Some Questions from a New Owner (gas, engine break-in, oil)

[majorjohn]

Hi guys. I know most of you have owned different cars for many years and you are experienced, as a new owner I have several questions, all inputs are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I just bought a 2014 Rogue SV AWD last month, it's freshly built 06/14. Love the car so far, amazing mpg, roomy, not bad at handling and acceleration.

Here are my questions:
1) I didn't know to break-in the engine: soon after I bought it, I drove 2 hours highway around 50m/h to go home, and then just a few local driving, then I drove for another 8 hours highway trip for travel. Most of the time, I drove gentle, engine rpm usually 2k. Now my Rogue has around 740 miles on it, 90% highway. Will this be a big problem for the future? Should I do anything?

2) any recommendation on the gas? dealer only said using unleaded, the manual says no lower than 87. Since I travel a lot, I probably will mix gas in different brands of gas station, will this be a problem?

3) oil change. the manual says NO oil change before the first 5k miles (something like that), dealer said any oil will be fine, non-synthetic, blended synthetic, or full synthetic are all fine. The dealer said the difference between these 3 is only on how long they will last, non-synthetic for 3k miles, blended for 5k, full synthetic for 8k (something like that). What do you guys recommend for oil change?

[phmichel]

Hi guys. I know most of you have owned different cars for many years and you are experienced, as a new owner I have several questions, all inputs are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I just bought a 2014 Rogue SV AWD last month, it's freshly built 06/14. Love the car so far, amazing mpg, roomy, not bad at handling and acceleration.

Here are my questions:
1) I didn't know to break-in the engine: soon after I bought it, I drove 2 hours highway around 50m/h to go home, and then just a few local driving, then I drove for another 8 hours highway trip for travel. Most of the time, I drove gentle, engine rpm usually 2k. Now my Rogue has around 740 miles on it, 90% highway. Will this be a big problem for the future? Should I do anything?

2) any recommendation on the gas? dealer only said using unleaded, the manual says no lower than 87. Since I travel a lot, I probably will mix gas in different brands of gas station, will this be a problem?

3) oil change. the manual says NO oil change before the first 5k miles (something like that), dealer said any oil will be fine, non-synthetic, blended synthetic, or full synthetic are all fine. The dealer said the difference between these 3 is only on how long they will last, non-synthetic for 3k miles, blended for 5k, full synthetic for 8k (something like that). What do you guys recommend for oil change?

Greetings MajorJohn

1. This break in process was fine. Keep RPMs under 3k for the first 1000m. Climbing a freeway hill or two at 2500 under moderate load would be good to help seat the rings too. Nissan engines have a a solid history and are very reliable.
2. Just use "top tier" (76, Chevron, Shell, etc...) regular gas and you'll be fine. Personally I stay away from Costco and grocery store gas unless there's nothing else available. Costco especially has a high methanol content and will give lower MPG's.
3. There are several good threads on the forum about oil. What part of the country do you live? Full synthetic is best all around (especially in colder climates) and can go the longest between changes.

We bought our first Rogue a month ago and I joined the forum then. There is valuable info and expertise here. Welcome.

[tsumeone]

As far as gas, Costco is actually not bad at all. Costco is a Top Tier gas. https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-gasoline.html Sams Club however is not.

[phmichel]

As far as gas, Costco is actually not bad at all. Costco is a Top Tier gas. https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-gasoline.html Sams Club however is not.

tsumeone: I hear you. This has been debated for years. Everyone has the option to use it or not. We all know that their fuel is at least 20% less than area market price and that's the primary draw. My own experience has been that Costco gas gave me significantly less MPG on the half dozen vehicles I've used it on over the years, and caused pre-ignition pinging in a couple.

So if the Major wants use it he sure can...

[JC14Rogue]

Is your rear hatch door making noise? I'm really hoping I'm not gonna be the first person to ever have this problem because those are the things the dealers don't like to see (I started a thread this morning about it). Other than that, we're very happy with the vehicle.

