Current best oil for vq35de?

[djipka]

Hi folks,

It's been a moment since I last started a thread.
I still have my trusty 03 Maxima with the vq35de engine. Car runs great at over 238k miles. As usual it does consume quite a bit when driven hard, which for me is basically daily. Current consumption is over 1QT per 1000 miles. I'm currently using Quaker State Euro 5w40 as I got a stash of it in the last couple of years. OCI are around 5k mostly due to filter. Car is mechanically sound with maintenance up to date.
My question is with all the changes and advancements in chemistries and technology what would be the best oil for the older and higher mileage Vq35? Back in the day the best oils were GC 0w30 and Mobil 1 0w40. The GC is really not available anymore (similar oil available at O'Reilly but cost is high) and Mobil 1 has changed like 3 times since I used it last.

Thank you for your input!

 

[Nessism1]

Maybe try Valvoline Restore and Protect, 5W-30, for 4 oil change cycles, to see if you can improve the oil burning situation? That's what I'd try, anyway.

 

[ripcord]

There might be better oils than what you're using now, but the differences will be minor. That said, as has been mentioned, little if folks have seen reductions in oil burning with the Valvoline Restore and Protect oil.

 

[nascarnation]

I think that Quaker State 5w40 is tough to beat if you want that thickness and low price. I use it my Saturn beater with the 3.0 liter V6.
Kirkland on sale would be cheaper but it's not a 40wt.
Maybe some low buck 15W40 in the summer months as a possible means to lower consumption?

 

[djipka]

Glad to see quick responses!

I'm not sure if you folks are familiar with the vq engine though. I've owned this car for almost 14 years and it has always had high quality oil and it has always burned some due to my driving habits. used oil analysis through the years have been good also.
The engine is as clean as it can be inside. Recently replaced valve covers and the top end barely has any varnish. Slight golden color is all. The engine is known for the oil consumption as stated previously. The piston rings are known to have a factory issue.
I'm not against the new valvoline product, but I doubt in my case it'll do anything to justify the additional cost.

 

[GR_CoB]

VK56 and VQ35 owner here. I use Amalie 5W-50 and SuperTech Synthetic 15W-40. Amalie because I found a good deal on it. Otherwise it would be just Super Tech Synthetic 15W-40. Great oil, my climate allows it, and it's stout enough to handle abuse I give my engines.
So far no oil consumption: VK56 has 135k miles, and VQ35 has 157k miles.
Up until a couple years ago I was a huge fan of Mobil 1 0W-40, but since then I learned that OCI length is far more important than capability of the oil. Had quite a few people post valvecover pics here, where Mobil 1 at 5k OCIs did not keep engines spotless or consumption free, despite what many here like to believe...
So why spend more?
Cheap stout oil at short (3000-4000) OCIs is what keeps me, my wallet, and my engines happy.

P.S. I used Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W-30 oil in a 2AZ Toyota engine. It fixed the oil consumption, but oil is completely beat up by 3000 miles, as proven by increased valvetrain and timing chain noises. Many other users noticed same pattern. So I definitely wouldn't use it in engines that see redline often, or oil may not be offering much protection past the 2000 mile mark, if that... Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W-30 is a great cleaning oil, but that's all. Don't use it in high RPM engines and don't go for extended OCIs with it, especially in timing chain engines.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I have two VQ40 DE (which is mostly a stroked VQ35DE). Neither burns any oil, including the 2008 which has 420K miles on it almost now. I have run just about every kind of oil if its cheap. I bought both new - there in my sig.

I would quibble that oil burn is normal on a VQ. There were some oil burn issues with the "rev up" VQ35DE but that didn't come out until 2005 and even that is debated. Are you the original owner of this vehicle? I will say that long OCI's on VQ's are not your friend.

If it were mine I would also switch to Valvoline Restore and Protect and see if that helps if it happens to be stuck rings. But if its valve guides then likely not.

I assume you have changed your PCV valve recently, and the crossover hose while your at it, both can cause oil usage.

 

[GW.]

Perfect candidate for Valvoline Restore and Protect. 4 oci’s minimum.

 

[djipka]

Looks like most people suggest trying Valvoline Restore and Protect even though I'm pretty certain my issue is not the rings.

What about oil with best lubrication and ability to withstand the vq chewing it up?

 

[ripcord]

With 5k changes and adding a lot of makeup oil between changes, you aren't leaving it in there long enough for it to get "chewed up."

 

[facility1]

Royal Purple HMX,10w-30 you may want to consider.

 

[GW.]

Looks like most people suggest trying Valvoline Restore and Protect even though I'm pretty certain my issue is not the rings.

What about oil with best lubrication and ability to withstand the vq chewing it up?

The goalposts keep moving. HPL no Vll, AMSOIL Signature Series, Redline, Torco.

 

[SC Maintenance]

The engine is known for the oil consumption as stated previously. The piston rings are known to have a factory issue.

Looks like most people suggest trying Valvoline Restore and Protect even though I'm pretty certain my issue is not the rings.

What about oil with best lubrication and ability to withstand the vq chewing it up?

First you said the piston rings have a factory issue (they do not actually that I am aware. There the same ring spec as my VQ 40)

Then you say its not the rings?

What then do you believe is actually causing your oil consumption?

 

[djipka]

With 5k changes and adding a lot of makeup oil between changes, you aren't leaving it in there long enough for it to get "chewed up."

