Coming up on 81,000 Miles

[VQKid]

So my oil change is coming up relatively soon, I was curious to know what oil I should use to change it. My vehicle is a 2003 Nissan Maxima GLE.

I've looked at both Valvoline and Mobil 1, But it seems from what i read, Valvoline doesn't have all the ingredients in it as opposed to mobil 1, I've also heard things about Pennzoil and AMSOIL. I've previously used Castrol GTX and Mobil 1 0w30 Advanced economy, and just recently Shell dealer did it.

When I did the Castrol GTX and Mobil 1 advanced economy, I used the Mobil 1 Extended performance M1-110 filter.

What do you's suggest?

 

[RamFan]

Any of the above is just fine. Choose any name brand oil that meets your requirements and you'll be good to go.

 

[Brons2]

VQ's can be tough on oil. I would check out the used oil analysis section to see what worked well in other people's VQ engines.

But I doubt you could go wrong with any of the oils mentioned for normal daily use.

 

[VQKid]

So after reading some analysis most VQ's seem to do really good on pennzoil platnium, I know of the issue with the oil consumption with the VQ's in general, that seems to be an issue with the 6 speeds, but some auto's

Seems like I may try Pennzoil Platnium, it seems to be hit or miss with Mobil 1, I was going to look into Mobil 1 extended performance. I may try that for an oil change and send it in to be checked. I am defintely gonna try and send a sample in of the shell 5w30 the dealer put in.

 

[LeakySeals]

An 03 @81k you should move up to the MFG recommended 5w30 using synthetics like Mobil 1.

 

[Boomer]

I have run Mobil 1 5w30 in my VQ-40 2007 Frontier since new. No oil issues...doesn't burn any oil i 5-6000 miles.

 

[SLCraig]

I liked to use GC (Syntec 0w30) in my VQ35's and also Valvoline conventional.

 

[VQKid]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
An 03 @81k you should move up to the MFG recommended 5w30 using synthetics like Mobil 1.


I've always used 5w30 from the start, only time I didn't use it when I went and tried the 0w30 advanced economy by Mobil 1, I may try the extended performance this time. well see. I definitely want a full synthetic oil though.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: VQKid
When I did the Castrol GTX and Mobil 1 advanced economy, I used the Mobil 1 Extended performance M1-110 filter.


See my signature. I've had the G37 for a month, and put a pile of miles on it in that month. It had Quaker State conventional 10w30 in it for the month (that's what I had in stock). It hasn't consumed anything, at least not measurably. I switched to the proper 5w30 Pennzoil conventional, since there was a nice sale on it.

I am not switching to synthetic unless I extend my OCIs, and only if I can extend them enough to make it pay off financially. Aside from that, all that you listed are quality options. What are your oil change intervals? What are your driving habits like?

 

[VQKid]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: VQKid
When I did the Castrol GTX and Mobil 1 advanced economy, I used the Mobil 1 Extended performance M1-110 filter.


See my signature. I've had the G37 for a month, and put a pile of miles on it in that month. It had Quaker State conventional 10w30 in it for the month (that's what I had in stock). It hasn't consumed anything, at least not measurably. I switched to the proper 5w30 Pennzoil conventional, since there was a nice sale on it.

I am not switching to synthetic unless I extend my OCIs, and only if I can extend them enough to make it pay off financially. Aside from that, all that you listed are quality options. What are your oil change intervals? What are your driving habits like?


I don't really drive fast, I average 22.5 MPG if that answers your question on how I drive, iam usually on time when it comes to oil changes 3-3500 i do it.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: VQKid
I don't really drive fast, I average 22.5 MPG if that answers your question on how I drive, iam usually on time when it comes to oil changes 3-3500 i do it.


In my view, that would be a rather short interval for a synthetic, particularly at the price of synthetics. Others might chime in, but what I'm doing is following the manual's intervals (basically what yours are) and sticking with Pennzoil Conventional in 5w30, also per the manual.

There's nothing wrong with any of the synthetics, and a lot of the guys like Pennzoil Platinum, but that commands a heavy premium for a 3,000 mile OCI. Don't get me wrong. I'm a "fan" of synthetics, and Mobil 1 in particular. It's just not cost effective unless one extends OCIs enough to offset the cost. It can also make sense if you're looking for a viscosity you can't find in conventional, such as 0w-30.

 

[VQKid]

thanks guys, I think I might just stick with mobil 1 well see.