Why every 3750 miles or 3 months

[IN.G37]

I previously had 2002 MB C240 which MB rec. an oil change every 10,000 miles and a 2009 Honda Accord which went atleast 5000 miles before needing an oil change.
Why does Infiniti rec an oil change every 3750 miles with such a technological advanced G37?

[Poyzinous]

Two reasons. The greater the oil capacity, the longer you can go between changes. The G only haas a 5 quart capacity. Second, because most people use cheap, low quality oil. You can do 5,000 to 7500 if you use a quality oil and don't drive a lot of city miles.

[joe603]

where have you been?! Nice to see you back in the forum!!

To the OP, Poyz is correct! I know Porsche uses high capacity oil cases in most of their engines...so similar logic. Read this for some good info regarding oil:

http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html

[IN.G37]

Thanks for the helpfull info guys, I have had 2 oil changes on my 2010 G37 I use the recc. Nissan Ester oil and change it as Infiniti recc. every 3750 or 3 months whichever comes first..

Is Nissan Ester oil high quality oil?
Is it synthetic or convential with additives?
My Infiniti dealer says its synthetic...

[joe603]

You don't "need" ester oil...it's recommended by the dealer if the customer complains of vehicle startup noise. The oil sticks to the upper engine components better then regular oil. However, I'd recommend going to a full synthetic (I love Royal Purple) instead of the ester. Not only will it be cheaper, but you'll have more protection and more HP! Some of the guys go with Mobil 1...but that is not a true synthetic. Royal Purple and Motul are a few of the remaining 100% synthetic oils left.

[Mudgen]

Joe, I've asked this in other threads, and not gotten an answer.

What's the distinction between full/fully synthetic (as Mobil describes all the Mobil1 oils on their web site) and true synthetic?

[Mudgen]

Ah. After searching and searching again, finding many allegations that Mobil1 is no longer a "true synthetic", and lots of dodge-and-weave answers from Mobil about the issue, I finally found this pdf, apparently from a leaked Mobil Powerpoint presentation:
http://www.motor-talk.de/forum/aktion/A ... tId=695007

A natural evolution of the formulation

The Mobil 1 formulation strategy has always been based on selecting the best components available. We now have the very high quality Group III+ base stock, ‘Visom’ exclusively available to ExxonMobil. As we developed the Mobil 1 ESP technology we found that combining Visom with PAO could deliver a formulation of equivalent performance to an all PAO formulation.

Competitive advantage

Visom is the only non-PAO stock that can deliver the required performance to formulate a 0W grade oil that meets European OEM engine oil specifications. Visom is not available to our competition.

To support Mobil 1 growth

Global PAO capacity is limited. As we quickly approach this limit, new base stocks must be explored to ensure we can support the continued growth of the Mobil 1 family of products.

To ensure continuity of supply

As we saw with the 2005 hurricane, the more flexibility we have in our formulations, the better placed we are to withstand disruption to our supply. We can balance PAO and Visom supply fluctuations to ensure we can always deliver the final product to our customers.

To maintain market relevant pricing

As PAO supply has tightened globally, raw material costs have increased substantially. In the future, an exclusively PAO formulation may be priced out of the market or result in significant margin erosion.

To prepare for next generation basestocks (GTL)

Commencing 2010, the next generation of base stocks derived from Natural Gas (Gas To Liquids) will enter the market. These high quality basestocks will arrive in substantial quantities and will probably be used in the majority of competitive premium formulations. Visom is viewed as a precursor of GTL, and hence it’s use now in our flagship formulations eases our transition to a GTL world, and helps us understand how to maintain flagship performance using these high quality non-PAO basestocks.

So, I guess that's it, Joe? Now I understand.

[Mudgen]

Holy moley! They apparently intended not to tell anyone but the Germans.

What is the communication strategy?
With the exception of Germany, this reformulation will be invisible to
consumers and B2B customers.
• Claims are identical with the exception of some now obsolete or soon to
be obsolete claims
• Performance of new formulations are equivalent to current formulations
Testing is underway to provide read-across of current marketing
claims to new formulations
Review will take place of current marketing literature to ensure
accuracy of specific claims to new formulations (e.g. if we quote
actual pour point values then this would need to be updated).
• There will be no proactive customer communication relating to this
reformulation. However, an internal briefing document and Q&A has
been prepared to allow sales to respond in the unlikely event of a
customer question.
Due to the unique definition of synthetic in Germany (Synthetic = 100%
PAO) this reformulation is visible to the consumer and B2B customers.
• A more proactive communication is being prepared for German use

[kmckis1029]

ive been using penzoil ultra it claims fully synthetic, and exceeds the 2010 standard. I usually use royal purple, but it hasnt been convient to find it lately. Then penzoil ultra comes in the 5 quart bottle and cost less.

this oil forum is raving about it and have internal documents to back their smiles

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ub ... er=1749808

[Mudgen]

ive been using penzoil ultra it claims fully synthetic, and exceeds the 2010 standard. I usually use royal purple, but it hasnt been convient to find it lately. Then penzoil ultra comes in the 5 quart bottle and cost less.

this oil forum is raving about it and have internal documents to back their smiles

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ub ... er=1749808

Well, they were raving about it in January 2010, anyway. That does seem to be the definitive site for everything you want to know about motor oil, but what's interesting and confusing is that it's hard to find a straightforward presentation of what "fully synthetic" actually means. What appears to have happened with the term is that after Mobil lost a case it brought against Castrol for claiming "fully synthetic" for what was basically a hydrocracked dinosaur oil with some synthetic (PAO and/or ester) components, Mobil capitulated and started doing the same thing.

