Hello, I have a 90 nissan sentra that has 163K miles on it, I live in sunny FLorida and drive aprox 36 miles (turnpike) each way to work. I've been using Mobil 1 and factory oil filters but wanted to ask for a recommendation on which grade of oil would be best to use. Last oil change I used 10W30 and it seems like the engine is noisy, I also get a noise at startup only in the AM for a few seconds. Local auto parts guy said I should use 20W50 because of the high mileage and the warm climate we live in. I welcome suggestions, First post, thanks
oil recommendation for 90 sentra 163 K
- Thread starter ahardb0dy
- Start date
- Status
What did you use before the 10W-30? If it that gave you no problems, then stick to that. At 163K, you are doing something right and why mess with a good thing? As for the auto parts store guy, do not ever listen to any of those monkeys as they have no real training other than pulling the part a computer tells them to and ringing it up. I would find your owners manual and look for the correct grade it calss out for your car and at what temp. Very few engines even spec a 20W-50 anymore. I would speculate a 10W-40 range is about as high it will go for the Sentra.
Hootbro
Hootbro
I bought the car 3 years ago with 117,000 on it since than I've used mostly 10W-30, FSM says 5W-30 is preferred but 10W-30 can be used from 0 degrees and up.
10W30 all da way! I have serviced numerous Sentras over the decades and none of them go past 10W40 (mostly on 10W30 confortably).
My 93 Sentra has 180,000 and is very quiet. I have used 10w-30 over the 100,000 miles + I have had the car. I know some years have problems with the timing chain tensioner, and one symptom is noise. You may want to do a search at a Sentra/Nissan forum to see if you may have one of the affected years. One thing I have found with this engine is it generates a lot of heat and tends to leak oil from the valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket, and especially the front main seal. If your engine is not leaking somewhere, consider yourself lucky. If it is not, I would stay with what you are doing. My experience is that it is a strong little engine, but oil leaks have been a problem. I had free 3,000 mile oil changes with Castrol from the dealership I purchased it at until recently. However, the second oil pan gasket was baked and brittle when I replaced it with RTV. I sometimes wonder if many of my leaking problems would have been reduced by Mobil 1, since it may hold better to the heat? Oh, welcome to BITOG. I am a lowly social worker and know little about oil, but have found a lot of help here. Good luck!
You should read this post:
http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=014251
http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=014251
ahardb0dy: How many miles do you go between oil changes?
The cheapest 10w30 oil you can find.
PepBoys has Castrol GTX for 99 cents.
PepBoys has Castrol GTX for 99 cents.
since I bought the car, I've replaced the oil pan gasket,valve cover gasket, and the front seal, Only leak I have now is a small leak coming thru the distributor but I'm working on that one. I try to change the oil every 3-4K miles, a few times I went more.
After posting how I get a noise in the AM at startup today at 40 Degrees, no noise at all.
I read the linked thread about Havoline dino oil, would you recommend staying with the 10W-30 if I switched ? What about the 5W-30 the service manual says is "preferred" ?
Does anyone have a cross reference for a larger oil filter, would it make a difference? I mostly use nissan filters but have read on here that they aren't really that great. Thanks
After posting how I get a noise in the AM at startup today at 40 Degrees, no noise at all.
I read the linked thread about Havoline dino oil, would you recommend staying with the 10W-30 if I switched ? What about the 5W-30 the service manual says is "preferred" ?
Does anyone have a cross reference for a larger oil filter, would it make a difference? I mostly use nissan filters but have read on here that they aren't really that great. Thanks
If your car uses the ph3682 filter, try the Motorcraft FL400s.
Some noises can be caused by the oil, others by the filter.
You'll have to experiment to find the combo that is 'ear happy'.
Stick with synthetics and push the OCI to 5k to offset the cost.
Some oils to try: 5w40's from Rotella/Mobil1/Valvoline or Castrol, 0w40 from Mobil1, 0w30 from Castrol, any synthetic 5w30/10w30/10w40 from any brand!
Watch the timing chain/tensioners/guides. Some noise from there is normal at that mileage. It might be time from a chain service.
Some noises can be caused by the oil, others by the filter.
You'll have to experiment to find the combo that is 'ear happy'.
Stick with synthetics and push the OCI to 5k to offset the cost.
Some oils to try: 5w40's from Rotella/Mobil1/Valvoline or Castrol, 0w40 from Mobil1, 0w30 from Castrol, any synthetic 5w30/10w30/10w40 from any brand!
Watch the timing chain/tensioners/guides. Some noise from there is normal at that mileage. It might be time from a chain service.
i have a 87 sentra, with 83k miles, I use 5w30 or 10w30 in Canadian weather no problem.
- Status