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Old 02-02-2010, 03:47 PM
 
Location: Las Vegas, NV
5,779 posts, read 14,544,445 times
Reputation: 4019

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I drive a 2003 Nissan Altima 2.5 S with 72k miles on it. At 61k I had the motor and the catalytic converter replaced as the previous converter was nearly destroyed and my car was burning oil like crazy. I was covered under the governments 8 yr 80k warranty for catalytic converters, so the Nissan dealer fixed it for nothing.

Those who know Nissans know that on Altimas made between 2002 and 2006 have this pesky catalytic converter problem.

My car's new engine now has 11k on it and I have religiously changed the oil every 3000 miles. My dad said I am going to ruin my motor by not letting the oil wear in on the engine because I "change it too much"

I bought the car in March 2009 at 57k miles and had the motor replaced 2 months into owning the car. I know whoever previously owned my car did not maintain it at all, and I am lucky enough that my car was given a new engine and I dont want it to happen again.

Is what my Dad said true? Am I really ruining my motor by changing the oil "too much" as he says? Or am I just being a good car owner?
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Old 02-02-2010, 03:55 PM
 
Location: Still in Portland, Oregon, for some reason
890 posts, read 3,692,228 times
Reputation: 743
While you won't ruin it by changing it 'too much', 3,000 miles is far too frequent and is a brainwashing sham perpetrated by the oil change and auto industry. Personally, I would recommend running full-synthetic of whatever grade your owners manual recommends and use a Nissan genuine oil filter. Do NOT use a Fram filter, whatever you do. And don't hesitate to run 5,000 miles in between changes. I've been doing this for 40,000 miles with absolutely no ill effects.

Good luck!
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Old 02-02-2010, 04:22 PM
 
199 posts, read 590,459 times
Reputation: 103
The whole point of changing your oil is to make sure your engine is lubricated with clean oil.

Having said that, Nissan's service interval is:

3750 miles for city/stop and go driving

7500 miles for primarily highway driving

I'd assume somewhere in between if you do a mix of both, but every 3750 to be on the safe side.
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Old 02-02-2010, 04:30 PM
 
Location: I think my user name clarifies that.
8,292 posts, read 26,618,077 times
Reputation: 3925
Bottom line: No, you will not ruin your engine by changing the oil too frequently.

Nobody is going to agree as to exactly how many miles you should go between oil changes, but if you want to spend extra money and change it at 3,000 miles, it is NOT going to hurt the engine.
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Old 02-02-2010, 04:37 PM
 
4,500 posts, read 12,309,492 times
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Not hurting the engine, but in no way needed.

Every 5.000 should cater for most people on that car it seems. (That's awfully low for such a new car btw)
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Old 02-02-2010, 06:08 PM
 
Location: Eastern Washington
17,158 posts, read 56,898,950 times
Reputation: 18462
It's not harmful but probably not necessary. Rather than go with conventional oil and 3000, whatever filter, I would suggest Mobil-1 or similar with a Purolator Pure-1, NAPA Gold, or similar high-efficiency filter, and something like 5000 to 7500 between oil changes.

If you want to get scientific about it you need to do oil analysis, this can tell you all about how much oil life you have left and can identify things like a loose air filter, coolant leaks into the oil that are much too small to make the "milkshake" on the dipstick, etc.

FWIW I would be much more impressed with someone who was doing the above and had oil analysis results for 7500 mile oil changes, far better this than a stack of Stupid Lube receipts indicating 3000 mile oil changes...but I am an engineer and damn decent mechanic, Joe Blow might prefer the stack of Stupid Lube receipts...
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Old 02-02-2010, 06:54 PM
 
Location: Planet Eaarth
8,954 posts, read 20,642,392 times
Reputation: 7193
Quote:
Originally Posted by evesadam View Post
The whole point of changing your oil is to make sure your engine is lubricated with clean oil.

Having said that, Nissan's service interval is:

3750 miles for city/stop and go driving Classed as very severe service

7500 miles for primarily highway driving Classed as easy service

I'd assume somewhere in between if you do a mix of both, but every 3750 to be on the safe side.
City driving is an early death on any engine due to constant heat cool cycles that add much contamination to the oil. Also what is not understood is every time you start your car you add 500 miles of wear to the engine due to 2>5 seconds of running dry with no oil. It takes the oil pump that long to build PSI. THAT is why 3000 > 3500 is not to often to change.
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Old 02-02-2010, 08:03 PM
 
432 posts, read 3,652,410 times
Reputation: 418
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tightwad View Post
City driving is an early death on any engine due to constant heat cool cycles that add much contamination to the oil. Also what is not understood is every time you start your car you add 500 miles of wear to the engine due to 2>5 seconds of running dry with no oil. It takes the oil pump that long to build PSI. THAT is why 3000 > 3500 is not to often to change.
How is that computed?
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Old 02-02-2010, 08:04 PM
 
Location: Planet Eaarth
8,954 posts, read 20,642,392 times
Reputation: 7193
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjornb17 View Post
How is that computed?
How is what computed?
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Old 02-03-2010, 05:04 AM
 
4,500 posts, read 12,309,492 times
Reputation: 2901
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tightwad View Post
City driving is an early death on any engine due to constant heat cool cycles that add much contamination to the oil. Also what is not understood is every time you start your car you add 500 miles of wear to the engine due to 2>5 seconds of running dry with no oil. It takes the oil pump that long to build PSI. THAT is why 3000 > 3500 is not to often to change.

If that was true (which, to the best of my knowledge, it isn't, oilpressure should build up instantly) my engine would've effectively have driven severaø hundred thousand miles by now, on 9000 mile changer, 3 times what you're talking about.

The every 3000 mile rule is bullc**p, it should be a good indication to you that no one, in any country I know outside the us do the same thing.

To the OP: Run full synthetic oil on your car, an engine that new is designed for it an mineral (regular) will cause premature wear on it, using Synthetic, you should easily get 5000 between changes, if the numbers listed earlier is true.

If you worry about it, just check the dipstick every now and then, feel the oil, if it still feels smooth, you're good.
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