Bought a new 2011 Versa S hatchback. Advice?

[jigen]

So I took the plunge and decided to trade in the 2002 Camaro Z28 and get something a bit more practical for my needs. With the new job and baby, all my driving consists of are quick short trips around town. I would say about 80% city/20% hwy. I have been bouncing the idea around with getting a little gas sipping sub-compact for a while now. Test drove the Yaris, Fiesta, Mazda 2, and finally the Versa. For me this car just fit the bill. I got a good price on it, tons of room for a car in this class, not so cheap interior, 6-speed, and a fun ride for what it is.

This is my first new car so I was wondering what advice you guys have for initial engine break-in and OCI's? The car calls for 5w-30 and I do plan on using a synthetic but should I wait a few drains before making the switch? Also how soon would you go on the OEM fill?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Hokiefyd]

I'd go 5,000 miles on the factory fill, then put in whatever you like, and keep on changing at 5,000 mile intervals. I think Nissan traditionally called for severe OCIs at 3,750 miles and normal OCIs at 7,500 miles. Is that still the case?

 

[brandini]

Get the car up to temp then flog the engine but be easy on the trans. Change the oil at the 500 and 1000 mile mark then line up the future changes with what the manual says (be it 5k, 7.5k, or 10k mile changes).

Make the change to full syn at the first full-length interval (no sense doing synthetic for that short of a time).

 

[ChiTDI]

Good dealer should be able to tell you if factory fill is synthetic. That would determine how long/ how soon/ etc.
5k and receipts, and you could give that Versa to your grown up baby down the road.

 

[jigen]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I'd go 5,000 miles on the factory fill, then put in whatever you like, and keep on changing at 5,000 mile intervals. I think Nissan traditionally called for severe OCIs at 3,750 miles and normal OCIs at 7,500 miles. Is that still the case?


Those OCI are still the same, yes. I figured it might be a good to change the factory fill early due too high wear metals in new engines?

 

[jigen]

Originally Posted By: brandini
Get the car up to temp then flog the engine but be easy on the trans. Change the oil at the 500 and 1000 mile mark then line up the future changes with what the manual says (be it 5k, 7.5k, or 10k mile changes).

Make the change to full syn at the first full-length interval (no sense doing synthetic for that short of a time).


So basically be kind of hard on it without approaching redline territory, right? I heard this as well. That a good combo of revs in the first 1000 miles is ideal for break-in. Just want to play it safe.

 

[jigen]

Originally Posted By: ChiTDI
Good dealer should be able to tell you if factory fill is synthetic. That would determine how long/ how soon/ etc.
5k and receipts, and you could give that Versa to your grown up baby down the road.


Thanks. The dealer told me that receipts documented with mileage in the service booklet would be good enough to keep warranty claims smooth.

 

[CourierDriver]

Originally Posted By: jigen
So I took the plunge and decided to trade in the 2002 Camaro Z28 and get something a bit more practical for my needs. With the new job and baby, all my driving consists of are quick short trips around town. I would say about 80% city/20% hwy. I have been bouncing the idea around with getting a little gas sipping sub-compact for a while now. Test drove the Yaris, Fiesta, Mazda 2, and finally the Versa. For me this car just fit the bill. I got a good price on it, tons of room for a car in this class, not so cheap interior, 6-speed, and a fun ride for what it is.

This is my first new car so I was wondering what advice you guys have for initial engine break-in and OCI's? The car calls for 5w-30 and I do plan on using a synthetic but should I wait a few drains before making the switch? Also how soon would you go on the OEM fill?
car
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

a newcar is fun, but ur gonna miss ur camaro, I miss my 72 monte carlo.

 

[barlowc]

Dump the factory fill at 3750 - 4000. Run a couple 5500 - 6000 OCIs using the same brand synthetic. Get a UOA done at the end of the second one and then adjust your OCI based on the results.

With my QR25DE, I dumped the factory fill at 4000, ran two 6K OCIs using SynPower, and then two 6K OCIs using EDGE. I had a UOA done at the end of the second EDGE fill (see here) and think I'm going to extend to 7500. My current fill is Ultra and my next will be the same. At the end of the second one I'll get another UOA and see where things stand. But while under warranty I don't see myself going past 7500.

 

[jigen]

Originally Posted By: CourierDriver
Originally Posted By: jigen
So I took the plunge and decided to trade in the 2002 Camaro Z28 and get something a bit more practical for my needs. With the new job and baby, all my driving consists of are quick short trips around town. I would say about 80% city/20% hwy. I have been bouncing the idea around with getting a little gas sipping sub-compact for a while now. Test drove the Yaris, Fiesta, Mazda 2, and finally the Versa. For me this car just fit the bill. I got a good price on it, tons of room for a car in this class, not so cheap interior, 6-speed, and a fun ride for what it is.

This is my first new car so I was wondering what advice you guys have for initial engine break-in and OCI's? The car calls for 5w-30 and I do plan on using a synthetic but should I wait a few drains before making the switch? Also how soon would you go on the OEM fill?
car
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

a newcar is fun, but ur gonna miss ur camaro, I miss my 72 monte carlo.


Believe me I know!

This is something I have been thinking about for a long time. Me and my baby's mother are seperated so the only car I had was the Z28. It just wasn't making sense. I wasn't doing anything enjoyable with it. The car was in tip-top shape and only had 50k on it, 6-speed. Hopefully someone will make better use of it than I have been for the past 15 months. : )

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I dont think the U.S. sold fake syn will do anything for you unless you plan LONG OCI and the high detergency would be WORSE for short (4-5K) OCI. Any of the new GF-5 oils should be fine. Heck, the cheapest Havoline DS or Shell oils are some the best on the market; buying a higher price point product = YOU paying for tv and mag and cyberspace advertising absolutely NOT any performace improvement.

