'11 QX56 running rough due to dirty oil?

[CombatYoga]

Hi everyone - brand new to the forum here and this is my first post.

I searched but was unable to find anything related to my question.

I have a 2011 QX56 with about 40K miles on it.

About 2 weeks ago, she started making a wheezing noise and shuddering - as if she was missing. We had her towed up to the dealer for service.
Note that there was no 'check engine' or 'oil pressure' light that ever came on.

The service rep is telling me that the reason for the trouble was that I am on a 10K mile oil change schedule, that my oil was dirty, that it clogged some spray nozzles and this is what made it run so bad. It clearly did some damage as they are replacing valve guides and other parts - he told he was doing it under warranty, but that the next time it would be on me (to the tune of $5-6K).

This immediately makes my BS detector start to ring. For one, anytime a dealer acts like they are doing me some grand favor, I get leery.
But more to the point, I know enough about engines to have a hard time buying that not changing the oil after 3K miles would cause this.
The service rep would not back off the claim, saying the engine is high performance and even though there was no service light, I needed to closely monitor engine oil changes on a 3K mile schedule.

Anyone experience anything similar?

SF

 

[Punisher]

Why in the world would you have an $80k vehicle on a 10,000 mile oil change schedule? You're just asking for motor issues with this.

 

[Dread_Parrot]

oil ?

Interesting. Hmmmm, that is wild. They would have to show me more detail, about what is going to be done, warranty or not, cause its my motor and I don't want just anyone messing with it .
But I do change the oil often in mine. The oil dose seem to get darker earlier in the QX than my other vehicles, except the diesel.
I would ask him for more details, maybe they are going to clean the fuel injectors? Maybe they are not spaying uniformly ? Since you had to have it towed. I should look for the fuel filter on this beast.
Oil change is easy, on the QX, you can do it yourself if you like.
Let us know what you find out and welcome to the forum here.
Have a good one
parrott

2011 QX56, 20 inch wheels, black on black, new air filter, tech pkg, and something else,,, I can't remember.

 

[CombatYoga]

Thank you for the informative reply Parrot.

I am going to want to see a detailed manifest of everything they fixed for sure.

I don't mind changing the oil at all, so if its as easy as you say, I can knock that out.
Is the oil filter easy to get to as well?

My only fear is that now that this has happened, I will need to keep very exact maintenance records so that if there is a repeat in the future, they won't be able to blame it on oil changes. In fact, I have even considered whether I need to get them (the dealer) to do the oil changes going forward for just that reason. That thought makes me cringe.

Thanks again.

SF

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[Jixxer Josh]

Depending on your choice of oil it is not unusual to go 7500 - 10,000 miles between changes. Just keep an eye on the oil level. Most Full Synthetic oils on the market will get you that distance easily. I have a 98 F-150 that has over 250,000 miles, which I am responsible for 190,000 of those miles. I have used Mobil 1 full synthetic and a Mobil 1 filter and I use the change intervals above and have never had an issue. No blow by, no leaks, nothing. Truck runs strong and only uses about 1 quart between changes.

 

[CombatYoga]

I'm with you Jixxer. I have a '99 Toyota Landcruiser with 218K miles and I follow a 10K oil change cycle with that vehicle and never have any issues.
I'm having a hard time buying the explanation I'm getting from the dealer.

In all fairness to Punisher, he has a point - it's an expensive car and I should probably watch that closer. I change the oil on my YZ450F every 10 hours, and that bike is an order of magnitude cheaper than the QX. I guess I know where my priorities are. ;-)

SF

 

[Razorecko]

Yea. You guys do know the dealers are putting in dino oil in the qx56's right ? They have you on a 10k schedule with a non-synthetic. That is the issue. I'm pretty sure the manual only lists a non-synthetic oil. I've used full syn in my qx56 since it broke in around 2-3k miles and even than my dealer still has me on a 4-5k oil life cycle.

 

[Dread_Parrot]

oil change

Yeah combat_yoga, Drop that skid plate and the oil filter is staring right at you. You can use a 12mm socket for the bolts that hold the skid plate(4).
I have two filters here with me, the K&N one is out in the shed, I'll try to remember you a part number for it. But I use the American made Mobile-1, K&N, or a Bosch, (which is made by Purolater).
The Nissan one is made in China. Sorry, I don't like that.
Now the original Nissan oil filter that came on the QX was a made in Japan, I save it, its in the shed on the shelf.I cannot find another one made in Japan.
Mobile-1 part number is M1-110 -USA
Bosch is D3332 -USA
K&N is USA too, but I don't have the part number with me, I will find it.
Here is something interesting. My 2011 Triumph motorcycle uses the same oil filter I use the Mobil one oil filter on my bike !
Part two of interesting. The filter cap wrench for your 3/8 drive ratchet, that will fit the QX filter is a 65 mm. So at if you roll into a auto parts store and look at the cap-wrenches that fit oil filters, the one by Performance Tool labeled 'Toyota filter wrench', number W54118 fits our filter perfectly.
It also fits the top of the oil filter canister on my Lexus IS350
So at $4.99 it makes taking the oil filter off super easy on motorcycle, car and QX.
QX gets 6.5 quarts of oil, I think, I wrote it under the hood somewhere.
Have a good one!
Parrott
2011 QX56, 20 inch wheels, black on black, new air filter, and some other cool stuff.

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