Nissan says no synthetic oil in new Altima's?

[Colt]

My buddy just picked up a '05 Nissan Altima with a 2.5L.
I mentioned using synthetic oils and he said
the Nissan manual says no synthetic oil should be used.
He's afraid of voiding his warranty if he goes synthetic.
Anyone know why Nissan says no to synthetic oil?

 

[ediamiam]

That's kind of interesting. My '00 Nissan Frontier indicates either dino or synthetic, but no synthetic blend.

 

[Colt]

quote:

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Originally posted by ediamiam:
That's kind of interesting. My '00 Nissan Frontier indicates either dino or synthetic, but no synthetic blend.

---

Maybe he misread the manual and it's the synthetic blend Nissan says don't use.
I'll check with him tonight.
Still can't see why even the blend can't be used.
Though I'm not a believer in blends which contain only 10-15% of synthetic oil at a premium price.


Thanks,ediamiam.

 

[JHZR2]

I thought I read on here (or maybe another forum) that Nissan was stating that no syn oils should be used in some of their diesel engines. Maybe some group of engineers in the company had trouble using syn oils and wrote the manuals for specific models to reflect this?

JMH

 

[jbas]

But what's synthetic? Group IIIs, PAOs, both? Then, what about Mobil's new motor oil "blends?"

And didn't the Italians invent a PAO-like synthetic that the European industry is calling a Group VI - is that in/out?).

So many questions...

 

[Anthony]

Its true, Nissan reccomends mineral based oils. Synthetics are no problem at all in nissans, alot of people say they are just doing it so people dont go to far on the milege intervals.
Any oil that is api certified will be just fine and satisfy the factory warranty.
Ive been running M1 in my 04 frontier for about 6k now.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Mobil-1 Has an explanation for this on their FAQ portion of their site. I highly recomend you read it. I have posted it here parapharsed a few time!

 

[Patman]

I'm driving a 2005 Altima right now, I rented it since they told us we were getting a huge storm here (and the Corvette can only handle a couple of inches of snow) but we didn't get the big storm.

Anyhow, they never include the owner's manual in these things! I wish they did, then I could see if the Canadian owner's manual mentions this subject.

 

[Vstrom]

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnBrowning:
Mobil-1 Has an explanation for this on their FAQ portion of their site. I highly recomend you read it. I have posted it here parapharsed a few time!

---

Could you post a link to it? I've looked and looked and can't find it....maybe I missed it

 

[Cyprs]

Colt, I just total a 03 2.5S Altima, now I have a 05 X-Trail Nissan with the same QR25DE motor, only differents in the X-Trail QR25DE engine is 165 HP rather than 175HP in Altima, the difference is more torque in X-Trail version.

My O3 25S manual only recommended or showed preference to mineral based oils. My 05 X-Trail manual stated the following concerning oil choice on this 2.5 engine.

quote: "NISSAN recommends mineral based oils."
I will use 0-30 XD3 100% POA syn oil in my X-Trail at 6k miles, my Nissan dealership is impressed with this syn oil and they recommend it themselves after seeing the specs on it.

Here is what I am doing with my QE25DE on its breaking right now, your buddy might be interested:

At 400 miles I drained the factory oil and put in XD3 5-30 dino, CI-4/SL diesel/gas oil, HDEO and filter. Then just other day at 1200 miles I drained that oil and replaced it with XD3 5-30 oil, I will now run this 5-30 dino to 3K on odometer. I will then do a filter and dino 5-30 XD3 OCI to total of 6K on odometer. At this point I believe this Nissan 2.5 will be seated with dino at 6K. I will then run my 0-30 XD3 on regular OCI for life of engine.

My engine will be clean and flused with same additive packs in this 5-30 dino XD3 as in the 0-30 XD3 syn, no shock to engine or sludge.

My NIssan service managers greatest fear in syn oil is fact these Nissan engines take some time to seat in, do that with dino first, then use your favorite syn oil.

Great engines in the 04 and 05 QR25DE engines, the Cat issues are resolved in these year models.

Your buddy has a great car there, only reason I opted from 05 Altima to the X-Trail was the AWD system in X-Trail to get out of the acreage. I bought this X-Trail because of the QR25DE engine, great power plant.

Cyprs

 

[Colt]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Triple_Se7en:
Nissan manual says no synthetic oil should be used
===============================================

Reading a paragraph that states that dinos are preferred & recommended should not be interpreted as "Do Not Use Synthetics"

---

Well I guess I'm back to the original question of why?

 

[Dr. T]

The answer.....

Because they (Nissan) wants to sell cars!! Wow, what a novel idea...(the same reason 5-20 is in vogue...just make it to the warranty period).

 

[Colt]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dr. T:
The answer.....

Because they (Nissan) wants to sell cars!! Wow, what a novel idea...(the same reason 5-20 is in vogue...just make it to the warranty period).

---

It would hurt Nissan if their engines crapped out early.
I do agree with the lighter weight issue.
Lighter weight oils sqeeze out more MPG's.
I don't like the 0-20 and 5-20 weights.
I don't even like the 5-30.
My Pontiac calls for 10-30.
Every car should.

 

[Cyprs]

I talked to my Nissan Service Manager on this issue of the manual statement. The service manager said that Nissan wants 30,000 miles on their engines prior to syn use according to Nissan Technician input at his tech conferences.

I believe the QR25DE rings are chrome, this I deduct is probably why.

I have obtained lots information from "luvstodrive" & "Al" who drive Nissan and others on this forum on this Nissan syn issue on the QR25DE. Based on fact that I have used syn oil in two new Altimas, the 03 with QR25DE and the 01 with the 2.4 cyl with under 6K miles with syn oil with no problem. Every manual said same, Nissan recommends mineral based oils.

