Nissan Ester Oil Analysis

[Matt]

Received my results from the Blackstone oil analysis.

- I changed my oil @ 1500 miles to Nissan Ester Oil.
- I switched to Redline 5w30 @ 5000 miles (a few days ago).
- The analysis is ran on the Nissan Ester Oil that was used between 1500-5000 miles on my Z.
- I will get another oil analysis done on the current Redline Oil after 3000 more miles.

(My 'note' included in my sample said that I'm on my 3rd fill of oil and that this sample was from my 2nd fill, with the 1st being factory, so ignore when they mention 3rd oil change.)

[Jeffblue]

so they are saying the ester oil is good/bad/average?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Jeffblue

so they are saying the ester oil is good/bad/average?

They're saying that my engine is still "breaking in". So there are 2 possible scenarios that I see:

- The engine takes longer to break-in than other cars and I would have seen these higher numbers no matter what oil I used.

- The Ester Oil did a pretty crappy job of keeping my engine lubricated.

- The Ester Oil did such a good job of lubricating, it's causing my "break in" period to last longer than normal.


Which scenario is true? Your guess is as good as mine.

[WarmAndSCSI]

I'd say it's no good in this particular case - that viscosity is way too low after only 3500 miles. Also, those wear metals are pretty high for the 2nd oil change. Pretty high, but not too high, as the tech said in the report. A modern Japanese engine shouldn't take more than 1500 miles to break in. Hopefully most of those wear particles were left over from the factory fill remnants.

It's also hard to tell how well this oil served your engine without a TBN analysis.

[Jordo!]

Hmm. I thought it took a few oil changes to flush all the wear particles, so I'm not sure what to make of this.

I think the next oil change will be telling. If wear is still high, that's another vote against the Nissan juice.

[wishihadnav]

firstly thanks for getting the UOA and posting it up!...the next test (3rd) is with redline so it will further skew the results...if he had used Nissan Ester for the 3rd change then we would have a much better idea of whats going on..oh well..

[Matt]

Originally Posted by wishihadnav

firstly thanks for getting the UOA and posting it up!...the next test (3rd) is with redline so it will further skew the results...if he had used Nissan Ester for the 3rd change then we would have a much better idea of whats going on..oh well..

Correct. Now that I've switched to Redline, it's going to skew the results if you want to compare the 2 oils. For me, it'll be useful just see how my engine is doing, but that's about it.

[wishihadnav]

Originally Posted by Matt

Correct. Now that I've switched to Redline, it's going to skew the results if you want to compare the 2 oils. For me, it'll be useful just see how my engine is doing, but that's about it.

yeah hopefully you'll see lower mineral content on the next sample..how long are you planning on keeping it in?..oh sorry i see 3k

[Matt]

Originally Posted by wishihadnav

yeah hopefully you'll see lower mineral content on the next sample..how long are you planning on keeping it in?..oh sorry i see 3k

I was planning on 5k, but I'm not sure what Blackstone meant by keeping it short. The numbers make me want to take it down to 3k, especially with my *very* frequent sub-5 mile trips.

[wishihadnav]

Originally Posted by Matt

I was planning on 5k, but I'm not sure what Blackstone meant by keeping it short. The numbers make me want to take it down to 3k, especially with my *very* frequent sub-5 mile trips.

yeah i drive the same way in the city with stop and go traffic..i think Blackstone just wants you to shorten up your next change interval to see if the mineral content subsides..id go 3k max and send it in..

[WarmAndSCSI]

Originally Posted by Matt

Correct. Now that I've switched to Redline, it's going to skew the results if you want to compare the 2 oils. For me, it'll be useful just see how my engine is doing, but that's about it.

The analysis of viscosity and TBN (if you choose to do so) will be able to show that Red Line is doing a better job than the Nissan stuff.

[Dwight Frye]

Thanks for posting your analysis. I have done just about exactly the same thing as you with my '09 370Z. I dumped the factory fill at about 1250 miles and refilled with Ester Oil. I ran that until 5K miles and then switched to Redline 5W-30. I'm at about 8300 miles now and have been planning on 5K OCI's with Redline for the rest of the time I own the car. I am also using Mobil 1 No.110 filters. I only put about 18 miles a day on the car, straight down the freeway and back commuting. I'm a little concerned with oil consumption though, I've used about 3/4 of a quart in 3300 miles on the Redline. I hope it settles down soon. The car was broken in according to the book. Please post your next analysis, I'll bet a lot of people are also using the Redline rather than the Ester Oil and my guess is that it will turn out to be a sound choice.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Dwight Frye

Thanks for posting your analysis. I have done just about exactly the same thing as you with my '09 370Z. I dumped the factory fill at about 1250 miles and refilled with Ester Oil. I ran that until 5K miles and then switched to Redline 5W-30. I'm at about 8300 miles now and have been planning on 5K OCI's with Redline for the rest of the time I own the car. I am also using Mobil 1 No.110 filters. I only put about 18 miles a day on the car, straight down the freeway and back commuting. I'm a little concerned with oil consumption though, I've used about 3/4 of a quart in 3300 miles on the Redline. I hope it settles down soon. The car was broken in according to the book. Please post your next analysis, I'll bet a lot of people are also using the Redline rather than the Ester Oil and my guess is that it will turn out to be a sound choice.

Wow, sounds like your usage is about the same as mine. My route changes with what monthly shift I'm on, due to the military base closing certain gates closer to my house; so my route varies from 4 miles a day to ~15 miles.

The oil consumption bothers me though. I've yet to burn or leak any in the 5k miles so far (knocks on wood). Did you have the same consumption issue prior to switching to Redline?

[Dwight Frye]

My car used about 3/4 qt. of Nissan Ester Oil in the approx. 3750 miles that I ran it between dumping the factory fill and changing to Redline. I hope the oil consumption drops. I've checked it carefully for leaks and that's not the problem. I'm starting to resign myself to the fact the some VQ engines just burn oil. I had an '04 G35 and put about 70K miles on it from new. I used Castrol GTX or Pennzoil Yellow Bottle exclusively and changed the oil every 3000-3200 miles. I used to add a half quart at about 1500 miles from last change, and it was down almost the same amount again when time to change. Burning a $2 quart of dino every 3K miles is one thing, a $10 quart of Redline every 5K miles is another.

[WarmAndSCSI]

Originally Posted by Dwight Frye

My car used about 3/4 qt. of Nissan Ester Oil in the approx. 3750 miles that I ran it between dumping the factory fill and changing to Redline. I hope the oil consumption drops. I've checked it carefully for leaks and that's not the problem. I'm starting to resign myself to the fact the some VQ engines just burn oil. I had an '04 G35 and put about 70K miles on it from new. I used Castrol GTX or Pennzoil Yellow Bottle exclusively and changed the oil every 3000-3200 miles. I used to add a half quart at about 1500 miles from last change, and it was down almost the same amount again when time to change. Burning a $2 quart of dino every 3K miles is one thing, a $10 quart of Redline every 5K miles is another.

3/4 quart in 3750 miles isn't bad at all. Actually about normal for break-in, judging from my own VHR.