Gear heads, need some input.

Okay gear heads here we go. I own a 2007 Nissan versa, currently 123,xxx on the meter. I should have done an oil change 6,000 miles ago, but with my schedual and laziness I haven't got it done. My question to you guys is what type of oil should I put in it, I'm bringing it to a shop not doing it myself, so I have documentation of it being done "professionally". My dad swears by full synthetic, however this is not a high performance vehicle so is it really necessary? I usually would put in something high milage, like castrol or Valvoline but I really want to make this car last longer than my last one. I also am looking into getting the tranny filter/fluids changed, and need input on what to use there also? The tranny slips every once and a while and I know its because the fluids and filter have been changed in a while....past 6k miles. So really any input on what would be best for my little fuel efficient care would be great. Thanks!

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As far as oil goes, oil is oil. I've worked in car service for over 10 years (I've worked at a Nissan dealer as well :P) and the difference between full synthetic and regular oil is price and what it's made of. If you're doing your services on time, it really makes no difference between synthetic oil or regular oil. Sure there has scientific evidence showing synthetic takes longer to break down, but what does it matter if it's changed at the correct intervals?

If you're trying to make your car last longer than your previous one, the cheapest and most effective way of doing so is completing your services on time!. For the transmission service, my advice would be to take it to a professional and have a flush done. Draining and refilling at your mileage does little to nothing if you've been slacking on maintenance. Another side note is the transmission fluid must be at a proper temp to get the fluid level correct.

go with what came in the car originally. that's what it was built and tested with for thousands of hours.

I have a 2010 Nissan Versa and I'll admit, I'm a little lazy when it comes to oil changes, but every time I've gotten my oil changed, it was with 5w30 regardless of how "over" I was on my mileage. Nothing fancy. :P

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Originally Posted by dart

As far as oil goes, oil is oil. I've worked in car service for over 10 years (I've worked at a Nissan dealer as well :P) and the difference between full synthetic and regular oil is price and what it's made of. If you're doing your services on time, it really makes no difference between synthetic oil or regular oil. Sure there has scientific evidence showing synthetic takes longer to break down, but what does it matter if it's changed at the correct intervals?

If you're trying to make your car last longer than your previous one, the cheapest and most effective way of doing so is completing your services on time!. For the transmission service, my advice would be to take it to a professional and have a flush done. Draining and refilling at your mileage does little to nothing if you've been slacking on maintenance. Another side note is the transmission fluid must be at a proper temp to get the fluid level correct.

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I tried changing a tranny filter and fluids once and it ended badly hence why I am taking mine somewheres to get it done, as for the oil thanks for the heads up on it all being pretty much the same.

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Originally Posted by OhhWatALoser

go with what came in the car originally. that's what it was built and tested with for thousands of hours.

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I'm not sure what it came with, I got it used from a dealer.

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Originally Posted by RuthlessReptiles

I have a 2010 Nissan Versa and I'll admit, I'm a little lazy when it comes to oil changes, but every time I've gotten my oil changed, it was with 5w30 regardless of how "over" I was on my mileage. Nothing fancy. :P

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Sounds good!

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Full synthetic has nothing to do with performance of an engine but the length of time and mileage in between drain intervals. Yes its better than Dino oil for Turbo chargers but that's about it.

The trans fluid is more than likely a special Nissan blend and is probably synthetic. Yes the aftermarkets make equivalents so make sure its the right type.

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Originally Posted by rperry03

Full synthetic has nothing to do with performance of an engine but the length of time and mileage in between drain intervals. Yes its better than Dino oil for Turbo chargers but that's about it.

The trans fluid is more than likely a special Nissan blend and is probably synthetic. Yes the aftermarkets make equivalents so make sure its the right type.

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Thanks for clearing that up. I know nothing about fluids of any kind.

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Read the owners manual lubrication section and ill leave >

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Originally Posted by kevinb

I know nothing about fluids of any kind.

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alone!

As far as oil, if you take it to a actual nissan dealer, most dealers dont use full synthetic unless you ask for it exactly. most dealers use a synthetic blend (part synthetic part regular) as stated before if its changed regularly full synthetic really doesnt make much of a difference, the problem with using full synthetic is if you use it once, it effects the internal gaskets differently and its said to be harmful switching back to a non-full synthetic oil after that, and full synthetic every time gets expensive (30ish for synthetic blend and 70ish for full synthetic)

As for transmission slippage, in my last truck (a 1990 ford f150) I had some slippage issues, I changed the fluid/filter and added a special additive from a company called BG (the additive I believe is called BG Auto trans fluid) Im not normally one to advocate all the flushes and additives and all, but that stuff seriously worked, The slipping was gone and all. If you ask for it the place changing your oil should have something similar. hope this helps!