I am now going to 6K or 9K miles prior to syn oil on this X-Trail based on a popular car magazine article "luvs2drive" informed me of on QR25DE seating in. Apparently and according to the article at about 6K miles these 2.5 engines seat in.

"Luvstodrive" has had lots experience with this motor, his advice is not to baby this QR25DE or rings will not seat, there are some good threads on this QR25DE engine, "Drive it Forever" also does great posts on this engine. I have no fear running this Syn oil in my QR25DE, my service manager gives it full thumbs up and my NIssan salesman runs semi syn in his newer Nissan.

In my reading of the manual, I would have to hear Nissan clearly and definately object to syn oil specifically and have my service manager echoe that, Nissan's "preference" or "recomending" does not scare me off from syn oil, the Dealership service just maintains the engine be seated in with dino first. The dealership also told me my warrantee is not effected by syn use. I may go 9K miles prior to syn to be sure, I dont drive as hard as "luvstodrive" recommends so it may take little longer to seat, but I do work the engine.

I brought this same issue up in this forum previously, I feared the manual recommendation for dino, I mentioned the 30K waiting period recommended by my service manager. Many Nissan drivers in this forum challenged me "why!, why would you not use syn in your new Nissan, I run my Nissan factory oil for 1K, dumped it, put in the syn, runs great with xxxK to this day,no oil consumption, if you want syn put it in." is the jest of most responses to me. I also asked question on breakin on this X-Trail recently , I asked about using syn oil, I was told again told by Nissan drivers to use syn early. This assured me to use syn which was my initial intention then.

I hope Luvs2drive, DriveitForever and Al, Berge, and many more Nissan owners can jump in here, we need some Nissan help here. I have driven Nissan 27 years now, syn oil in any of my former Nissans has never been a problem for me. Talk to your Nissan dealer service manager as I did, this may help too.

Cyprs

 

[Bamaro]

This must be new because I have an 02 SE-R with the QR25DE and my manual doesn't say that. I use synthetic in winter months, dino in the summer.

 

[Murphy]

Hi Everyone,

I'm Colts buddy with the 2.5 Altima...Don't throw the rotten fruit yet!!!

Yes, I did say Nissan recommends mineral based oils...and yes I did interpret this as saying no synthetic.
I went back and re-read the manual and I was wrong, nowhere does it say explicitly not to use synthetic.

My Bad Colt!!!

However, tonight I talked to my local Nissan service department, and they said I should wait until 15-20k before using syn., just to be absolutely certain the rings are seated.
Someone mentioned 30k before using syn...I guess everyone has a different opinion.

I would like to hear some opinions as to why they might base their recommendation.

At any rate, I wasn't trying to ruffle any feathers and hope Colt will still talk to me after this!!!

 

[Bror Jace]

I read my '03 SpecV manual and interpreted their 'preference' for mineral oils as a warning against using synthetics and ridiculously long drain intervals.

I am not sold on the idea that 'synthetics' are 'slipperier' and are a hindrance to break-in. 'S;ipperiness' or coefficient of friction has more to do with the additve package than the base oil.

My QR25DE motor is coming up on 30,000 miles. It hasn't needed a drop of top-up oil in all that time despite some of my drain intervals exceeding 5,000 miles.

I've used Chevron Supreme and Red Line Oil ... but now I'm using primarily Schaeffer synthetic blend.

--- Bror Jace

 

[Colt]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cyprs:
Colt, I just total a 03 2.5S Altima, now I have a 05 X-Trail Nissan with the same QR25DE motor, only differents in the X-Trail QR25DE engine is 165 HP rather than 175HP in Altima, the difference is more torque in X-Trail version.

My O3 25S manual only recommended or showed preference to mineral based oils. My 05 X-Trail manual stated the following concerning oil choice on this 2.5 engine.

quote: "NISSAN recommends mineral based oils."
I will use 0-30 XD3 100% POA syn oil in my X-Trail at 6k miles, my Nissan dealership is impressed with this syn oil and they recommend it themselves after seeing the specs on it.

Here is what I am doing with my QE25DE on its breaking right now, your buddy might be interested:

At 400 miles I drained the factory oil and put in XD3 5-30 dino, CI-4/SL diesel/gas oil, HDEO and filter. Then just other day at 1200 miles I drained that oil and replaced it with XD3 5-30 oil, I will now run this 5-30 dino to 3K on odometer. I will then do a filter and dino 5-30 XD3 OCI to total of 6K on odometer. At this point I believe this Nissan 2.5 will be seated with dino at 6K. I will then run my 0-30 XD3 on regular OCI for life of engine.

My engine will be clean and flused with same additive packs in this 5-30 dino XD3 as in the 0-30 XD3 syn, no shock to engine or sludge.

My NIssan service managers greatest fear in syn oil is fact these Nissan engines take some time to seat in, do that with dino first, then use your favorite syn oil.

Great engines in the 04 and 05 QR25DE engines, the Cat issues are resolved in these year models.

Your buddy has a great car there, only reason I opted from 05 Altima to the X-Trail was the AWD system in X-Trail to get out of the acreage. I bought this X-Trail because of the QR25DE engine, great power plant.

Cyprs

---

Very interesting!
I emailed him and know he has read the thread.
Perhaps he'll chime in.
What do you think,Jim?
Jump in...the water's fine.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Nissan manual says no synthetic oil should be used
===============================================

Reading a paragraph that states that dinos are preferred & recommended should not be interpreted as "Do Not Use Synthetics"

 

[Islandvic]

maybe Nissan wants dino for short OCI's so the stealership can see your car and $$ more often?

Maybe use Mobil Clean Drive or whatever its called for 5k OCI's until you hit 20-30k, then switch to M1.