Current best oil for vq35de?

Yeah maybe the OP's car is a good candidate for a jug of good 'ole Castrol GTX High Mileage 20W-50 🤷‍♂️
Maybe, but not during an Idaho winter. I must be lucky with my wife's 2007 Infiniti. It's got lower mileage at 137K but still only uses 6-8 ounces of oil every 4,500 mile oil change. For the OP, Kendall brand oils are not popular on here, but Kendall GT-1 Max 5w-30 could be worth a try after using some HPL engine cleaner. Amalie also makes its Elixir full synthetic in 0w-40.
 
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Folks, I settled on trying the HPL Engine Cleaner 40 so I can still use the oil stash I have. I read and watched a few reviews of it and I think it is worth a try.
Now the question is what is the best place to buy from? I don't think it is available locally, so which online store is best?
 
Folks, I settled on trying the HPL Engine Cleaner 40 so I can still use the oil stash I have. I read and watched a few reviews of it and I think it is worth a try.
Interesting how surprisingly steered to HPL Engine Cleaner. May we see the threads about HPL Engine Cleaner that made you decide on that?
Also with what brand and type of oil are you planing to mix the HPL Engine Cleaner 40?
 
Interesting how surprisingly steered to HPL Engine Cleaner. May we see the threads about HPL Engine Cleaner that made you decide on that?
Also with what brand and type of oil are you planing to mix the HPL Engine Cleaner 40?
Agree. An odd conclusion from this thread.

Valvoline Restore and Protect which has countless proven results here in resolving oil burning? Or HPL Engine Cleaner which is meant to use prior to switching to HPL oils with limited and sporadic reports of oil burning resolution? Hard choice...

OP, why not run Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W-30 for 4 OCIs and get your oil burning resolved (or at least diagnosed as due to piston ring deposits or not) and then use your oil up?
 
Folks, I settled on trying the HPL Engine Cleaner 40 so I can still use the oil stash I have.
Valvoline Restore and Protect which has countless proven results here in resolving oil burning? Or HPL Engine Cleaner which is meant to use prior to switching to HPL oils with limited and sporadic reports of oil burning resolution? Hard choice...
But he said he has an oil stash that he wants to use first.
 
Thank you all for the input and discussion. I, like many of you, have my passions, understanding, and a good amount of bias towards many topics in life. I failed to mention that I did email HPL and they said I can do what I listed before and use my current oil for the cleaning.

In the mean time the car has developed a small leak from the rear main seal. . . :(
 
I failed to mention that I did email HPL and they said I can do what I listed before and use my current oil for the cleaning.
Well, I mean did you expect them to recommend something different?

It would make more sense to run Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W-30 to resolve the oil burning and then use up the stash, but you can lead a horse to water and all... That oil will last. HPL Engine Cleaner is meant to clean up engine internals in preparation of running their engine oil so you don't clog up your filter. Reports of cleaning up piston rings and resolving engine oil burning are spotty at best.

Please be sure to update us though. Might be a good data point.
 
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 don't see how these statements can both be true. Consumption that high is not "running great" by any reasonable measure I can think of. Heck, that's excessive oil consumption by literally every carmaker who publishes a consumption limit as they all go to about 1qt/1000 miles as a condemnation limit.

Also, it's seems like it's not clear how much is consumption vs leakage, although the suggestion is that it is overwhelmingly consumption. VQs aren't generally known leakers (My VQ30 was leak free when I sold it at 160k miles).

If this is my car and my situation, I'm using 3 quarts of VRP 5w-30 and 2 quarts of Valvoline Advanced 20w-50 and blending them to get some VRP cleaning and higher viscosity that might help ring sealing a bit while sticking within a brand for generally additive compatibility.

This engine is not well and needs an intervention. And why on earth would you be so set on using up a stash of oils whose usage heretofore has produced an unwell, high-consumption engine? Do you want the engine to get better or not?
 
And why on earth would you be so set on using up a stash of oils whose usage heretofore has produced an unwell, high-consumption engine? Do you want the engine to get better or not?
Precisely. OP, you'd be wise to heed this advice.

I don't see how these statements can both be true. Consumption that high is not "running great" by any reasonable measure I can think of.
I think sometimes the bar here is "when I turn the key, the engine turns on, and pressing the throttle makes the car go" as "running great."
 
Saying an engine is "running good" is a highly subjective statement. I've seen engines that are pretty worn and people still thought the engine was "running good" because it still made a lot of persevered power and ran smooth without making all kinds of noises. Some car makers say that oil consumption of up to 1qt per 1000 miles is "normal" right in the OM ... so that would even be applicable to a motor that's basically new and still under warranty.
 
