I was wondering does nissan put in some form of break in oil in the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder? It has the 3.5 V-6. I am about to take it in for the first O/C this week. It will be at about 3 months / 3600 mi. (3750 recomended 1st o/c). The first two o/c are free from the dealer then I plan on switching to syn and going to the non severe driving schedule (7500 mi). I guess the dealer uses Valvoline, so I assume they will have syn power and not M1. Many people on the pathfinder forum are changing the oil really early (about 500 mi and sometimes less).
Is there break in oil in 13' Pathfinder?
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MolaKule
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As far as I can tell they use an assembly lube with high levels of anti-wear additives.
I had had good luck with two Nissans, one with a VQ35 and another with a 2.4L, and changed the FF oil at about 500 miles.
The '03 PathFinder has about 144,000 miles on it and going strong.
The only mechanical thing I have had done to it was a FI cleaning and had to have the Evap system replaced.
I had had good luck with two Nissans, one with a VQ35 and another with a 2.4L, and changed the FF oil at about 500 miles.
The '03 PathFinder has about 144,000 miles on it and going strong.
The only mechanical thing I have had done to it was a FI cleaning and had to have the Evap system replaced.
I would bet yes. Just follow the OCI.
Almost positive Nissan uses regular dino oil for the factory fill. Nothing special. Change it per the service manual schedule and you should be fine. The 3.5 is prone to sludging so keep on top of the changes.
Originally Posted By: Nessism
The 3.5 is prone to sludging so keep on top of the changes.
It isn't
The 3.5 is prone to sludging so keep on top of the changes.
It isn't
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Originally Posted By: Nessism
The 3.5 is prone to sludging so keep on top of the changes.
It isn't
I spent 21 years working in Nissan North America's Service/Quality department. All the warranty engine pulls would come back for tear down analysis so the failures could be cataloged. The VQ engine family are fantastic engines, but they don't like extended oil change intervals. I witnessed numerous teardowns and the majority of the engines coming back were sludged up. Don't blame the engines per say, since it's clear they were abused. But I've never seen another engine with as many sludge related failures.
Originally Posted By: Nessism
The 3.5 is prone to sludging so keep on top of the changes.
It isn't
I spent 21 years working in Nissan North America's Service/Quality department. All the warranty engine pulls would come back for tear down analysis so the failures could be cataloged. The VQ engine family are fantastic engines, but they don't like extended oil change intervals. I witnessed numerous teardowns and the majority of the engines coming back were sludged up. Don't blame the engines per say, since it's clear they were abused. But I've never seen another engine with as many sludge related failures.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Nessism
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Originally Posted By: Nessism
The 3.5 is prone to sludging so keep on top of the changes.
It isn't
I spent 21 years working in Nissan North America's Service/Quality department. All the warranty engine pulls would come back for tear down analysis so the failures could be cataloged. The VQ engine family are fantastic engines, but they don't like extended oil change intervals. I witnessed numerous teardowns and the majority of the engines coming back were sludged up. Don't blame the engines per say, since it's clear they were abused. But I've never seen another engine with as many sludge related failures.
Would the 7500 mi o/c be considered extended using a syn oil? Why does it seem such a push to use the severe service schedule? I consider my driving normal. I may tow twice a year. I dont idle the vehicle and do a mix of hwy and city. Actually a do some idling every day to work waiting for traffic entering the military base. Probably takes me 10 min or so to get through the gates.
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Originally Posted By: Nessism
The 3.5 is prone to sludging so keep on top of the changes.
It isn't
I spent 21 years working in Nissan North America's Service/Quality department. All the warranty engine pulls would come back for tear down analysis so the failures could be cataloged. The VQ engine family are fantastic engines, but they don't like extended oil change intervals. I witnessed numerous teardowns and the majority of the engines coming back were sludged up. Don't blame the engines per say, since it's clear they were abused. But I've never seen another engine with as many sludge related failures.
Would the 7500 mi o/c be considered extended using a syn oil? Why does it seem such a push to use the severe service schedule? I consider my driving normal. I may tow twice a year. I dont idle the vehicle and do a mix of hwy and city. Actually a do some idling every day to work waiting for traffic entering the military base. Probably takes me 10 min or so to get through the gates.
Originally Posted By: MolaKule
As far as I can tell they use an assembly lube with high levels of anti-wear additives.
I had had good luck with two Nissans, one with a VQ35 and another with a 2.4L, and changed the FF oil at about 500 miles.
Be careful saying that you change the FF at 500 miles around here. LOL It got me into a discussion I really didn't want to get involved in, more than once. For the record I'll never say I disagree.
OTOH I don't think anyone will call YOU out on it.