 

[jigen]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
I dont think the U.S. sold fake syn will do anything for you unless you plan LONG OCI and the high detergency would be WORSE for short (4-5K) OCI. Any of the new GF-5 oils should be fine. Heck, the cheapest Havoline DS or Shell oils are some the best on the market; buying a higher price point product = YOU paying for tv and mag and cyberspace advertising absolutely NOT any performace improvement.


I don't do too many miles per year, so OCI would be about once every 6 months, 4k each change. How would the synthetics be worse for short OCIs? Just curious. : )

 

[Johnny248]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I'd go 5,000 miles on the factory fill, then put in whatever you like, and keep on changing at 5,000 mile intervals. I think Nissan traditionally called for severe OCIs at 3,750 miles and normal OCIs at 7,500 miles. Is that still the case?


Judging on how these engines seem to hold up, and the noise that devlops with milage, I would stick to your 3,750 intervals. These things start to get 40-50k on them and they start to get loud.

 

[JTK]

Nice little car. Is it the hatch or sedan model? You cant beat the price on them. I wouldn't exceed ~4K on the factory fill, then would probably stick with 4-5K if it saw mostly stop/go city driving.

Joel

 

[TomYoung]

Originally Posted By: brandini
Get the car up to temp then flog the engine but be easy on the trans. Change the oil at the 500 and 1000 mile mark then line up the future changes with what the manual says (be it 5k, 7.5k, or 10k mile changes).

Make the change to full syn at the first full-length interval (no sense doing synthetic for that short of a time).


If you do what the manual says, you will meet your warranty requirements. I would recommend doing that. I also like the idea of getting the initial oil out of the car at around 1,000 miles. It's not necessary per the manufacturer, but is logical in that it removes any remaining metal particles that come loose after the engine's manufacture.

On this forum, you will see a wide range of opinion on proper oil change intervals, with the only matter universally agreed upon is that once oil is used up as proven by a UOA, it's time to change it.

All that said, on a modern engine, there is no conceivable way to justify a 500 mile oil change and a 1,000 mile oil change. It is simply not required, and is not justified.

 

[jigen]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Nice little car. Is it the hatch or sedan model? You cant beat the price on them. I wouldn't exceed ~4K on the factory fill, then would probably stick with 4-5K if it saw mostly stop/go city driving.

Joel


Got the 5-door hatch in silver with a six speed manual with a fair amount of options, all out the door for under 14k which included all taxes tags, etc.

Originally Posted By: TomYoung
Originally Posted By: brandini
Get the car up to temp then flog the engine but be easy on the trans. Change the oil at the 500 and 1000 mile mark then line up the future changes with what the manual says (be it 5k, 7.5k, or 10k mile changes).

Make the change to full syn at the first full-length interval (no sense doing synthetic for that short of a time).


If you do what the manual says, you will meet your warranty requirements. I would recommend doing that. I also like the idea of getting the initial oil out of the car at around 1,000 miles. It's not necessary per the manufacturer, but is logical in that it removes any remaining metal particles that come loose after the engine's manufacture.

On this forum, you will see a wide range of opinion on proper oil change intervals, with the only matter universally agreed upon is that once oil is used up as proven by a UOA, it's time to change it.

All that said, on a modern engine, there is no conceivable way to justify a 500 mile oil change and a 1,000 mile oil change. It is simply not required, and is not justified.


Sounds good. 1000 miles on the factory sounds like a plan in my book, and then stick to the manufacturers OCI, which for me are right around 4k.

Still debating to use synthetic or conventional...

 

[TomYoung]

Still debating to use synthetic or conventional...

[/quote]


Absolutely go synthetic!

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Johnny248
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I'd go 5,000 miles on the factory fill, then put in whatever you like, and keep on changing at 5,000 mile intervals. I think Nissan traditionally called for severe OCIs at 3,750 miles and normal OCIs at 7,500 miles. Is that still the case?


Judging on how these engines seem to hold up, and the noise that devlops with milage, I would stick to your 3,750 intervals. These things start to get 40-50k on them and they start to get loud.

+1

Stick to 3 month/3750 mile intervals. Johnny knows Nissans, he works at a dealer.

Also, unless they have solved those fuel pump problems, I would get an extended warranty for this car ASAP. It's only about $1200 for a 8/120k Nissan backed policy if you look around online. I got one for my Altma as well.

 

[SatinSilver]

Does Nissan use a special break in oil for the Versa? Usually its loaded with extra Moly from the factory. I'm on an Accord website and those that changed the oil early often have some engine problems like oil consumption, mpgs etc. The common denominator in all these cases seems to be changing the oil too soon.

Those that waited till 5-6k are problem free. I'd ask the dealer what they recommend.

 

[jigen]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Johnny248
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
I'd go 5,000 miles on the factory fill, then put in whatever you like, and keep on changing at 5,000 mile intervals. I think Nissan traditionally called for severe OCIs at 3,750 miles and normal OCIs at 7,500 miles. Is that still the case?


Judging on how these engines seem to hold up, and the noise that devlops with milage, I would stick to your 3,750 intervals. These things start to get 40-50k on them and they start to get loud.

+1

Stick to 3 month/3750 mile intervals. Johnny knows Nissans, he works at a dealer.

Also, unless they have solved those fuel pump problems, I would get an extended warranty for this car ASAP. It's only about $1200 for a 8/120k Nissan backed policy if you look around online. I got one for my Altma as well.


You can get one not through the dealership?