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I don't see how these statements can both be true. Consumption that high is not "running great" by any reasonable measure I can think of. Heck, that's excessive oil consumption by literally every carmaker who publishes a consumption limit as they all go to about 1qt/1000 miles as a condemnation limit.

Also, it's seems like it's not clear how much is consumption vs leakage, although the suggestion is that it is overwhelmingly consumption. VQs aren't generally known leakers (My VQ30 was leak free when I sold it at 160k miles).

If this is my car and my situation, I'm using 3 quarts of Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w-30 and 2 quarts of Valvoline Advanced 20w-50 and blending them to get some Valvoline Restore and Protect cleaning and higher viscosity that might help ring sealing a bit while sticking within a brand for generally additive compatibility.

This engine is not well and needs an intervention. And why on earth would you be so set on using up a stash of oils whose usage heretofore has produced an unwell, high-consumption engine? Do you want the engine to get better or not?
I too had a VQ30 maxima prior to this one, and I had to replace the valve cover gaskets on it.
Running great means that the car is smooth, and has its power still. The oil burning does not affect drivability.
We do not know when and how the oil consumption started. At this point I don't know if there is a mechanical issues either. I could have scored cylinder walls, very worn rings, bad valve guide seals, etc. I am not discounting any of the suggestions for Valvoline Restore and Protect, I just want to try HPL first.

Precisely. OP, you'd be wise to heed this advice.


I think sometimes the bar here is "when I turn the key, the engine turns on, and pressing the throttle makes the car go" as "running great."
As I stated above: Running great means that the car is smooth, and has its power still. The oil burning does not affect drivability.


Folks, I see that some of you have very strong opinions. I do as well, so I completely understand. Let a man try what he wishes. . . Worse case would be that nothing happens, I would have spent some time and money on a product which did not do that job, and I am back to square one.
But if it does work, I would have saved some money and gotten the desired result. To me the risk is acceptable.

If I want a bulletproof solution I would need a brand new engine from Nissan.
 
I too had a VQ30 maxima prior to this one, and I had to replace the valve cover gaskets on it.
Running great means that the car is smooth, and has its power still. The oil burning does not affect drivability.
We do not know when and how the oil consumption started. At this point I don't know if there is a mechanical issues either. I could have scored cylinder walls, very worn rings, bad valve guide seals, etc. I am not discounting any of the suggestions for Valvoline Restore and Protect, I just want to try HPL first.


As I stated above: Running great means that the car is smooth, and has its power still. The oil burning does not affect drivability.


Folks, I see that some of you have very strong opinions. I do as well, so I completely understand. Let a man try what he wishes. . . Worse case would be that nothing happens, I would have spent some time and money on a product which did not do that job, and I am back to square one.
But if it does work, I would have saved some money and gotten the desired result. To me the risk is acceptable.

If I want a bulletproof solution I would need a brand new engine from Nissan.
Or just find a used low mile VQ37VHR and call it done ✅
Oftentimes you have to assess the situation and ask yourself if you've reached the point of diminishing returns.
Keep fencing with a worsening issue or pull the pin and start anew?
If a car was pushing smoke in my city the way you describe, it'd be hauled off the road for a VI and probably deemed not roadworthy.
I wish you the best of luck with an easy fix first.
 
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Folks, I see that some of you have very strong opinions. I do as well, so I completely understand. Let a man try what he wishes.
But you came here asking for our help and opinions and then ignored the advice.

If I want a bulletproof solution I would need a brand new engine from Nissan.
You can't say that yet. Very real possibility that Valvoline Restore and Protect completely resolves your oil burning. Valvoline Restore and Protect may very well be the "bulletproof" solution you're seeking.
 
Or just find a used low mile VQ37VHR and call it done ✅
Oftentimes you have to assess the situation and ask yourself if you've reached the point of diminishing returns.
Keep fencing with a worsening issue or pull the pin and start anew?
If a car was pushing smoke in my city the way you describe, it'd be hauled off the road for a VI and probably deemed not roadworthy.
I wish you the best of luck with an easy fix first.
There isn't much smoke though. . . Only when revving high. We don't have emissions anymore, but even when we did the car passed each time. Unless that is not something they measure for. . .

But you came here asking for our help and opinions and then ignored the advice.


You can't say that yet. Very real possibility that Valvoline Restore and Protect completely resolves your oil burning. Valvoline Restore and Protect may very well be the "bulletproof" solution you're seeking.
I am not ignoring, sir. I have appreciated all the input and advice, and I just made a choice. I think I stated in an earlier post that I have not dismissed the Valvoline Restore and Protect route. I am just going to start with HPL.
 
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