new to me 03 maxima 3.5 Motor...Oversized filter?

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

needsducktape

Joined
May 8, 2011
Messages
820
Location
Sacramento CA
Ok so last week I sold my Solara
frown.gif


(My giant French mastiff could not handle 2 doors any longer!)

And I picked up a 2003 Maxima 3.5 6-speed (blk on blk leather if you're curious) this week

Of Course being a BITOG kind of guy, I HAVE to change the oil and filter --- (Note: for an auction car, the oil looked pretty fresh and was right up to the mark (auction cars are seldom in great shape BTW )

Ok, so I go to Autozone and my favorite GC is on sale w/rebate and K&N filter. wooot

I get home and to my surprise my K&N filter is about half the size of the Purolator classic that is on the car.

#1 Are there over sized filter options for the 3.5 motor?? Should I return the K&N and get a different (larger) model?

I have changed the oil on my Gf's older maxima (3.0 motor) and I've always noticed the filters were small compared to whatever car I was driving at the time.

By the way, the filter was on so tight I could not remove it...might try again tomorrow.
 
Napa Gold or Wix 1356 works on the 3.5.
Also make sure you check the oil in that car. the 02/03 3.5's can really burn a nasty amount of oil.

My 02 6 speed ran flawless but burned quite a bit of oil.
 
Congrats on your new car!

Oversize filters for the 3.5VQDE I have researched. The best filter for the dollar is Pure One PL1460 which has a 40 micron rating. The Mobil M1-105 has a 20 micron rating and is larger than the PL1460. K&N HP1005 is similar to the Mobil 1 but is $2 more beacuse of the welded nut.

HTSSTR suggested a Purolator L20073. I haven't tried that one.
 
Just use a PureONE PL14610, WIX 51356, Bosch 3323, K&N HP-1010, Mobil 1 M1-110, DENSO 150-1010, or equivalent. While the size of the filter might be smaller than what you're used to, as the old saying goes, size isn't everything. All of the above-mentioned will do the job.
 
Is there a distinct advantage to the larger size??? I have read that the 02-03 tends to drink oil... I have not driven the car enough to really notice. Aside from watching the oil like a hawk, are there any solutions???

I was thinking the guy who owned it must have cared for the car enough to research larger filters...
Maybe a BITOG member?! haha

Other notes:
#1 Car is quite clean, the leather is PERFECT
#2 Its likely I will be replacing the ball joints or LCA (making noise)
#3 255hp does not belong on a front wheel drive car...(If it was RWD, I would consider the car to be perfect.)
 
Originally Posted By: barlowc
Just use a PureONE PL14610, WIX 51356, Bosch 3323, K&N HP-1010, Mobil 1 M1-110, DENSO 150-1010, or equivalent. While the size of the filter might be smaller than what you're used to, as the old saying goes, size isn't everything. All of the above-mentioned will do the job.

There are advantages to using an oversize filter.

1 - Usually an oversize filter has a better micron rating because a smaller filter has less media area and maintaining a tighter media will increase differential pressure. General Motors did a study and found 20 micron filtration will triple engine life over a 40 micron filtration.

2 - More capacity for holding contaminates.

3 - Easier to grip on removal.

Now ask yourself, "Is smaller better in regards to filters"?
 
Originally Posted By: needsducktape
I have read that the 02-03 tends to drink oil.


If the engine isn't sludged up it will not use oil. The fix for oil consumption was a new design of the intake manifold. When you change your spark plugs that would be the time to change intakes since you have to remove it to get the rear plugs out.

PL14612 is the speced filter. The PL14610 is slighty larger hence oversize but still at the 40 micron media. Mobil/K&N's that I previously mentioned are the 20 micron media. Use the Mobile 1 because it is less expensive than the K&N.
 
Originally Posted By: Radman
Originally Posted By: needsducktape
I have read that the 02-03 tends to drink oil.


If the engine isn't sludged up it will not use oil. The fix for oil consumption was a new design of the intake manifold. When you change your spark plugs that would be the time to change intakes since you have to remove it to get the rear plugs out.

PL14612 is the speced filter. The PL14610 is slighty larger hence oversize but still at the 40 micron media. Mobil/K&N's that I previously mentioned are the 20 micron media. Use the Mobile 1 because it is less expensive than the K&N.


