Oil Change Interval

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skinny2
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Postby skinny2 » Wed Aug 25, 2010 12:03 pm

deezx5 wrote:For those going up to 7500 or 10K on full synthetic are you replacing the filter halfway?
No. A decent filter can easily go that long. 7k-10k is NOT extended oil change IMHO. 15k+ fall into that category and can be done but requires extra effort. If you're concerned have an oil anaylsis performed. I've yet to have one come back even on conventional oil at 6k-7k miles that wasn't perfectly within spec. If you're obsessive-compulsive and it gives you nightmares...just change it at 2k, 3k...whatever makes you feel good. I sleep better knowing I"m not wasting things.


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08Datsun
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Postby 08Datsun » Wed Aug 25, 2010 1:23 pm

pawjr74 wrote:I stick to the 3,750 mile interval. I don't ever want to run into an issue with the warranty and have them say the oil wasn't changed at the correct interval according to the manufacturers recomendation.
This is exactly what we do and why. We tow quite a bit, so we are definately in the severe duty category. I stick to Mobil 1 in the exact factory grade.

If we didn't tow or use the PF so hard, 7,500 would probably be fine. I can tell you that our Maxima, which has a VQ30, has had a steady diet of Mobil 1 at the factory 7,500 mile intervals. Now at 163k, it runs just like new.

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richardekirby
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Postby richardekirby » Wed Aug 25, 2010 4:51 pm

skinny2 wrote:
deezx5 wrote:For those going up to 7500 or 10K on full synthetic are you replacing the filter halfway?
No. A decent filter can easily go that long. 7k-10k is NOT extended oil change IMHO. 15k+ fall into that category and can be done but requires extra effort. If you're concerned have an oil anaylsis performed. I've yet to have one come back even on conventional oil at 6k-7k miles that wasn't perfectly within spec. If you're obsessive-compulsive and it gives you nightmares...just change it at 2k, 3k...whatever makes you feel good. I sleep better knowing I"m not wasting things.
I always use a Fram filter, so I know the oils getting filtered well.

Long ago, I ran Mobil 1 in a 4 cyl turbo car and usually put 10-12K miles between changes. I ran the crap out of that car and never had engine failure. Being a mid 80's GM product, everything else on the car fell apart and I had to trade it. It still ran like a scalded ape when I got rid of it.

deezx5
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Postby deezx5 » Thu Aug 26, 2010 11:32 am

As I expected everybody has a different answer and none are necessarily wrong. To me a regular oil and filter change is such a cheap and easy way to keep your vehicle running strong but I'm happy to know that a few extra miles on Pathfinder oil shouldn't hurt.

Somebody mentioned sending the oil off to a lab for analysis but that costs more $ than just changing it. Unless driving conditions and weather conditions are the exact same every day I would expect the analysis results to vary at the same mileage on the oil.

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Postby skinny2 » Thu Aug 26, 2010 1:09 pm

I normally do oil analysis just to check on the status of the engine. Maybe twice during the first 100k miles just to make sure things are within spec. While you can certainly get a feel for oil life and what is a adequate change interval, you can also pickup on big problems. A lab like Blackstone will compare your results to others with the same engine so it's certainly a valuable look. I would not perform an oil analysis every time unless I was trying for 20k intervals.

I think the clear answer is in your owners manual. If 3,750 is the high maintenance and 7,500 is normal...then I don't see why there's many questions. Apparently the designers are comfortable that normal use can be serviced by conventional oil and an OEM spec filter for that period of time. If you tow or experience any of the other severe duty factors, then go with that schedule. If you're not sure...split it down the middle. If you're obsessive compulsive and can't sleep with dirty oil...change it daily. I have yet to perform a test on a vehicle at the recommended time period and have the oil come back as being worn or with high contaminents. If anything the manufacturers mileage intervals are conservative. My prior VW was spec'd for 10,000 miles between changes and I got stuck on a long trip and ended up going 12,000 miles. Decided to drop a test at that time just for fun at it came back fine. Had 250k miles when I sold it.

