2004 Nissan Frontier Oil and Filter recommendations

[OTCW]

The particulars:

2.4 liter, 4 cylinder automatic.
195,000 miles.
Bought new. Regular 3 to 5k oil changes (mostly 3k).
Dinosaur oil. 5w30. Pennzoil, then high mileage Pennzoil at about 100k. Fram filters - the one with the textured end.
No oil use or leaks. Gets about 22 mpg.

Just switched it to occasional use only. I try to go through a tank of gas a month which is 250 to 260 miles or roughly 3000 a year.

If I wanted to just change oil once a year, what would you recommend, including filter? Alternately 2 times a year if that would be better. Thanks.

 

[pbm]

If you are putting 5K or less a year an annual change should be fine...I'd use any SN dino (including Supertech) and a Supertech or CARQUEST Red filter...

 

[Anthony]

I would go with Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage 5w30 or Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage, and change once a year. Either lube is more than adequate. Any filter will work for that short drain interval. I would probably use Super Tech filters.

 

[SilverFusion2010]

Valvoline MaxLife, full or syn blend. Any filter will work for 3k. I prefer the higher end, I'm running a Fram ultra on my vehicle. You could put a Fram ultra on there and change it every other change.

At a 3 k interval any oil filter combo is going to do the job. If the budget is tight go with the Supertech 5w30 high mileage and Supertech filter.

 

[Linctex]

ANY "SM or SN rated oil", cheaper the better. Any cheap filter is fine.

Your situation has very low demands, if at all.

 

[svhanc]

I always wonder about non-synthetic filter media getting brittle over time. I just figure if you might go over a year, it makes sense to just spend the $9 for a Fram Ultra and go a few OCIs with it. I would be much less pick with the choice of oil.

 

[SR5]

For 3k miles and 1 year, any SN oil and filter will work.

 

[OTCW]

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

No changes needed. Change once a year.

 

[coachditka]

Had a Frontier and ran Mobil 1 10w30 in it. My FIL has the truck and treats it like [censored]. I change the oil once a year with the same stuff. Odometer stopped working, but engine still runs strong. Go figure.

 

[Linctex]

Originally Posted By: svhanc
I always wonder about non-synthetic filter media getting brittle over time.


It isn't a concern.

I have dragged old cars, trucks, and equipment out of hedge rows and got them running on whatever filter was on it. The filter doesn't go bad just due to time. Water is hard on them, though.