So, it seems that it's legal to call oils "fully synthetic" in the US even though they are not 100% (or even nearly so) PAO or ester based. There's a lot of controversy over whether the pseudo-synthetic oils are as good as, or even better than, the "real" synthetics, and I'm not qualified to weigh in on that, just trying to report some of what I've turned up trying to clear up my own confusion over ongoing comments about Mobil1 and other oils claimed by their manufacturers (like this Pennzoil) to be "fully synthetic".

[gwoods]

Oil is cheap, oil is most of the cooling and all of the wear protection on your motor.

Changing it every 3750 even in extreme cases it should do no abnormal wear. You could go longer but what is the savings vs the potential for wear?

I use the Valvoline full syn with a couple squirts of Lucas Synthetic oil stabalizer change it before 4000 everytime. An oil change costs me about $30? Much cheaper then a rebuild

[kmckis1029]

+1

my oil is changed at 4k regardless... but im not putting "cheap" oil in my car, i want the best proctection i can get.

[telcoman]

+1

my oil is changed at 4k regardless... but im not putting "cheap" oil in my car, i want the best proctection i can get.

I use the cheapest oil on sale.
I change mine every 3k to 3500 miles.
If it says 5w-30 API SM it is good enough for me and my G35
Usually Pennzoil or GTX
I do an oil change every six weeks or so.
42 oil changes so far

Telcoman

[SVTCOBRA]

A coworker once told me that the research on oil that he did revealed that changing brands was more harmful than anything due to the different additives they all have.
Said it was very important to stick with one brand.
Will have to see where he found this.

I have been using M1 Syn for years changing every 3k to 3.5K.....feel like I keep repeating myself.... FRIDAY AND ALMOST BEER-THRITY!!!

[EvilPanda]

i just bring mine at the dealer every 3750 miles. i dont go by months since by 3rd month would be at like 2k miles. (out of 3750)

[IN.G37]

i just bring mine at the dealer every 3750 miles. i dont go by months since by 3rd month would be at like 2k miles. (out of 3750)

Are you going take it to the dealership for your 15k or are you just going to do an oil change and tire rotaion at 15K?

[audtatious]

Mine are done every 5-6k miles with the max at 7k if I'm too busy. I'm running full synthetic though and I'm 85%+ highway miles.

[kimbill]

Mine are done every 5-6k miles with the max at 7k if I'm too busy. I'm running full synthetic though and I'm 85%+ highway miles.

This new owner ('11 G37 Coupe) has reviewed the Maintanence Manual, and it recommends 7500 miles for Normal driving, and 3750 for Savere duty. This is common mfgr. terminology. It's my understanding, that Savere duty means dusty, city driving, delivery service, trailer towing, mountain duty, and the like...... Our Lexus ES 300 has logged in 187,000 miles on 5w/30 regular oil changed every 5k The old Chevy 350 logged in 267k ......... When we picked up the new car a couple weeks ago, they presented all sorts of "programs" to make ownership more pleasant. I asked if they used synthetic? No, they use traditional Penzoil........ Are we being "over-protective" of our cars?

Bill

[Mudgen]

This new owner ('11 G37 Coupe) has reviewed the Maintanence Manual, and it recommends 7500 miles for Normal driving, and 3750 for Savere duty. This is common mfgr. terminology. It's my understanding, that Savere duty means dusty, city driving, delivery service, trailer towing, mountain duty, and the like...... Our Lexus ES 300 has logged in 187,000 miles on 5w/30 regular oil changed every 5k The old Chevy 350 logged in 267k ......... When we picked up the new car a couple weeks ago, they presented all sorts of "programs" to make ownership more pleasant. I asked if they used synthetic? No, they use traditional Penzoil........ Are we being "over-protective" of our cars?

The 2011 Infiniti Service and Maintenance Guide says:

SCHEDULE 1 (more severe operating conditions),
every 3,750 miles or 3 months,
whichever comes first
Use Schedule 1 if you primarily operate
your vehicle under any of these conditions:
• Repeated short trips of less than 5 miles
in normal temperatures or less than 10
miles in freezing temperatures
• Stop-and-go traffic in hot weather or lowspeed
driving for long distances
• Driving in dusty conditions or on rough,
muddy, or salt-spread roads
• Towing a trailer, or using a camper
or car-top carrier

My general experience is that dealers will tell you that if you _ever_ operate under any of the more severe conditions, you should follow that schedule, but if they sold donuts they'd probably tell you a dozen a day was good for you. IMHO if you don't operate _primarily_ under those conditions as stated, then you don't need to follow Schedule 1. But there are lots of folks here who feel oil/filter changes should happen every 3-4K miles on these cars, and it's worth it to them, whether it's protecting their cars or just their peace of mind.

[MotorFiend]

Two reasons. The greater the oil capacity, the longer you can go between changes. The G only haas a 5 quart capacity. Second, because most people use cheap, low quality oil. You can do 5,000 to 7500 if you use a quality oil and don't drive a lot of city miles.

A lot better than people I know who change it every 2-3K.