Which Mobil1 oil should I use for my vehicle? Would 15-50 work?

Question

I have this 04 sentra 1.8s So far I've put regular oil when needed but the most recent one was a mobil 1 10-30 I really don't know the differences between those numbers (5-20 or 10-30). I know they have something to do with the temperature and the 'thickness' of the oil but might still need some more info.
I've seen the 15-50 one aka the extended performance which may go up to 15k miles. I really do like that idea of that high mileage since I'm approximately driving 100 miles/day in the city of Boston. But I'm not sure if that one would cause any sort of problems. Any help is appreciated. Thank you...

Answer 1

Use the recommended oil viscosity listed in the handbook in your glove compartment. The crankcase on your motor holds only 3.2 quarts of oil. It's to your advantage to use the lowest viscosity your motor calls for. It pumps to critical engine parts faster on cold starts where 90% of all engine wear occurs. Lower viscosity oil drains back to the oil pan fasrer carrying more heat away from all internal frictional parts iit also helps to pull heat away from the water jackets around internal sealed cooling passages. Automotive engine oil runs an an average 20 degrees cooler than the antifreeze in the water jackets.
Since you do in town driving it's imperative that you adhear to the handbook spec. conserning oil viscosity.
High viscosity oil actually robs mileage and horsepower. The oil pump has to work much harder to pump thick oil than light thin oil.
It's highly benificial for you as a 4 cylinder motor owner to be using Mobil 1 All areas of protection is far surperior. The cold pour point is 20 degrees lower (-45 below zero with 5W-30) on any Mobil 1 product as compared to the very same viscosity regular mobil oil. The flash to fire point is 30 degrees higher. That means it will not vaporize and burn off as fast as the same grade regular oil. Bare in mind if the oil temperature reaches 260 degrees in any motor piston ring tension will suffer and cylinder to piston clearances will be comprimized that may lead to scoreing and eventual failure.
Do not under any circumstances put 15W-50 in anything but a heavy duty diesel motor.
Don't fall for the canned Amsoil commercial about 25,000 oil changes. They want you to their oil filters and chance them physically between oil changes. What they don't say is their filtration media does not stop the small 25 micron particle sizes of engine bearing particles, cast iron, steel, plastic, gasket materialas well as a standard Wix or AC-Delco oil filter. Your warranty will eveporate faster than "Casper" if you try to slide through a repair problem when the company has no record of recent time or mile oil chances. You do the majority of your driving in town which means it becomes a little more contaminated with blowby and internal condensation form partial heating and cooling. Not to preach but Mobil 1 is less expensive and you can well afford to keep it changed within the factory service intervals. Incedentally, no Nascar Nextel Cup Busch or Craftsman Truck team uses it. Do they know something? Chevrolet Corvettes and Dodge Vipers are factory equipped with Mobil 1 in their respective oil pans, Why do you suppose that is?

Answer 2

10W30 maybe was "standard" a few decades ago. Today it is almost never used outside of vehicles equipped with the GM 3800 V6. 5W20 is only appropriate on some late-model Ford, Honda, Mazda and Chrysler vehicles and should NEVER be used on vehicles that do not specify that weight of oil.

Nissan recommends 5W30 for all temperatures for the 04' Sentra. For best performance you should use what the people who built your vehicle and know it best recommend. All information about recommended fluids can be found in the owners manual. That will save you getting so many bad answers here.

ASE Certified Automotive Service Advisor and 03' Nissan Sentra owner

Answer 3

use what they recommend in the manual
todays cars have tighter tolerences so they reqire a thinner oil 5/20 0r 5/30 is the norm these days
15/50 is too heavy for that motor
the 5/30 is a 15000 mile oil as well

go to amsoil.com and read their stuff on extended drain intervals

Answer 4

NO ONE should still be using CONVENTIONAL OIL! It makes SLUDGE and clog up the engine with COKE and VARNISH over time! WHY WOULD YOU WANT THAT! SYNTHETIC Oil is a REAL marvel and keeps your SENSORS and CONVERTER working best! CONVENTIONAL oil should be OUTLAWED IN my book! Especially VALVOLINE which is made by the WAX REDUCTION METHOD< the CHEAPEST WAY< and has ULTRA HIGH ASH contents! It leaves WAX coatings on EVERYTHING! SYNTHETIC OIL holds the contamination ina HARMLESS COLLOIDAL SUSPENSION! It leaves the engine parts CLEAN AS NEW nad retains ALL the by PRODUCTS within the OIL ITSELF leaving NO sludge, NO varnish and thereby reduces FRICTION! MOBIL ONE 0W-30 is the best overall one out there! >>MANY of the FINEST cars use MOBIL ONE from the factory. CADILLAC requires it for a GOOD reason! BENZ and some PORSCHES come with it as standard! WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO GO BACKWARDS< waste FUEL and ENERGY and risk making SLUDGE and deposits??? It makes ZERO sense!

Answer 5

If you're interested in extended oil drains, check this article out: http://www.amsoil.com/redirect.cgi?zo=1463115&page=news/oil_drain_intervals_2_06

look up what your car needs by typing in the year, make, model, engine here: http://www.amsoil.com/redirect.cgi?zo=1463115&page=scripts/runisa.dll?amsoiloaf:index

I found out it calls for 5W-30, check this oil out, good for 1 year/ 25,000 miles: http://www.amsoil.com/redirect.cgi?zo=1463115&page=StoreFront/asl
BTW, Amsoil has been recommending this drain interval since 1972.

Answer 6

Consult your owner's manual for the proper oil viscosity for your car.

Answer 7

5w-20 in most new 4cylinders 15w-50 is way to thick

Answer 8

all depends on the weather, and driving... thinner oil in the winter, thicker in the summer. 10-30 is pretty standard for all climates.

Answer 9

I run 5W-20 Mobile One in mine.