engine shedding metal flakes in oil continues

[tiger862]

On my 2020 Frontier 3.8 engine it is still shedding oil flakes after 13k on new engine. Changed oil at 1000 miles then in 6k with 5w30. I just changed the oil today after 6500 miles, so I figured it was broken in so I just put recommend 0w20. Truck gets around 2k miles in a month doing deliveries in West Jacksonville Florida so it never stops. The 13k was put on since June. Now it has gotten a lot less flakes, but still there. Warrantee expires at 75k. No unusual noises with the 5w30 at 6500 miles and no loss of oil. I’m hoping it clears up in next oil change in 3 months. How long do you see flakes from a new engine?

2020 Frontier
3.8
65372 miles

 

[Rand]

pics?

 

[fantastic]

pics?

 

[JavierH19]

Yeah we need to see this. Cut it into sections to make it fit in the photo frame better if you can.

 

[Chris142]

Flakes should be gone by the 3rd oil change.

 

[AZjeff]

This was the transition year for the Frontier from Gen2 to Gen3. They put the brand new 3.8/9spd in the Gen2 platform. Some talk on the forums about problems, some blame first year some blame C19 era manufacturing.

Wait you say on new engine? What happened?

 

[GenSan]

Hopefully you saved the oil and send it in for analysis.

 

[Japanese]

Did you cut and look inside the oils filters?
Do you have any pictures of the filters?

 

[Klutch9]

Flakes or sparkles?

 

[ElectroMechanoMan]

Do a used oil analysis to determine the real amount of metal in the oil and what type of metal it is. That will help to determine what is failing or if it’s normal wear metals. Also, you can determine if it’s break in wear and should decrease over time.

 

[wwillson]

How long do you see flakes from a new engine?

If you have seen my oil filters from new engines, you would feel a bit better. My experience is that most of the flakes will be flushed by the fourth oil change and will be dramatically less than the OEM filter. You will never see zero tiny flakes, but shouldn't see many.

 

[4wd]

I’d stick with 5W-30 for better asperity separation

 

[Mekks]

My Ford still had 2-3 flakes in the filter at 20k. Changed at 1k, 5k, 10k, 15K, 20k.

Oil tests came back good at 15 and 20k

 

[tiger862]

This was the transition year for the Frontier from Gen2 to Gen3. They put the brand new 3.8/9spd in the Gen2 platform. Some talk on the forums about problems, some blame first year some blame C19 era manufacturing.

Wait you say on new engine? What happened?

Yes engine failure at 52k. Go to accelerate in traffic and knocking. Dealership put long block in. I broke this engine in as per Nissan. I decided to use 5w30 for break in then go recommended 0w20. Engine is quiet so I will see in 3 months how 0w20 is holding up. No analysis is needed at this point as it is just broken in. Warranty runs out at 75k so I don’t want any problems and I still don’t think the 0w20 vs 5w30 will make a difference.

 

[Hohn]

So in actuality the engine has 12k miles or so on it. It’s entirely reasonable for some particles to still be showing.

You might consider a full SAPS oil or something with some Moly in it.