The Nissan Path

I have been changing my oil on my 2012 Pathfinder at around 6,000 miles that I got this year with 7,500 miles on it and now has around 18,000 miles. I run a quality Synthetic with a quality filter. How many of you feel safe or ok with the max recommended OCI from Nissan 7,500 miles? Is the VQ40DE V6 a known sludge motor? Or do they run clean? I would like to run the max of 7,500 miles on my OCI but I just don't know much about this V6 and it's reputation. Looking for some opinions...

The 7500 interval is technically for conventional oil. I do 7500 miles intervals on both my 4.0L Pathfinders using synthetic oil and Nissan oil filters. It's not know as a "sludge motor."

I change mine every 3 months. Mostly cause I have a lifetime oil change package that I purchased with my truck.
for Conventional oil.
Changing roughtly every 2400KM lol.

I'm assuming the dealer does change it and isn't scamming me. I should mark it one day....

My 2001 Grand am from before I ran full synthetic with a KN oil filter I would go 4-6 months easily without a change which was well over 10,000 KM on occasion. Engine still runs fantastic and I drove her hard. Tranny is starting to feel a bit off though.

So if you're running full synthetic you're probably OK. Unless you tow a lot or something.

I did the 7,500 interval during warranty mostly using synthetic after the factory fill. As mentioned, that interval is spec'd for conventional oil but I prefer to use syn. I've had it sampled/tested a couple times and it was always WELL within specs. Once my powertrain warranty expired I've extended to between 9k-10k and again, the sampling shows the oil is perfectly fine. I don't get too hung up on brand...i've used Valvoline synthetic, Napa Synthetic (which i'm told is Valvoline), Mobil 1, Castrol Syntec, Pennzoil Platinum....pretty much any quality synthetic will be perfectly fine for typical use and reasonable change intervals. I might be more picky if I was going to go 15k but 10k seems to be a sweet spot that's still plenty conservative. I'm at 125k miles now and running better than ever.

skinny2 wrote:...I've had it sampled/tested a couple times and it was always WELL within specs....

This.

Test, adjust, rinse, repeat. Adjust oil change timing to driving experience. Towing/Extended High RPM I increase the frequency. I run oil now for 1 - 1.5 years but low mileage.

smj999smj wrote:The 7500 interval is technically for conventional oil. I do 7500 miles intervals on both my 4.0L Pathfinders using synthetic oil and Nissan oil filters. It's not know as a "sludge motor."

I am using Mobil 1 5w-30 and I've been changing oil and oil filter every 3500K miles. Am I chaning oil too often? I have 113K on my P.

When you pull the dipstick at 3500 miles to check the oil, does the oil look dirty? Chances are it won't, and if that's the case, I would wait until 7500 miles to change the oil and filter.

alecsey wrote:

smj999smj wrote:The 7500 interval is technically for conventional oil. I do 7500 miles intervals on both my 4.0L Pathfinders using synthetic oil and Nissan oil filters. It's not know as a "sludge motor."

I am using Mobil 1 5w-30 and I've been changing oil and oil filter every 3500K miles. Am I chaning oil too often? I have 113K on my P.

Yes most likely your 3500 mile change is way too often with running M1 with a quality filter. Unless your motor has direct injection where the oil gets diluted with fuel or if turbo charged you don't need to change it that often. Personally I feel the Nissan VQ40 DE is easy on oil. Send in an oil sample and get it tested and like others have stated when they got there oil tested even at 7,500 miles the oil looks fine. Personally I have 5,200 right now on M1 5w30 and when I pull the stick it looks like other cars I have had with 2,000 miles on it real clean.