HAS ANYONE WITH A 2001 XE 4X2 3.3V6 HAD A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE KNOCKING WHEN THEY USED MOBIL1 SYTHETIC OIL. I LIVE IN FL AND WITH THE HEAT I FIGURED I TRY SYNTHETICS. MY X ONLY HAS 21000 MILES AND IT'S KNOCKING. I SWITCHED BACK TO A STANDARD OIL, AND THEKNOCK WENT AWAY. I'M STUMPED. SUGESTIONS ANYBODY

No problems here, been using Mobil 1 synthetic for quite a while now, to me the engine runs smoother than with dino oil.

What weight oil were you using (then and now)?

Please try not to type in all-capitals. It's really annoying and means that you're yelling.

i was using 10w-30 castrol from the dealer. switched to the 10w-30 mobil1.thanks for the caps lock tip

I been meaning to ask about this too.
I switch to Durablend 10w-30 and mine started knocking with 1-2k on the oil change.
I noticed that when I changed it again (still using durablend) it went away until I put some miles on it.
Dealer said that is was dirty oil and I need to change it. GGRRRRRR.
I am still researching this issue. BTW
Any thoughts on this?

I too had that problem but with a different vehicle, the oil gallies in the head are very small and as the oil breaks down it looses some viscosity. Try switching to 5-30, Mobil 1..that solved it for the other vehicle and that's what I run in my X..I swear by synthetic oil now.

Interesting - I've never had a problem with 10W-30 Mobil 1. Does the knock still happen with higher octane gas (could it be the timing that's off)?

Sounds to me like they are using the wrong term. Knocking (pinging, detonation) is usually linked to low octane gas or ignition timing setting. Valve lifter noise is a different issue and *can* be influenced by oil or even the filter choice.

dave and xtoy - so what is it?

I've been running Mobil 1 5w-30 since about the third oil change and haven't had a problem. I just turned over 68,000 miles last week.

I was just wondering if it would hurt using Mobile-1 0W-30?

you can use 0w-30w.

From my research 0-30W is the best viscosity you can use no matter where you live.
-Chris

Thanks everyone for the info.I think i'll try the 5w-30 next oil change and see what happens. unfortunately for me the Nissan dealer near me is a pain the arse.

There are people claiming good results from a Synthetic cocktail using 3 quarts 5w30 and 1 quart 0w30 mixed. Me, I just use the 5w30 M1 with no problems (3.5 quarts mind you).

Same as above, straight 5W-30 Mobil 1.

:rolleyes: Keep researching....

You roll your eyes at me? I'm so sorry you doubt me my fellow american, but I have oil viscosity charts right here in my hand.

At operating temp, rougly 212°F both a 0-30W and a 10-30W have an absolute viscosity of 0.010 Ns/m2. This is the viscosity that the engine parts were designed for.

At 70°F 10-30W has a viscosity of about 0.170 Ns/m2 which is 17 times higher than the optimal viscosity.

At 70°F 0-30W has a viscosity of about 0.035 Ns/m2 which is only about 3.5 times higher than the optimal viscosity.

So you see that even here on the temperate central coast of Cali 0-30W is still by far the best choice in viscosity. And as the temperature gets cooler the differences in viscosity only get much further apart.

Now keep in mind many believe that roughly 80% of all wear occurs on startup. Wouldn't it make sense to select an oil that that starts flowing and protecting quicker than the other oils while still maintaining the correct operating viscosity?

Now, you may tell me why you doubt me.
-Chris

OK, but what are the oil viscosity specs for 5W30 which is what Nissan recommends?

W/o having to look up the specs I'll just tell you that 5-30W is inbetween 0-30W and 10-30W.

Here's my opinion on why nissan recommends 5-30W. 0-30W is better than 5-30W which is better than 10-30W viscosity wise. Now, aside from that, 0-30W is rare, and as far as I know, only is available from Mobil 1 and Amsoil in an expensive synthetic. It's just a lot easier to recommend 5-30W than send a lot of Nissan owners on a wild goose chase. Nor would they be happy to find out that it costs $5/quart.

If you want to go the extra mile then go w/ a 0-30W full synthetic for a lil more $$$. If not, don't worry, I'm sure you will be more than fine w/ a 5-30W.
-Chris

Exactly. It's your opinion and nothing more. State that when you post things like, "0W-30 is the best oil you can buy". In your world, I'm sure it is. I'll stick with what my owners manual says though. I'm not knocking you for using whatever oil weight you think is best for your truck under your specific driving conditions in your specific geographic location, etc. But try and separate opinion from fact if you can. Lots of people come here looking for answers on things like oil and it's better to tell them that the advice you are dispensing is opinion and not fact. Your statement was 110% opinion.

And I'm sorry, but your explaination about Nissan recommending 5W-30 over 0W-30 becasue they don't want to send owners on a wild goose chase looking for oil proves that you most likely don't have a clue what you are talking about as far as oil goes (IMHO)

The above statement should be qualified. 0W-30 is the best weight of oil to use if it's SYNTHETIC, not dino. In dino oil the larger difference between the two numbers, the less the oil will hold up to stress. So in Dino oil 10W-30 would be the best to use.

It seems a little strange that motor oil weight would induce knocking in the engine - two totally different things... Are y'all sure it's truly "knocking" that you're experiencing and not lifter noise or something?

Anyway, the recommended weight for the X is 5w30.

PismoTaco's comments are clearly stated as his opinion and I agree with all of them. This is an internet conversation, not a rehash of the owner's manual!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Cygnus-X1:[QUOTE]

You know, perhaps I have a lil more knowledge and expertise in this field than you may have, and perhaps it wouldn't really wouldn't hurt you to think about the information I have given you instead of attacking the hand that feeds you.
-Chris

Based on your comments...uh no. I'm sure you have loads of links to oil sites (we all do) and you send your oil in for analysis (results apply to your truck only), so that makes you the armchair oil guy, right? All I'm saying is that for things like oil...it's very subjective. What applies for you and your truck does not go for everyone else. Try and qualify your statements rather than spew things like, "Nissan uses 5W-30 only because they don't want to send you on a wild goose chase looking for 0W-30". I'm sure that's exactly why they 5W-30 :rolleyes: