Whats your preferred Oil? Monthly Poll-March

[pfarmer]

Congrats on your G coupe. And congrats to me on my 200th post. YAY! anyone want to congratulate me? Anyway, Valvoline isn't quite what they used to be, before Synthetics started to lead the way. And perry, I didn't know Jiffy loob was part of SOPUS... but surely the pathetic car maintenance group that has saturated america like a ravaging plague of criminally low recognition doesn't reflect SOPUS entirely. Anyway, I'll stick with Q full synthetic. And if one day I can get it free, I'll try Royal Purple. Unless one of you guys would care to give me a free sample.free cake!

It would be interesting to see if the various lubes are really totally separated. For example I had my worst experience with Pennzoil (been many, many years) and my best with Quaker (Synthetic). The Jiffy's in this area use to offer Quaker, the some started to offer only Pennzoiled, then the ones that offered Quaker would only offer 76. That is what prompted me to look for all these little connections between them and out popped Royal Dutch / Shell.

Perry

[telcoman]

.... For example I had my worst experience with Pennzoil (been many, many years)

Perry

What was the experience?

... and my best with Quaker (Synthetic).

perry

QUOTE=pfarmer]

best? Please explain!

The Jiffy's in this area use to offer Quaker,.........

Perry

Jiffy Lube, The worst company in the world!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCAJ8ULnaI

Telcoman

[Herkypilot]

The recommendation for using ester oil is found on page 9-3 of the 2009 manual...note #11 - "Nissan recommends Genuine Nissan Ester Engine Oil available at your Nissan dealer".

Ahh, right you are. But I suppose reading this info, they don't place the same emphasis on using it as they do the transmission fluid. Look at #3 & 8, they say it can cause damage if you don't use this specific fluid. In my book, Ester oil is a "recommends".

Here's another interesting note. I went to the Infiniti dealer last week to get an oil filter and I asked to see a quart bottle of oil they use - the parts guy said they don't sell quart bottles, when the shop does oil changes, they just pump out of the big barrels. Synthetic blend oil meeting the 5w-30 spec...I don't know, maybe that's the way they get their Ester oil?!? $49 for an oil & filter change. They just sent me a coupon in the mail for my first change free. I'll have to take them up on that one!

Herkypilot


Modified by Herkypilot at 5:26 AM 3/15/2009

[Poyzinous]

We dont get our ester oil in a drum. We get it in a case of 12 one quart bottles. Ester is a recommendation because some customers complain that the motor is a bit noisey and there is a teeny bit of tapping and a few other issues pertaining to the ittiest fluctuations in frequencies making our ears hear nonexistent sounds or exaggerating known ones. The 3.7 was designed and built around ester oil. Thats why it is recommended. Because it has all Nissan's top secret formulations built into its recipie. I have an 04 and I use ester oil. Occasionally. The only difference I notice is cold starts are quieter with ester. So I'll be using it for winter, and Q full synthetic for summer.

[pfarmer]

What was the experience?

QUOTE=pfarmer]

best? Please explain!

Jiffy Lube, The worst company in the world!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCAJ8ULnaI

Telcoman

Pennzoil - All of the drains from the heads of a v8 nearly plugged off. Pass someone and pump a little oil up on top and out the valve covers it would go. Cleaned engine and no more problems with Quaker and that has been the case in every vehicle since, except the G which will get Ester.

Perry

[kmckis1029]

when i got my 30k service on saturday at the dealer, the window sticker "oil change reminder" that goes in the top left of the wind shield had Pennzoil on it???

Is that just an advertisement that came on the sticker? i was expecting to see nissan or infinity on the sticker???

[kmckis1029]

oh and over 500 views and 200 comments but only 15 votes???

[Poyzinous]

yes, that is disappointing. Breaks my heart. I thought Gclub was my friend. do you all need a poncho? Ponchos are awesome. http://www.holytaco.com/makes-me-want-buy-poncho

[silver37]

I agree...the ester oil is just a recommendation, not a requirement. Overall, I'm not very impressed with the writing quality of the manual for this as well as many other items.

Hey...why do they even mention automatic transmission fluid since there is no easy way to even check it???

[Poyzinous]

Thats just the japanese train of thought. All your base are belong to us. The manuals and publications could be better, but there are a lot of 'high class' customers who don't care and just let the dealer explain every little detail to them.

[silver37]

I guess those high-class customers really need those 10-15 pages dedicated to to hooking up a baby seat! .