[majorjohn]

Hi guys. I know most of you have owned different cars for many years and you are experienced, as a new owner I have several questions, all inputs are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I just bought a 2014 Rogue SV AWD last month, it's freshly built 06/14. Love the car so far, amazing mpg, roomy, not bad at handling and acceleration.

Here are my questions:
1) I didn't know to break-in the engine: soon after I bought it, I drove 2 hours highway around 50m/h to go home, and then just a few local driving, then I drove for another 8 hours highway trip for travel. Most of the time, I drove gentle, engine rpm usually 2k. Now my Rogue has around 740 miles on it, 90% highway. Will this be a big problem for the future? Should I do anything?

2) any recommendation on the gas? dealer only said using unleaded, the manual says no lower than 87. Since I travel a lot, I probably will mix gas in different brands of gas station, will this be a problem?

3) oil change. the manual says NO oil change before the first 5k miles (something like that), dealer said any oil will be fine, non-synthetic, blended synthetic, or full synthetic are all fine. The dealer said the difference between these 3 is only on how long they will last, non-synthetic for 3k miles, blended for 5k, full synthetic for 8k (something like that). What do you guys recommend for oil change?

Greetings MajorJohn

1. This break in process was fine. Keep RPMs under 3k for the first 1000m. Climbing a freeway hill or two at 2500 under moderate load would be good to help seat the rings too. Nissan engines have a a solid history and are very reliable.
2. Just use "top tier" (76, Chevron, Shell, etc...) regular gas and you'll be fine. Personally I stay away from Costco and grocery store gas unless there's nothing else available. Costco especially has a high methanol content and will give lower MPG's.
3. There are several good threads on the forum about oil. What part of the country do you live? Full synthetic is best all around (especially in colder climates) and can go the longest between changes.

We bought our first Rogue a month ago and I joined the forum then. There is valuable info and expertise here. Welcome.

Thanks:)

I live in Southern part of Illinois, dry and hot in summer, cold and occasional snow in winter. I regularly drive to southern part of Virginia, but after all, I am far away from cold place like NY, Boston or Minnesota.

I will keep your advice in mind.

This forum is very helpful.

[majorjohn]

Is your rear hatch door making noise? I'm really hoping I'm not gonna be the first person to ever have this problem because those are the things the dealers don't like to see (I started a thread this morning about it). Other than that, we're very happy with the vehicle.

So far in my 740 miles, I don't see the noise you mention. The roads I drove are not very bumpy.

[ImStricken06]

1) I didn't know to break-in the engine: soon after I bought it, I drove 2 hours highway around 50m/h to go home, and then just a few local driving, then I drove for another 8 hours highway trip for travel. Most of the time, I drove gentle, engine rpm usually 2k. Now my Rogue has around 740 miles on it, 90% highway. Will this be a big problem for the future? Should I do anything?

it shouldn't be a problem. the proper way to 'break in' an engine is to keep the RPM at varying numbers. dont baby it. drive it "KINDA" hard. pass a few cars while on the highway to change up the RPM.
you ask any racer, engine builder - and he will tell you: take a new engine and drive it like you stole it. that will help everything find its new 'home'. i have broken-in many new engines, on the race track. thats how its done. believe me, your car was driven like a bat out of h3ll in a dyno at the end of the assembly line.

owners manuals tell you to baby it, only due to legal/financial reasons. if they told you to vary the engine speeds and dont be afraid to keep the engine under load - some moron will sit in high driveway and rev the snot out of it, and blow the engine up (because it was not under load - moving motion).

2) any recommendation on the gas? dealer only said using unleaded, the manual says no lower than 87. Since I travel a lot, I probably will mix gas in different brands of gas station, will this be a problem?

dont think too much into it. you are not driving a race engine. its an average sedan. nothing out there is going to ruin your engine unless you find some crap-shoot station thats shadier than a drug-dealer lol. if you had an high performance engine with strange compression ratio's then i'd give you certain fuel advice.

