Hogan, I know it is B.S. I changed a 91 MR2 Turbo over to Mobile 1 at 80,000 miles and drove it another 48,000 miles w/redline every day and it used 1 qt every 1500 miles when I traded it w/128,000 miles on it w/ the orginal turbo and all stock except for a K&N filter. I changed a 97 Accord EX over to Castrol syn at 3000 miles and sold it 56,000 miles later for 48% of what I paid for it. I always changed the oil AND filter at 3-4000 miles on both vehicles and never had any engine damage of any kind.

My point is to force Nissan to specify what syn oil use may damage on the engine and why should it cause damage at all. I am seeking a definitive, engineering answer, not a vague statement from Nissan's PR Division who read to you from the Owner's Manual. I preordered my Z 2/12/02 and took delivery 7 months and 26 days later and this kind of answer has been their response many times and, not always correct.

The Owner's Manual does not say anything about engine damage occuring from using syn oil. All it says is Nissan recommends the use of mineral-based oil without any caveats. The answer we just got sets official policy and I want to know, why the change? It's a simple question and it should have a simple answer.

 

Boomer,

You are looking for very specific answers. Nissan most likely did not find it necessary in the updating of the VQ engine for the Z33 to test it for proper wear and functionality with a synthetic oil. In such case, they are going to recommend you use whatever oil with which they have done their testing. Their statement does not preclude the possibility that synthetics might be ok, only that they don't recommend using it. They in no way said, "Synthetics suck. They will ruin your engine." Which, based on the responses in this thread, is the way this simple recommendation is being taken. Is it really an afront to you all, that Nissan recommends using mineral oil in your car?

As for Corvettes, Porsches, M-B, well, the manufacturer obviously did their own studies and decided that Mobil 1 would work nicely. Of course, I am sure that Mobil provided no incentive at all for the manufacturers to use their products.

Why does Nissan owe us any explanation beyond they don't recommend it?

For everyone asking for proof that it damages the engine, how about providing data that suggests Synthetics are identical to mineral oils in use, wear, and longevity of parts. That might help to better make your points to them.

I have posted this link from www.mkiv.com before in a discussion about using Redline Tranny fluid. I know that many, many, many people use Redline with much success and satisfaction. But this gentleman did not, and Toyota/Getrag proved why he shouldn't have used it. Again, I am not saying that Redline can't be used without issue. This is just an example of when everyone thought a synthetic oil would work just as well as a mineral oil, and this was not quite the case.

And the debate rolls on...

JD

 

JD, I know this is probably a tempest in a teapot, but by adding the the words "damage your engine", they have taken a legal position which could void the warranty on engine failures if you are using syn oil. I am not suggesting that Nissan would do that, but some clarification such as your suppostion should be easy for them to say to an owner of one of their products.

If I were using syn ol and my engine sustained damage unrelated to the actual cause of the failure, they could void my warranty anyway because of their statement. I think NNA should have thought out their position better and not issued such a sweeping statement about syn oil, when they should/would have known many of Z owners would be using it.

Its still a simple question, it should be simple to answer. I am not debating, I'm asking for clarification.

 

No syn? Dealers don't stock synthetic oil so why would they recommend something the dealers don't have. They want you to do your oil changes at the dealer.

 

Part of the problem with contacting NNA for info is that the people who really know anything are BUSY doing something of importance, whilst the people who actually have time to talk to the lowly vehicle owners (us) are just slackers that they put on the line to get us out of their hair. Typical large corporate structure MO. The proof is in the phone calls previously quoted. Let's just say that the chances of actually speaking to someone who is knowlegdable and passionate about these cars, and willing to speak candidly and honestly about them to you, are about as good as finding that $300 million lotto ticket lying in the gutter 5 minutes before they draw the numbers. You are better off reading the posts here, and drawing your own conclusions from them, than seeking information from the average corporate hack out Gardena way.

 

Ya that's true. Even on my bikes I fallow that guide line. The reason is so you break in your engine correctly and smooth out any burs. Synthetic is so protective that it might not smooth out the burs.

 

My dad and I both went to the Nissan dealership to get oil changes at the same time, we both got a synthetic blend, and full syn was an option. The thing that makes it interesting is that his car is an 02 maxima with a VQ. NNA has little control over what products the service departments use, and most likely the dealer took that policy with a grain of salt as should everyone else. If you were to go out and buy a skateboard for your kid, it would have a disclamer advising against doing tricks, when the company knows full well thats exactly what they are used for. Corperate CYA! What Nissan should have done is to recommend against using syn oil for the first xxxx miles to ensure proper break-in. They just took the easy way out. Also Nissan would most likely never dream of refusing to do warantee work because of the use of syn oil. Their is such overwhelming evidence that syn is superior that a lawsuit against Nissan as big of a corperation as they are would be very winnable. Most customers aren't going to question the dealer, if they are willing to put syn in the car, they can't hold the customer responsible for any damage it might do.
I think you might be reading a bit much into this one,
TonyZXT

 

I asked NNA the same thing and got a slightly different response:

"Thank you for contacting Nissan North America, Inc. and allowing us the
opportunity to be of assistance.