You are right. But when I used to do uoa once a year the oil, even with all the make up, was chewed up by 7k.
My hard driving doesn't help...

 

[djipka]

First you said the piston rings have a factory issue (they do not actually that I am aware. There the same ring spec as my VQ 40)

Then you say its not the rings?

What then do you believe is actually causing your oil consumption?

Apologies if there was confusion...
The known issue with this engine which is the first gen larger than the 3.0 liter, which I also had, was for these couple of years on the Maxima and the guys on the 350z forums.
I didn't mean the rings get stuck or clogged up, they just don't seal well under heavy load. I think that's one of the reasons nissan went with the weird oci of 3750 miles.

 

[ripcord]

Nissan's 3750 mile (and 7000 for highway miles) oil change schedule dates back to at least to the early nineties and was listed for lots of different engines.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Apologies if there was confusion...
The known issue with this engine which is the first gen larger than the 3.0 liter, which I also had, was for these couple of years on the Maxima and the guys on the 350z forums.
I didn't mean the rings get stuck or clogged up, they just don't seal well under heavy load. I think that's one of the reasons nissan went with the weird oci of 3750 miles.

I am really not trying to bust your chops, but I don't think your data is accurate. If you follow this link, you will see that the same rings are used all the way from a 2002 VQ Altima all the way up to my 2011 Frontier, and much further also. https://parts.nissanusa.com/parts/n...mcm9udGllciZ5PTIwMTEmdD1zdiZlPTQtMGwtdjYtZ2Fz

Also, the 3750 OCI has been around forever and goes back to they were spec'd with 5w-30 API SJ or even older. I still run that interval - and conventional / semi syn oil in the Xterra.

Your probably confusing the issue with the revup - which had some issues especially in its very first year - which was technically 2006 MY but they came out in late 2005. They were supposedly fixed by 2007. VQ's generally are not oil burners, at least not due to any design issues.

I would actually guess that your valve seals / valve guides are maybe worn. That can happen with too infrequent OCI and lots of high RPM. However I would not rule Valvoline Restore and Protect out. Worst case is it does nothing and your still at your current state.

I will ask again - has your PCV been changed recently? That also is a possible problem.

Other than that, any XXw30 / XXw40 is likely fine quite honestly. Long OCI are not your friend on these engines, irrelevant of the oil. The long complex timing chains cause a fair bit of shear.

 

[djipka]

I am really not trying to bust your chops, but I don't think your data is accurate. If you follow this link, you will see that the same rings are used all the way from a 2002 VQ Altima all the way up to my 2011 Frontier, and much further also. https://parts.nissanusa.com/parts/n...mcm9udGllciZ5PTIwMTEmdD1zdiZlPTQtMGwtdjYtZ2Fz

Also, the 3750 OCI has been around forever and goes back to they were spec'd with 5w-30 API SJ or even older. I still run that interval - and conventional / semi syn oil in the Xterra.

Your probably confusing the issue with the revup - which had some issues especially in its very first year - which was technically 2006 MY but they came out in late 2005. They were supposedly fixed by 2007. VQ's generally are not oil burners, at least not due to any design issues.

I would actually guess that your valve seals / valve guides are maybe worn. That can happen with too infrequent OCI and lots of high RPM. However I would not rule Valvoline Restore and Protect out. Worst case is it does nothing and your still at your current state.

I will ask again - has your PCV been changed recently? That also is a possible problem.

Other than that, any XXw30 / XXw40 is likely fine quite honestly. Long OCI are not your friend on these engines, irrelevant of the oil. The long complex timing chains cause a fair bit of shear.

Thanks for the input and details!
I am the fourth owner of the car where the first one was a lease and maintained by the book at a dealer, the second ran a lot of highway miles and maintained at a dealer, and the third was one of the dealer techs who bought it from the customer, and I got it from him. The car has had the best maintenance it could have (in my opinion and I am a quality engineer by trade). The engine has been spotless as far I can see under the valve covers since I have owned it, but it has burned oil all along. As of recent it seems to burn more than before, especially when I redline it often.

As I said in an earlier post I replaced the valve covers recently and the rear came with a new PCV. I replaced all the vent hoses as well. And this was probably the third PCV I have done during my ownership of the car because I know it is a weak spot. I also have an oil catch can so the intake is pretty clean as well.

I still DD this car and I love it! Due to this I still maintain it as good as I can (I do all my own work) with OEM parts as often as I can afford. I forked out for the Nissan OEM valve covers for example (ouch).

Current OCI I do is about 5k miles because I also use a budget filter I got from Rock Auto, but even with a better one I never go above 7k miles, and that was when I did regular used oil analysis.

From all the input so far I gathered the following:
- Valvoline Restore and Protect may still help me with the piston rings since I am mostly guessing they are clean
- Due to my driving habits the rings may also be worn from excessive RPM.
- Due to my driving habits the valve seals are likely worn as well - not planning to tear that down for a fix

Would an UOA tell me anything worth my money and time at this point? I have only used Blackstone in the past, maybe if I went to another lab this time?

 

[ripcord]

In my opinion, a used oil analysis wouldn't likely tell you anything very useful. A compression or leak down test would tell you more about the condition of your engine. It might be interesting to check the cylinder wall conditions as well as the amount of carbon in your combustion chambers with a bore scope, too.

 

[YZJB]

Just run Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W-30 for a while and see what happens. It won’t hurt it that’s for sure.