Straight 30 weight in my Pathfinder?

[cwilliamsws6]

Got 5 quarts of HD-30 from a coworker. Any reason I couldn't run it in my Pathfinder for an OCI? I usually run 5w30 or 10w30 in it.

It's daily driven and it's been 105+ degrees outside lately so cold start temperature shouldn't be a problem.

Obviously I wouldn't consider doing this in the winter, but for the summer I'd be okay right?

 

[Astro14]

From a viscosity perspective - sure, summer run would be fine.

But some HD 30 are ancient specs - like SC/SD. I wouldn’t run that in a modern engine.

What’s the spec on this oil?

 

[FowVay]

Agreeing with Astro, if it's modern spec and summer time then enjoy your free oil!

 

[Accent Abuser]

If it's got an API spec older than your engine calls for I wouldn't run it, but realistically nothing bad would be likely to happen.

 

[cwilliamsws6]

I believe it's API SL which is older but I've ran API SH and slept fine at night.

Heck, I'm pretty sure 3 of the 5 random quarts of oil I ran on my last OCI were API SH from the 90s. Held up just fine for 5,000 miles lol.

 

[02zx9r rev2]

My dad gave me about 15 quarts of Texaco Havoline sae 30 years ago. I would pour in one quart in place of 5w30 to use it up.

Shouldn’t be a problem but if concerned, just substitute one quart each oil change till gone.

Or mail it to me and I will use it up

 

[cwilliamsws6]

My dad gave me about 15 quarts of Texaco Havoline sae 30 years ago. I would pour in one quart in place of 5w30 to use it up.

Shouldn’t be a problem but if concerned, just substitute one quart each oil change till gone.

Or mail it to me and I will use it up

The oldest oil I ever used I actually used in the Pathfinder last year lol.

It was a full quart of Quaker State 10w40 and it was in the round white bottle with the green cap and it said "Pennsylvania grade crude" on the label. I got it with a bunch of other old oil on FB marketplace. It was almost green in color.

I mixed it with 4 quarts of newer oil I had on hand and ran it for about 4,000 miles. No issues.

 

[mahanddeem]

These Nissan engines are picky ones (long timing chain, prone to fail tensioner guides, takes long time to warmup, etc...), I'd use that oil in a lawn mower or whatever and not in the Pathfinder and stick to 5w30.

 

[Accent Abuser]

I believe it's API SL which is older but I've ran API SH and slept fine at night.

Heck, I'm pretty sure 3 of the 5 random quarts of oil I ran on my last OCI were API SH from the 90s. Held up just fine for 5,000 miles lol.

SL is not that old I would just use it then.

 

[Accent Abuser]

These Nissan engines are picky ones (long timing chain, prone to fail tensioner guides, takes long time to warmup, etc...), I'd use that oil in a lawn mower or whatever and not in the Pathfinder and stick to 5w30.

If anything a straight grade would benefit the chain due to it's higher base oil viscosity.

 

[Hall]

SL is not that old I would just use it then.

That Pathfinder has the VQ35 engine in it which has been around for ~2 decades. My '08 with the same engine design specs API SJ.

That said, I think I'd skip that oil.... I would have told the person I'm not interested in it and avoided the whole dilema !

 

[mahanddeem]

If anything a straight grade would benefit the chain due to it's higher base oil viscosity.

Not at cold start brother (cold engine and oil not weather).

 

[SugarMouth]

Got 5 quarts of HD-30 from a coworker.

5 quarts of good oil is $21 not on sale. If money is that tight sure during warm months but why not just get good oil?

Robot or human?

 

[chainblu]

Once upon a time straight weight oil was cheaper than multi-viscosity oil. You can believe I ran many thousands of miles in vehicles with 30wt in the oil pan. Or, you can just use it in your OPE.

 

[Slick3914]

Just because it was free doesn't mean you have to use it.

 

[Merek]

I don't think I would use it straight, maybe 50/50 w/ 5w30. Sometimes I will add a qt of 30w into my car for top-off and you can tell it's in there but it is a 4 cyl. I've found the newer 30w is all rated SN/SP nowadays.

I've noticed the oil pressure gauge takes a lot longer for it to drop down to where it normally is when it's in the crankcase. I've also found it helps with top-off and doesn't go through as much oil between changes.

 

[kschachn]

It's entirely temperature dependent. Plot out the two grades if you want to see a graphical representation.

At 105F it's laughable that the multi-viscosity oil would by definition be thinner and better for startup.

 

[SC Maintenance]

That particular engine - while the bottom end is as old as the hills they did add VVT to it, and the VQ's in general are a little prone to sticky VVT actuators - ie old oil, dirty oil, etc can occasionally cause a an issue with the VVT actuator not moving properly. I doubt one cycle of SAE 30 would do that, but to save 20 bucks I wouldn't personally take the chance, or as mentioned use it as a top up or 1 quart per change - IMHO.

 

[kschachn]

That particular engine - while the bottom end is as old as the hills they did add VVT to it, and the VQ's in general are a little prone to sticky VVT actuators - ie old oil, dirty oil, etc can occasionally cause a an issue with the VVT actuator not moving properly. I doubt one cycle of SAE 30 would do that, but to save 20 bucks I wouldn't personally take the chance, or as mentioned use it as a top up or 1 quart per change - IMHO.

The absence of VII could make the 30W oil superior in that regard.

 

[4WD]

Even the store brand 30 at TSC is SP … Good spike fluid in conjunction with my Fumoto …