As far as I can tell they use an assembly lube with high levels of anti-wear additives.
I had had good luck with two Nissans, one with a VQ35 and another with a 2.4L, and changed the FF oil at about 500 miles.
Be careful saying that you change the FF at 500 miles around here. LOL It got me into a discussion I really didn't want to get involved in, more than once. For the record I'll never say I disagree.
Originally Posted By: stygz
Would the 7500 mi o/c be considered extended using a syn oil? Why does it seem such a push to use the severe service schedule? I consider my driving normal. I may tow twice a year. I dont idle the vehicle and do a mix of hwy and city. Actually a do some idling every day to work waiting for traffic entering the military base. Probably takes me 10 min or so to get through the gates.
7500 using synthetic oil should be fine. That should be fine using dino oil as well since you don't do too many short hops.
Guess I should have made my first comment a little clearer. I saw a LOT of sludged up VQ engines, but suspect most of them didn't receive proper oil changes. Can't say for sure that they are prone to sludging if properly cared for, but I KNOW they can if neglected. If your driving pattern forced you to do a lot of short hop trips, I'd definitely follow the severe maintenance schedule as far as oil changes are concern.
Enjoy!
Would the 7500 mi o/c be considered extended using a syn oil? Why does it seem such a push to use the severe service schedule? I consider my driving normal. I may tow twice a year. I dont idle the vehicle and do a mix of hwy and city. Actually a do some idling every day to work waiting for traffic entering the military base. Probably takes me 10 min or so to get through the gates.
7500 using synthetic oil should be fine. That should be fine using dino oil as well since you don't do too many short hops.
Guess I should have made my first comment a little clearer. I saw a LOT of sludged up VQ engines, but suspect most of them didn't receive proper oil changes. Can't say for sure that they are prone to sludging if properly cared for, but I KNOW they can if neglected. If your driving pattern forced you to do a lot of short hop trips, I'd definitely follow the severe maintenance schedule as far as oil changes are concern.
Enjoy!
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Well just got back from dealer for 1st o/c. I guess they use Valvoline syn blend for majority of o/c. If I do go syn after my second free o/c is done they offer M1. I would have thought they would have used Valvoline syn power since they are listed as a Valvoline installer, but I guess M1 has such popularity. Anyway I would rather use M1 anyway. I thought the 1st o/c was pretty expensive if I had paid for it. It was 63.12 after taxes and disposal. I figure this is what the service dept charges the sales dept as I got the first 2 O/C included in the price. I would figure future o/c (syn blend) would be in the $40 area charged to the customer. I asked about M1 cost and it would be about $65 which seems to be the going rate at a service center. I know I can find it for about $35 w/filter on sale at Autozone easily.
I have the mechanical equivalent of the 13 Pathfinder in the Infiniti JX. Just returned from the first oil change. I opted for the AAP oil change deal and brought along 5 quarts of Castrol Edge and a Fram Ultra filter.
My dealer includes the first three oil changes for free as part of the new vehicle purchase, but the invoice indicated $15.25 as the labor charge with the customer supplying parts.
Enjoy your new Pathfinder!
My dealer includes the first three oil changes for free as part of the new vehicle purchase, but the invoice indicated $15.25 as the labor charge with the customer supplying parts.
Enjoy your new Pathfinder!
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The VQ engines do sludge on extended dino changes. Using synthetic should alleviate most of the issues but IMHO I think it's one engine that deserves 5-6k synthetic changes unless you're racking them up fast on the highway.
Originally Posted By: eugenem
I have the mechanical equivalent of the 13 Pathfinder in the Infiniti JX. Just returned from the first oil change. I opted for the AAP oil change deal and brought along 5 quarts of Castrol Edge and a Fram Ultra filter.
My dealer includes the first three oil changes for free as part of the new vehicle purchase, but the invoice indicated $15.25 as the labor charge with the customer supplying parts.
Enjoy your new Pathfinder!
Curious on why not the OEM filter? What OCI are you going with?
I have the mechanical equivalent of the 13 Pathfinder in the Infiniti JX. Just returned from the first oil change. I opted for the AAP oil change deal and brought along 5 quarts of Castrol Edge and a Fram Ultra filter.
My dealer includes the first three oil changes for free as part of the new vehicle purchase, but the invoice indicated $15.25 as the labor charge with the customer supplying parts.
Enjoy your new Pathfinder!
Curious on why not the OEM filter? What OCI are you going with?
Originally Posted By: stygz
Curious on why not the OEM filter? What OCI are you going with?
