1000 miles first oil change? (Infiniti M)

[paigoomein]

Is this something that is still recommended, to have an oil change after the first 1000 miles?

[spisam]

I asked my dealer if I should have the oil changed after 1000 miles. I was told NO. He told me to bring it in at 3750. I now have 2200 on my M45 Sport.

[szh]

On the contrary, I would recommend doing some extra maintenance work to keep the car going a long time - particularly early fluid changes in some cases! See zerothread?id=106184 for some of the stuff I do, and, yes, some of it is probably overkill!

But not all!

Z

[szh]

An extract from an oil experts book: zerothread?id=49691.

Z

[paigoomein]

thanks for the good info. buggers though, I am just a bit past the 1000 mark. do you guys take your cars back to the dealership for the oil changes? from what I recall it's hella expensive at the dealership. or do you take it to a third party shop like goodyear or jiffylube?

[szh]

thanks for the good info. buggers though, I am just a bit past the 1000 mark. do you guys take your cars back to the dealership for the oil changes? from what I recall it's hella expensive at the dealership. or do you take it to a third party shop like goodyear or jiffylube?

For just an oil change, using a third party place can work, depending on who you go to. But, I'd avoid Jiffylube for sure though! I have heard too many horror stories - there was a recent thread about this too.

What I do is buy the OEM filter and crush washer from Infiniti (using http://www.everythinginfiniti.com - buying six at a time), engine oil from Kragen (since I use Mobil 1 0W-40 that not everyone carries) but you can use the oil from the change place too, and then take everything to a local Goodyear Service Center place. Sometimes a Precision Tune. I get to watch the work being done, and make sure that things are done right.

The cost is reasonable for all this and the dealer understands - he gets to see my car for every other service interval for the other stuff.

Z

[paigoomein]

Does goodyear or other service centers not use OEM parts?

[Q45tech]

Usually not to save money because independents only get a 20-25% discount from dealers on oem parts and they can buy junk from Nxpa or others for less than 1/2 oem price with their discount.

Your states franchise laws prohibit Nissan from selling oem parts to anyone but the dealers to protect their local franchise.

Just like a [most] sports franchise can be a license to print money so can a popular new car franchise...........the existing franchisees limit new entrants by distances to existing franchises.

However aftermarket oil, air, hvac filters can be equal or not too inferior and a few superior in some single atributes.........just like lubricants and coolants.

If they tell Fram [in it's lowest cost version] is equal RUN AWAY FAST.

Mobil 1 and Puralator Pure One and a few others are decent substitutes.

Something most miss is that the diff lube is most stresssed in the first 1000 miles and all the wear metals should be removed FAST but problems rarely show until after 100,000 miles.

I think the initial 1,000 mile oil change is well worth the expense, but wait until 3750 for the second one........

I like long lived cars and never sell a used one except to junk yard.

[paigoomein]

I don't know much about cars, so I wanted to make sure I order the right stuff. is this the right washer?

Transmission - Transmission components - Trans pan - washer

[auditech10]

why are you replacing a trans pan washer?

[szh]

I don't know much about cars, so I wanted to make sure I order the right stuff. is this the right washer?

Transmission - Transmission components - Trans pan - washer

Hmmm ... I would not do a transmission flush just yet. You can wait on that since you are just at the 1000+ mile right now, right?

Here is my info from the other thread (updated slightly, since I am using less oil now):

Here is my overkill approach (which has worked on many cars and seems to have made my M45 engine burn way less oil than the current-gen of 340HP engines! )

Some of the items (see below) are definitely overkill, but I want my M45 to last a long, long time and these practices have made my cars go for many miles when I buy them new - the one time I bought a Q45 on lease return, I had problems with a transmission failure at 104k miles, even though I flushed it at 60k and 90k miles! Clearly, the previous owner had not treated his car well.

1. Please use good dino oil (Castrol GTX 5W-30 or Chevron Supreme 5W-30) for the first 7,500 to 10,000 miles to seat the rings properly. Drive the car fairly hard in that period to get everything to sit well. Do not baby the engine - even in the first 1,500 miles!

2. Do many early oil changes (the Mercedes Benz recommendations are an interesting read!) to get rid of the manufacturing "stuff" that get into the oil in the first few miles of driving!

First oil change at 500-1,000 miles (if you can afford it, do one at 100-200 miles too); second oil change at 3,750 and then everything from then on at 3,750 miles maximum. Always change the filter at every oil change.

3. After 7,500 miles, switch to Mobil 1 Synthetic 0W-40. I get mine from a local Kragen and take it in to the dealer for the change every 7,500 miles. In the intervening 3,750 miles point, I have a local shop change it out for me (easier than reaching under the car myself.)

The M45 and Q45 engines are prone to using oil (some have reported as low as 1 qt every 1000 miles), and good early treatment may avoid this. Mine seems to do 1/3 to 1/4 qt, rarely 1/2 qt every 3750 miles.

4. At 7,500 - 10,000 miles, replace the ATF (definitely use the Nissan Matic J fluid - anything else will void the warranty.) Do the same every 30,000 miles after that - including a flush (uses more fluid and costs more, unfortunately). I also flushed mine at 7,500, but that was definitely way overkill.

5. At 7,500 - 10,000 miles, replace the Cooling Fan fluid. This is unique - the 2003 M45 has a fluid that cools the fan ... this is different from the cooling system fluid (the Infiniti service manager did not know about this when I had him do it! ) Use Nissan PSF II or equivalent.

