Flushing out engine to add synthetic oil?

[02sixspeedmaximaselover]

I have a 2002 max se(6 sp manual). The engine, which has been replaced, has only about 50k on it. My mechanic, like every other mechanic I've had, is against me switching to synthetic oil. He says "its already been running on regular oil". I'm like so what, why can't you just flush it out, and switch it up? Is this a really big deal, and am I stuck using regular oil, and if so, is there really a huge diff, would switching to syn oil be in my best interest. I plan on keeping the car for life, and am planning future upgrades to the clutch, exhaust, suspension, etc, once I have the cash that is.

[brianw]

You can change to synthetic if you want, it shouldn't hurt anything.

[A.Tech]

correction. It won't hurt anything if you had no leaks at all with reg oil. Ur engine will like Syn more and it last longer than other oils not to mention flows better when or if you race.

[Presscott707]

Your all good man its not going to hurt.

[Daddygonz]

You can do a regular oil change and switch to synthetic. Or you can get a can of seafoam and pour half a can into the crankcase oil and drive around 50 miles and then do an oil change. Pour the other half in your gas tank to clean your injectors.

[loystock]

Synthetic is the best but it's more expensive. I used dino oil before but switched to synthetic, Mobil 1, in 2000. I change oil and filter every 4 months.

Rod

[NewfoundlandDude]

Are there an "Seafoam" threads arond here? I've heard of a bunch of places to use it, and a lot of guys swear by it. Are there different types of seafoam products, or is there just the original seafoam?

[Daddygonz]

Here's a link .http://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUpTechGas.htm I've used it on my S-10 PU, Camry, Sienna. You can use it for oil change or clean injectors. And you can use it to clean carbon.

[solomr2]

I've never heard of doing a flush before switching from dino oil to synthetic. I've simply changed the oil and filled with synth on virtually all my cars (3 at the moment).

I was using Mobil 1 for quite a while, but I discovered they were actually a blend. I now use Amsoil, and their oil change interval is much longer (25k miles).

[02sixspeedmaximaselover]

So all I have to do is cruise up into the Mechanic's, with like 8 quarts of castrol syntec, (by the way, which brand is most recommended?) and insist that he just drain the old oil and add the syntec. Any special filter? Should I just do this on my own? The seafoam thing everyone else is mentioning, is that a must, or is it recommended. Should I buy my own filter too, which brand is best? Thanks!

[brianw]

IIRC it's 4.5qt, but check anyway.

It's all pretty much the same, grab whatever. Some swear by Amsoil or Royal Purple but with even synthetics from the major brands costing $5.99/qt these days, the price premium for an unknown "improvement" is hard to justify.

Run the 15208-95E00 filter for the `95-`99 Maxima, it has a better filter element than the `00-`03 15208-65F00 filter... or run a Mobil 1 or Purolator PureOne. Do a search for "oil filter study", a few people have cut apart a bunch of filters and done some pretty good analysis.

[02sixspeedmaximaselover]

Thanks! I appreciate it. So IIRC is the brand name of the synthetic oil? And its sold in a 4.5 qurt bottle? Go with the filter from the generation maxima before mine? Mine is an '02. Should I add and run that Sea Foam first?

[brianw]

IIRC = If I Recall Correctly. Time to brush up on your basic internet lingo. Yes, the engine needs 4.5qt of oil, give or take.

Run whatever you can get cheap. Castrol Syntec, Mobil 1, Havoline Synthetic, whatever.

I would run the `95-`99 Maxima filter if you can get those cheap-- most discount Nissan parts dealers should carry it for $4~$5, as a nicer filter such as a Mobil 1 or a Purolater PureOne cost considerably more.

I've never used Seafoam, you'd have to get someone else's opinion on that. I've taken apart quite a few VQ30 and VQ35's and have almost always found them very clean on the inside (aside from a few examples that were clearly abused-- and there are definitely a few...), so there's no reason to do an engine flush.

[02sixspeedmaximaselover]

Nice! Thanks! You're the man! I will brush up on the internet lingo too! So if my mechanic gives me a hard time about it, I'll just tell him to flush his mouth out, and just do it! Can I do it myself, I've changed oil on old school camaro's, and I know these newer japanese cars are a lot tighter, or I can get a new mechanic.

[brianw]

Changing oil isn;'t exactly rocket science.

[sjso395]

I sell Amsoil. If you have anyquestions or want some literature. Shoot me a IM. But, I know plent yof people who switched back and forth between regular oil and Synthetic and never had a problem