Nissan VQ40 and PP

[TWG1572]

Just a disclaimer - I'm going to ask this question as much as to let myself sleep at night as anything. My mind and this forum seem to say yes, but my new truck is screaming no (or so my emotions would have me think)!

I have a 2008 Nissan Frontier with the 4.0L VQ40 engine. Currently running Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 and a wix filter. 10K on the truck, 3K on the OCI. When I put this combination in, my intent was to follow the Nissan "normal" service schedule, which calls for changes at 7,500 miles. (the "severe" schedule is 3,750 miles).

This truck sees about 1,000 miles a month. Primarily driving 30 minutes one way in expressway traffic (60-70mph most of the time, 25 mph every now and then).

I think that PP and a Wix filter should be able to make the 7.5K OCI, given my driving. Yes, I am in WI but the engine/oil should get warmed up 2x day.

Any actual experiences? Or comments to let me sleep at night? I only found one OCI for this engine when I looked, and that was GC.

If I drop down to the suggested 3.7K OCI, I will definitly be going back to dino.

 

[ViragoBry]

IMO, very few people are actually in what's considered to be the 'normal service' category. There are so many factors that place us in the 'severe' category. Stop & go traffic, sustained highway speeds, short trips, cold or hot climates, dusty conditions, etc. I could never let one of my vehicles go to 7500 miles no matter what oil I use.

My sister decided on a trade-off on her 2001 Tacoma V6 and gets Mobil 1 / Toyota filters every 5000 miles. She has a mix of in-town and highway driving, short trips, highway trips and at 130K miles, she's had zero problems.

Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 every 5K would be a good compromise for your truck. It's what I used in my 2006 Frontier.

 

[Johnny]

No problem at all. I'm doing it in two Hondas and one of them might see 1000 miles in two months. A lot of stop and go city driving, very little highway driving.

 

[addyguy]

PP can easily do 7.5k miles, even in severe service. Don't worry about it!

 

[Bookmaker]

Read more carefully. The GC used oil analysis thread also has a Pennzoil Platinum used oil analysis in it. I ran both in my Pathfinder. Equal wear. The GC had higher TBN. As far as engine operation goes, the VQ40DE is noticeably smoother on the GC. You will be fine with either for a 7,500 mile run. I will be running mine on GC for 10K OCIs based on this used oil analysis.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/gc-0w-30-gold-4-479-mi-05-pathfinder.101704/

 

[TWG1572]

Thanks. I hadn't noticed the PP analysis on your Blackstone report. I'd be interested in seeing some higher mileage analysis if any are available - (maybe I'll be the first)

 

[marco246]

TWG,

I have a 2006 Frontier still (barely) under warranty, and the owner's manual calls for oil changes at least every 6 months. If your manual is the same, then you should consider the warranty implications of a longer OCI.

I've been using a conventional 5w30 for the short changes but once out of warranty I'll go longer and consider synthetics.

 

[TWG1572]

Thanks. That is an excellent point - I could certainly cruise by the six month mark pretty easily.

I'll take a look at my manual to confirm that.

 

[FastSUV]

Do it every 6k...that will work out to 2 changes per year for you...problem solved...you would then sleep well knowing that you are changing with better oil and sooner than recommended "normal" condition oil changes per Nissan corp.

For me (in my humble opinion regardless of the kind of vehicle),

conventional oil:

3k is severe service interval conventional

4k is my "sleep well at night" point on conventional

5k is my max recommended interval on conventional (to friends & family)

6k is a last resort interval on conventional

SYNTHETICS:

3k is what I have done on Mobil 1 for the last 8yrs

4k is what I did for a few changes on M-1 after I was beaten down for wasting synthetic oil (now also my "sleep well point")

5k is the "normal" synthetic interval I tell friends & family if the ask how long to go on synthetic

6k is the most I could feel comfortable with on synthetic

8k is the MAX last resort that if some people insist their owner's manual says 7500k or OLM, I tell them only if using full-syn and a good filter (like WIX) and only if I can not persuade them otherwise.

So to me it appears you are OCD so to sleep well at night will require you to use PP & WIX filter every 6k tops....

 

[momomeister]

Originally Posted By: ViragoBry
There are so many factors that place us in the 'severe' category. Stop & go traffic, sustained highway speeds, short trips, cold or hot climates, dusty conditions, etc.


A few folks in the thread below might not agree with the "sustained highway speeds" as a severe service..

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...&gonew=1#UNREAD

 

[momomeister]

I had a 1996 Honda Accord as a daily driver, purchased June 96, ran Mobil 1 5w30 since it had 500 miles. Sold it at 117,000 miles in March 08. So, I had it for almost 12 years, averaging about 10K miles per year, with mainly 10 miles (local roads) each direction commutes. Never burned or leaked oil. OCI was 7500 miles OR 6 months, which ever came first. Engine was clean as a whistle.

So IMHO, you'll do fine with 7500 mile OCI with PP, especially since you're driving highway miles, which are far better than my short commute, local road miles.

One thing I'd do is change the oil in April/November, every 6 months, if you don't reach the 7500 miles. You're in Wisconsin and I'm sure if you're a DIY'er you do NOT want to be outside doing your oil change!