webmastir

Postby webmastir » Thu Aug 26, 2010 1:12 pm

the mobil1 full syn you guys use. you're using 5w-30 right? i see a few listed 10w-30

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BMXPath
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Postby BMXPath » Thu Aug 26, 2010 3:23 pm

webmastir wrote:the mobil1 full syn you guys use. you're using 5w-30 right? i see a few listed 10w-30
I am using 10W30 Mobil 1. Charts for 10W30 seem to have a better temperature range for the climate in my area.

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BMXPath
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Postby BMXPath » Thu Aug 26, 2010 3:26 pm

I always use a Fram filter, so I know the oils getting filtered well.
Intersting how there is so much love/hate for Fram filters. Some people swear by them, others wouldnt use them if they were free.

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Postby webmastir » Thu Aug 26, 2010 3:59 pm

BMXPath wrote:
I always use a Fram filter, so I know the oils getting filtered well.
Intersting how there is so much love/hate for Fram filters. Some people swear by them, others wouldnt use them if they were free.
I remember being shown a cut open Fram filter versus a better performance filter, and I was pretty amazed at the design/materials used in each. Fram is cheap for a reason. Yes, there are some I know that have always used fram & are upwards of 300k miles (i do like fram's toughguard filters). I just like knowing that I have a good filter in case I, for whatever reason, have to go a long interval between changes. M1 ext perf filter for me 8)
Switching the my wifes '06 pathy over to syn tonight.. 100k miles...going to keep it on that from now on.

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Postby skinny2 » Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:01 pm

Agree on the Fram. The low-end Fram is about as high on my list as any other low-end filter. Probably fine if you still buy into 3k intervals...but I wouldn't use them. I haven't researched the tough-guard version but have heard folks talk highly of them. The ones I've seen cut dissected that are above the line...M1, Wix/Napa Gold are usually what I go with. Napa Gold are $6...not sure why I'd risk it with a walmart $5 Fram.

deezx5
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Postby deezx5 » Fri Aug 27, 2010 8:19 am

Most people always seem to hate on Fram in car forums. I've seen several comparisons and they generally took the cheapest Fram filter and compared it to more expensive filters. I would hope an $8 filter is better quality than a $4 filter by default regardless of brand. Personally I've never had a problem or noticed a difference with Fram over anything else on any car but I don't typically run oil for extended time periods.

I would like to see a cutaway of the tough guard filter if anybody has a link.

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disallow
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Postby disallow » Fri Aug 27, 2010 9:52 am

Found this on youtube. The filter media wasn't even doing anything... scary.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX0xrqvlsNI

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pawjr74
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Postby pawjr74 » Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:59 am

disallow wrote:Found this on youtube. The filter media wasn't even doing anything... scary.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX0xrqvlsNI
Obviously any brand of filter could have a defect. In reality no one should even be using the cheap Fram filter on the Pathfinder as it doesn't have the anti siphon feature that Nissan recomends for our vehicles. You have to get the tought gaurd from Fram to get the feature. I think the tough guard is a better product.

I personally use the Nissan filter as it is competitvely priced. I will only use a Fram Tough Guard in a pinch. Thats MHO.

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Kami
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Postby Kami » Sat Aug 28, 2010 10:43 pm

I change the oil every March and November (about 5-8k)with Mobil 1 synethic oil as soon as i brought it back from the dealer the day i purchased it :)

Also for those of you using Fram filters.....go youtube it in and see there shit ass quality filters...not worth the investment. I just buy the mobile 1 filters to go with the oil and their better made.

Would get the napa filters but none that i know of in toronto.

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richardekirby
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Postby richardekirby » Sun Sep 12, 2010 10:35 am

I found this on Yahoo this morning. Oil changes at 3k miles is old hat and wasteful.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Like-the- ... amily-home


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