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2003-2009 Nissan 350Z

Oil change with Synthetic?

Old Nov 5, 2006 | 03:49 PM
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Question Oil change with Synthetic?

How many miles does everyone change there oil with full synthetic? I am using Mobil 1 right now and Jiffy Lube told me every 5,000 miles. Well this evening I was having some fun reving the car a and I am about a couple of hundred miles before I hit the 5,000 mile mark when I see a little smoke from the hood, is this normal if the oil level is low? So, I put 1 quart and went for another run for more fun and everything seems to be ok now, no smoking.
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 04:00 PM
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I suggest you check out your Owner's Manual, and see what Nissan has to say.
(it says every 7500, for any oil.)

BTW "...smoke from the hood" is NEVER normal.

bill
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted by bailey bill
I suggest you check out your Owner's Manual, and see what Nissan has to say.
(it says every 7500, for any oil.)

BTW "...smoke from the hood" is NEVER normal.

bill
+1. Recommendations are in your owners manual. Chock full of valuable information.
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 04:07 PM
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My manual says every 3750 miles
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 04:10 PM
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thanks for the responses.
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 04:13 PM
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every 3750 miles in my manual--->06 zr
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Rexy7
thanks for the responses.
OK here the straight skinny. Regular and synthetic motors oil trap and hold dirt. Neither is better. Both get dirty. I recommend that you stick with the recommendations in the owners manual rather then push synthetic for more miles.
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 04:26 PM
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I run amsoil 10w-30, and I go 7500 miles on a change...

Do what ever you feel comfortable with, but changing a true synthetic after 3k miles is a waste of money

Amsoil's website claims that under normal operating condition its' oil has a 25k mile life.
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 04:30 PM
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I change mine regardless of what oil I"m running every 3-3500.
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 04:43 PM
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I use RP and I change it around 3500 to 4000. When I used Mobil 1, I noticed the oil was alot darker and thicker around that time. Which is why I switched.
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 04:48 PM
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There was smoke? That doesn't sound good. I'd check your compression and do a leak down test. I don't understand why it would smoke though? Was the oil low and did you check it?
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 04:55 PM
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Originally Posted by reboot
My manual says every 3750 miles
Look again.

There are 3 different maintenance schedules, Premium, Schecule 1, and Schedule 2.

Unless you operate your vehicle

repeated short trips
Stop and go
dusty conditions, on rough, muddy, or salt-spread road
towing a trailer or camper...


then Schecule 2 (every 7500) is just fine.

"Schedule 2 features 7500-mile service intervals;..."


But your Nissan dealer would be delighted to have yu bring it in every 3750 and give them $150-250 to go down their checklist.

bill
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 06:52 PM
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Originally Posted by tmounk
I use RP and I change it around 3500 to 4000. When I used Mobil 1, I noticed the oil was alot darker and thicker around that time. Which is why I switched.
Actually, motor oil that turns dark is a good thing. It means there is more cleaning going on. (crap is being suspended in the oil).
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 06:55 PM
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When changing oil you have to look to countries that aren't all about marketing. BWW, AUDI, Porsche, and countless others are 10K+ on oil changes. BUT they don't use the crap oil we us. Class 3&4 oils (synthetic) can run much longer.

I do 7,500 with it on my TK. Nobody will ever know if that's good or bad. BUt if a E55 can go 15K, I think I can go half that.
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Old Nov 6, 2006 | 11:36 AM
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The smoke you see may be spilled oil burning off on your block. Jiffy Lube is notorious for just dumping it in rather haphazardly.
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Old Nov 6, 2006 | 11:46 AM
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I go every 5,000 miles on Castrol Syntec.
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Old Nov 6, 2006 | 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by dave079
Your oil may have a 25k mile life but what about the filter?
http://www.amsoil.com/StoreFront/eao.aspx One year/ 25,000 miles.
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Old Nov 6, 2006 | 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Rexy7
How many miles does everyone change there oil with full synthetic? I am using Mobil 1 right now and Jiffy Lube told me every 5,000 miles. Well this evening I was having some fun reving the car a and I am about a couple of hundred miles before I hit the 5,000 mile mark when I see a little smoke from the hood, is this normal if the oil level is low? So, I put 1 quart and went for another run for more fun and everything seems to be ok now, no smoking.
What was the level on the dipstick before you added a quart of oil ? A quart is pretty much the difference between the high and low mark on the dipstick.

You didn't jump dump a quart of oil in there right ?
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Old Nov 6, 2006 | 06:30 PM
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everything depends on the style of driving. The more aggressive the driving habits the more often the oil & filter needs to be changed. The less aggressive the longer you can go without changing it.
I work at Walmart in the Tire Lube Express... and i see a **** load of different oil and filters, And i personally recommend Mobil 1 oil and filters.. you can never go wrong. I go from approx. 4000 miles to 4250 depending on if i get stopped at a stop light next to a rice burning civic with exhaust thinking he's the baddest mexican out there. ......NO OFFENSE {just seems like they're always mexicans.}
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