Looking for oil / filter advice for Nissan VQ

[2muchtime]

Hi,

Newbie here with an 09 Nissan Frontier with the 4.0 VQ V6. I have an few questions regarding an upcoming oil change and would like a little advice.

This will be the second oil change with this truck, the first was done at the dealer at 3k as it was complimentary. I have always changed my own oil in the past.

I am most likely going the synthetic route and was wondering what the VQ engines seem to like? I am thinking either Castrol Syntec or M1 (red cap?). I was going to go the OEM filter route as there is a dealer a few miles down the road, but a Napa is just as close and I could go with the GOLD too. Any filter recomendations?

I will perform regular changes at 3k mile intervals as it normally takes me 6 months or so to get that far.

After owning the truck for 8 months the fuel mileage is [censored] (somewhat expected) and the engine is pretty noisy. Also there seems to be timing chain noise at startup (rattle) and some may be aware the of the timing chain guide issues with premature wear. Dealer is aware and says is normal. Hence the reason for going the synthetic route, whatever I can do to assist the truck for lasting many years. Walmart is close and I can get bulk oil for around $20 or so.

Oh, and the dealer was of course pushing me to have them change the oil for warranty purposes, but I would rather do it my self as I enjoy maintaining my vehicles.

Any advice on the above would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[simple_gifts]

Synthetic for 3K changes is a waste; perhaps I beat SteveS to it.

Use Pennzoil Conventional or some other OTC well regarded conventional.

 

[Scienceman]

dont have the warrenty voided because of oil changes....

 

[HTSS_TR]

For warranty purpose you need to follow the recommendations in the owner manual. What is the oil weight and change interval as stated in the manual ? If you do your own oil change, keep the receipts in case warranty work is needed.

 

[marco246]

Check out my recent UOA on an '06 Frontier with V-6. Used Formula Shell 5w30 and a Wix filter with excellent results.

I, too, have been unhappy with the fuel mileage. I think Nissan misrepresented the mileage claim. I get 16/17 mpg in mixed driving, and that's with the 6-speed manual transmission.

 

[Boomer]

In my 2007 Frontier, I have been using Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 and a NAPA Gold or Pure One filter. I got the EP on sale for $16. The engine likes this combo. I have about 23,000 miles on the truck and average about 24-25 mpg highway. Engine is quiet (some sounds on startup but that seems normal for the VQ40) and I experience no oil burning. Nissan likes oil changes at 3750 miles under warranty but my dealer uses a 5000 mile interval under warranty.

BTW, the Niss OEM filters now seem to be made in China and have cardboard end caps. I am not impressed with them and only used two before changing over. Also, when you take the little door off of the sheet metal to reach the filter, take a file and smooth the edges of the opening down as these edges are sharp and you will cut yourself.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

IIRC, aren't Nissan intervals 3750 severe and 7500 normal?

If you're going to run synthetic, at least run it for 5k miles. Even a normal conventional oil can do that, but if you're like me, a synthetic makes me feel better.

While the Castrol Edge rebate is still going on and if you have an Advance Auto where you live, go use the $10 Advance coupon and do the rebate.

I have the VQ35 and there is cold startup noise, but it runs quiet when warmed up.

 

[steveh]

I have a VQ35 and I don't have any noise with the Mobil 1 filters. I have noise for a spit second with the Pure One filters.

 

[2muchtime]

So is the claims that synthetic increases fuel mileage false, or is it just so minimal that it does not really matter?

What about cold start ups? I've also heard that synthetic helps with that too.

I've never ran Synthetic before, only thing close was Castrol Synblend in my M3. Maybe I will go this route again...

I will continue to run 5w30 as that is what the manual recommends. Someone recommended Shell Formula and Pennzoil Conventional, but what are some other well regarded convential oils? It the past I usually ran Valvoline or Castrol GTX.

Maybe this is all irrelavant as I have never kept a car longer than a year (29 years old and have had ~ 40 cars), but since this one is brand new I plan on keeping it for 5 years at least.

As the mileage is kept low due to minial driving, I will probably only perform 2 OC's a year so the cost is not really an issue at this time.

 

[jimc2]

Nissan Canada informed service departments not to use syn oil in newer cars, the coating they use for the cylinder walls does not take nicely to the syn oil, it promotes excessive oil consumption

 

[Boomer]

Well, Nissan Canada should look at my engine. Changed to Mobil 1 5w30 at 1100 miles and it burns no oil whatsoever and now at 23,000 miles. So many of these "truths" about syn oil are just old wives tales or somebody trying to act like they are knowledgeable when they are not. Use a synthetic SM rated oil fo the right viscosity and you will be fine.

 

[JustinC25]

Originally Posted By: marco246
Check out my recent UOA on an '06 Frontier with V-6. Used Formula Shell 5w30 and a Wix filter with excellent results.

I, too, have been unhappy with the fuel mileage. I think Nissan misrepresented the mileage claim. I get 16/17 mpg in mixed driving, and that's with the 6-speed manual transmission.

WOW, that's bad mileage. My dad gets 17-20 in his Tundra with a V8. Anyway, I'd run PP, M1, or Synpower 5w30, and a Wix/Napa Gold for the oci that makes you feel comfortable. Some may say that 3k on syn is a waste, but it's your money, and you should do what makes you comfortable. I personally run dino 3k, and Syn 5k, in most applications. There are exceptions to this rule, but this is generally what I stick to. But then again this is just my preference, Do what makes you feel comfortable.

