Maintence Intervals For J30

[Sarcastik]

My girlfriend has a bimmer and I asked her why she never gets her oil changes and she showed me this link:

http://www.bmwworld.com/repairs/maintenance.htm

and I wanted to know if anyone knew of a chart like that for the J with maintence intervals so I know when I gotta spend money on this thing...

[AZhitman]

Your GF's car is gonna die a premature death, I don't even NEED to look at the link.

Simple: Change it every 3K miles. Period.

[jamied311]

Your GF's car is gonna die a premature death, I don't even NEED to look at the link.

Simple: Change it every 3K miles. Period.

[elwesso]

Theres a nice chart in the owners manual andin the service manual... If you have neither I can post it for you.....

Most of the stuff is straight foreward.

[DominickJ30]

Mercedes at one time rated their cars for oil changes every 20k miles.

I know its crazy, but there is a reason for it Im sure. My friend is a Mercedes Benz Elite Tech and he says those cars have no problems with the long oil change intervals.

[elwesso]

a lot of it is because they have 8-10quart oil capacities.. Compared with nissan's 6ish, makes it go a lot farther...

[gr8scott72]

Your GF's car is gonna die a premature death, I don't even NEED to look at the link.

And you know this how???

Simple: Change it every 3K miles. Period.

Once again, you know this based on what? Have you sent your oil in for an analysis to know that it's dead at only 3k miles? Do you work for an oil company?

It's too much of a blaket statement to say to do it every 3k miles. What if the person drives 200 miles per day? Does he still need to change his oil every 3k miles (15 days)? What about the type of oil you are using? What if you drive it 5k miles and your uoa comes back saying it's still ok?

[DominickJ30]

Scott, I think Azhitman was talking about recommended service intervals and not special cases.

I think he is too used to nissans and may learn a little bit from this thread.

[gr8scott72]

Scott, I think Azhitman was talking about recommended service intervals and not special cases.

I think he is too used to nissans and may learn a little bit from this thread.

I think next oil change I'll run it 5k miles and send it off for an analysis and see what they say about it. Mobile 1 oil and filter.

[atlanta_shooter]

Used to sell Bimmers...since early 2000's all come from factory with ALL synthetic fluids. There isn't even a dipstick for the synthetic transmission fluid. Computer monitors driving habits, i.e. # of cold starts, rpms, wot romps, etc. It's a very sophisticated system. Might tell you to change oil every 3K on up to 10K+.

Also as you saw on the schedule, unlikie Jap and American mfgrs, they recommend regular flushing and fill of coolant and brake fluid. BMW actually does want their cars to last for their owners...good for reputation.

[AZhitman]

Nothing to learn.

Yes, I've had oil analyses done on 4 different cars, and I'm pretty familiar with WHY normal dino oil needs to be changed every 3K. The additives begin to diminish at that general range under normal driving conditions, and are replaced with the corrosive by-products of combustion.

And if he drives 3K miles in 3 days, then it's wise to change the oil at the end of those 3 days.

I don't give a damn what BMW and Merc do, this ain't a BMW/Merc board. He asked about a J30, and my experience has shown that 3K is an optimal interval for oil changes.

Using synthetics certainly adds a measure of protection, and will allow for extended intervals.

[Q45tech]

Just like the current recommendations in brand new Nissans: the owners manual suggests 90 days or 3,750 miles TO MAXIMIZE ENGINE LIFE.

To maintain an engine warranty in effect 180 days and 7500 miles is the abosolute maximum.

However the legal life of a car is only 7 years and 100,000 miles.

All depends on whether you want to keep the same engine for 100k, or 200k, or 300k, or 400k?

[elwesso]

Remember despite what they say, MFG's really only care if the car lasts 100k.. After that you're basically in "bonus miles"...

Oil analysis can be skewed... To really determine your correct OCI's, you need to send various samples... You cant just analyze the oil at the end of the oil change interval, you need to see how the oil degrades vs mileage... So if you really want to prove that you can go 5-7k on an oil change, do an oil analysis every month or 1000 miles, and go from there...

