Nissan Ester Oil, how it works inside the 370z engine vs other brands
 

I found this article and it explains why Nissans Ester oil is the best option for our engines. Especially for VVEL operation. It starts out talking about our "Green" lead free engine bearings and oil temperatures, which is why the 370z has limp mode because of no factory oil cooler. Anyway it's an interesting read, check it out.

https://motoiq.com/nissan-370z-bad-n...pe-or-reality/

Doesn't explain anything about VVEL operation and the heat it generates. Nissan oil is sourced from different venders that meet the specs and they put their label on it and jack up the price. Any good quality oil will work.

I agree 100%! I was using the expensive Nissan Ester oil in my car from new and didn’t question it until recently when I decided to go with Pennzoil Ultra and the engine couldn’t be happier. No, it didn’t self destruct and no there are no tapping noises from the VVEL or anywhere. Actually I find it quieter and oil temps are perfect. I don’t know what exactly the Nissan oil is composed of. Nissan refuses to give any info on its oil and the dealers know nothing about and rarely use it. I guess I got tired of paying $18 bucks/litre for dusty bottles of oil that the dealer would dig out of its rarely used stock.

My dealer used Ester for the first oil change, AFTER I told them Nissan spec'ed it. After they changed it, they told me that Nissan no longer required it, and we're instead calling for Mobile One full synth, which they would be using from now on.
30,000 miles in, and no problems, so I don't have a problem with it.

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4 pages to the article, VVEL operation is discussed on page 4. Why the oil is heated up so much is on page 2.

My laptop chopped the bottom of the page off. Didn't see it until I changed the screen size. ;)

I've used M1 synth for years in all of my cars... always change it ~ 4k mark. Never a problem.

If the horsepower increase per cylinder on page 3 is accurate then you are spending about $35 extra or so dollars for 6 to 9 extra HP due to a reduction in friction. Very appealing to me anyway.

I've heard this too about Nissan no longer recommending it. And using Mobil 1.

This topic about Nissan Ester Oil has been beat to death over the years. You can expect about 2 threads per year on it from someone who just got their Z. and it always turns into an oil thread that gets locked.

So I have to post the cat.

Used Mobile 1 for several years and then switched to Red Line. Both seem to work very well. I do find that the engine seems to idle a little smoother with Red Line though.

Just use a quality synthetic oil and you'll be good to go.

Obviously any synthetic will work, just posting this up since it had more info than I have seen about it on here or anywhere else. Z1 sells 6 quarts plus Nissan oil filter for $70 plus shipping so I'm not opposed to trying it.

Have done so many oil changes over the years on our VQ engines and testing different brand motor oils what is critical on the VQ engine is changing your oil on time every time. Any quality API certified synthetic motor oil will work perfectly fine. I have been using Motul 300V 5W30 and Redline 5W30 and I have never lost an engine yet due to motor oil breakdown. From what I have seen the Nissan dealership service departments close to me are not even using Nissan Ester motor oil on there oil changes they reported using Mobil 1 5W30 and Valvoline SynPower 5W30 synthetic motor oil for oil changes on all the 370Z’s and GTR’s. Also the genuine Nissan oil filter is a well designed oil filter to use on our VQ engines always was.

Here are some papers I've collected on this oil. From what I've seen in oil analysis results, the base oil they used is a conventional oil and has severe shearing issues. Although the ester additives are great, overall the oil is a letdown.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xycansspi6...ional.pdf?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/w9o5j1btum...ional.pdf?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dc95x6i4k4...ional.pdf?dl=0

even conventional oil is fine with oci between 3k to 4k miles if the car is driven normally. a few local nissan/infiniti dealers use conventional oil with recommended 3k oci.

premium synthetic oil probably would be good if the car is tracked or redlined every lights.

GTR’s factory fill is the European formula M1 0w40. That Nissan ester oil was never for GTR.