vickyexp wrote:question for the Navara guys who're using Amzoil API CJ-4 Syntetic 15W-40
diesel oil and changing at 10,000km intervals.
what oil filters do you use & how often do you change them?
Reason being, I'm getting a 4x4 manual Navara and want to keep my
warranty with NM but I want to reduce my maintenance cost by purchasing
my parts (oils, filters etc) on the outside & just be charged for labour.
I'll appreciate any tips.
thanks,
Vick
*raises hand*
me-me-me!
I'm using 15W40 Amsoil API CJ-4 in my navara (4x4 manual LE)
I used to do the servicing at 10,000km, but I found that with the stock filters the oil came out quite grimy and sooty. Take the oil at 10,000km and spread it thin on some white paper napkin, and you'll see what I'm talking about.
So now I'm doing my servicing at 7,500km and I'm using Bosch oil and fuel filters instead of the Nissan filters (way cheaper, and it's the same filter - Bosch makes filters for nissan, toyota, ford, etc and they just rebrand them).
I can say that the 15W40 amsoil works quite well in the navara. Not much noise from the engine and knock is minimal.
However - for our climate a 50-weight oil is more ideal, although a 40-weight is acceptable in viscosity. It's a minor difference but I believe it'll be more emphasized after you've put more than 100,000km on the engine. By that time, the engine would have been properly broken in (it's a diesel, c'mon) and you'll now be seeing the true performance envelope of the engine. Mine is about 16 months old and has 56,000km on it - which I still consider to be pretty young in terms of break-in and engine wear.
I'm planning to switch to a slightly higher viscosity oil, like a 50-weight when I get to the 100,000km mark.
Now, note that the amsoil is rated to run up to 20,000km without needing to be changed, it's engineered to do long-haul work on trans-continental big-rig trucks in the USA. That's why I chose Amsoil over Total and Mobil 1, cuz I do a lot of highway miles without much idling in traffic. But... with our poor quality diesel and the resulting amount of soot that gets dumped back into the combustion system from the EGR, I don't like how grimy it comes out. Micro-particles and carbon fragments leads to extra wear and tear on the cylinder walls, microscopic in size yes but can lead to loss in power/performance. Hence why you should change your oil regularly (and use the best filters).
I'm getting a 4x4 manual Navara and want to keep my
warranty with NM but I want to reduce my maintenance cost by purchasing
my parts (oils, filters etc) on the outside & just be charged for labour.
I'll tell you a well known secret - N&M (and most of the other stealerships) are overcharging you for your oil changes. I had an eye-opening experience with them that caused me to never, ever go back to them for any servicing after my 20,000km.
Basically, they said I would get free labour at the 20,000km. I used to bring my own oil and filters from outside and let them use that, thinking I would save money. Bought "original" nissan filters from ROC in bamboo - don't buy these, they are cheap chinese knockoffs with fake "nissan" branding on them. Cut one open and compare with a Bosch or original thailand nissan oil filter and you'll see.
Neal and Massey wanted to charge me for keeping the van on their floor -
per day. What's more, the service person said my van wouldn't be finished till the day after, even though I had dropped it at 7:45am in the morning, and I was SECOND in line.
All that for a regular oil change/filter change/general checklist.
After that, I never went back to them again. I decided to frick their warranty and do all the servicing myself. I have a service booklet and service manual from NIssan at home and use that to guide me in what has to be done at each interval (recently changed the rear diff-oil myself at 52,000km)
If you don't want to take the plunge and do it all on your own (trust me, N&M and their sheit isn't worth the money bro.... ) go to MasterServ in Fernandes Compound in Barataria.
They're part of the N&M group so you'll get to keep your warranty, and they do a much better service than N&M. One guy on the forum recently tried to get his alignment done at N&M, was told the machine was down (same thing they told me last time I went - did my own alignment outside). I advised him to go to MasterServ - voila, he got through quickly and paid a minimal fee (a lot less than at N&M). Scroll up this thread and you'll see what I'm talking about.
If you have any questions about your nav, just PM me man and I'll reply when I get it.
I have the sticker along with the certificate in my glovebox 
