Opinion's on my upcoming oil change situation.

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Bussey83

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May 17, 2015
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Alabama, U.S
Hey all, the little Nissan pickup I got is still running strong, however it seems it has developed an oil leak around the valve cover gasket. I would assume sometime within the past four to five months. Money is a little tight right now with my college tuition due. So I was thinking of doing the following oil change plan.

Pennzoil yellow bottle 5W-30 (what my truck specs) or 10W-30 (to help with the oil leak until I can fix the valve cover gasket.) @ 3,000 to 3,500 mile intervals with a Fram ultra filter that I plan on using for 2 - 3 OCI.

OR

Pennzoil Platinum 5W-30 with a Fram tough guard oil filter for a 5,000 mile oil change interval.

Key points:


• The truck has 290,000 miles, and it is 18 years old.
• With this new oil leak it seems to be leaking about a 1/2 to 3/4 a quart every 2,500 miles. Give or take of course.
• The oil leak will be fixed sometime within November because I have to adjust the valves on the truck also.
• The top end of the engine was rebuilt around 20,000 or so miles ago.
• Engine size: 2.4l 4 cylinder
• Current fill = PP 5W-30 with a Motorcraft oil filter @ 4,500 miles on current fill. Topped off with a quart of PP.
• Truck holds 4 quarts. However the dipstick is off, and it seems to be a common problem with these little trucks.
• I also get a discount on any oil/filter because I work at Walmart.

Thanks in advance for any advice. I will be checking the thread throughout the day, and seeing what you guys have to say.
 
10w30... assuming you don't park outside somewhere below zero. When the engine is running and is at operation temp, 30w oils will leak the same. Other thing to consider is the detergents. It gunked up oil is preventing the leak from getting worse, then the detergents will clean it up and make things worse. Of course, it could go the other way as well where cleaning up gunk could help it seal.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Bussey83
however it seems it has developed an oil leak around the valve cover gasket.
• With this new oil leak it seems to be leaking about a 1/2 to 3/4 a quart every 2,500 miles. Give or take of course.
• The top end of the engine was rebuilt around 20,000 or so miles ago.


Whoa, you're leaking 1/2 to 3/4 quart of oil out the valve cover gasket in 2500 miles?? And it was only installed 20,000 miles ago? Holy freeking moley that's got to make a horrible mess! Are you sure there is even a gasket installed?

This isn't going to be fixed with an oil choice.
 
Maybe get a service manual and gasket and do it yourself.
It shouldn't be that bad on an 18 year old truck.
Of course that's if your diagnosis is correct?
Good Luck.
 
When I took the valve cover off roughly 10,000 miles ago the gasket looked fine. However for all I know a cheap gasket could've been thrown on so who really knows. I don't mind doing the labor myself, however, I would like to knock out two birds with one stone and adjust my valves and do the gasket at the same time. It just isn't possible with midterms coming up, doing homework for my classes, and working full time.

Also I have been using Mobil 1 HM or PP 5W-30 since I bought the truck four years ago. That was at 222,000 miles, mind you. I also did consider maxlife, but at work right now we are sold out, and not expecting a new shipmet for about a week or two. So my options are limited to PYB, M1HM, or something else along those lines. I was thinking PYB because it is a great oil for a wonderful price. After my discount I can nab a 5 quart jug of PYB for around 11 to 12 bucks.
 
It maybe worth a call to see if the engine rebuild has any warranty and explain the situation. It sounds like a long shot but maybe its easy enough of a fix for them to help you out?
 
November's a month away. Hold off on your change. Adjust the valves, fix the gasket, then change the oil, to get out any junk that fell in when the cover was off.
 
Leave the oil that is in the truck. It is still fine and does not need changing.

When you get the time and money to change your gasket, then change the oil at the same time. That oil, especially with your top offs, can go til you can get around to the gasket.

