First performed at 7,565 miles, then oil and filter change.
Second at 4,330 miles, just sampled and topped up with 1/2 quart.
Third, 7,671 miles, but lead wear (bearings) shows consistently high. Blackstone does not recommend such a long oil drain interval with Mobil 1 on my VQ35 (given the results).

Before I act on their recommendation I'm considering one more variable. The oil level was allowed to drop significantly by the time I had gotten to the 7.5K oil change... I had only gotten about 3 3/4 quarts out of the engine. I'm thinking if I could get a @%#$ good reading off the @$%# dipstick, and I topped off as needed, the extra oil may help control the fairly high lead wear I'm seeing right now.

What do you guys think?

I'll post these results at maxima.org in their Fluids and Lubrication section, over at bobistheoilguy and at FreshAlloy for some more feedback as well.

Absent recommendations by others, here are the options I'm considering right now:
1. Continue using M1 to 5K with UOAs to support this interval. 2. Switching back to Castrol or Pennzoil dino and try a 5K mile interval.

I want to keep the G for at least 200K miles, so I need to take excellent care of the VQ. I'm at work so can't post a pic of the results.. I'll do it later tonight when I get home.


<font color=red>chinee (in Florida)</font color=red>
03.5 G35s

 

Another thing to consider would be to replace the filter every 3750, even if you leave the oil in for 7500. I've heard our engines have a long break-in compared to others, it could just be that - maybe the lead wear will go away after awhile on it's own, assuming you don't run it dry due to the dipstick. [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

UOA


<font color=red>chinee (in Florida)</font color=red>
03.5 G35s

147651-UOA g35.JPG

 

ryo.. not sure I believe that a filter change is nescessary before the 7.5K interval; too many over at bob's think it's unnecessary. I've also heard about the long breakin period for the VQs.

After thinking it through a little, if the oil level was low, causing the high lead wear, then the other wear metal readings should have been high as well. Unless the bearings are in a position that are susceptible to wear when the oil level is low.... at this point I'm a little confused.

Right now I've got 10W30 Mobil1 in the engine and will drain at 5K, so I've got a few weeks before I decide upon my next fill. I won't be sticking with synth (and the added expense) unless I can extend my ODI to 7.5K.

What's frustrating as well is that I'm using M1 5W30 in my wife's 4.7L V8 Sequioa and the analysis that came back was excellent... very low wear metals present, in fact Blackstone suggested I try a 9000 mile interval the next time around.


<font color=red>chinee (in Florida)</font color=red>
03.5 G35s

 

Well, regardless of what oil you use, running 1-1/2 quarts low is definately not a good idea. [img]/w3timages/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

At 15K miles per year, that would make your G 13+ years old when you hit 200K. The engine may last, but will the rest of the Nissan parts hold up?

03.5 G35S 5AT - Desert Platinum/Graphite/350Z Tube/Clear corners/HG kit/30% Tint

 

At 30K miles per year, I'll hit 200K in 6.5 years... summer of 2009. I'll get there, the wife and I kept our last cars for 6 and 7 years each. And 13 years isn't long... I still see a lot of late 80's, early 90's vehicles on the road... I'm confident the G will hold up just fine.


<font color=red>chinee (in Florida)</font color=red>
03.5 G35s

 

I did my first and second at 3750 intervals but was thinking of switching to the 7500 mile intervals the rest of the way... not thinking of keeping this car past 100K maybe not even that long.

But if I were trying to make it last 200K I would be doing the 3750 mile oil changes.

2003.5 5AT Sedan Black/Black Premium/Winter Packages

 

I agree that a more frequent interval is the safe way to go, but I didn't want to have to be changing my oil every month, hence the reason I wanted to extend the interval.

My Altima was still running pretty good at 170K with infrequent oil changes (anywhere from 4K to 9K) on dino GTX and Fram filters. So my reasoning is if I use a better oil and filter, and change regularly, the VQ (a ten best engine design) will continue to perform way past 200K.

I was hoping that the UOA would have been more favorable. As it is, I'll probably drain at 5K and run Pennzoil dino to 4K and do another UOA.


<font color=red>chinee (in Florida)</font color=red>
03.5 G35s

 

30K a year!!!!!! That's a lot of miles. You must have a serious commute or do a ton of cross-country driving. I have never out more than 12K miles per year on any vehicle I have owned and since I changed vehicles more frequently than you do, it just seems like a lot of miles. Well, I hope the G does hold up over the years.

03.5 G35S 5AT - Desert Platinum/Graphite/350Z Tube/Clear corners/HG kit/30% Tint

 

Have you guys considered an Amsoil Synthetic. Good stuff.


2004 G35s (bone stock)
-----------------------------------
2002 s/c Accord V6
1/4 13.9@101.8

 

Im using AMSOIL 0w30 and change the oil every 7500 miles. After my last change, my oil was pretty clean and i could have gone another 3-4 grand easy. Im also using the sdf-13 AMSOIL filter as well. Maybe trying a different oil and filter will help..

 

But seriously, has ANYBODY figured out how to get a decent reading off this Frankenstein's Monster of a dipstick!??!??

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

But seriously, has ANYBODY figured out how to get a decent reading off this Frankenstein's Monster of a dipstick!??!??

<hr></blockquote>
Yes, but it involves sacrificing your first born and a three-toed sloth to the gods of chaos. [img]/w3timages/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

Sorry I'm just catching up with this post, but I have a basic question: What is it about bearing wear that would contribute lead to the oil. The metal itself will have other components like iron, magnesium, nickel, manganese, etc., but lead??

Did you do an analysis of the original oil?