Esther Oil?

[CoolZ]

Just picked up my black Z with sport package last night. Only 94 miles, the long way home, but absolutely love it! The service department warned me that you should only use this special esther oil that sells for $15/quart in my Z. I've never heard of it and they really couldn't tell me much about it. Anyone able to fill me in on this subject? I do all my own maintenance and realize the Z will be a challenge just changing the oil.....but I'm hoping this oil thing is just the usual dealer BS.

Great site! I'll be back often.

Paul
Southern NH

[SPOHN]

It's a bunch of BS. You don't have to have it. Leave it at that. There's plenty of threads here on this. I know your new but you have to use the search function.

[Dreezy562]

I'm goi. Redline next change

[zmyride]

I use Canola Oil and my Z's been doing fine. I can cook hotdogs on the way to football games. very convenient.

[Cmike2780]

Originally Posted by CoolZ

Just picked up my black Z with sport package last night. Only 94 miles, the long way home, but absolutely love it! The service department warned me that you should only use this special esther oil that sells for $15/quart in my Z. I've never heard of it and they really couldn't tell me much about it. Anyone able to fill me in on this subject? I do all my own maintenance and realize the Z will be a challenge just changing the oil.....but I'm hoping this oil thing is just the usual dealer BS.

Great site! I'll be back often.

Paul
Southern NH

Ester oil is a special synthetic. The dealer is correct. A dealer oil change will usually run around $90. Some members here use Redline, which isn't cheap either. I wouldn't recommend using regular motor oil.

Have a look at Ak's write up.DIY: Nissan 370Z Oil change (AK370Z way) Pictures inside

[spearfish25]

Let me google that for you

[SPOHN]

Originally Posted by zmyride

I use Canola Oil and my Z's been doing fine. I can cook hotdogs on the way to football games. very convenient.

Can I get fries with that.

[ImportConvert]

370Z's tend to run warm. Use a full synthetic instead of that Esther junk, which I believe is a blend. If you';re going to pay $15 a quart, might as well use Amsoil or something.

[sucasa]

Originally Posted by CoolZ

Just picked up my black Z with sport package last night. Only 94 miles, the long way home, but absolutely love it! The service department warned me that you should only use this special esther oil that sells for $15/quart in my Z. I've never heard of it and they really couldn't tell me much about it. Anyone able to fill me in on this subject? I do all my own maintenance and realize the Z will be a challenge just changing the oil.....but I'm hoping this oil thing is just the usual dealer BS.

Great site! I'll be back often.

Paul
Southern NH

Paul

Per the user manual, Esther is the 'recommended' engine oil to use due the specificiations, and requirements of the Z engine.

Now, if you want to use another brand no will stop you and most likely you can get away with using another brand. But at the end of the day, it's an expensive car engineered to certain specifications. If the specifications call for a special oil, I would rather side with nissan engineers who built the car versus internet forum members who think esther is not worth it.

From a cost perspective synthetic oils are expensive i.e. Mobile 1, Redline, etc. and nissan esther is no different. Personally, all my oil changes done w/ Nissan Esther, and enjoy my car. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind.

[Red__Zed]

The misinformation that comes up with every thread on oil is a killer.


OP, you'll be fine running your oil of choice. There's quite a few threads that can be found on g37 forums that have quite a few UOA from VQ37 that seem to indicate that the Ester oil is a waste, and inferior to a lot of the other oils out there.

[GZ3]

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

The misinformation that comes up with every thread on oil is a killer.


OP, you'll be fine running your oil of choice. There's quite a few threads that can be found on g37 forums that have quite a few UOA from VQ37 that seem to indicate that the Ester oil is a waste, and inferior to a lot of the other oils out there.

THIS^

Also Pennzoil Planitum has show probably the best and most consistent UOA

[SoCal 370Z]

Originally Posted by sucasa

Per the user manual, Esther is the 'recommended' engine oil to use due the specifications, and requirements of the Z engine.

Can you please make a scan of this page and post it here? Our 370Z is one of the first in the States and nowhere in the Owners Manual is this stated. The Service Manual makes a reference to Nissan ester engine being recommended, but not mandatory. And what exactly are those "...specifications, and requirements..." that are being referenced? Even Nissan can not answer these questions. We have Nissan employees here at the forum and they have not anted-up either.

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

The misinformation that comes up with every thread on oil is a killer.

Nissan is solely at the center of the propagation of misinformation as Nissan has been nothing but vague and ambitious regarding their own oil, and the Z's engine. To me, if Nissan has an oiling issue at the top-end of the VQ37VHR, then Nissan should have engineered it better or made their voodoo ester available as an additive.

[Blue370tt]

I have been told by friends in the oil industry that the Nissan "ester" oil helps dissapate heat and keep the heat down better than most oils. This may be true but I still run synthetic.

[Red__Zed]

Originally Posted by Blue370tt

I have been told by friends in the oil industry that the Nissan "ester" oil helps dissapate heat and keep the heat down better than most oils. This may be true but I still run synthetic.

I think it has been determined that it doesn't do that as well as most good synthetics.

Nissan has kept quite on the details on the oil to spook people into thinking it has some magical properties, but any decent oil will do the same job.

The benefit to the Ester oil is it is supposed to react with the DLC coating on the cam follower, and helps prevent the tapping noise you will hear sometimes when you don't run the Ester oil.

[SPOHN]

Ok! Close thread.