For those of you who use synthetic oil, could you please list the following:

Year maxima and miles on it.
Driving region of country and style (stop and go, highway, etc).
Brand of oil.
Weight of oil.
Oil change interval.
Filter change interval.
How long you've been using this method.
Any other comments you have.

I'd like to compile a list if there are enough responses.
Thanks!

 

Castrol Syntec
Grade: 10w40
Filter: Fram Performance Oil Filter
Mileage 45k,
Used cheap oil too clean out old oil and put the syntec, It feels much better.
First time doing this, just got the car at 42.5k
It feels like the car is brand new now, shifting is so smooth, and it accelerates a little faster

 

97 with 72k
Alabama mostly stop and go
Mobil 10W30 Synthetic
OEM Filter
Change oil and filter every 4k
I have done this about 3 times
I switched to synthetic about 3 oil changes ago when I started doing it myself and have had no problems even though my car had over 50k on it.

 

I thought people would want to know about this stuff.

 

'98 w/ 88k
Mobil 1 10w30
OEM filter
Mix of highway 80mph driving and pretty aggressive city driving up here in the NE.
Changed when I notice the engine sound is slightly noticeabley different at 3k rpm's. Usually around 7k miles. After change she just purrs until 3500. Been doing it this way for 50k miles.

 

at 1st

5w30 penzoil (from the dealer) w/ BGMOA addative
Pennsylvania rarely used
Changed every 3K
OEM Filter
from 30K to 48K

NOW

5w30 Mobil 1
Washington DC/Metro Area (2nd worse traffic area in the nation)
Oil Changed Every 5K (still clean when I take it out too)
OEM Filter
from 50K to now 56K (changed 1ce already no leaks)

 

Brad,

A lot of this info has been compiled by bill99gxe in the spreadsheet you can find here: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hreadid=100060

 

I've read the spreadsheet a few times and its a little difficult to understand and extract data from. I was just looking to compile something simpler, survey style. No real analysis, just opinions and results from fellow org members.

 

I've read the spreadsheet a few times and its a little difficult to understand and extract data from. I was just looking to compile something simpler, survey style. No real analysis, just opinions and results from fellow org members.

 

1999 Maxima SE 40800 miles

Mobil 1 5W30 in Winter and 10W30 in summer
OEM Filter
Driven mostly in stop and go traffic in Charlotte, North Carolina
Change between 5 - 6K miles
Have been using Mobil1 since 27.5K miles.

 

1996 Maxima SE 118k miles
Amsoil 3000 Series 5w-30 (at all times)
Nissan OEM Filter
Stop and Go driving 70% Highway 30%
Change Oil: 7-8k miles
Change Filter: 2-3k miles
Have used Amsoil (since I bought the car 107k)

 

[Thread Hijack]

Any particular reason you chose the Series 3000 and how do you like it? I've always thought this would be a great oil for the Max, especially for the short trip crowd, but everyone is scared of it.

[/thread Hijack]

 

Hey -

98 Maxima
113,000 miles
New England, mostly highway
Mobil 1
5W30
6,000 mi interval (Oil and filter)
1 year using this method
Blackstone analysis shows "fantastic wearing Nissan engine"

 

In, fact I have had excellent results with the blackstone analysis too! Not to mention the longevity of this oil is amazing. Simply one of the top oils availible. Series 3000 lets you save $$$ as long as you add oil at the filter change intervals, your car will run like it should only better.

 

'96 GXE
Previous owner user dino oil up to 60,000 miles
Currently 132K miles
Mobil 1 5W-30 Full Synthetic
Nissan OEM filter or Mobile 1 filter
Changes every 5000 miles

Never had any issues with leaks. Though on freezing days the pistons are slapping until engine temp is fully warm, ... will check compression at 150K when I do my spark plugs

 

98 SE
67,000 miles
Utah- 60% Stop and Go/ 40% highway
Mobil 1 Synthetic 5W-30 (last 2 changes)/ 10w-30 (since March 02)
Fram Double Guard Filter
Every 3000-3500 miles

 

1996 Maxima SE
I use Castrol Syntec, 10w30
Fram duraguard filter
Car has 128000 miles on it....

When I switched to synthetic oil, I notices that the engine ran smoother, quieter, and had a little more response when I got into the throttle a little bit.... Im never going back to conventional motor oil!!!

 

99 Maxima SE
61,000 miles
Central Florida
50-50 Hwy/City driving
Mobil 1 10W30
OEM Oil Filter
4000-5000 Oil Change Intervals
Using Mobil 1 since 29,500 miles

 

98 SE 85k New England Area 70%H 30%C Driving
Mobil1 10W-30 with Mobil1 Oil Filter Every 5k
synthetic oil used since 35k on the car when I got it.
Previous user used conventional oil.
Engine runs smoother now than when I first got it.

I used to drive a 1996 AWD Eagle Turbo with 350+HP and synthetic was crucial on the Turbocharger.
Conventional oil in high power turbocharged cars causes the turbo bearings to "coke" build up tar-like substacne which causes turbo failure.

Syntetic is the way to go for any car.

 

How difficult can it possibly be to read?


Exactly what "results" are you looking for? A "my car still runs" results or validation of what you do yourself?

Saying you want opinions AND results is impossible based upon your premise. You are getting opinions only, not anything that can be backed up emprically......

 

I just started this thread so people could post what they use in their car and how they feel about it.

 

I bought my '97 Maxima SE 5 spd with 31K. After a month or so I switched to Mobil 1 and RedLine in the gearbox.

I now have 126K miles. I drive 70 miles freeway one-way to work. I regularly change at 6K to 7K along with rotating the tires.

I have tried Castrol Synthetic, but I lost oil level over the 6K period. I never have any level drop with the Mobil 1 (no leaks). I always use 5W-30. I live in Indianaolis, Indiana and the car stays in a heated garage.

I also religiously track my fuel mileage on every tank. I did not notice any increase in MPG using the synthetic. I can get 32 MPG when most of my driving is on the freeway. I use a K&N air filter that I clean every 50K miles.

- Jeff

 

1999 SE-L 38000mi
NE Pennsylvania: minor traffic, mostly highway
Mobil 1
10-30
Every 3000 miles, give or take 10-20mi
every time i change the oil
since i got the car at 28000mi
I was using WIX filters and mobil 1. I got a deal on regular mobil synthetic, and decided to try a FRAM filter this time. I got a fram double guard filter. the thing is, since the change, i've been getting 50-60 miles more to the tank than i would after my old oil changes. I doubt it has anything to do with anything, just thought it was worth mentioning.