Infiniti G35...M1 10W30... 3,962 miles

[chinee]

Okay... results with my initial 7500 OCIs were unimpressive, so I targeted a shorter OCI this time, 4K, and of course the results are improved.

My engine has been consuming about a qt of M1 every 3000 miles, so I've usually topped off between a half to a whole qt on the longer OCIs. This time around I didn't top off and got 3.75 qts out from the original 5qt fill.

Since my UOAs have been disappointing with M1, and didn't justify the added expense nor the "extended" OCI, I've decided to try dino for two or three fills. Right now I'm running Pennzoil 10W30 and plan on a 4K OCI.

Let's see where my little hobby takes me. Any comments anyone?

 

[Dominic]

For an aluminum nissan engine I dont understand why the lead and iron seem so high. My 200hp torque-monster 3.8L V6 in my Camaro reads better wear numbers than that on Valvoline Maxlife. I think the Pennz might actually do your car some good.

Try sampling at 4K on the pennz for comparison, since this last sample was 4K. Do you drive it hard?

I mean, the good thing is, it seems like the numbers are dropping - but I think you need something thicker than the M1 in there to make them low enough to satisfy you. Try a 0W40 if you're a M1 guy

I'd personally try the Valvoline Synpower 5W40 in that engine.

 

[ekpolk]

Yeah, I have a feeling that something's up here, but it's hard to say what. How hard are you flogging this engine? What oil filter do you use? The VQ in my G35 has 8,000 miles on it now, and as far as I can tell, it's now using zero oil. Two thousand miles into the first GC run, the oil is still just above the full mark, right where it was after the change. I put on a lot of highway miles on the weekend, but then do heavy city driving all week, with some heavy-footed stuff mixed in for fun. While the car took several small (1/4 to 1/3 qt) top offs on its first couple dino fills (using Havo), it seems to have stopped using.

I also agree with Dominic regarding vis. I think the fact that the manual approves the use of 10w-40 in addition to the usual suspects in the 30 weight family may be a hint that this engine favors oils on the heavier side. This was one of the reasons I selected GC as this car's first syn. I'll have a UOA on this oil up in roughly three weeks, so stay tuned. You might want to start staking out your local AZ stores.

In the meantime, good luck with the Pennz.

 

[Al]

I can't blame you going away from the Mobil 1. Thisd engine has been shown to be a heavy lead producer. I used to visit the Maxima-org site and thats what I concluded. Keep an eye on the copper-might be the thrust bearing-still to early to tell though.

Carry on sir.

 

[chinee]

Although I do drive pretty spirited, I don't think I'm too hard on the engine; redline is a place I rarely visit.

As for the oil consumption, it's a trend that's beginning to pop up on the VQ. There are several threads on the G35 and 350Z forums about oil consumption, and it would appear that Infiniti/Nissan is beginning to communicate that 1 qt every 3000 miles is normal. Also, even with consuming 1.25 qts, the dipstick indicated oil about 3/5ths up the shaded area. I take a reading with the oil hot, 15-30 minutes after letting the car sit on a flat surface. Maybe it's just the M1...

 

[ekpolk]

Hmmmmm, that's a little disturbing. I hate it when engine makers, unable to get a handle on a developing problem, declare it "normal". Shoot, I guess that since mine uses no oil, it's "abnormal." Maybe I should take it in and complain. . .

I'm starting to wonder if the VQ might be extraordinarily sensitive to getting a smooth and complete break-in. I combined the procedure from the manual (not above 4k rpm for the first 1200 miles) with the recommendations of an old favorite book of mine entitled, "Drive it Forever". Did you observe the prescribed break-in procedure?

 

[ekpolk]

quote:

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Originally posted by chinee:
{snip}
ekplolk... I saw in another thread that your wife has a Sequoia; so does mine... coincidence huh? see my last UOA, done in March:
Seq UOA

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The data from your Sequoia won't come up, but it doesn't really need to.

I posted a Mobil-1 UOA from our Tree a few months ago, and like all the other 2UZ UOAs, the wear was virtually non-existent. Although I probably should have left well enough alone, I decided to give GC a try in it too. In a month or so, we'll find out if it's possible to top M1 in this engine.

I wonder how many other Sequoia-G35 households there are in Florida?

 

[chinee]

" Did you observe the prescribed break-in procedure? "

Pretty much. I need this car to go 250K miles or more so I'm not into abusing it.

My last car, a 96 ALtima had 170K on it when I sold it. I used GTX and OCIs between 5K and 10K; I changed the oil whenever I got around to it, and the engine still ran strong. With regular maintenance and a better oil, my hope is that the VQ will do a lot better.

ekplolk... I saw in another thread that your wife has a Sequoia; so does mine... coincidence huh? see my last UOA, done in March:
Seq UOA