Tire Rotation/Oil Changes on M45

Post by **dezm45** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

Damn, I'm on a roll with posts today ...

Just curious as to when the rest of you M45 owners regularly get your tires rotated ? Even though I have the car 9 months, I still don't even have 6000 miles on it yet !! So, I really don't believe I need them rotated yet. Isn't it every 7500 miles ??? OR should I just get them rotated this week when I get the oil changed?

And, does everyone abide by the 3000 miles for your oil changes, or follow the manual, which states every 7500 miles as well ? Obviously, since I don't drive the car ALL that much, I would think the 7500 miles would be fine for me.

Thanks again guys !

Post by **PalmerWMD** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

The less you drive the car the more important it is to make your oil changes more frequent by milage.If you only put on 7500 a year that would mean only 1 change by facory milage probably not enough to control condensation/oxidation.oil is cheap compared to the incredible value of your engine.Some say every 3000 miles or 90 days which ever comes first should be our standard.

I feel this can be extended just a tad with synthetic oils but not by much.

If I do continous hiway driving of 4000 miles in 5 weeks than I may wait to 4000 but usually I also stick with 3000-3500 and I use full synthteic with premium filters.

As for tire rotation, its also one of those things that difficult to do too often.

Fred...

Post by **Q45tech** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

Low mileage and annual oil changes will destroy a Infiniti engine.

Notice that the factory owners manual says 3 months 90 days or 3,750 for severe use [which 95%] of US cars encounter.

Even the 7,500 mile [no traffic, no idling, no salt, no dirt, no hot weather] REQUIRES A SIX MONTH or 180 day which ever is earlier [comes first] oil and filter change!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not changing your oil every 6 months is reason [oppurtunity] to void warranty on engine even if you only drive 1,000 miles.

By living in NJ had for you to claim you don't expose car to dirt or salt or traffic or summer heat.

There have been some oil burning problems on a few of these engines.[I know of half a dozen in ATL Q&M] .............you surely want to maintain the 6 year 70k engine warranty in case you need a new engine from this problem showing up later.For extra security I would have the oil/filter changed every 90 days at least thru the 5th year........you don't want to give them a reason to decline due to your poor maintenance habits!

Post by **szh** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

I do my tire rotations and oil changes every 3750 miles (did the same for all my old Q's). Since this mileage pretty much occurs within 3 to 4 months for me and 75% of my driving is highway, I feel it is a good rule of thumb to use.

The first few thousand miles, I do extra oil changes (see my other oil related post on this topic) since I have come to believe that the metal burrs that come off during the first few hundreds to thousands of miles do the most damage. (I believe that Mercedes Benz recommends the first oil change to be done at 100 to 500 miles or so!)

So, for my M45, I changed the engine oil at 1500 miles, 3750 miles and 7500 miles. I am now at 8900 miles and plan to do the oil changes at 3750 miles regularly.

FWIW, I also changed all other fluids (related to moving parts that "rub") at 7500 miles - although this may have been overkill. See my other posts for more info.

Z

Post by **louiegz** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

I do my tires every 5000miles. I'm starting to be better about my oil changes. Every 3 months.

YouTube · Post by **Jesda** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

I have a 1993 Mazda MPV which belonged to the family, then the folks split and my mom got it. She put 6000 miles on it and didn't change the oil IN TWO YEARS.

Thats not too many miles, but when I got the van, I looked at the dipstick, it was a nasty, black, disgusting sludge.

I dont know the science behind motor oil, but I can conclude from that experience that time puts wear on motor oil as much as driving.

-Jesda

Post by **szh** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

Also, an oil change is relatively inexpensive. Here is the breakdown for when i get it done at a place near work every other 3750 miles (the 7500, 15000, etc. changes get done at the Infiniti dealer since I have other work done too):

6 quarts Castrol GTX 10W40 $12
Infiniti oil filter $8
Labor $15
TOTAL $ 35

My next oil change, I plan to use Mobil 1 0W40 (like I did this last time), so the oil cost goes from $12 to $30 - so, it adds up to $53 for the change.

Z

Post by **Q45tech** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

Mobil 1 has 3 times the oxidation stability [thin film oxygen uptake test] of GTX.

Post by **dezm45** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

thanks for all the replies guys .. I've leased my last 3 cars and always had the oil changed around every 5000 miles, rather than the 7500, just to be safe. Of course if I OWNED them, I probably WOULD have done every 3000 miles, but I am on the schedule for the 7500 mile, but still did them at 5000.

Since I'm leasing my M45, I would imagine that every 5000 miles should be ok, shouldn't it ???

Post by **louiegz** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

dezm45 wrote:Since I'm leasing my M45, I would imagine that every 5000 miles should be ok, shouldn't it ???

If you’re leasing, and you don't plan to keep the car, do as little maintenance as possible. Let it be the next guy’s problem. Do what the manual says. No point to be good on maintenance if you only have the car for three years. Oil changes every 7500mile should be good if your returning the car in three years.