6. At 7,500 to 10,000 miles, replace the differential gear oil. Use Mobil 1 Synthetic 75W-90 Gear Oil (API GL-5 at least, but Mobil 1 is best.)

8. At 15,000 miles, replace the engine cooling system fluid. Use Nissan Anti-freeze or equivalent.

9. At 22,500 miles, or every two years minimum, flush and replace the brake fluid completely. Use Nissan Brake Fluid or equivalent DOT 3. There are some DOT formulations that should be avoided - I forget the specific ones (please do a search on these!)

I am a firm believer in making sure that good early treatments are done. This makes my cars last a long time without giving me problems ...

Z

[paigoomein]

there was a reply that mentioned a crush washer? I have no idea what that is.

[szh]

there was a reply that mentioned a crush washer? I have no idea what that is.

It is used when you open the bolt beneath the engine to drain the engine oil. It is a small disk of copper, literally a soft washer, that squeezes down when the bolt is replaced and torqued down. Prevents oil leaks from that bolt region.

This is one example of where I would not trust Jiffy Lube oil changers. You do not get a chance to see what they are doing below the car, and it is a lot better to watch the technician remove the old washer properly (a used one is thinner than the new one! ) and use the new one.

I have had an experience where the guy doing the oil change asked me what it was for! Needless to say, I asked him to find another guy to work on the car.

Z

[paigoomein]

so in your post you said you ordered the oil filter and the crush washer from infinitipartsusa, but I didn't see anything for the crush washer. I searched "crush" and "washer" and neither came up with the result.

sorry, I really don't know anything about cars except that I enjoy driving them!

[SilverShadow]

so in your post you said you ordered the oil filter and the crush washer from infinitipartsusa, but I didn't see anything for the crush washer. I searched "crush" and "washer" and neither came up with the result.

sorry, I really don't know anything about cars except that I enjoy driving them!

If that's the case, you are better off leaving the maintenance to the professionals. I really don't feel that the price of the oil change is that overpriced at the dealer. I feel at least I will get the correct parts and I will have a good re pore with the dealer when I need warranty work done. No that a dealer won't honor warranty work, but I know sometimes they can be real slow about getting it done. FYI: The part you are looking for is called a drain plug gasket. http://www.trademotion.com/par...gid=2Price is $.064, my dealer charged me $1.00 not a real big savings is it when you consider you are going to have to pay shipping.

[auditech10]

I would bring it to the dealer as well. It is easier to keep records of all your services as well, it may come in handy later on if you plan on keeping the car for a while.

[szh]

Price is $.064, my dealer charged me $1.00 not a real big savings is it when you consider you are going to have to pay shipping.

Unless you order it at the same time as the filters ... I get them six at a time, and it works out better that way.

Z

[szh]

For a simple oil change only, particularly when I am paying separately for the oil (I use Mobil 1 0W-40), the dealer wants to charge me $55 for the labor and filter - regardless of the fact that I provided the oil.

Whereas, the local Goodyear place charges me $9.99 and I get the filter and crush washer for $5 or so.

A big difference in cost for just an oil change.

BTW, Infiniti clearly considers oil changes a self-maintenance item that you, the owner can do, and as long as you maintain the records (receipts, etc.), they will honor the warranty.

Of course, if you cannot prove that you bought the oil and changed it (at least every 5k miles minimum), then engine problems may be your issue.

Z

[SilverShadow]

I would say that $55.00 is high if you are supplying the oil. I pay $34.95 including the oil, filter and washer. I also get the car washed, vacuumed and have it looked by mechanics that see more that one Infiniti in a blue moon. As to ordering six washers at the same time, you still only save $2.16 before shipping, that still not seem like a big savings. Just my thoughts.

[szh]

I would say that $55.00 is high if you are supplying the oil. I pay $34.95 including the oil, filter and washer. I also get the car washed, vacuumed and have it looked by mechanics that see more that one Infiniti in a blue moon.

I guess Infiniti prices are different in different parts of the country! Plus, the dealer gets to see my car at the other interval period anyway.

As to ordering six washers at the same time, you still only save $2.16 before shipping, that still not seem like a big savings. Just my thoughts.

Totally agreed, if it was only washers. I also order six filters at the same time, and that is where it is just convenient to get the washers together. The filter price is quite a bit lower than the local dealer wants - particularly when you get six at a time!

Z

[SilverShadow]

I guess Infiniti prices are different in different parts of the country! Plus, the dealer gets to see my car at the other interval period anyway. Z

And I always thought Long Island was expensive. I understand that you bring the vehicle into the dealer, all I was saying is that with the amount of money I spent on my car I feel more secure having someone that sees more than one in a blue moon work on it, even if it is an oil change. Took my wife's Sentra to Jiffy Lube, the ended up putting the wrong oil filter in and had a leak, never again.

[szh]

Took my wife's Sentra to Jiffy Lube, the ended up putting the wrong oil filter in and had a leak, never again.

Oh, I totally agree with that! No Jiffy Lube on my car ever. I take my own filter, washer and oil to a Goodyear place and then watch them do the work too. I have told them that I will check out the underneath of the car myself when it is up on the lift - the dealer will not let me do that!

Z

[SilverShadow]

I have told them that I will check out the underneath of the car myself when it is up on the lift - the dealer will not let me do that!

Z

And most places will not let you go into the "Shop" quoting for insurance reasons. You are lucky that the Goodyear place lets you do that.