Fluids and LubricantsMotor oil, transmission oil, radiator fluid, power steering fluid, blinker fluid... wait, there is no blinker fluid. Technical discussion and analysis of the different lubricants we use in our cars.
I was using 5W30 since I bought the car new. Recently I found out I was buring 2 quarts of oil every 2K miles. The dealer suggested to switch to 20W50 and bring the car back in 1,000 miles. Dealer said 20W50 is fine for the hot So Cal summer. Tech told me the oil had a burnt smell to it when he drained the old stuff.
__________________ 2002 Nissan Maxima SE
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20w50 is extremely heavy. I have no clue why the dealer would suggest something so heavy, I would step down to something like a 10w40. 20w50 is making your engine work a lot harder than it needs to work to do it's job. Step down to a 10w40 atleast and you will have a better running engine, it will start easier, you'll get better gas mileage, and the car will perform better and have quicker responce. If you need that heavy of an oil to keep oil in the engine then there is a bigger problem somewhere that needs to be figured out.
32mpg highway? How???? I got an '01 and can barely get 28....and that's going the speed limit......
Couldn't tell ya really, but staying in the 75-80mph range, right around 3000ish rpm seems to be where my car gets the best gas mileage. Theoretically your car gets the best gas mileage at whatever rpm your car makes peak torque. I don't think these cars make peak torque that low so I could only assume that I can still go faster and get better gas mileage, lol.
Couldn't tell ya really, but staying in the 75-80mph range, right around 3000ish rpm seems to be where my car gets the best gas mileage. Theoretically your car gets the best gas mileage at whatever rpm your car makes peak torque. I don't think these cars make peak torque that low so I could only assume that I can still go faster and get better gas mileage, lol.
I have no real explanation for it though.
Is that what the Odometer comp says or are you actual calculating it out based on gallons used.
I'm running 03 Auto and usually around 75 mph the trip comp shows 28-29 mpg, how true it is, I don't know....I use Royal Purple 10W40 and WIX, I found Mobil 10W30 to thin and definitely 5w30 way too thin to even think about using in 100 degree fahrenheit and drag strip visits....
I'm running 03 Auto and usually around 75 mph the trip comp shows 28-29 mpg, how true it is, I don't know....I use Royal Purple 10W40 and WIX, I found Mobil 10W30 to thin and definitely 5w30 way too thin to even think about using in 100 degree fahrenheit and drag strip visits....
how do you know "too thin"?
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Life would be boring without the Maxima.
we have a "fluids and lubricants" subforum here....which is where this thread is going!
__________________ 2000 Maxima SE (sold but still on the org) - 2009 Subaru WRX - 2008 4Runner SportEdition - 1990 Cherokee Laredo - 1970 Triumph GT6 Mk2
Always heard a light ticking sound like a lifter when I run 10W30 Mobil. So I tried 10W40 Mobil but could not find it easily. I felt the 10W40 RP solved the light ticking sound @ idle..IMO
both use 10-40 and run like champs. mine gets just short of 35 mpg on hwy. city is about 26.
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98 SE Black on Black. 5spd swap,budget Ypipe,MEVI,CAI,Clear corners,H&R/Kyb gr2, Flowmaster,FSTB,X-drilled/slotted front and rear,2k2 SE wheels,Stillen Lip,Ionics sides,Fog light rewire,corner light mod,SS Clutchline,15% tint all around 02 Pathfinder 6disc in dash,2k2 max center console.-Production date 09-97 My daily driver.
98 SE Black on Black Auto w/ABS. 2k2 se wheels,Clear Corners,Corner light mod,Rewired foglights,FSTB.-Production date 12-97 Wifes daily driver.
I've used AMSOIL 0w-30 since it was introduced in the mid-90's. It's an outstanding product. I was running AMSOIL's 5-30 or 10w-30 before then, and those oils typically make engines run smoother and quieter than they do with competing oils. However, the 0w-30 made a noticeable improvement in overall operation over AMSOIL's regular line of oil.
AMSOIL's 0w-30 offers outstanding wear protection, extremely low volatility, excellent high and low temperature performance, high shear strength and a robust additive package making it capable of extended drain intervals. I sell a lot of this oil to our members.
Concerning mileage, I can surpass 30 mpg on both my 4th gen Maxima and 5th-gen equivalent, stock I-30, driving responsibly.
