2005 Nissan Frontier

[Flaminchiten]

Hello I have a 2005 Nissan Frontier with the VQ40 engine in it and I am going to do my first oil change on it this weekend. The dealer did a free oil change a 1,000 miles and used Castrol conventional oil. It is now at 5,000 and time for another change.

I was wondering what would be the best oil and filter combo for this truck. It is 95% city driven and usually short trips. It will see occasional light duty towing this summer, maybe 3000 pounds max.

I have used MobilOne synthetic in my 1999 SS Camaro, and Castrol Syntec in my 1967 400 Firebird with good success but never had anything that would see any kind of towing duty.

Thanks in advance!

 

[westex39]

I use Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 with excellent results. Johnny has good things to say about it too. Advance Auto Parts has it on sale BOGOF. Comes out to #2.89 per quart. Can't beat it for the price. I have 61 quarts stashed.
Good luck with your Frontier.

westex

 

[Flaminchiten]

I have heard good things about the pennzoil platinum, unfortunately we dont have Advance Auto parts stores out here in Oregon.

Any reccomendations on filters?

 

[TimVipond]

From the Amsoil site:
2005 NISSAN/DATSUN FRONTIER 4.0L 6-cyl Engine Code VQ40DE

FILTERS
Oil Filter........ EAO13 AMSOIL Ea Oil Filter
Air Filter........ EAA104 AMSOIL Ea Air Filter
Engine Oil
Grade 1......API*
Series 2000 Synthetic 0w30 Motor Oil
SAE 5w30 Synthetic Motor Oil
SAE 5w30 XL Synthetic Motor Oil
Above 0°F......10W-30, 10W-40
All Temps......5w30[1]1. SAE 5w30 is preferred.
I'd go with the above and change the EaO oil filter and 5W30 once a year, up to 15,000 miles of severe use.

 

[Compman1988]

I agree that the pennzoil platinum is a good buy, but like you said, you have no AA in your area. I'd try to find a good deal on it elsewhere if possible, or else I'd go with AMSOIL and do 7-8k mile OCI due to your previously stated 95% city driving. Also on filters my first choice would be AMSOIL EAO filters or a wix (NAPA) filter.

 

[Finklejag]

If you have a GI Joes near you. I would stock up on 76 Super syn/blend. You can't beat it for $1.79 a quart. You should have no problems running it for 4K-5K OCI's. My Nissan loves this stuff.

 

[mitchcoyote]

You can go ahead and put Mobil 1 in at 5000 miles.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

PP worked fine in my 06 Frontier, but I have to admit that my motivation to use it had a lot to do with the now-extinct coupons at Pep Boys. $1.99 per quart is hard to beat for an oil that does so well on used oil analysis. PP is only around $4 cheaper than Mobil 1 at Wal Mart..not enough to stress over really, so use which ever one YOU feel the best about.

 

[marco246]

I have an 06 Frontier with the V6 also, and at the first oil change 6 months ago I put in Mobil 1 5w30. To keep the warranty valid one is supposed to change the oil at 7500 miles or 6 months. Well, later this month I'll hit a 6-month milestone and have to change the oil with less than 3000 miles on it, so I've decided to switch to Chevron Supreme 5w30. Got a case of it for 59 cents a quart at Checker a few weeks ago. Will use a Wix filter. Eventually when the truck comes out of warranty, I'll probably go back to synthetics and longer OCIs.

 

[westex39]

If you are still under warranty I would go with the Nissan filter, it's a good filter. The reason I say this is if you have a filter related issue, they will have to warranty it. If you have a filter problem with another brand they might tell you to go to that company for any damage the filter may have caused. After the warranty has run out I would go with Wix, Mobil 1, Pureone filters. If money is no object, I would say Amsoil.

westex

 

[unDummy]

95% city driving is severe service. Any towing changes that current fill to severe service also. Read your maintenance schedule. Besides mileage, don't forget time based intervals.

If you plan on longer intervals then recommended by your manual, then get at least 1 used oil analysis to prove it safe.

Any synthetic oil in any similar to Nissan recommended weight would work well.

 

[Flaminchiten]

Thanks for all the input everyone. I changed the oil using a wix filter and pennzoil platinum 5w30.

 

[westex39]

Excellent choice.