Do it yourself and send some pictures of the covers, cams, gaskets, etc when you do the job
 
Originally Posted By: Bussey83
When I took the valve cover off roughly 10,000 miles ago the gasket looked fine. However for all I know a cheap gasket could've been thrown on so who really knows. I don't mind doing the labor myself, however, I would like to knock out two birds with one stone and adjust my valves and do the gasket at the same time. It just isn't possible with midterms coming up, doing homework for my classes, and working full time.

Also I have been using Mobil 1 HM or PP 5W-30 since I bought the truck four years ago. That was at 222,000 miles, mind you. I also did consider maxlife, but at work right now we are sold out, and not expecting a new shipmet for about a week or two. So my options are limited to PYB, M1HM, or something else along those lines. I was thinking PYB because it is a great oil for a wonderful price. After my discount I can nab a 5 quart jug of PYB for around 11 to 12 bucks.


Dude, back this truck up. You are leaking 1/2 to 3/4 quart of oil out your valve cover, you are doing way short OCIs on your current oil and you're wondering about whether you should switch from 5W to 10W to slow the leak? Thrown into that mix you are wondering which brand of high-end synthetic oil (and filter) to use?

Your post is like a shotgun hitting the side of a barn, it is all over the place. You have to fix that leak first then think about oil. Right now you are nowhere near the OCI "limit" for the oil you're using, please stop worrying about that.

That thing must be leaving an oil slick on your pavement like the Exxon Valdez.
 
Originally Posted By: toneydoc
Leave the oil that is in the truck. It is still fine and does not need changing.

When you get the time and money to change your gasket, then change the oil at the same time. That oil, especially with your top offs, can go til you can get around to the gasket.

Do it yourself and send some pictures of the covers, cams, gaskets, etc when you do the job

+1 Just top off w the cheapest hi mileage dino you can get. Change it at 10k.
 
I just did the VC gasket on my 1998 Frontier 2.4, easy....I can't believe yours is leaking already, must have been a hack mechanic. Don't worry about the oil, fix the VC, then use 5w30 of your choice...

Also, why do you think the valves need adjustment?
 
Originally Posted By: Bussey83
• Current fill = PP 5W-30 with a Motorcraft oil filter @ 4,500 miles on current fill. Topped off with a quart of PP.


When did you change out the M1 HM you had previously?

M1 HM
 
I'm with everybody else. Get that nasty leak fixed before changing your oil. If it really is leaking that much from there then, like others have said, you'll almost always have fresh oil in from adding.

Fix leak, then change oil.
 
2 BEST HM OILS OUT THERE:
1) Pennzoil BRONZE BOTTLE IS THE BEST 30 OUT THERE NOW.

Seems better in use than PYB, PP and PGB(Dexos1)


2) Maxlife
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
2 BEST HM OILS OUT THERE:
1) Pennzoil BRONZE BOTTLE IS THE BEST 30 OUT THERE NOW.
Seems better in use than PYB, PP and PGB(Dexos1)
2) Maxlife


Please. Like arguing whether the windows should be open or closed as the Titanic goes down.

Oh excuse me. Portholes.
 
PYB 5w30 @ 5K mi, no less. Fram ultra for 3x THIS oci. And you have enough money saved for a valve cover gasket...
HM oil for not fixing the leak. 10w30 is thinner than 5w30 most of the time.
PP is EVEN thinner. If you want a thicker 30wt, go with T5 rotella. With that much of leak, I'd stretch the oci by another 2k, and don't worry about the ultra handling any additional miles, it can. Unless it gets overloaded from a dirty engine, and with you maintenance plan, no way. Oh and for goodness sake do not dump your current fill at 5K.

PS:
When my Jeep starts leaking from the valve cover, I tighten bolts properly () and the leak is fixed until it is rattles loose again. worth a shot as it takes no money and takes 2 minutes to do.
 
Originally Posted By: kschachn
Please. Like arguing whether the windows should be open or closed as the Titanic goes down.


approval-reaction-gif.gif
 
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