Guys,

Nissan dealership here uses ELF Synthetic oil in 5W-30 and 10W-30. I have been using 5W-30 Mobil 1 Synthetic. The dealership claims that ELF is far superior than Mobil. What is the reality?

Also my car has about 18k miles on it. When should I change to 10W-30? Around 60K miles? Shall I use ELF or Mobil 5W/30 meanwhile?

Please advise.

Thanks

 

spend about 15 mins trying to do some research, but there was not much i could come up with. I found 2 reviews of people using elf's top line of oil (xlr series i think) and they were both positive, but they were both Saab cars, which i think these products may be aimed, but not sure. Anyways, how much do they charge for an oil change with the elf stuff? Oh, and the reason for the lack of reviews was because this stuff isnt widely available, not because it is a bad oil; actually i wasnt able to find anything negative about it at all. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the research. I think they charge about 49.99 dollars or something.
I guess I should stick to Mobil1 since it is tried and tested.

Thanks

 

I've heard olive oil is about the right consistency. The only problem with that is your pistons will pop like popcorn. Lol !!!

Really, I have heard good stuff about ELF. However, in the states, it is really hard to come by. 5-30 Mobil 1 can be got at your local Costco for a very good price.

I used to use Redline Oil until it hit $8 a quart. And finding it was another problem at times. So, I have just gone to Mobil 1 in everything I drive. 9+++ oil and is a great price to boot. JMHO.....

 

ELF is the company that 20 years ago made the special oil that the bugatti could run on. Their engineering and research heritage is unmatched. Many high end exotics use and are originally engine tested by ELF oils. ELF owns, but like mentioned, is hard to come by in the USA

 

Elf is a French petroleum company and is well-known for high performance products. What I don't get is how a San Diego dealership gets it in bulk for synthetic oil changes. Or is this part of that Franco-Japanese trade exchange we keep looking for??? LOL! I've never seen it in the states and I'm with everybody else here, bring your own oil and save a few bucks!

 

Tech guy at local Nissan dealership said not to use Synthetic oil on the Z...

 

Since Renault bought out 34% (?) of Nissan back in 1999, Renault has pushed Nissan to use Elf product. The partnership between Renault and ELF is more than 35 years. ELF has developed a new generation 5w-30 lubricant to meet specifications drawn up jointly by Renault and Nissan. This is the only Low SAP (Sulphated-Ash, Phosphorus and Sulphur) lubricant to have been chosen by both carmakers.

Read this article, http://www.elfoil.com.au/news/articl...aredGoals.aspx

In 2004, ELF has become Nissan's exclusive partner in Germany.
Read this article, http://www.elfoil.com.au/news/articl...ngBridges.aspx

Like mentioned, ELF is not well-known in the States. However, you can find ELF street and racing synthetic oil here in the U.S. at www.turbofrogperformance.com

By the way, Renault-Elf F1 Team won both Drivers' Championship and Constructors' Title. I will miss that awesome Renault 3 liter V-10 F1 engine Next year, it will be 2.4 liter V-8 engine (2006 regulations).

 

Interesting articles, but even if Renault and Nissan are pushing Elf, I have never seen it outside of racing circles. There sure aren't any Colorado Nissan dealerships using it!

Also, $35 for what looks like a gallon container of the Elf synthetic is pretty steep. Unless someone can convince me it's MUCH better that Valvoline Synpower (readily available anywhere in the states), I'll stick with that synthetic oil brand.

BTW- For Junl350Z, What reason did the "tech guy" at your local dealership give for not using synthetics in your Z? I did seat the rings during break-in with dino oil, but I've been running synthetic (both engine, diff and gearbox) fluids ever since with NO problems. My wife's Maxima (with a VQ30DE) has over 140K with synthetics and also runs great!

 

The Surf City Nissan dealership's(in Huntington Beach So Cal) service area also uses ELF as their choice for synthetic. I switched over this past weekend when I took the Z in for its 11K service. They asked if I wanted to do the switch , I said yes, I asked which oil, they replied ELF.

 

Of course not. You have to use it IN the Z...