Comatose

If you guys have been following up with the latest TSB recommending Nissan 5w30 Ester oil for the G37, you may want to stick with an ester-based (group V) synthetic.. redline, motul, etc.

blaque831

I use snake oil. Has a number of other uses too, so I've heard.

notalk

Why? There are literally over a thousand different ester additives available to oil companies. Do you have information that the ester additive in the Nissan conventional oil bears any resemblance to the ester base stock used by Redline? Also, pretty much every major commercial oil has at least one ester additive. So, one question is how does the Nissan ester additive differ from others? Also, is the additive quantity much larger in the Nissan oil than other premium commercial oils? Until someone sends a quart into Blackstone for analysis, we are only guessing at what might make the Nissan different from others.

Comatose

Well, lets pose a different question then -- given what we know with regards to the Nissan recommendations (which we agree isn't a whole lot), what would you recommend one do?
a) pay $12/qt for the recommended nissan 5w30 oil with ester additives
b) pay $9/qt for a top-notch ester-based synthetic?
c) pay a little less for a non-ester based synthetic
d) stick with a good 'ol 5w30 dino oil

notalk

I don't know if this will help, and it is only my opinion (and, well, based somewhat on conversations with oil company engineers). Until I know what is in the Nissan oil, I am not sure I have any reason to use it. I had the VVEL TSB performed, and have no knocking or other engine noises. So, I don't know why I would need the Nissan oil. I might pay $9/quart for Redline, if I could justify using synthetic with a 3750 mile oil change interval. Likewise with a PAO base synthetic. I am not sure a 3750 mile OCI justifies use of a synthetic. With such a short OCI I might be inclined to stick with conventional oil. I used conventional oil at the 3750, 7500 and 11250 mile changes. I will change to semi-synthetic at 15000 miles (following Nissan's age old unofficial recommendation of waiting about 15000 miles before leaving conventional oils behind) and stay with it, changing every 3750 miles. Hope this helps a little.

JonnyOzero3

An oil change and fill with the new Nissan oil is required to complete the VVEL TSB. So, unless you had it performed before they amended the TSB to include that...you're using the oil right now.

Edit - the amended TSB, Itb08-028a, came out 3 Sept 08.

notalk

I had my reflash TSB performed the beginning of July; before the ester oil was announced or released, and before the TSB was amended. My 7500 mile oil change, with my supplied conventional 5W-30, was performed about two weeks earlier. No knocking or ticking since.

Hey Jonny, I thought you said you were going to change to the ester oil and then send it to Blackstone. Still up for this? What's your time frame? Thanks.

JonnyOzero3

Ahh, cool. Nevermind then! Glad to hear the reflash has worked for you.

And yup, my plan is still to change over. I've got another 1500mi or so before I'll do it. I'll definitely send it in for a UOA afterwards, but I don't know if a virgin oil analysis is worth the cost. I'd expect that I'll be taking it in in a few weeks, and it may take a couple of months to get the mileage before I drain an send it off to blacktone

Edit - I just noticed my first response to you about the oil sounded kind of douchey....definitely meant it to have a nicer tone, lol. My bad.

notalk

Not at all. I've read your posts here and on Bob's. I know you're one of the good guys.

JonnyOzero3

^ Ah, well then...thanks!