[Poyzinous]

THIS is why you don't use cheap oil and go out for some full throttle driving. Your #3 piston will blow a hole in your block and oil pan! And ruin your engine. And it could be any of your 6 cylinders. Or any combination of them.
Modified by Poyzinous at 11:46 AM 3/23/2009

[pfarmer]

THIS is why you don't use cheap oil and go out for some full throttle driving. Your #3 piston will blow a hole in your block and oil pan! And ruin your engine. And it could be any of your 6 cylinders. Or any combination of them.

But honest, I couldn't get a reading on the dipstick. When I started it was only a little bit of noise, just louder when I took it to 6k rpm. So I drove around an hour to see if it would go away, but it would not. I can't understand why a dealer would think that it was my fault that my engine failed me .

Perry

[Herkypilot]

OK,I'm sure there's more to the story than "I poured dino oil in and this is what happened" on this case.

Herkypilot

[Andy_V35Sky_350GT]

I've used Castrol EDGE Sport 0W40 full synth a few times in my car and have never had any issues. It seems just as good as Mobil 1 and a lot cheaper.

[Poyzinous]

Is it never cold where you live? I guess you can stretch to a 0W-40. As long as your block doesn't go boom like my pic...

[Black Obsidian]

HEY ALL!!

Newb to this site - trolled it for a while but just joined once I saw this thread.

ALSO - Sorry for the long post!!!

I added another choice to the OPs list of oils - Motul's 300V series of oils. When I mentioned switching to this brand and series, the service manager at my local Infiniti actually said, "thats the best oil you can get."

I have an 08 G37S and had been running with the Nissan Mineral oil - came with the car and have had 4 oil changes at the dealership with this oil.

I had the VVEL Actuator TSB, and once fixed, they put the same mineral oil. Despite the TSB calling for Ester, the problem was fixed with the ECU flash alone.

For my own peace of mind, I just switched at 12K miles, my 5th service (I am one service ahead of schedule since my dealership provides a free oil change at 1K - a break in oil change) to 100% Synthetic (not FULL Synthetic) Motul 300V 5W30 - cost $150 (CAD) for 6L of the oil, $10 for a filter and roughly $30 for labour (@ Infiniti). $190 total - for assumably/arguably the best oil on the market. Infiniti charges roughly $140 (CAD) for their Ester oil change. BTW, my dealer uses Mobil1 as their Ester Oil of choice. To me, the $50 difference between the two oils is negligible especially when you are referring to, the best of the best.

Long story short, my change intervals and type of oil used are based on affordabilty of the oil vs staying within the recommended intervals. I dont think any one should stray passed the recommended 7500mile interval - at this point the oil is sludge and the filter is clogged and most likely has oil flowing through the bypass valve.

As for the brand of oils - once you see the words "FULL synthetic" you are in a mid-pack class of oils, well above mineral and a hair below "100% Synthetic". The difference between mineral and FULL Synthetic is far greater than that between FULL and 100% Synthetic. What does this mean? If your oil says "Synthetic" you cant go wrong if you stick to the recommended intervals.

FYI, with the Motul 300V, car runs smoother and revs happily passed 5k RPM - I dont take her passed that marker too often but somedays, an open lane is far too inviting.

P.S. Just dropped her off this moring for the first Transmission Oil Change -Reminder - I only have 12K miles on her. But in my little world (head), the transmission goes through more "engage/disengage" cycles with the gears than any part of an engine yet never receives the same love and attention as the engine. Since we are running a synthetic in the transmission, the break in is about 10K - 15K miles and my local garage recommended I get it done. FYI, the garage I am referring to would not do the change - told me to go to the dealer - so this is not some small garage trying to make a buck off me.

Just goes to show, everyone has an opinion - some seem expensive and overcaustious and seem seem too relaxed. At the end of the day, go with the plan that lets you sleep at night.

[Andy_V35Sky_350GT]

Not really (as in it doesn't snow). I've been told by a tech that I can use either 5W30 or 0W40 without any issues.

I generally use 5W30.

[rsinger23]

Sorry to bring this back from the dead. Didn't want to make a new post. What kind of oil does the Infiniti dealer use when they change your oil? (Brand, weight, syn. or not)

[omegahunterbass]

May I repeat it again? Royal Purple is oil made from the heavens. Looks the same at 1,000 miles as it is at 2,000 miles. Almost as if the oil does not break down--no matter the abuse. Warm up is a complete stunner--fastest warm up ever, even when you don't drive the car for about two - three days. And then, when you gun the car, and start approaching 5,000 RPM, its like a very small booster rocket kicks in. I almost feel like drinking the oil when it is being poured into the car, because if it gives my car so much muscle and power, then it must give me muscle and power, as well---it is a purple can of purple spinach . I change my RP every 3,000 miles or less.

I agree with all of this... except for drinking it... I would definitely advise against that...just saying...