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Hybrid Vehicles Nissan Altima Hybrid Nissan Altima Hybrid
321 messages, Last post on Nov 19, 2009 at 9:31 PM
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Replying to: saabgeorge (Dec 28, 2007 7:18 pm) In regard to SYNTHETIC oils, the statements I made there are general knowledge about synthetics. Synthetics are always better, if you can afford them. Though Nissan doesn't specifically recommend them (the owner's manual of any make of car should be viewed with circumspection, since it is heavily edited by lawyers and bean-counters), it's fine to use them. It is common ICE research knowlege that synthetics are better for any given engine, ONCE IT HAS BROKEN IN. The reason being that synthetics, for any given grade, have better lubrication properties. This is due to longer, stronger molecular chains which work better to keep metal parts apart than "regular" oil. Synthetics also resist "shearing" better. Shearing is a condition in which the molecular chains in the oil are literally sheared, as the oil runs through gear trains (in a NAH, that would be a timing chain area, the oil pump, the cam chain). This can cause premature break down of the oil (causing premature loss of lubrication properties). In regard to changing synthetic oil, the oil DOES last longer as it was formulated, than regular oils, but the thing to remember is that your engine is constantly filling the oil with debris from on-going wear, combustion chemicals, and other junk, at about the same rate as it would for regular oil. Oils have three missions. 1. Lubricate. 2. Cool parts (which is why the oil pan always hangs down in the air stream below the car) 3. Carry microscopic debris away to the oil filter. So, for item #3, synthetic fills with junk, too, and should be changed only slightly less frequently than "regular" oil. All of what I've said about synthetic, is NOT in the Nissan Owner's Manual. It is just the current best practices and theories for synthetic oil. As far as what grades to use, you are dead on the money correct. The only caution I'd give in regard to the Nissan oil recommendations is to find that 0w20 if you can find it, expecially in winter. Any misbehaviors in your engine and Nissan MAY try to pin it on the use of the wrong grade oil (they cannot pin it on the use of the wrong brand, due to the Magnusson Moss Act).
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Replying to: hiwayman (Dec 31, 2007 11:01 am) "Nissan does reccommend 0w 20 for winter, and 5w 20 for hot summer, and tough conditions." That's an exact quote from your post. I was curious where you read that about summer and tough conditions because I haven't seen that anywhere else. If it were true I'd like to know the source before I switch over to a heavier oil for the summer. In the past I always liked to use a heavier oil for the summer but the hybrid is a different beast and I'll stick to whatever Nissan recommends as their primary oil. BTW, you can always purchase Penzoil 0W-20 on line at the oil-store.com. I just bought 12 quarts for about $5.60 a quart and that includes S&H.
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Replying to: saabgeorge (Dec 31, 2007 4:15 pm) isn't all 0-20 are Synthetic?
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Replying to: townboy325 (Jan 01, 2008 7:27 am) isn't all 0-20 are Synthetic?" How often does Toyota have 0W-20 on sale and do you know if this is a national sale or just your local dealer? $3.20 a quart is a great deal. I believe, which doesn't make it fact, that 0W-20 would have to be a synthetic but I think that I've seen 5W-20 that isn't.
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Replying to: saabgeorge (Jan 01, 2008 9:09 am) i think lots of the new Honda using 5-20 and is not sys.
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Replying to: saabgeorge (Dec 31, 2007 4:15 pm)  ) That statement was a combo of the one you quoted from the owner's manual and a conversation I had with my own dealer's service rep when I took the car in for its last oil change. I'd mentioned to him that 0w 20 was almost impossible to find and asked him if it would be OK to run 5w20. His response was what I stated. He said that the thicker oil was better for high-stress and hot conditions. The thinner (0w 20) is for winter driving. This seems to be indicated in the section on oil recommendations. I personally don't see any particular anomaly here. The recommendations in the book are in section 9-2 or there abouts (I think..I'm going from memory). How much credence you want to give to this, is up to you.
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Replying to: townboy325 (Jan 02, 2008 5:36 am)
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Replying to: townboy325 (Jan 03, 2008 2:59 am) We JUST hit 10K on our car on a trip, returning from friends' house in Sacramento, California. My wife, who is a much more gentle driver than I am, probably averaged about 75. We got 40 MPG according to the car's computer. Impressive for freeway driving, to say the least. We've also noted that the machinery is getting looser and looser (more broken in). When we first got the car, it wouldn't stay in EV mode much above 30. Now, it's common to see it top 40 for short distances before it switches to ICE. With crude oil hitting 100, we're very pleased.....
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Replying to: hiwayman (Jan 03, 2008 8:43 am)
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| I am liking this car more and more each day and appreciating the combined engineering of Nissan and Toyota. What a combination. | |
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