Is 20w50 oil ok in my 1997 Nissan D21 Hardbody truck with 2.4L engine?

That grade of oil is a bit thick, but it won't hurt anything. It takes a bit longer to get thru the engine when you first start it. With the heat ya get there, should be no problem. Next oil change, use 10W40 or what the manufacturer recommends. It'll circulate thru the engine faster when you first start and still work well with the heat.

If Nissan calls for 5w30 then use it.

Internal parts have advanced over the years and the need to run a thicker oil in the summer is less common.

Perhaps, if it is a concern going "up" to 10w30 would be a bit better.

Use good quality oil and change it every 5-7500 miles if you don't do a lot of stop and go driving.

Oil that is overly thick may have impact on fuel economy but not likely. If the oil is already in the engine then carry on.

But, if Nissan does not spec. that thickness in the engine it's likely for a good reason. It either does not need that thick of an oil or it offers few gains in regards to extra protection etc.

at the high temperature you are in you should be ok but be warned; most modern engines have very small oil gallies in a lot of places and getting oil flow with thick oils is a problem often. at 90 F 20w-50 isn't all that thick though about the same as 5w-30 when its very cold id guess so i THINK you have little to worry about. my friend was having constant issues with an 89 nissan sentra engine, he replaced just about everything on the timing chain department but it never worked correctly until he drained the 20w-50 and put in 10w-30. the engine didn't rattle at idle with 10w-30 but raised heck when it had 20w-50 in it even though all the oil ports were clean. if you want the best for hot climate try synthetics.(expensive i know) but again so long as its hot 20w-50 shouldn't be a big deal. you will waste more power though than with a thinner oil.

1997 Nissan Truck

The 2.4 in your pickup is the KA24, correct? I used to have that same engine in my old Altima. I always used Valvoline 5W-30 or 10W-30 and never had an issue. I would sometimes wait almost 10 months to change it, and it was still perfectly fine. Tough engines. :) Anyways, I would use a 30-grade and not bother with a 20W-50. I don't think using the thicker grade will hurt anything though, so use it until the scheduled interval and just use a 30-grade next time.

Drain it out, but leave the oil filter in. Use the correct oil weight to prevent trouble. The 20W50 is WRONG and is TOO thick. Also, read the label on what you are buying. The right oil will state that it "meets or exceeds the specifications for Nissan." Read the manual and do what it says. Forget mileage, it means nothing. 62,000 miles is nothing at all. To keep your truck running GREAT, stick with Mobil One or ELF oil. They will keep your engine cleanest for the long run!!! You only need to change it once yearly. Amzoil is also excellent. Good luck!!!

Nissan just reconmmended a 5w 30 because for cars that drive in all seasons which means a cold winter u need a low grade because oil becomes thick in cold weather so lower the grade less thick so the 20w is completely safe where u are

From my experience, as the vehicle becomes old, you may shift to a more regular, cheaper oil (since 5W30 is much more expensive than the 20w50). The 20w50 will do just fine with your truck because Vegas weather is hot. But if you'll move to colder areas, the 5w30 is more appropriate. Thinner oil grades will facilitate faster distribution within the engine which is vital in colder areas. But then again, it's your ride so it's your choice.

Goodluck!

Go by the hood decal if it's there and legible. If not, you could go with whatever they are out of the box: with today's electronic ignition gap is not as critical as it used to be. I go with a 35 thousandths gap when I can't find a gap spec, but I WILL NOT gap a plug to a point that the ground electrode is not at a 90 degree angle. Either pointing up or down from a 90 degree angle is a bad thing.

woul dsay its too much but i live in vegas an di know the road heat gets into the 160 range and higher.. it wouldnt hurt but i run 10w40... 5w30 would be what it should be when its new and you can used most any type and wil not hurt a motor and if it uses oil bewteen changes could have when with one weight more id just leave it in and next oil change lower to like 10w40