New Frontier

[K20FA5]

Two weeks ago I bought a new Frontier Crew Cab with the VQ40DE V6 and 5 speed automatic.

It is killing me to change the oil from the factory fill! The manual says that I can run it until the first scheduled OCI (3750 for severe or 7500 normal). I'm planning on running either Pennzoil Conventional or Pennzoil Platinum in the 5w30 flavor with a P1. I'm also planning on doing drain and fills on the transmission since it has a drain plug at regular intervals.

Now my questions:
1) does anyone know what the Nissan FF is on these trucks?
2) when should I change out the FF?
2.5) what OCI would you run? Pennzoil Conventional or Pennzoil Platinum?
3) when should I replace the diff fluid? It specs a 75w-90 syn in the diff.
4) how often should I do the drain and fill on the transmission?

I'm planning on keeping this truck for a while, so I want to take good care of it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Brian

 

[SrDriver]

I have a new vehicle too and it has 2700 miles on it now. Goes in tomorrow for it's first oil change.

Vehicle is just under 6 months old and must change the oil and filter every 6 months for warranty.

My 2007 had just under 4,000 when it had it's first change.

 

[StevieC]

I would drain out your Factory Fill after about 3K miles.

Also before we can recommend an OCI, we need to know what your manual calls for and what kind of driving patterns you have.

 

[K20FA5]

Manual says "severe" is 3,750 and "regular" is 7,500 miles both with a quality API 5w30.

My driving habits are 12 miles one way to work, about 7 of that is highway. Lots of city stop and go driving on the weekends. Here in Texas, the A/C is running all spring, summer, and fall with quite a bit of idling.

Just an FYI, the OLM on my wife's Honda goes about 6,000 miles or so before it tells me to change the oil.

I'm just concerned since I can swear I've read somewhere that the Nissan VQ V6's aren't really easy on oil. Is this true? There aren't a ton of used oil analysis for these engines in the used oil analysis section.

 

[heavyhitter]

I have an '09 CC Frontier 4x4 long box with auto.
I changed my FF at 900 or 1,000 miles. Then ran GTX for 4k. I am now doing 5k on Pennzoil Platinum and Quaker State Synthetic. I think I will continue to do 5k with whatever name brand syn I can pick up on sales.

I too have heard that the VQ40DE V6's chew on oil.

 

[StevieC]

4K on a conventional oil (Your choice)
6K on a Synthetic (Your Choice)

I would reccomend Pennzoil for both cases for your application.

 

[TWG1572]

Welcome to the Frontier owners club!

There wasn't a whole lot of science behind it, but I changed my FF @ 1,000 miles. Followed it up with Pennzoil Conventional and then PP. My last change interval was 6.6K on PP, the used oil analysis was great and is posted out there somewhere. I'm taking it to the full 7.5K his time - got about 200 miles to go. We will see how things go. My commute is mainly highway, so it's easy driving.

I do see the occasional comment about the VQ's chewing oil, mainly around the VQ35. I'm just going to continue watching my used oil analysis and will back down if they indicate it.

I changed the diffs and tran fluid @ 30K. I did it myself, it's easy enough to do. It's cheap peace of mind, and at the time I was in the "I'm going to own this truck forever" mindset. Now, 5K miles and one accident that nearly totalled it later, I'm not so sure. The good news it that the truck took everything that the accident threw at it and still kept me safe. The bad news is that it will probably never be the same truck again after all the body shop work.