Despite whatever lubrication or viscosity qualities it has retained or lost, the fact remains that there are foreign substances suspended in that oil. I believe that this contamination can damage the engine.

Is there something special about their oil filters that they can make this claim? Even going 12.5k is pushing it isn't it? Maybe if you changed the filter every 7.5k or so. But still, the filter doesn't get everything out of the oil - no matter how good it is...

 

However, I can't believe they would make that claim - for the reasons I stated earlier. That 25k number is crazy.
It's crazy because.... ? These figures are generally for trucks that do thousands of miles on the highway. For vehicles, it's generally around 10,000-15,000 miles.

I run Amsoil or Mobil 1 in my car and it's significantly darker after 7.5K miles then when I poured it in. It must be blacker than black after 25k - I'm not willing to find out. Despite whatever lubrication or viscosity qualities it has retained or lost, the fact remains that there are foreign substances suspended in that oil. I believe that this contamination can damage the engine.
Don't judge an oil by it's color. Get your oil analyzed before you can make any statements with validity. My last change went 8000 miles (Amsoil 10w-30 w/ Amsoil SDF10 filter). During these miles, I made numerous autocross runs (autoX every 2 weeks) so my car is not babied. If I didn't race, I'd easily go 10-13k miles between intervals.

My analysis shows no abnormal signs of metals/foreign substances. Also, the viscosity levels remain within specs, no traces of anything out of the ordinary.

Is there something special about their oil filters that they can make this claim? Even going 12.5k is pushing it isn't it? Maybe if you changed the filter every 7.5k or so. But still, the filter doesn't get everything out of the oil - no matter how good it is...
Not really...

 

Why not 25k then?

 

Read my post again. This is for sustained cruising, which places less strain on the oil (especially on trucks since they drive at lower rpms due to 14-17 gears )

If I were to go 25k miles on my oil, the viscosity would be out of range. I'm still increasing my interval until I find the point where it is no longer within the viscosity range.

THere are other factors, like NOX levels and oxidation levels to worry about but these almost go hand in hand with an oil that falls out of its viscosity range.

 

Amsoil has 35,0000 change intervals on their new oil now.

 

damn that's great...if i leased a car i would change to amsoil on the 2nd oil change. then just buy filters and call it a day.