I've been told by sales rep and others to ensure my 1st oil change (on a new car) is done within 3 months or 6,000 kms, whichever comes 1st. If I wait for 6K, it will probably be almost the 5th month, should I change the oil in the 3rd month 1st? Is this really necessary?

Thanks in advance!

04 Ivory Pearl, Coupe, 6MT, Premium

 

My 1st oil change was done within 3 months with only about 4,000 kms.

I read somewhere something about small metal shavings/particles from the engine breaking-in that its especially important to have the 1st oil change done earlier of 3 months or 6k kms.

 

Your first oil changes are the most important, since there are a lot of particles (metal shavings) that come off the new engine. The old school of thought is to change the oil more frequently than recommended in the manual. I used to change my oil at 1/4 the recommendation, then 1/2, then go as sheduled.

The engines now come with some additives in the oil that keep the particles in better suspension and help with the break-in, so it's now recommended to change the oil according to the schedule for your first oil change.

There's some debate about synthetics as well. The VQ engine continues to break-in slowly after the first 2000 to 3000 Km until being fully broken in at about 20,000! This is what the Nissan engineers have stated. I used regular dyno oil before changing to synthetic at about 19,000 Km which others will tell you is un-necessary.[img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

<font color=blue>[i]GroundingGear™ Equipped </font color=blue>

 

The manual says 6000 km or 3 months I think?
Usually I follow the manual but in this case, I chose to do my first near the end of break-in at 1500 km.

Two general principles of new engines are: (1) the first oil change should be done early to get rid of any debris/ metal shavings etc., (2) the first oil change should not use synthetic oil, you should switch to that on the second or third oil change.

With regards to (1), all engines including Ferrari's give off metal shavings throughout their life -- which is normal -- but it occurs most on a new engine towards the end of break-in. You can see them if you use a magnet to check the drained oil, especially on the first oil change.

Obviously you don't want the spinning crankshaft to pick any of this up from the pan before the oil filter gets it (some cars use magnetic oil plugs at the bottom of the pan to catch these metal shavings).

Anyway, I figured this may not apply to our modern VQ engines due to factory additives etc., so when I took my car in at 1500km for the oil change, I half-expected the service tech to say it was too early, but he said that in his opinion it was a good idea and he did the same for his own car. Guess it can't hurt.

With regards to synthetic oil, if you do your oil change early, don't use it because it's too slick to allow optimal break-in. You can switch later on, once the engine is fully broken-in.



G35Coupe 6MT + Nav

 

Yes, the maintenance schedule is 6000 km or 3 months.

I just had the 3rd oil change done yesterday (at 10 months with 11.2k kms) and switched to synthetic.
I found out after they had put in some really nice stuff - Motul 8100 Ester E-Tech 0w40!

 

Nice!
Did you do the lifetime oil change plan?




G35Coupe 6MT + Nav

 

I didn't get the lifetime oil change plan, did you? Is that why you went so early (other than reasons above)? It seemed like an excellent deal, but I think that was only offered at Agincourt Infiniti (1st place I went to while shopping for the G).
I ended up buying at Willowdale.
So far I've been getting all the maintenance (and other upgrades) done at Yorkville (Jerry).



<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by jandc on 06/23/04 12:14 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

Yeah I got the lifetime oil and filter plan -- that's another reason why I went so early.
But now I have to always go to Agincourt for the oil change -- and I live just down the street from Yorkville Infiniti too!
Oh well...it's a good excuse to drive the G...



G35Coupe 6MT + Nav

 

I'm at 1200 clicks now. Gonna get my oil changed at 1500. It was recommended by the dealership. Plus they're not charging me for it either.

04 Red G35 Coupe 6MT w Navi

 

Getting my first oil change @ 1500 km, then 3K. Won't switch to synthetic until 6K.

04 G35 Coupe Silver M6 - stock for now ...