Hey guys, I just bought a used G35 Sedan, '03. Its got about 100,000km on it and I live in Canada where it is currenty cold as F#@%. I am due for an oil change and am wondering whether or not to throw synthetic in.
On one forum some people said that Nissan specifically says NOT to ever use synthetic oil in their engines, I myself did not see this anywhere in the manual and have read many reports of you guys using synthetics. Synthetic oil is supposed to be better for winter/cold right? Can someone point me in the right direction please?? I just dont want to hurt my baby...
Thanks
Oil Confusion...
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marlin29311
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- Car: 2008 Infiniti G35x
Re: Oil Confusion... (wakacha)
Synthetic oils are better quality oils than your standard dino, but it's all relative to the car and the timing.
With 100km on your G now, if you start using synthetic after a long stint with dino, you might get some oil leaks. You might be best off sticking with the dino. Most people start using synthetic after their 2nd or 3rd oil change, when the engine is broken in. They do make high mileage synthetics as well. You could always try it out for a change and see if you have any leak issues, and if not, just continue to use it.
Nissan doesn't say you can't use synthetic - I've even inquired about it at my dealer, and they say synthetic is fine, but just don't switch back and forth.
With 100km on your G now, if you start using synthetic after a long stint with dino, you might get some oil leaks. You might be best off sticking with the dino. Most people start using synthetic after their 2nd or 3rd oil change, when the engine is broken in. They do make high mileage synthetics as well. You could always try it out for a change and see if you have any leak issues, and if not, just continue to use it.
Nissan doesn't say you can't use synthetic - I've even inquired about it at my dealer, and they say synthetic is fine, but just don't switch back and forth.
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tollboothwilley
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Re: (wakacha)
this is not completely true. With older engines they had problems with leaking oil through the gaskets/seals because the synthetic was thinner. Newer engines really have no problem and you could feasibly switch back and forth between regular dino oil and synthetic.
I swapped mine over to synthetic late in my cars life with no adverse affects whatsoever. I would recommend going from dino, to a synthetic blend(high mileage) then to full synthetic.
http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html
read that, its good information
I swapped mine over to synthetic late in my cars life with no adverse affects whatsoever. I would recommend going from dino, to a synthetic blend(high mileage) then to full synthetic.
http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html
read that, its good information
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Sentientbydesign
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Re: (tollboothwilley)
Tollbooth,
I'm going to have to ammend what you said as well. Here's the issue. Gaskets/seals can bulge and contract depending upon what chemicals they are exposed to. Synthetics (I'll say some, because I'm not sure that all do this) can cause the gaskets to contract and as such, the oil leaks. Now, the details. The general rule of thumb for those who are "in the know" is that an older car with leaks will leak more when switching to synthetics.
On the flip side, a gasket in good condition should have no adverse effect when exposed to synthetic oil.
I've also heard that crud (sludge, gum, wax?) can be depositted at gasket sites (essentially reinforcing them) when poor oil is used. The greater cleaning ability of the synthetics can clear this "crud" away and "cause" leaks.
I'm not so sure about the "crud" explanation, but I've read it, so I mentioned it.
So to answer the OP's question. Yes, you can switch to a synthetic. Yes, synthetics do have better cold flow properties than conventional oils. However, there are some drawbacks to synthetics and those depend on your engine condition.
I'm going to have to ammend what you said as well. Here's the issue. Gaskets/seals can bulge and contract depending upon what chemicals they are exposed to. Synthetics (I'll say some, because I'm not sure that all do this) can cause the gaskets to contract and as such, the oil leaks. Now, the details. The general rule of thumb for those who are "in the know" is that an older car with leaks will leak more when switching to synthetics.
On the flip side, a gasket in good condition should have no adverse effect when exposed to synthetic oil.
I've also heard that crud (sludge, gum, wax?) can be depositted at gasket sites (essentially reinforcing them) when poor oil is used. The greater cleaning ability of the synthetics can clear this "crud" away and "cause" leaks.
I'm not so sure about the "crud" explanation, but I've read it, so I mentioned it.
So to answer the OP's question. Yes, you can switch to a synthetic. Yes, synthetics do have better cold flow properties than conventional oils. However, there are some drawbacks to synthetics and those depend on your engine condition.