Also, I was a oil change/entry level tech for about 5 years. so i spent my fair share of time around it all :rolleyes:

Wow, Listen to your dad. Full syn is better than dino. You can get away with regular ol dino oil IF you stick to the maintenance schedule. But since you let it go over I wouldn't use anything but full syn. Almost all new cars come with full syn from the factory now and recommend 5000 to 10000 mile changes depending on your driving habits. With dino oil you need to stick to 3000 mile changes. At the very least get the bulk semi-syn that most oil change places carry. It will be a compromise on both the price and quality between the two.

IIRC the oil change interval for most Nissans of that era (My GF drives an '05 Sentra) is 3750 miles. If you "should have done it 6000 miles ago," then you're 10K miles from your last oil change? Ick. If you want this car to last, you really need to be treating it better than that. As others have said, the best thing you can do to make your car last is to take care of all the maintenance on schedule.

Synthetic oil is necessary in some cars (and in fact mandated by their manufacturers, in many cases), but when it's not required, it's basically just an extra expense. My Audi, for example, needs it in order to keep its turbo happy, but my GF's Sentra does not, and so my car gets the expensive oil every 5K miles and hers gets the regular stuff every 3750, but both of them get it on the proper schedule.

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Originally Posted by BFT12890

As far as oil, if you take it to a actual nissan dealer, most dealers dont use full synthetic unless you ask for it exactly. most dealers use a synthetic blend (part synthetic part regular) as stated before if its changed regularly full synthetic really doesnt make much of a difference, the problem with using full synthetic is if you use it once, it effects the internal gaskets differently and its said to be harmful switching back to a non-full synthetic oil after that, and full synthetic every time gets expensive (30ish for synthetic blend and 70ish for full synthetic)

As for transmission slippage, in my last truck (a 1990 ford f150) I had some slippage issues, I changed the fluid/filter and added a special additive from a company called BG (the additive I believe is called BG Auto trans fluid) Im not normally one to advocate all the flushes and additives and all, but that stuff seriously worked, The slipping was gone and all. If you ask for it the place changing your oil should have something similar. hope this helps!

Also, I was a oil change/entry level tech for about 5 years. so i spent my fair share of time around it all :rolleyes:

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Sound advice, but this is a myth. BG is a chemical company that makes flush kits for all fluids. It's an agent that attaches to burned fluid molecules and pulls them from inside the tranny when flushed.

If you're still concerned about fluids you can always call a Nissan dealer and ask your Service Advisor or Manager about it. We don't mind answering questions, just try to be brief

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Originally Posted by olstyn

IIRC the oil change interval for most Nissans of that era (My GF drives an '05 Sentra) is 3750 miles. If you "should have done it 6000 miles ago," then you're 10K miles from your last oil change? Ick. If you want this car to last, you really need to be treating it better than that. As others have said, the best thing you can do to make your car last is to take care of all the maintenance on schedule.

Synthetic oil is necessary in some cars (and in fact mandated by their manufacturers, in many cases), but when it's not required, it's basically just an extra expense. My Audi, for example, needs it in order to keep its turbo happy, but my GF's Sentra does not, and so my car gets the expensive oil every 5K miles and hers gets the regular stuff every 3750, but both of them get it on the proper schedule.

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No I mean I got the car with 117 almost 118,000 on it and it had just got an oil change the day I picked it up. So at 123,000 now that means I'm 6,000 or a little under miles past the last oil change.

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Originally Posted by kevinb

No I mean I got the car with 117 almost 118,000 on it and it had just got an oil change the day I picked it up. So at 123,000 now that means I'm 6,000 or a little under miles past the last oil change.

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Oh, ok. That's not as bad then, but you're still significantly overdue. It's really one of those things you need to make the time for, which shouldn't be too hard, as it's really only a 1/2 hour (or less) job on most cars. Whether you do it yourself or pay someone else to do it for you, doing it on schedule is the cheapest "engine longevity insurance" you can buy.

Yeah, I know. I feel badly about it, I could just do it myself as I have done it numerous times before, my father insists however that since this is a newer car I bring it somewheres so I can have documentation if I were ever to need it.

I would think hanging on to the receipts for the oil and filter would be good enough documentation, but even if you do need to bring it somewhere, my experience with Nissan dealers is that they can usually get you in same day or next day for simple stuff like oil changes. Just get it done on your next day off, it'll only take you a little over an hour, including the drive to and from the nearest Nissan dealer. :)

I have the weekend off, and I will be taking it to be done, and assess how much a tranny flush and filter/fluid change will run and have all the other fluids checked. I'm not really sure when the differential fluid was changed or checked, along with the cooland system. I basically need a overhaul on the fluids in my car.