Nissan Pathfinder 3.0L V6 VG30E, Rotella T 5W-40, 4911 miles

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jsharp

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This is the second UOA on my son's truck.

Rotella T 5W-40 synthetic
About 4900 miles.
Wix filter used.
No makeup oil.

The first one is here -

http://home.illicom.net/users/jsharp/personalphotos/OA/New_Nissan_oil_anaylsis_1.jpg

The Rotella looks like it did OK this time. The lead is down a little maybe but the rest is pretty similar to before.

I don't understand why the silicon is this high. I checked all the intake plumbing, pcv system, vacuum lines, etc., the filter is almost new and seems to seal OK in the Airbox.

I think the 4.83 TBN looks OK for this mileage, especially after looking at the Blackstone numbers for so long.

I also don't know what's happening to the viscosity. The last UOA had Motorcraft 5W-30 blend sheared to a 20 weight in 3K miles. This time the Rotella has sheared to a high 30 weight. No fuel or other things that might contribute to it other than I did add 4oz of LC about 2500 miles into this run. I don't get it...

Comments?? And can anyone clue me about how the soot, oxidation, and nitration numbers might compare to the total insolubles that Blackstone shows?
 
I wouldn't worry too much about the silicon and shearing.

My 3.5L PathFinder suffers the same issues with just about any oil I put in there, even 5W40's.

I too have attempted to track down the silicon but don't believe it's coming from the induction system.
 
Thanks Mola.

I miss-typed the engine type. This is a port injected VG30I, the VG30E is the old throttle body model. We had one of those previously and it also had what I thought was higher than normal silicon, but I don't remember the shearing with it.

The only place I can think of is it might be coming from is somewhere in the EGR system. The exhaust is a little rough.

But, I guess I'll try to not worry too much. I thought the UOA looked OK for a used vehicle we got cheap from eBay...
 
Well with some fuel dilution you some decrease in viscosity. I don't think the silicon is too high. Not a bad report.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Al:
Well with some fuel dilution you some decrease in viscosity. I don't think the silicon is too high. Not a bad report.
Click to expand...
The first report from Blackstone showed .5% fuel. This one from Predictive Maintenance just shows fuel as acceptable so I suppose it could be that high again.

From looking at this I think the Rotella worked fine in this engine. It's got 1/2 M1 0W-30 and 1/2 M1 0W-40 in it now. Stuff we got when Autozone and the local Walmart closed them out. It'll be interesting to see how they do in comparison.
 
quote:
Originally posted by jsharp:
Thanks Mola.

I miss-typed the engine type. This is a port injected VG30I, the VG30E is the old throttle body model. We had one of those previously and it also had what I thought was higher than normal silicon, but I don't remember the shearing with it.

The only place I can think of is it might be coming from is somewhere in the EGR system. The exhaust is a little rough.

But, I guess I'll try to not worry too much. I thought the UOA looked OK for a used vehicle we got cheap from eBay...
Click to expand...
You had it right the first time. The VG30I was in the 89 and prior V6 Pathfinders and had the TBI. The VG30E replaced it for 90-95 and had the electronic fuel injection.

My 92 has 137,000; very close to yours. I never thought to use the Rotella, but that would be a pretty economical heavier weight oil for summer...
 
quote:
Originally posted by Steve_RI:

quote:
Originally posted by jsharp:
Thanks Mola.

I miss-typed the engine type. This is a port injected VG30I, the VG30E is the old throttle body model. We had one of those previously and it also had what I thought was higher than normal silicon, but I don't remember the shearing with it.

The only place I can think of is it might be coming from is somewhere in the EGR system. The exhaust is a little rough.

But, I guess I'll try to not worry too much. I thought the UOA looked OK for a used vehicle we got cheap from eBay...
Click to expand...
You had it right the first time. The VG30I was in the 89 and prior V6 Pathfinders and had the TBI. The VG30E replaced it for 90-95 and had the electronic fuel injection.

My 92 has 137,000; very close to yours. I never thought to use the Rotella, but that would be a pretty economical heavier weight oil for summer...
Click to expand...
You are correct of course. We've had both, an '87 and now the '93, and I still get confused.
wink.gif


If I hadn't gotten the M1 so cheaply ( $1 per quart for the 0W-30, $2 per quart for the 0W-40 ) I think I'd keep running the Rotella. Our '87 was starting to use oil before it quit and I had a gallon of the Rotella around from using it there. I figured I'd get rid of it in the '93 and it looks like it worked fine. For $13 a gallon at Wally it's hard to beat.
 
I also have a 95 pathfinder with the 3 liter. My question is do either of yours make any lifter noise? My lifters rattle like crazy until almost fully warm with anything other than a 20w. Right now it's got 5w-20 mobil in it. I want to do a uoa on it at 7500 or 10,000. I haven't made up my mind yet. I bought it with 143,000 miles last fall and am up to 189,900 now. I've auto Rxed it with no changes in rattle. Have tried everything from dino to syn, from 5w-20 to 20w-50. Runs good, no smoke, just noise. Any suggestions? Good report by the way.

Isaac
 
thanks steve. i'm probably a little late for that. just have to thicken things up a bit. maybe a 5-50.
 
I have the TSB on this issue if interested. Nissan did a great job burying this one. Most dealers will look at you like you have three heads when you hand this over to them.
 
I meant as in I'm interested. How do I go about seeing it? What are the options in fixing it? None in lue of a rebuild?
 
quote:
I also have a 95 pathfinder with the 3 liter. My question is do either of yours make any lifter noise? My lifters rattle like crazy until almost fully warm with anything other than a 20w. Right now it's got 5w-20 mobil in it. I want to do a uoa on it at 7500 or 10,000. I haven't made up my mind yet. I bought it with 143,000 miles last fall and am up to 189,900 now. I've auto Rxed it with no changes in rattle. Have tried everything from dino to syn, from 5w-20 to 20w-50. Runs good, no smoke, just noise. Any suggestions? Good report by the way.

Isaac
Click to expand...
I'm a little late on this reply but...

Our '87 rattled like the oil pump wasn't turning for a few seconds on every cold start. I tried different filters but it made very little difference. It was worse with thicker oil and worse in the winter. The original owner told me it had done that since new.

The flipside is when I took it apart after 235K miles ( bad timing belt tensioner = bent valves ) the valvetrain still looked good so I don't think it was casuing a lot of problems.

The '93 is silent at startup like most vehicles. It has made me wonder if Nissan didn't do some modifications of the oil passages in later engines since the parts of the oiling system are interchangable between the years.
 
Twigdog - I ran M1 5W-30 and 10W-30 in the '87 and stopped paying attention to the noise. After the teardown it looks like it wasn't a real problem.

They are good engines but underpowered and too maintenance intensive IMO. You absolutely have to pay attention to the timing belt change interval, and I'd replace the water pump, tensioner and front seals at least every other belt change or if they seem marginal. Every belt change would probably be better but it adds to the expense.

It's a huge PITA job for a do it yourself guy or a $500+ expense if you take it to a shop.
 
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