Justin

 

[sangyup81]

Originally Posted By: JustinC25
Originally Posted By: marco246
Check out my recent UOA on an '06 Frontier with V-6. Used Formula Shell 5w30 and a Wix filter with excellent results.

I, too, have been unhappy with the fuel mileage. I think Nissan misrepresented the mileage claim. I get 16/17 mpg in mixed driving, and that's with the 6-speed manual transmission.

WOW, that's bad mileage. My dad gets 17-20 in his Tundra with a V8. Anyway, I'd run PP, M1, or Synpower 5w30, and a Wix/Napa Gold for the oci that makes you feel comfortable. Some may say that 3k on syn is a waste, but it's your money, and you should do what makes you comfortable. I personally run dino 3k, and Syn 5k, in most applications. There are exceptions to this rule, but this is generally what I stick to. But then again this is just my preference, Do what makes you feel comfortable.

Justin


No love for the Synthetic Blends? =)

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Originally Posted By: jimc2
Nissan Canada informed service departments not to use syn oil in newer cars, the coating they use for the cylinder walls does not take nicely to the syn oil, it promotes excessive oil consumption


Most people who have VQs that consume oil excessively claim it's due to the valve seals that Nissan used, which is a design defect.

 

[2muchtime]

"WOW, that's bad mileage. My dad gets 17-20 in his Tundra with a V8."

I get the same in my Frontier, this tank will probably be a little less. On fuelly.com my average is 16.4 and I do 70% highway. It is a 4wd and has a leveling kit and fairly aggresive tires, but sheesh... Its pretty dismal.

I like the truck, but after reading about the quality concerns and the having the poor mileage, I wish I would have done a little more research before I bought.

Oh well.

And yes, what about the semi synthetic oils? Are those a good happy medium or not worth the extra cost over synthetics?

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

IMO, if you're going to do the 3750 mile drain intervals then just go with a good quality conventional oil and call it a day. If you're going with a synthetic then run it to the max interval recommended in the owner's manual. Since you do 70% highway then I think it should qualify you for normal service.

Semi-syn's don't seem to be worth it to me since you can get a good synthetic for only a few dollars more. Unless of course they are on sale and are about the price for conventional then that may be a different story.

 

[JustinC25]

Originally Posted By: sangyup81
Originally Posted By: JustinC25
Originally Posted By: marco246
Check out my recent UOA on an '06 Frontier with V-6. Used Formula Shell 5w30 and a Wix filter with excellent results.

I, too, have been unhappy with the fuel mileage. I think Nissan misrepresented the mileage claim. I get 16/17 mpg in mixed driving, and that's with the 6-speed manual transmission.

WOW, that's bad mileage. My dad gets 17-20 in his Tundra with a V8. Anyway, I'd run PP, M1, or Synpower 5w30, and a Wix/Napa Gold for the oci that makes you feel comfortable. Some may say that 3k on syn is a waste, but it's your money, and you should do what makes you comfortable. I personally run dino 3k, and Syn 5k, in most applications. There are exceptions to this rule, but this is generally what I stick to. But then again this is just my preference, Do what makes you feel comfortable.

Justin


No love for the Synthetic Blends? =)


No problem with the blends, Infact the last 3 oil changes I've done were with Valvoline DuraBlend. (Got it free)
It's just for a buck or 2 more you can have a syn.

Justin

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: sangyup81
Originally Posted By: JustinC25
Originally Posted By: marco246
Check out my recent UOA on an '06 Frontier with V-6. Used Formula Shell 5w30 and a Wix filter with excellent results.

I, too, have been unhappy with the fuel mileage. I think Nissan misrepresented the mileage claim. I get 16/17 mpg in mixed driving, and that's with the 6-speed manual transmission.

WOW, that's bad mileage. My dad gets 17-20 in his Tundra with a V8. Anyway, I'd run PP, M1, or Synpower 5w30, and a Wix/Napa Gold for the oci that makes you feel comfortable. Some may say that 3k on syn is a waste, but it's your money, and you should do what makes you comfortable. I personally run dino 3k, and Syn 5k, in most applications. There are exceptions to this rule, but this is generally what I stick to. But then again this is just my preference, Do what makes you feel comfortable.

Justin


No love for the Synthetic Blends? =)

Synthetic blends get rather expensive except for Kendall Gt-1 and Motorcraft.

 

[TWG1572]

I'm running my first fill of PP and a Wix filter in my '08 Frontier, 25K miles. No complaints so far, but I have yet to do a used oil analysis. Up to this point I was doing 3,750 "severe service" OCI with pennzoil.

I'm threating to take this fill out to the "normal service" OCI of 7,500, which is why I put the PP in. I do about 22K miles/year of 90% highway. I know there is at least one oil analysis on here for a Frontier from Hawaii with a 7,500K OCI on PP that was good, but I live in the frozen tundra. There are always people mentioning how hard on oil these VQ engines are, but I don't know if I have seen a used oil analysis supporting that. I haven't spent huge amounts of time looking either, so apologies if I missed one.

My truck has been rock solid so far. knock on wood.