I apologize for the delay in my response as we have been experiencing
technical difficulties.

Our 2003 Nissan 350Z was built and tested with mineral based oil. And
please remember that this is only a recommendation; you are more than
welcome to use your preferred motor oil.

If you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to e-mail
us.

Sincerely,

Trinh Nguyen
National Consumer Affairs"

I think that Nissan has never done any testing and therefore can not recommend synthetic oil. It should have all the benefits in this engine that it has in any other.

To some of you questioning the benefit of full synthetic oil, go to www.amsoil.com for some really god info and specs.

 

Back in June of 2002, I visitied my friend that works at NNA in Torrance California. NNA had a stable of about 3 or 4 350Z's for marketing purposes that the employees could take out and play with. He took me for a ride in a 350Z at lunch and then returned to the NNA Garage.

All 350Z's in the NNA Stable that I saw used Mobil 1, as the oil weight and Oil manufacturer was painted on the front strut brace and mentioned in the Vehicle log book.

I asked about Mobil 1 and they said these Marketing cars get beat up pretty good, so we wanted to put nothing but Synthetic Mobil 1 to take the abuse.

Now I don't know if they had problems later on with the oil, but from the garage manager's statement, they loved the stuff at that time.

 

Bottom line is protecting their butt. If they say, yeah go ahead, use sythetic, and your engine and other peoples engines crap out (probably due to something else) they have just oppened themeselves up to a class action suit that could cost millions. Even dr_gallup's answer never told him to use synthetic, just said the original car was tested with mineral based oils, it was just delivered with more tact. Most of you guys live in the States, you should know, coporations can't say anything without teams of lawers telling them what is appropriate and what isn't.

Then again could be a conspiracy between the car manufacturers and crude oil suppliers to keep them in business. Big brother is watching. The combination is 1, 3, 4, 1, 2, 5, 8, 3, fight the power... I'll be in touch.

 

The trouble with conspiracies is that too many people think they are absurd and they usually are right. The U.S. is the most litigous(we sue people a lot because we have more lawyers) country in the world and policy statements become points of contention when something goes wrong---fight the power, me and you today, me vs. you tomorrow in the U.S.A.

Musical dog?

 

Oh no the oil wars are on again. Can't we keep it in the middle east?

No, really this discusion has been going on for years in the Harley mags. If I remember correctly, synthetics are not synthetic in the normal sense of the word, The are real oil, base stock, that has had the short chain polimers removed through a manufacturing process, hence the term synthetic.

The arguments get more interesting when you get down to discussing the correct additives for the given application, i.e., motocylcle engine/tranny use same oil.

Use any good oil, change regularly. I like Mobil 1 in my Honda, Harley, Stealth and probably Z if it ever gets here!

 

"Use any good oil, change regularly. I like Mobile 1 in ...."by WAGS.


Occam's Razor, "The simplest answer is usually the best/correct one". Well said WAGS!

 

Boomer, you ever get a reply from Nissan on the use of synthetic oil in our Z's? and what their problem was???

 

That's some bullsh!t. I bring Mobil1 5w30 synthetic in to the dealer for my oil changes. someone should write NNA and ask them if Nissan thinks the earth is still flat. I wonder if they'd send a response about how Nissan recommends that you be careful not to drive your Z to the edge of the world, so as to avoid falling off.

 

You make sure compression is what it should be before you use synthetic. When you get a car from the factory the compression is lower that it should be. It has to be broken in first. Probally after first oil change. 10k miles is just plain stupid.

You are free to use any oil, oil filter, air filter, exhuast you want. It will not void warranty. And the dealership can never tell you anything if they say they will void the warranty. Please report them to Nissan USA. And then to court if they do not want to fix problems.

 

If your dealer lets you use syn then do it. If you do find a dealer that says sorry we have to use non synthetic then go to a different dealership. Problem solved.

 

man...this thread is funny. Yeah, i bet the main reason Nissan doesnt recommend synthetic is becuase you wont change your oil as often...and their service departments wont make as much money!

 

When I owned a '94 RX-7 you could not use synthetic oil in it because synthetic does not burn. The rotary engine is designed to burn a bit of oil. Engine failure could occur with sunthetic oil as a result of its failure to burn.

I realize we're talking apples and oranges here, with the differences in engine designs, but this may be Nissan's thinking in not recommending synthetics. Nissan may find it desireable for their engine to be able to burn a bit of oil when stressed or otherwise necessary.

Just a little food for thought...

 

Not the same, you are talking apples/oranges. Nissan does not recommend synthetic but synthetic will be better for the VQ35DE. I think nissan is affraid of extended drain intervals, many Nissan dealer offer synthetic for oil/filter changes. I will be running 5K-7K drain intervals using 10w30 Mobil 1 for temps above "0". If you are going to be living in temps below "0" try Amsoil 0w30, the Amsoil does well at all temps but it is a little harder to find and costs more. I also think you need to use the Nissan filter number 15208-9E000 or the Mobil 105 filter.