My brother wants to run Mobil 1 only in the winter time in his 2000 Nissan Maxima. He's concerned about the price, which is 3X the cost of top quality dino oil in Canada, and about cold starts. His dealer service adviser says you can run synthetic in winter and switch back to regular oil in summer, year after year. I don't know what to advise him. Any thoughts?


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Black 2000 SC short-box XLT. 4.2 V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 limited-slip. CD, remote entry, factory side steps, rear fender inner splash shields (TSB 00-09-05), FORD box liner.

My third F-series (ordered new). The other two: '73 F-100 Custom, 240 cube 6, 3 on the tree, tan, "West Coast" mirrors, step bumper, knitted vinyl seat, AM radio; and '98 F-150 SC short-box XL, XLS package, Pacific Green, 4.2 5-speed, 3.55 ls, FM-cassette.

GREAT trucks!

 

I have always heard that if you run one type of oil you have to stick with it. If you switch between organic and synthetc the head gasket will shrink causing oil leakage. I don't know how true this is though. I still think your best bet would be to run the oil recommended in the manual, and run it year round.

-Jon

 

Shifter,

Send him to Canadian Tire and get their Synthetic brand. Should do the job. If he wants to save even more get a semi-senthetic.
Have him try a 5W30. Should help with those cold starts.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

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00 F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 4.6 w/5spd 3.55LSD
Warn XD9000i, skid plates, Draw tite class III,
Rancho RSX Reflex shocks,
BFG 285/75 R16 MTs,
Borla Cat Back, Headman Headers,
Modified Air Cleaner Outlet Tube
and air box, Ported Throttle body,
Shortened MAF sensor tower,
K&N air filter,
Superchips





[This message has been edited by JMC (edited 12-26-2000).]

 

Shifter, I used to switch back and forth, but now I run syn. year round. The question I would ask your brother is why would he want to bother running conventional oil at all. A 2000 Maxima is a nice rig so why would he choose to run a second rate oil part of the year. While there are numerous people who have had long and happy results from dino oil, let's look at what syn. oil provides. Faster oil flow in winter start-ups, consistent viscosity in extreme heat, less sludge, less wear, less volatility, so therefore less oil usage. Again, top conv. oils will do the job, but why settle for less. I don't know if you have Superstores over in Ont., but they frequently have Esso Superflo 100% synthetic on sale for around $4.90/litre. Sure thats alot more than conv. oils, but this is the lifeblood of your engine. The extra cost per year is relativley miniscule. Just my 2 cents.

 

With the high cost of vehicles, parts, and repairs the synthetic is a very cheap upgrade(mostly if he can afford a 2000 Maxima). I've ran 1/4 million miles on one engine on conventional oil in an older Maxima, but always use synthetic now. My opinion only, Good Luck !!

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2000 F-150 XL, RC, LB, 5.4L, 4R70W, 3.55LS,
Class III tow, Payload #3, & Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS, Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner w/Paintsaver & gas/wheel/spare locks,
K&N F.I.P.K. w/Outwears pre-filter, Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back w/ 3" Y-pipe,
Hellwig front & rear anti-sway bars, Rancho RS 9000s,
Mobil 1, K&N oil filter.