Nissan Service Manager's Recommendation

[walk23]

Coming up on 3K miles on my new Altima 2.5.

While having a warranty related matter checked( rattling from driver outside mirror ) the service adviser noted my mileage and advised me to have the car's oil changed at 3750 miles. He went on to say that they use 5w30 conventional for OCI'S and to wait until the car has 12 K miles before swapping to a synthetic to make sure the car breaks in properly. I had mentioned that most of my driving was not severe and the service manual recommends 0w20.

Guess Nissan needs to advise their service department of CAFE and their service manuals.

 

[V8man]

They will try and sell you whatever oil they have in stock.

 

[walk23]

Originally Posted By: V8man
They will try and sell you whatever oil they have in stock.


I guess but he seemed oblivious to the new service manuals recommendation.

 

[Hyde244]

You're doing the right thing sticking to the manual.

 

[barlowc]

Originally Posted By: walk23
wait until the car has 12 K miles before swapping to a synthetic to make sure the car breaks in properly

That's where I would have forever lost faith in that particular Service Advisor. And if I was having a bad day, I'd probably challenge him on it in front of his colleagues and other customers.

What's funny is that if they had a ton of synthetic in stock because someone messed up an order, that's what he would have been selling you and probably telling you to stick to the 3750 interval at the same time.

 

[walk23]

I looked at your OCI'S and knew the service mgr. had no clue. I introduced synthetics in my previous car after the FF and had 202,000 miles on that Toyota Matrix with no problems.( He recommended 12K )

I'll be putting in Pennzoil Ultra 5W20 in a couple of weeks and run it for 6-7K.

 

[147_Grain]

Changing the factory break-in fluid and filter early is wise. So is waiting until after 10K - 12K (before upgrading to synthetic) to allow the piston rings to fully seat.

 

[steve20]

Have you had the chance to check out the claimed highway MPG yet?
I heard it was 38 mpg and was wondering if that was possible in the real world

 

[KD0AXS]

I guess your service advisor better march on down to the Nissan factory and tell them they need to be putting 5w30 conventional in them for the FF instead of 0W-20 synthetic.

Originally Posted By: 147_Grain
Changing the factory break-in fluid and filter early is wise. So is waiting until after 10K - 12K (before upgrading to synthetic) to allow the piston rings to fully seat.


Nonsense.

 

[Greggy_D]

Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
I guess your service advisor better march on down to the Nissan factory and tell them they need to be putting 5w30 conventional in them for the FF instead of 0W-20 synthetic.

Originally Posted By: 147_Grain
Changing the factory break-in fluid and filter early is wise. So is waiting until after 10K - 12K (before upgrading to synthetic) to allow the piston rings to fully seat.


Nonsense.


+1

 

[buster]

LOL

 

[cronk]

I didn't realize Nissan went to 0w20. When I worked at a Nissan dealer a couple years ago, 5w30 was recommended for everything but the Altima Hybrid, which speced 0w20.

 

[walk23]

Originally Posted By: steve20
Have you had the chance to check out the claimed highway MPG yet?
I heard it was 38 mpg and was wondering if that was possible in the real world


I'm getting a combined 31-32 mpg. I do feel 35 mpg is achievable . The car is still breaking in, but I have noted on Fuelly.com most people are avg about 30 mpg.

 

[crazyoildude]

stick to the book! Most of the people at the stealer just talk to hear themselves speak... I said most not all

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: 147_Grain
Changing the factory break-in fluid and filter early is wise. So is waiting until after 10K - 12K (before upgrading to synthetic) to allow the piston rings to fully seat.

Given the history of some Nissan engines you may be on to something.

 

[MBS500]

Originally Posted By: Greggy_D
Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
I guess your service advisor better march on down to the Nissan factory and tell them they need to be putting 5w30 conventional in them for the FF instead of 0W-20 synthetic.

Originally Posted By: 147_Grain
Changing the factory break-in fluid and filter early is wise. So is waiting until after 10K - 12K (before upgrading to synthetic) to allow the piston rings to fully seat.


Nonsense.


+1

Why?
What about 90% stop and go city miles and short runs?
Should it be drained around 2k-3k?

 

[INDYMAC]

Originally Posted By: walk23
Coming up on 3K miles on my new Altima 2.5.

While having a warranty related matter checked( rattling from driver outside mirror ) the service adviser noted my mileage and advised me to have the car's oil changed at 3750 miles. He went on to say that they use 5w30 conventional for OCI'S and to wait until the car has 12 K miles before swapping to a synthetic to make sure the car breaks in properly. I had mentioned that most of my driving was not severe and the service manual recommends 0w20.

Guess Nissan needs to advise their service department of CAFE and their service manuals.


I don't normally agree with service advisors, but this one might be giving you some good advice. Ignore it if you want.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: walk23
Guess Nissan needs to advise their service department of CAFE and their service manuals.

You're right. In fairness to the advisor, Nissan has used 5w30 across the board for a rather long time, and 3750 mile OCIs are conventional territory, to say the least. Nonetheless, he needs to bring his knowledge up to date. If it calls for 0w-20, that's what you want to use, ideally, and I'd like to see him find a 0w-20 conventional for you.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Given the history of some Nissan engines you may be on to something.

And that, I agree with. There's nothing special about the Nissan factory fill, at least to our knowledge here, and there's no harm in sticking to conventional where it's allowed in the first place. The 0w-20 recommendation (or requirement) is another issue altogether.

Let me get this straight. Nissan is recommending 3750 mile OCIs on synthetic? Does the manual still call for 3750 mile OCIs on severe service, or is that just the service writer going by the way things have been done at Nissan for a number of years?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Garak

Let me get this straight. Nissan is recommending 3750 mile OCIs on synthetic? Does the manual still call for 3750 mile OCIs on severe service, or is that just the service writer going by the way things have been done at Nissan for a number of years?



I believe so. I personally do not see how a change to synthetic oil alone warrants an increase in service interval, but that's a different discussion altogether.