Then again, youd spend less money if you just replaced it every 90 days. . even the cheapest dino oil will last 90 days...

personally for me I do it about every 4 months, but thats because i drive verylittle... I also use synthetic.. However, much of my driving is done on the highway and the car sits for a while.

[AZhitman]

Why anyone would skimp on an oil change is beyond me.

It's cheap, it's easy, it's a no-brainer.

[93j30t]

Why anyone would skimp on an oil change is beyond me.

It's cheap, it's easy, it's a no-brainer.

not exactly cheap or easy on some euro cars. some of them require special equipment and are almost 4 times as expensive at the shop to have the job done. (seen a price quote for my oil change 25.00 (wait, i had a coupon for 17.99) and someone came in with a bmw and it was 80.00)

[gr8scott72]

Nothing to learn.

Yes, I've had oil analyses done on 4 different cars, and I'm pretty familiar with WHY normal dino oil needs to be changed every 3K. The additives begin to diminish at that general range under normal driving conditions, and are replaced with the corrosive by-products of combustion.

And if he drives 3K miles in 3 days, then it's wise to change the oil at the end of those 3 days.

Who on this board actually uses dino oil?

I don't give a damn what BMW and Merc do, this ain't a BMW/Merc board. He asked about a J30, and my experience has shown that 3K is an optimal interval for oil changes.

He asked about his J30 in relation to his GF's BMW.

If you don't care (or apparently don't know) about BMW and Merc, then why did you give your opionion about his GF's car? It just came off as very arrogant to me.

Using synthetics certainly adds a measure of protection, and will allow for extended intervals.

It would've just been easier to say that to begin with.

[AZhitman]

I'd bet 90% of our members use dino oil.

Yes, you're right, I should have kept my BMW comment to myself. The fact is, if Nissans had a 7+ quart oil capacity, this wouldn't be such an issue.

[yodawill2000]

Im a Dino kind of guy .3500 is as far as I would EVER go.

[93j30t]

i use dino oil

i havn't had any problems and it's gone as far at 4000 without a change (cmon, i was like 500 miles in fla and had to be back in alabama.... leave me alone)

i'm usually right on the dot on 3000 though

[elwesso]

It all depends on your driving cycle... Meaning you can go a lot farther on your oil if you drive say 20 mins each time you start the car..... Lots of short trips are terrible on the car..... which is why buying granny's car that only went to the grocery and church, and maybe went outside of a 5 mile area twice isnt such a good idea....

Some of the cleanest engines ive seen have over 150k on them, but are driven CONSTANTLY.

[J-Owner]

Mental Note - gr8scott72 has issues.

[yodawill2000]

Hey J-Owner .Just noticed your in Dallas ..Born and raised there . Out in Grand Prairie now.Howdy neighbor!! lol

[atlanta_shooter]

To stay on point, I have been using Mobil 1, now Extended Life Mobil 1, and always the Mobil 1 filter for approx 65K. Current odo reading 146K. I take that combo the full 7500 miles. If I were using dino, I would stick to the 3-3750 range.

Having said that, synthetics offer far superior flow, film strength, lubrication, ring seal, low volatility, etc. There is a reason Porsche, Aston-Martin, Corvette, Ferarri, BMW, etc. factory fill with synthetic. I believe Infiniti and others will go full synthetic.

BTW, Infiniti's goal was always to build BMW beaters...Lexus was more after Mercedes.

[J-Owner]

" To stay on point" come on I think we were off the point a while ago and with so many posts I think we all get the point.

Yoda - What's up man. Glad to know a local on here. I am in Plano. I had a '95 J30t but sold in in Feb. '05 after 10 wonderful years of ownership. I now have a loaded 2005 G35 coupe but kept my "J-Owner" name as an homage as I loved that car. Honestly, I wish I had never gotten rid of it. I haven't been that impressed with the coupe. Anyway, take care and talk to you later.

[yodawill2000]

Plano ,, just a stones throw away ..hehe I use dino oil mainly because Im on a shoestring budget.Supporting three familys will do that .OOiy .I know the cost evens out if you go the mileage they say synth will go but I would get the urge to change oil at 3K anyways.