Oil Change - Clean Engine

[XterraVersa]

If you change your own oil, oil filters are avaliable. They are the same as a 05-06 Frontier 4 cylinder engine.

I changed mine today at 3740 miles and was supprised by how clean the oil was coming out. It was so clean, I put the plug back in, thinking I was draining the transmission fluid. Verified it was not the transmission & drained the rest.

The oil filter is a bit of a pain in the ***. The lower vailance is in the way, but it is nice & flexible.

Refilled with Mobile 1 synthetic.

I will keep track of mileage to see if synthetic oil makes any difference.

Overall took about 25 minutes,

Oil - ~$22 for 5 quarts (5 quart bottle)Filter - ~$5.00 Nissan OEMKnowing the job was done right - Priceless

[BenDupre]

What weight? I was thinking 0w-30. I have to get my first change this week as well.

Are you planning on "letting it ride" longer than 3750?

I asked my dealer about synthetic oil and he said "Nissan doesn't have a position on synthetic oil" I asked him about extended drains with full syn vis-a-vis warranty. He said "The manufacturer requires you change the oil 'at least' every 7500 miles" He also recommended if I do that I should change the filter at 3750.

With full syn, contamination is the only thing necessitating fluid change, so filter maintenance is key. Filters aren't designed for extended use either. They are barely adequate as is due to the fact that they are full-flow filters.

Ben

[XterraVersa]

5w-30 as it specifies in the manual. Consider 10w-30, but it get to cold here for that in the winter. Maybe in the summer.

I may let the oil ride longer after the next change since there is still some dino oil in the system.

With the oil being as clean as it was, a filter may last 7500 miles or longer.

[oleblue]

Almost ready to change the oil for the 1st time.. about one more week and will need to.. This is going to get expensive. only had it 3 weeks now. Once a month, wow. Need to go synthetic, but even that will have to change every two months at the rate we are putting the millage on it.

[Ever Victorious]

The filters are also the same as the V6 Maxima... and have been available since before day 1.

[XterraVersa]

Here is a list of vehicles that use the same filter.

2001-2004 Pathfinder - 3.5 V-6 2001 Maxima - VQ30DE 2002-2003 Maxima - VQ35DE 1995-1999 Sentra / 200SX 2.0 liter 2000-2002 Sentra SR20DE 2.0 liter 2005-2006 Frontier 2.5 liter 4 cyl. QR25DE 2007 Versa 1.8 liter 4cyl.

The Versa is not listed in part catalogs yet, so look for any of these.

[shreqboi909]

well i did my oil change at 5500 miles....i replaced my oil with full synthetic royal purple 5-w30.....and i used a nissan 9e oil filter....my oil was rather clean....i was suprised

[Juelze]

If you change your own oil, oil filters are avaliable. They are the same as a 05-06 Frontier 4 cylinder engine.

I changed mine today at 3740 miles and was supprised by how clean the oil was coming out. It was so clean, I put the plug back in, thinking I was draining the transmission fluid. Verified it was not the transmission & drained the rest.

The oil filter is a bit of a pain in the ***. The lower vailance is in the way, but it is nice & flexible.

Refilled with Mobile 1 synthetic.

I will keep track of mileage to see if synthetic oil makes any difference.

Overall took about 25 minutes,

Oil - ~$22 for 5 quarts (5 quart bottle)Filter - ~$5.00 Nissan OEMKnowing the job was done right - Priceless

$27? Not bad. I paid $39 for the dealer to do it, I guess I don't feel so robbed.

[LA02MAX]

Well your engine IS new and all

Mobil 1 M1-105 and Nissan OEM 15208-9E000 filters are pretty much the best filters out there for our engines. If a dealer tries to give you a Nissan OEM 15208-65F00 filter, do not accept it and ask for the 9E000. Also, avoid all filters made by fram as they have very cheap cardboard endcap construction just like teh Nissan 65F00 filters. Good luck to everyone on their first oil changes and i definitely suggest doing it yourself (the right way)

[BenDupre]

Got mine changed today, at the dealer.

Brought my own oil in: Valvoline Synpro 5w-30. Only got charged $20. The oil cost about $30. I think for theprice I probably got the cheap filter. I'll check the PN later. Thanks for the tip.

Valvoline was the highest rated oil in The Motor Oil Bible that I could find at the local autoparts store. The author has put tables at the back of the book listing all the specs available for just about any brand of oil. Neither Mobil1 or Royal Purple scored very high. Looks like the best stuff out there is AMSOIL but I con't find it retail. PLUS I'm not going for a 25,000 mile drain interval like the manufacturer claims. I would, but I'm chicken to void my warranty.

Very interested to see if the claims about synthetic oil improving mileage are true. I will let the odo be the judge.

Ben

[XterraVersa]

Well your engine IS new and all

On my Xterra, the oil was pitch black after the 1st 3000 miles. So when I saw the like new light brown from the Versa it surprised me.

