I have the QR25DE in my 2008 Altima Coupe. That year specs SM 5w30. My intervals have been as follows:
- 4000 Miles - Factory Fill
- 6000 Miles - Valvoline SynPower 5w30 SM
- 6000 Miles - Valvoline SynPower 5w30 SM
- 6000 Miles - Castrol EDGE 5w30 SM
- 6000 Miles - Castrol EDGE 5w30 SM (See used oil analysis)
- 7500 Miles - Pennzoil Ultra 5w30 SM
- 7500 Miles - Pennzoil Ultra 5w30 SM (See used oil analysis)
- 6000 Miles - G-OIL 5w30 SM
- 6000 Miles - G-OIL 5w30 SM (See used oil analysis)
- 7500 Miles - Royal Purple 5w30 SN
For used oil analysis references, look
here.
Nissan suggests intervals of 3750 miles for severe conditions and 7500 for normal. If you're doing a lot of highway driving and plan to run synthetic, I'd say do 6000 or 7500 miles. I was doing 6000 until I got a used oil analysis which showed I could do more. (I did 6000 with G-OIL because it was relatively new and less-proven.)
I don't know how much the latest QR25DE and its setup differs from my 2008, but if Nissan now spec's 0W-20, I'd say to use it or 5W-20. If you think it sounds noisy or has the desire for something a bit thicker, you could try 0w30 or 5w30. Other than a tiny loss in MPG, I can't imagine it'd make a difference considering recent prior years spec'd 5w30 for that engine.
You also have some choices with filters. Spec is the "shorty" Fram 6607, Purolator 14612, K&N HP-1008, Mobil 1 M1-108 size filter. But many of us Nissan owners opt for the slightly longer Fram 7317, Purolator 14610, K&N HP-1010, Mobil 1 M1-110 size filter. Really though, I don't think it makes a difference. My main driver for using the longer filter is that it's the same size as the two other vehicles I maintain so I only have to keep one size in stock.