Is there a part number for the new manifold?? I might try and snag one on ebay since the car has 103K miles, I'll need to change the spark plugs soon! The forums seem to thing the ring design is bad...

You have a lot of knowledge on this car THANK YOU !!
 
Originally Posted By: Milkman
How is our fair city (Pittsburgh) treating you thus far ?


So far, so good. I went to college here back in 2000 and I see that the city has IMPROVED. (not many other cities can say that)

Its been nice seeing the new restaurants (and the old staples)

Now if only I could meet a nice woman...
 
Originally Posted By: Radman
Originally Posted By: needsducktape
I have read that the 02-03 tends to drink oil.


If the engine isn't sludged up it will not use oil. The fix for oil consumption was a new design of the intake manifold. When you change your spark plugs that would be the time to change intakes since you have to remove it to get the rear plugs out.

PL14612 is the speced filter. The PL14610 is slighty larger hence oversize but still at the 40 micron media. Mobil/K&N's that I previously mentioned are the 20 micron media. Use the Mobile 1 because it is less expensive than the K&N.


The problem is mainly with the piston rings. My 02 VQ35DE burned a lot of oil and absolutely zero of it was in the spark plug wells (common) or any other problems. The engine was bone dry on the outside and had no other signs of issue. The same problem also exists on the VK series engines (years unknown by me, but probably about the same years)
 
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Originally Posted By: Radman
Originally Posted By: needsducktape
I have read that the 02-03 tends to drink oil.


If the engine isn't sludged up it will not use oil. The fix for oil consumption was a new design of the intake manifold. When you change your spark plugs that would be the time to change intakes since you have to remove it to get the rear plugs out.

PL14612 is the speced filter. The PL14610 is slighty larger hence oversize but still at the 40 micron media. Mobil/K&N's that I previously mentioned are the 20 micron media. Use the Mobile 1 because it is less expensive than the K&N.


The problem is mainly with the piston rings. My 02 VQ35DE burned a lot of oil and absolutely zero of it was in the spark plug wells (common) or any other problems. The engine was bone dry on the outside and had no other signs of issue. The same problem also exists on the VK series engines (years unknown by me, but probably about the same years)


Seems like luck of the draw. Some say they don't burn a drop and some add a quart every 1k miles. Mine uses .5 quart every 2.5-3k.
 
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Originally Posted By: Radman
Originally Posted By: needsducktape
I have read that the 02-03 tends to drink oil.


If the engine isn't sludged up it will not use oil. The fix for oil consumption was a new design of the intake manifold. When you change your spark plugs that would be the time to change intakes since you have to remove it to get the rear plugs out.

PL14612 is the speced filter. The PL14610 is slighty larger hence oversize but still at the 40 micron media. Mobil/K&N's that I previously mentioned are the 20 micron media. Use the Mobile 1 because it is less expensive than the K&N.


The problem is mainly with the piston rings. My 02 VQ35DE burned a lot of oil and absolutely zero of it was in the spark plug wells (common) or any other problems. The engine was bone dry on the outside and had no other signs of issue. The same problem also exists on the VK series engines (years unknown by me, but probably about the same years)


Seems like luck of the draw. Some say they don't burn a drop and some add a quart every 1k miles. Mine uses .5 quart every 2.5-3k.


It almost does seem like luck of the draw. Probably partially how the oil changes were done etc. Mine burned I would hazard to guess more than 1q/1K. It was pretty bad, but I didn't mind stocking up the engine on fresh oil because the VQ35 is hard on oil. Car always ran and pulled A1 though, despite the oil burning.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Bailes1992
MG3 Clutch Change
Replies
14
Views
478
Jetronic
K
1996 Corvette LT4 Bearing Replacement
Replies
7
Views
374
Mcbeem5
W
oiled air filter for '23 Santa Fe?
Replies
16
Views
585
oil pan 4
2
Aviation Oil Filters Tested ~ 40% efficiency at 20 microns?
Replies
12
Views
1K
ZeeOSix
jmaster
Amsoil SS AMR 5w-50 7700 miles Boss 302 5.0 Ti-VCT
Replies
17
Views
1K
burbguy82
Back
Top Bottom