3) oil change. the manual says NO oil change before the first 5k miles (something like that), dealer said any oil will be fine, non-synthetic, blended synthetic, or full synthetic are all fine. The dealer said the difference between these 3 is only on how long they will last, non-synthetic for 3k miles, blended for 5k, full synthetic for 8k (something like that). What do you guys recommend for oil change?

again, the owners manual is written in a way, strictly for legal/financial reasons. if they truly wrote everything in your manual, what needs to be said - rumors would get around about how high maintenance, cars really are. and since nissan would be the one to do it, nissan would be the one with the black eye. many car makers dont even include certain services, in hopes to appear less maintenance than the next brand.

change your oil at 3000-5000 miles. a new engine will have a TON of shavings from the new parts breaking in. get rid of that junk. keep it conventional for now. new engines like conventional oil. change to synthetic IF YOU WISH at around 15,000-25,000 miles. you dont have to use my numbers as facts; but rather as rough estimates.

my experience: auto & motorcycle racing & rebuilding.


PS: i am not saying drive the cvt transmission like this guy's mustang, but i am saying to enjoy the spirited rides!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpyLOGt9N4w[/youtube]

[majorjohn]

1) I didn't know to break-in the engine: soon after I bought it, I drove 2 hours highway around 50m/h to go home, and then just a few local driving, then I drove for another 8 hours highway trip for travel. Most of the time, I drove gentle, engine rpm usually 2k. Now my Rogue has around 740 miles on it, 90% highway. Will this be a big problem for the future? Should I do anything?

it shouldn't be a problem. the proper way to 'break in' an engine is to keep the RPM at varying numbers. dont baby it. drive it "KINDA" hard. pass a few cars while on the highway to change up the RPM.
you ask any racer, engine builder - and he will tell you: take a new engine and drive it like you stole it. that will help everything find its new 'home'. i have broken-in many new engines, on the race track. thats how its done. believe me, your car was driven like a bat out of h3ll in a dyno at the end of the assembly line.

owners manuals tell you to baby it, only due to legal/financial reasons. if they told you to vary the engine speeds and dont be afraid to keep the engine under load - some moron will sit in high driveway and rev the snot out of it, and blow the engine up (because it was not under load - moving motion).

2) any recommendation on the gas? dealer only said using unleaded, the manual says no lower than 87. Since I travel a lot, I probably will mix gas in different brands of gas station, will this be a problem?

dont think too much into it. you are not driving a race engine. its an average sedan. nothing out there is going to ruin your engine unless you find some crap-shoot station thats shadier than a drug-dealer lol. if you had an high performance engine with strange compression ratio's then i'd give you certain fuel advice.

3) oil change. the manual says NO oil change before the first 5k miles (something like that), dealer said any oil will be fine, non-synthetic, blended synthetic, or full synthetic are all fine. The dealer said the difference between these 3 is only on how long they will last, non-synthetic for 3k miles, blended for 5k, full synthetic for 8k (something like that). What do you guys recommend for oil change?

again, the owners manual is written in a way, strictly for legal/financial reasons. if they truly wrote everything in your manual, what needs to be said - rumors would get around about how high maintenance, cars really are. and since nissan would be the one to do it, nissan would be the one with the black eye. many car makers dont even include certain services, in hopes to appear less maintenance than the next brand.

change your oil at 3000-5000 miles. a new engine will have a TON of shavings from the new parts breaking in. get rid of that junk. keep it conventional for now. new engines like conventional oil. change to synthetic IF YOU WISH at around 15,000-25,000 miles. you dont have to use my numbers as facts; but rather as rough estimates.

my experience: auto & motorcycle racing & rebuilding.


PS: i am not saying drive the cvt transmission like this guy's mustang, but i am saying to enjoy the spirited rides!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpyLOGt9N4w[/youtube]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

This is very helpful for new owners like me.