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what oil to use??

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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 10:59 AM
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Arrow what oil to use??

i have a Grand Touring Z with about 15k miles, what would be the best oil to use ?
brand, weight, synthetic or non

i stay in texas where temp goes up from triple digits in the summer and about 20's to 30's in the winter time
i can get Full Synthetic Valvoline 5/30 for free from work (Nissan Dealership)
any input would help! thanks!
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 12:11 PM
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5/30 winter, 10/30 summer for me (NJ same temps). Get the better oil filters, stay away from Fram. I just use conventional oil but keep a strict 3000 mile change. What year did you get? Keep an eye on the oil level regularly.
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 12:20 PM
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You'll hear oil brands from Mobil One to Royal Purple to Castrol, etc...... as long as you use a good brand and change it regularly at the recommended intervals, you'll be fine. Free Synth Valvoline should be just fine.......
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 12:25 PM
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id say free synthetic is great also, i would use that stuff if free, but i use 5-30 royal purple in mine, keep watch on oil and usually change about 3-4k intervals..
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 12:30 PM
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The issue of the kind of oil to use is really overblown.As long as the "service" codes
meet what is specifide for your engine and the correct weight,you'll be ok.
Easy...don't use cheap oil,spend money on a good filter.Changing oil every 3,000 miles for normal use is not necessary.
Concerning the Z,my 03 that I bought new has over 74k miles on the clock.I change the oil every 5-6,000 miles.I've always use Valvoline 5/30 semi-synthetic.My Z uses no oil between changes.Most driving is a combination around town&interstate.

The oil companies want to sell oil.Filter companies..sell filters.Oil change places want
your money...
Unless you are on the track,heavy duty high speed driving,save your money and buy that mod you've always wanted for your Z!
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 12:44 PM
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There was a thread started by a member called Resolute on this website. He headed an oil analysis with the help of fellow board members.

If I remember correctly, for the VQ35DE engine, Mobil 1 0w-40 was the best oil as far as protecting your engine form wear. The WORST oil in the comparison was Royal Purple.

The analysis was done by members sending a quart of oil or so to Blackstone Laboratories in Arizona, I believe. They went through the oil to look for trace amounts of various metals such as molydenum, chromium, nickel, iron or whatevber our engines use to see if the oil was providing adequate protection for a variety of areas.

Again, based on the findings, Royal Purple was the WORST in the analysis and Mobil 1 0w-40 was the best.

I have been using Mbil 1 0w-40 ever since and the car is strong and smooth as ever.
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 12:46 PM
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German Castrol, 0w30, best for the VQ according to oil samples in the oil thread
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 01:09 PM
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Use a name-brand quality motor oil and change regularly. That's all you need to know and worry about.
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by F34RL355
German Castrol, 0w30, best for the VQ according to oil samples in the oil thread
I thought it was the Mobil 1 0w-40 European formula?
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by DavesZ#3
Use a name-brand quality motor oil and change regularly. That's all you need to know and worry about.
Royal Purple is a 'name brand' but apparently it sucks.

Sticking with the old school powerhouses like Castrol; Valvoline; Quaker State and Mobil is probably best.
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 02:21 PM
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If I run the car in extreme conditions like 100 degrees plus synthetic for sure.

Last edited by davidv; Aug 23, 2011 at 02:23 PM.
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 03:01 PM
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Motul 5w30 year round
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 03:09 PM
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use that free oil.. lucky bastard.
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 04:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Blu_Blur
Royal Purple is a 'name brand' but apparently it sucks.

Sticking with the old school powerhouses like Castrol; Valvoline; Quaker State and Mobil is probably best.
I use 5w30 royal purple and change every 6K (UOA have been perfect as perfect can get, minimal wear in all categories)
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 04:28 PM
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5 quarts of KY
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 04:45 PM
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Originally Posted by DavesZ#3
Use a name-brand quality motor oil and change regularly. That's all you need to know and worry about.
+1000
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 05:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Blu_Blur
Royal Purple is a 'name brand' but apparently it sucks.

Sticking with the old school powerhouses like Castrol; Valvoline; Quaker State and Mobil is probably best.
Let me clarify, RP is a synthetic and I am in no way advocating a synthetic motor oil. Great as a gear lube/transmission oil though.

Use a name brand quality dino/mineral motor oil and change regularly.
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by DavesZ#3
Let me clarify, RP is a synthetic and I am in no way advocating a synthetic motor oil. Great as a gear lube/transmission oil though.

Use a name brand quality dino/mineral motor oil and change regularly.
Agreed, synthetic is overkill for over 99% of users. More of a warm blanket to sleep better with than an actual benefit. Any modern Group II base lubricant with a decent additive package will perform well.

I always find it amusing how folks claim that their conditions are harsh in 100 degree weather when the oil will hit 180-200 deg F as normal operating temperature anyway. It does not matter if it's 50 degrees outside or 100, the oil will reach it's operating temp anyway.

Where synthetics shine is in low oil temperature performance such as in start up. Most don't realize this, but more wear occurs in the first three minutes of starting a cold car than in two hours of "high" temp operation.
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Old Aug 23, 2011 | 05:49 PM
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poon
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Old Aug 24, 2011 | 05:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Blu_Blur
Royal Purple is a 'name brand' but apparently it sucks.

Sticking with the old school powerhouses like Castrol; Valvoline; Quaker State and Mobil is probably best.
how does royal purple suck??
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