To be honest, I was going to use the OEM Nissan/Infiniti filter with the $19.99 Quaker State synthetic special at AAP. When I got to AAP, they were out of QSUD so I impulsively opted for the Castrol Edge/Fram Ultra special.
My work commute is 4 miles one way, so I'll have to stick with the severe oil change intervals (3 months/3,750 miles). The JX was purchased in July and only has 1,500 miles to date -- I did notice some oil consumption during the first few months of use.
Curious on why not the OEM filter? What OCI are you going with?
To be honest, I was going to use the OEM Nissan/Infiniti filter with the $19.99 Quaker State synthetic special at AAP. When I got to AAP, they were out of QSUD so I impulsively opted for the Castrol Edge/Fram Ultra special.
My work commute is 4 miles one way, so I'll have to stick with the severe oil change intervals (3 months/3,750 miles). The JX was purchased in July and only has 1,500 miles to date -- I did notice some oil consumption during the first few months of use.
Originally Posted By: eugenem
Originally Posted By: stygz
Curious on why not the OEM filter? What OCI are you going with?
To be honest, I was going to use the OEM Nissan/Infiniti filter with the $19.99 Quaker State synthetic special at AAP. When I got to AAP, they were out of QSUD so I impulsively opted for the Castrol Edge/Fram Ultra special.
My work commute is 4 miles one way, so I'll have to stick with the severe oil change intervals (3 months/3,750 miles). The JX was purchased in July and only has 1,500 miles to date -- I did notice some oil consumption during the first few months of use.
I Drive about 7 miles one way to work. It is hwy and some idle, but I do a couple times a week get on the hwy. I also bought mine in july.
I am not really impressed with the dip stick. It seems difficult to accurately check the oil level. Maybe I will get used to it. I can say I even paid attention to oil consumption.
Originally Posted By: stygz
Curious on why not the OEM filter? What OCI are you going with?
To be honest, I was going to use the OEM Nissan/Infiniti filter with the $19.99 Quaker State synthetic special at AAP. When I got to AAP, they were out of QSUD so I impulsively opted for the Castrol Edge/Fram Ultra special.
My work commute is 4 miles one way, so I'll have to stick with the severe oil change intervals (3 months/3,750 miles). The JX was purchased in July and only has 1,500 miles to date -- I did notice some oil consumption during the first few months of use.
I Drive about 7 miles one way to work. It is hwy and some idle, but I do a couple times a week get on the hwy. I also bought mine in july.
I am not really impressed with the dip stick. It seems difficult to accurately check the oil level. Maybe I will get used to it. I can say I even paid attention to oil consumption.
Originally Posted By: stygz
Originally Posted By: eugenem
Originally Posted By: stygz
Curious on why not the OEM filter? What OCI are you going with?
To be honest, I was going to use the OEM Nissan/Infiniti filter with the $19.99 Quaker State synthetic special at AAP. When I got to AAP, they were out of QSUD so I impulsively opted for the Castrol Edge/Fram Ultra special.
My work commute is 4 miles one way, so I'll have to stick with the severe oil change intervals (3 months/3,750 miles). The JX was purchased in July and only has 1,500 miles to date -- I did notice some oil consumption during the first few months of use.
I Drive about 7 miles one way to work. It is hwy and some idle, but I do a couple times a week get on the hwy. I also bought mine in july.
I am not really impressed with the dip stick. It seems difficult to accurately check the oil level. Maybe I will get used to it. I can say I even paid attention to oil consumption.
Yep, my sister and her husband just bought a 14 Pathfinder, and I noticed that it's hard to pull the dipstick without it rubbing against the side of the dipstick tube, affecting the reading. It's also hard to get back in, especially at night!
Originally Posted By: eugenem
Originally Posted By: stygz
Curious on why not the OEM filter? What OCI are you going with?
To be honest, I was going to use the OEM Nissan/Infiniti filter with the $19.99 Quaker State synthetic special at AAP. When I got to AAP, they were out of QSUD so I impulsively opted for the Castrol Edge/Fram Ultra special.
My work commute is 4 miles one way, so I'll have to stick with the severe oil change intervals (3 months/3,750 miles). The JX was purchased in July and only has 1,500 miles to date -- I did notice some oil consumption during the first few months of use.
I Drive about 7 miles one way to work. It is hwy and some idle, but I do a couple times a week get on the hwy. I also bought mine in july.
I am not really impressed with the dip stick. It seems difficult to accurately check the oil level. Maybe I will get used to it. I can say I even paid attention to oil consumption.
Yep, my sister and her husband just bought a 14 Pathfinder, and I noticed that it's hard to pull the dipstick without it rubbing against the side of the dipstick tube, affecting the reading. It's also hard to get back in, especially at night!
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