Wonder if the extra gas needed for the SC created more soot for the oil to pickup? The tail pipe was sooty from day 1 on the Xterra.

[BenDupre]

The way you're starving those squirrels, it's no wonder they never crap.

Ben

[Elmojo]

I changed mine over to Mobil 1 full syn @ ~1000 miles.I notice the engine seems a littler smoother, especially at idle.My fuel economy has increased slightly as well, but that could be from engine break-in also.I found that removing the bolts from the center of the lower valance and one end helps tremendously.

[vidrine]

Ben I use Amsoil on all my Vehicles including my Motorcycle and Quads, its good stuff. I don't go 25,000 miles I change every 7500 miles. They also sell a very good oil filter that lasts as long as the oil, its pricey but you get what you pay for.You can buy directly from Amsoil or get a preferred customer account for $20 and buy it at wholesale. I'm a preferred customer.

[versabbo]

I went on the amsoil website and they have different kinds for 5w30 which one did you get?, and whats the # for the oil filter?

thanks

[XterraVersa]

Oil filter from Amsoil : EAO12

It is the same as the above listed vehicles since the Versa is not listed yet.

[Elmojo]

I don't know if this is a standard or what, but my dealer sells Amsoil.You'll surely pay more than if you bought it yourself, but if time and convenience is more important to you than money, it may be a viable option.Just a thought.

[BenDupre]

Vidrine,

Can I ask what you pay a quart? Do you use XL7500? What for the filter?

I might invest $20 in a discount card if it gets the price down to about $6/qt.

I'm not sure AMSoil isn't overkill though. The XL7500 does have a VI 23 points higher (196) and a PP 16° lower than the Valvoline I bought. But the main advantage is the high TBN which means it can neutralize more acid over it's lifetime and at a 7500 mile drain, I doubt even petroleum based fluid is going to have an acid problem.

Ben

[BenDupre]

Versaabbo,

Read the motor oil bible (link above). Skip the prosteletizing intro if you want. Or at lease look at the rating tables in the back. The tables give you the specifics of each product for comparison.

The XL7500 is Top-o-the-line stuff. However the S3000 has a higher TBN number so it might last longer. However as I said above, unless you're willing to really streatch out your drain interval, you're not going to come close to wearing this stuff out. S'probably better to go with the higher VI of XL7500.

EDIT: I just looked at the AMSOil site and I can't find the 7500 that's quoted in the MOB. Maybe they don't make that anymore, maybe they just lowered the ratings. The MOB has those specs dated Apr-03 so??

Looking at what's listed there today, the ASL is probably better stuff. And they charge a $ more per QT. But the XLF is probably fine. Both have very good ratings. The ASL has a higher TBN and will neutralize more acid, but that might be moot in a small engine with a drain interval of 7500.

Ben
Modified by BenDupre at 1:20 PM 9/30/2006

[Caddy65]

I had an appointment to change my oiler at the dealership (they only charge $12). I missed my appt. and decided to do it myself. I used pennzoil platinum, full synthetic and I picked up the filter at the dealership. I just read all these posting here, and I honestly don't think using AMSoil over a full synthetic is going to do anything for you, unless you want to stretch out your oil change intervals. I enjoy changing my oil and I change it about every 5,000 miles (approx. every 2 months).

[CFRage]

I tend to make it a habit of changing my own oil, however I managed to get my dealership to give me free maintenance for 5 years so I just can't bring my self to do it now. Still may end up changing my own though, I know I can trust me.... well, maybe

[FrayAdjacent]

What is the oil capacity of the Versa?

I'm thinking when/if I get one, I will order a case of Amsoil, which will probably last me a year. It's good stuff.

I've only used it once in my current vehicle (use Mobil 1 regularly), and the first tank of gas after the change, my fuel efficiency was about 4mpg higher than normal. It did slide down over the next few tanks to what it usually was, though.

[Link3]

What is the oil capacity of the Versa?

With an Oil Filter Change: 4 Quarts + 4 Ounces (4 1/8 Qts).

[motoguy128]

I haven't changed my oil yet, but I bought the supplies. I live 50 miles from the closest dealer and I'm a believer that most aftermarket oil filters are just fine. I alos never keep my cars into high miles. I've also never heard of anyone having an engine failure... ever.. for any reason that could be related ot using any particular oil or oil filter. Thed most common failure occurs on hgih mileage vehicles. The head gasket fails. Rings eventually wear out... but long after I sell the car. I also think 6 months or 5000 miles is adequate after the first oil change. The first change I'll do at around 3000. But to each his own.

The Versa takes a Fram PH6607 (same as '06 Altima) or a Bosch 3300. The Bosch filter designed for the Alitima is a little long for the Versa. I normally just buy a Fram filter, but there was a special at Autozone, 5 quarts of Castrol and a Bosch Filter for $10.99.