I've used AMSOIL 0w-30 since it was introduced in the mid-90's. It's an outstanding product. I was running AMSOIL's 5-30 or 10w-30 before then, and those oils typically make engines run smoother and quieter than they do with competing oils. However, the 0w-30 made a noticeable improvement in overall operation over AMSOIL's regular line of oil.
AMSOIL's 0w-30 offers outstanding wear protection, extremely low volatility, excellent high and low temperature performance, high shear strength and a robust additive package making it capable of extended drain intervals. I sell a lot of this oil to our members.
Concerning mileage, I can surpass 30 mpg on both my 4th gen Maxima and 5th-gen equivalent, stock I-30, driving responsibly.
tell me more.
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98 SE Black on Black. 5spd swap,budget Ypipe,MEVI,CAI,Clear corners,H&R/Kyb gr2, Flowmaster,FSTB,X-drilled/slotted front and rear,2k2 SE wheels,Stillen Lip,Ionics sides,Fog light rewire,corner light mod,SS Clutchline,15% tint all around 02 Pathfinder 6disc in dash,2k2 max center console.-Production date 09-97 My daily driver.
98 SE Black on Black Auto w/ABS. 2k2 se wheels,Clear Corners,Corner light mod,Rewired foglights,FSTB.-Production date 12-97 Wifes daily driver.
I've been using AMSOIL 0w-30 essentially since it was introduced....it's the most efficient and highest performing passenger vehicle oil in the AMSOIL line-up. The oil offers superior wear protection and longer service compared to competing oils. I've sold a lot of this oil to our members (and others); and while not very scientific, people who switch to this oil typically report that their engines run quieter and smoother. I live in south TX and I have had absolutely no issues with oil consumption, even in the heat...AMSOIL 0w-30 can be used where 0w-30, 5w-30 or 10w-30 is recommended. My commute is ~70 miles/day, and I typically change the oil/filter every 6-months, spring and fall, with ~10,000 miles on it. If one of the vehicles sit and don't accululate the miles, I defer the oil change for up to a year. The engines on the Max and I-30 are amazingly quiet and smooth; and from what I can see by looking in the oil filler cap, they are perfectly clean inside. I've had the oil analyzed prior to changing and results show below average wear metals and additive levels sufficient to provide continued service. AMSOIL recommends up to 35,000 mile/1-year drain intervals, or up to 17,500 mi/1-yr in severe service. AMSOIL categorizes vehicles with over 100K as severe service.
Last Oct, AMSOIL reformulated this oil to provide even greater performance. The oil was supplemented with a proprietary ashless anti-wear system for improved heat and viscosity control and TBN was boosted by 10 percent, to 13.2. A lubricant with a high TBN is better able to neutralize acids, retard oxidation and corrosion, enhance lubricity, improve viscosity characteristic and reduce the tendency of sludge buildup.
Let me know if you have any other questions or would like a price quote on the oil. If you send me a PM with your e-mail address, I can send you a tech data sheet on the oil (or any other AMSOIL product). thx
Last edited by talkinghorse; 08-17-2008 at 07:45 PM.
Was runnig royal purple 5-30 but have switched to mobile one 0-30w
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99 GXE Auto V1 370cc injectors and Modded vb.
97 5sp SE New build Holset HX52 and spray. More to come.
91 GXE Auto bone stock beater
Led retro's Pm me
Couldn't tell ya really, but staying in the 75-80mph range, right around 3000ish rpm seems to be where my car gets the best gas mileage.
At 82 MHP my 04 Max (with 6-speed, in top gear) is turning at 3,000 RPM. But I get much better mileage driving about 65 MPH. The wind resistance against the car at 82 is much worse than at 65. I think that driving 55 MPH would probably give me even better mileage, but I can't drive that slowly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhOhMax
Theoretically your car gets the best gas mileage at whatever rpm your car makes peak torque. I don't think these cars make peak torque that low so I could only assume that I can still go faster and get better gas mileage, lol.
Internal Combustion Engine Design 101 says that you get the best mileage at the RPM that produces peak torque. And peak torque in the 04 VQ engine is supposed to occur at 4,400 RPM. But if you have ever seen a torque curve for this engine, it is very flat from about 2,400 to about 4,800 RPM. So I don't think, for this engine, that the absolute peak torque point = the optimum operating engine speed for economy. And that theoretical operating point does not consider wind resistance -- which happens in the real world.
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Last edited by SilverMax_04; 09-11-2008 at 09:32 PM.
It's fast...
- 2009 Subaru WRX - 2008 4Runner SportEdition - 1990 Cherokee Laredo - 1970 Triumph GT6 Mk2
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