0W-20 in 2013 Altima

Pennzoil motor oil
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gizzsdad

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I was curious and looked up the 2013 Altima owner's manual and noticed that the 4 cyl. (QR25DE) is spec'd for 0W-20, which is the first I've noticed in a Nissan product. It's worth noting that the VQ35 is still calling for 5w30. I've seen just in the last year or so Nissan OM's stating that 20W oils are UNSUITABLE for sustained high speed driving.

Might be interesting to watch and see if they go the route of some of the other manu's and end back specing 20W oils.

My apologies if this has been noticed/discussed by someone before this.

https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/tec...wner-manual.pdf
 
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gizzsdad, thanks for bringing that to our attention.
Nissan was the last Japanese OEM hold out from jumping on the 20wt bandwagon.
I presume they must have their own OEM bottled 0W-20 oil sold at their dealerships. It would be interesting to know who makes it for them.
 
Toyota has upped the ante to 10,000 mile OCIs right out of the box with their 2012 V6s without so much as a maintenance minder.
 
Well one thing I will give is the QR25D is one of the best wearing engines I have ever seen, I would not be surprised to see it do fine on a 20wgt. The VQ35 can shear the oil pretty good, so a good 30wgt (or even a 0-5w40) would be the only oil I would feel comfortable with.
 
Originally Posted By: Nickdfresh
There was a time when 5w30 "was unsuitable for sustained high-speed driving."

That's true and why a 3,000 OCI was strongly recommended, especially in the summer months. Back in the early 80's many 5w30's, not all brands, sheared very badly.
Oil shear today is not the problem it once was with multi-grade oils. Technology marches on, but attitudes towards oils is two, three steps behind.
Of course the "unsuitable for sustained high speed driving" doesn't apply to NA unless you take your car to the track and that's not likely in the cars for which 0W-20 is spec'd.
 
I don't believe the 4 cylinder Nissans are built for consistent top-speed driving like Mercs lolol. Don't drive illegally and you won't have an issue
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Indydriver
Toyota has upped the ante to 10,000 mile OCIs right out of the box with their 2012 V6s without so much as a maintenance minder.


Not all, the RAV4 V-6 is still spec'd for 5W30 as it always has been.
 
Originally Posted By: RTexasF
Originally Posted By: Indydriver
Toyota has upped the ante to 10,000 mile OCIs right out of the box with their 2012 V6s without so much as a maintenance minder.


Not all, the RAV4 V-6 is still spec'd for 5W30 as it always has been.

LOl, maybe they know those minivans never see more than 3,000 RPM!
 
Originally Posted By: bourne
Interesting that Nissan skipped 5w20 entirely.

Makes sense. One advantage of being late to 20wt party is that the 0W-20 grade is quite common with virtually every formulator offering the grade. No need to bother with the less effective 5W-20 grade.
 
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
I don't remember 5-30 oils being around [or at least commonly available] in the early '80s.

I hate to date myself but they were.
I'm sure GM and Ford started specifying the grade even before the 80's, for sure in the 70's if not the 60's.
I remember by Dad ran a house brand 5W-40 in 1968 in his Olds Toronado.
The 10w30 grade was first marketed I believe in 1952.
 
IIRC correctly, the first vehicle I had that spec'd a 5w30 was a '92 Saturn. Sure seemed watery at the time.
 
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