switching from systhetic blend to regular oil 95Q 160K

[ahmed_wasim]

Hi,Infiniti in Canada doesn't use synthetic blend oil. I was previously using systhetic blend on my car. Do you see any problem switching back to regular. Do I have to do more frequent oil changes. Currently I change the oil every 3000 miles.Regards,Wasim.

[Q451990]

With a 3mo/3K OCI you should be fine using any quality conventional oil. If you want to stick with a full synthetic or synthetic blend, couldn't you take your own oil in to the dealership and have them use that?

Heath

[szh]

If you want to stick with a full synthetic or synthetic blend, couldn't you take your own oil in to the dealership and have them use that?

Good suggestion indeed! That is what I do with my current 2003 M45. The local Infiniti dealer reduces my service costs by about $10, as I recall, and I just provide the 6 quarts of Mobil 1 0W-40 that I like to use ... costs me about $38 at a local Kragen (when not on an occasional sale).

Z

[szh]

With a 3mo/3K OCI you should be fine using any quality conventional oil.

Also agreed.

Z

[ahmed_wasim]

Thats what I normally do. but the dealer here charges full even if you use your own oil. so the oil change costs me 90 bucks that way. 40 for synthetic blend and 50 for oil change.

[szh]

Thats what I normally do. but the dealer here charges full even if you use your own oil. so the oil change costs me 90 bucks that way. 40 for synthetic blend and 50 for oil change.

If you are just doing an oil change, without other service work, then buy the oil from a store and get it changed somewhere other than the Infiniti dealer.

I do that for the "in-between regular service" oil and filter changes ... costs me $5.99 per qt for the oil (from Kragen), about $6 for the filter (from http://www.everythinginfiniti.com) and I pay between $12.99 (at a local Goodyear service place) to $15.99 (at a local Performance Auto service place) for the oil and filter change on their lifts and technician time. All stated in US dollars, of course.

Z

[maxnix]

Wherever you take it, train the technician to drop the under engine shield, even if it takes a tip.

Get your M1 filters from http://www.infinitipartsusa.com The degraded new standard ones for the VH45DE are adequate only for the VQ30DE for which they were designed.

[q45j30guy]

while we are on the subject...how do you all feel about synthetic oils. I am considering switching to synthetics for my 94Q and 96 J30. the Q has 94K and the J 130K. I currently use Castrol 10W30 in both and change on a 3K or 3mo interval.

My primary reason to switch is extend the time between changes. Between the two cars we are talking almost 3 gallons of used oil that I have to take to my local Advance store. So if I can go 15k between changes with a synthetic oil..seems like good time management with less hassle that is worth the extra cost.

Thoughts?

[Skibane]

15K between oil changes sounds like dangerous living, regardless of how good the oil is!

However, your point is well taken - By switching to full synthetics, you could probably safely double your present length of time between oil changes - maybe even go a little bit beyond that.

The only way to really know for sure is with an oil sample analysis - You can buy the kits on the internet, or from some auto parts stores (NAPA has them, IIRC). When you change out your old oil, you send a small sample of it to a lab, which measures the amount of contaminants and various metals present in it - can tell you a lot about the condition of the engine, and whether or not you're changing the oil often enough. Costs about $20, so you probably only want to do it every year or so.

[Jesda]

My dealership also uses conventional oil. Castrol 5w30 every 3k. I'm sick of working on my own car. They can do it while I watch baseball.

[bullittandy]

while we are on the subject...how do you all feel about synthetic oils. I am considering switching to synthetics for my 94Q and 96 J30. the Q has 94K and the J 130K. I currently use Castrol 10W30 in both and change on a 3K or 3mo interval.

My primary reason to switch is extend the time between changes. Between the two cars we are talking almost 3 gallons of used oil that I have to take to my local Advance store. So if I can go 15k between changes with a synthetic oil..seems like good time management with less hassle that is worth the extra cost.

Thoughts?

I don't think that 15K on synthetic is crazy but there are probably alot of variables to consider. I read a report awhile back in Consumer Reports where they expereimented with different oil change intervals in NY city taxi cabs and discovered there was no difference in engine wear between 3000 and 5000 intervals with conventional oil (if memory serves, I'm gonna look for it). I change my synthetic between 8000 and 12,000 miles depends on the local sales. I think a good formula is to multiply the price difference by the oil change interval. Regular oil=$2 every 3000 miles then synthetic=$6 every 9000 miles. Same money, less time and hassle. Let the charges of blasphemy begin.

[bretfraz]

The only way to really know for sure is with an oil sample analysis - You can buy the kits on the internet, or from some auto parts stores (NAPA has them, IIRC). When you change out your old oil, you send a small sample of it to a lab, which measures the amount of contaminants and various metals present in it - can tell you a lot about the condition of the engine, and whether or not you're changing the oil often enough. Costs about $20, so you probably only want to do it every year or so.

This is great advice. No two cars, drivers or driving conditions are the same, so it's impossible to safely guess how far you can take your oil change interval without some sort of analysis of the old oil. Interpreting the old oil is the only way to know for sure how far you can stretch it.

The real advantage to lab analysis is creating trend data which can give you a heads up in case of an engine problem. Could be a failing head gasket, could be excessive dirt being sucked thru an intake system leak, could be a lot of things or nothing at all. Regular analysis provides you the data points needed to determine what is really going on inside your engine.

I use Blackstone Labs (www.blackstone-labs.com) for my analysis and I have it interpreted by oil expert/guru/demigod Terry Dyson. This is a good primer for those interested: http://www.blackstone-labs.com....html

[Skibane]

I think a good formula is to multiply the price difference by the oil change interval. Regular oil=$2 every 3000 miles then synthetic=$6 every 9000 miles. Same money, less time and hassle. Let the charges of blasphemy begin.

O.K., here goes...

So if synthetics cost $500, you'd recommend oil changes every 750,000 miles?

Seriously, it should be remembered that Infiniti's 3,750 mile recommended oil change interval is for "Severe Service". For normal driving, it's 7,500 miles - and that's not even with any stipulation that the oil must be synthetic.

If Infiniti thinks that regular ol' dino-oil is good enough for 7.5K of easy highway miles, it's a pretty safe bet that a top-quality synthetic should be good for at least that long.

[BlueC]

If Infiniti thinks that regular ol' dino-oil is good enough for 7.5K of easy highway miles, it's a pretty safe bet that a top-quality synthetic should be good for at least that long.

Funny you say this (I've seen it in the Factory Manual too), but my local Infiniti dealer thinks different.

"So what do you guys charge for Synthetic changes?" me"Around $75 for a change" dealer"Oh ok, and thats ofcourse every 7,500-10,000 miles or so, versus every 3,750 miles, correct?" me"Actually no, we still reccommend every 3,750 miles with synthetic oil" dealer"Really.... I think I will just pass then" me

I was a little confused, 3,750 miles for a synthetic change is an overkill! I thought the guy was insane for saying that, what a good way to rip people off.

[Q45tech]

6 quarts of oil is pretty small sump for any oil and the oil filter is tiny also.

If you increase the oil pan volume to 8 [typical MB/BMW sump size] or 18 quarts you can definitely increase the interval.

[qship96]

or get a new honda- smaller sump and filter than the infiniti and 10,000 mile oil changes...... 20,0000 oil filter changes....per the owners manual.

[Jesda]

An oil analysis will determine whether or not a long OCI is harmful.

[Skibane]

If you increase the oil pan volume to 8 [typical MB/BMW sump size] or 18 quarts you can definitely increase the interval.

Hey, a good excuse to tackle that external oil cooler/filter project!