Post by **szh** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

That is why I now regret buying the 1995 Q45 I did in 1998 (it was a lease return!) I had more problems with that car than I liked, including a transmission replacement, steering rack replacement, etc.

So ... never a lease-return purchase again!

Z

Post by **szh** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

Q45tech wrote:Mobil 1 has 3 times the oxidation stability [thin film oxygen uptake test] of GTX.

Yup! I wanted to use Dino oil for the first few oil changes (per Fred's recommendations) and then switch. So, the 1500 and 3750 mile changes were with GTX and the 7500 with Mobil 1. From now on, my M45 will get a steady diet of Mobil 1.

Z

Post by **Sirluckyj** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

Won't rotating tire on a 2003 M45 make it necessary to reset the tire pressure monitors? The RF becomes the RR, etc. Just a thought.

Jim

Post by **dezm45** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

louiegz wrote:If you’re leasing, and you don't plan to keep the car, do as little maintenance as possible. Let it be the next guy’s problem. Do what the manual says. No point to be good on maintenance if you only have the car for three years. Oil changes every 7500mile should be good if your returning the car in three years.

Actually Louie .. I always treat my cars as IF I own them. Most people I know who lease cars really don't follow the maintenance guidelines. I always did for the most part.

The reason I'm so concerned about sticking to everything with the M is because I may consider purchasing it at the end of the lease -- I'm really not sure I'll be able to get a car like this with all it's features for such an incredible price. Plus, the only way you should EVER buy a car off-lease is if you KNOW where the car has been ! In my case, I'd know !

Sirlucky, good question about the tire pressure monitors -- does anyone know if he is correct ??? Q45tech ???

Post by **TxGuy67** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

I leased my M and I wait for whatever service light comes on. It tells you exactly what you need and the mileage reccomended by the manual is very close to when the monitor lights up. As far as the tire pressure display I don't think it is in any order but you do have to have it reset when you remove any wheel for a flat, rotation, etc...

Post by **SIDVICIOUS** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

I SEEMS AS THOUGH MY 2003 M45 IS BURNING OIL. I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE WHO SAID THE PROBLEM KEPT GETTING WORSE AND INFINITI REPLACED THE ENGINE AFTER 2 YRS. I AM ABOUT A QUART LOW AFTER 30DAYS BUT I DRIVE IT VERY HARD AND FAST? ANYONE HAVE SOME INFO.THANKSSIDVICIOUS

YouTube · Post by **Jesda** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

How many miles driven in those thirty days? And how often at WOT?

Post by **SIDVICIOUS** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

I LEASE THE CAR AND IT IS SET UP FOR AN OIL CHANGE EVERY 3750 MILES. I NEVER REALLY TOOK NOTICE OF HOW MANY MILES BUT I WOULD GUESS ABOUT 1000 MILES RECENTLY. WHEN I PUT THE PEDAL TO THE FLORR AND HOLD ON I CAN SOMETIMES HEAR THE VALVES CLICKING A LITTLE. MY LAST CAR WAS THE VOLVO S80 T-6 AND I NEVER HAD TO ADD ANYTHING BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN BY WOT? I'M NOW DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND I WANT TO BE PREPARED FOR WHAT TO TELL THE DEALERSHIP IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH M45 OWNERS. I LOVE MY CAR THOUGH AND SO DOES EVERYBODY ELSE.

Post by **natsoundup** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

our Q engines rarely hit 3500 miles in between changes.

Neither burns a drop of oil. Ironically the 90's oil stays a shade cleaner than the 94's. I have had the 90 since it was 42k miles, the 94 since 82k.

Our Ford Expedition gets the same treatment. It was the only new car I ever bought. It burns a quart every 2800 or so. However at 107k miles and 6 years, only one blown factory sub and a sticky IAC. The rest is just routine maintanence

Post by **szh** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

In my M45, I am not burning any oil. Now it is at 11k miles or so, without a spot of trouble. I change oil every 3750 miles, although my early schedule for the first few thousand miles was sooner (see previous posts on this topic from me and palmerwmd).

Z

Post by **russg** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

Sirluckyj wrote:Won't rotating tire on a 2003 M45 make it necessary to reset the tire pressure monitors? The RF becomes the RR, etc. Just a thought.

Jim

No. As long as the same four tires stay on the ground (meaning you don't include the spare in the rotation), there will be no effect on the tire pressure monitoring system. The system does not distinguish the precise location where each of the four tires on the ground are installed. If the spare is moved to the ground, then the system will have to be reprogrammed by the dealer.

Russ

Post by **SIDVICIOUS** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

OK I GOT A PIC OF MY M45 BUT HOW DO I POST IT

Post by **szh** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

SIDVICIOUS wrote:OK I GOT A PIC OF MY M45 BUT HOW DO I POST IT

Search for any post by Rex. His signature has detailed instructions!

Z

Post by **SIDVICIOUS** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

OK I THINK I MIGHT HAVE BUT NOT SURE

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....=6085

YouTube · Post by **Jesda** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:32 am

Badass

Tire Rotation/Oil Changes on M45

Tire Rotation/Oil Changes on M45

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