I have a 2006 350Z Touring.


I went for my 100k maintenance the other day, so I my Z to my local Nissan dealership.

I noticed when I got the car back that the paperwork stated that they had put in conventional 0W20 oil during the oil change. I've always put in fully synthetic 5W30 since I've had the car, which is about 2 years. I didn't state to the dealership what oil I used, because I assumed they'd already know.

Will this hurt my car in any way? Should I just leave it be, or try to go back to the dealership and ask them to put in the oil I normally used? Some people have told me I don't have a leg to stand on if I go back to the dealership, because I didn't specify my oil, and that it would be fine in my engine.

 

No such thing as regular 0-20

 

0w-20 is a synthetic. 5w-20 comes in conventional, synthetic blend, and full synthetic. It's a lighter oil designed for fuel efficiency. It'll be fine for your Z this time around. Won't hurt anything. Just keep an eye on the level.

 

I think that a VQ with 100K o the ticker will burn 0W20 just fine

 

if it was me, even if it cost me $40, I'd have it swapped out...way too thin at startup when the most engine wear occurs...

 

My HR was very noisy with thinner oil, but ran fine until I changed it out, oil pressure never dropped lower than normal when hot.

I ran some 15-50w for one oil change, it was too thick and on a cold start the VVT would overreact due to the excessive oil pressure. Once it ran for a minute it was fine, but that was a bit unexpected. I preferred the quieter engine and better oil pressure but it was too heavy.

 

You going to want the oil to be ''relatively'' thin at start-up to easy circulation and distribution. The viscosity molecules are still there to prevent metal-to-metal contact during the duration of the warm-up.

 

Valid point and relative for sure. I'd 'gauge' relative by what nissan recommends...

 

0w-20 means its 0w cold and 20w hot. which means cold starts should be fine, for a lot of us are running 0w-40.

however its the 20w hot that you should be worried about. i say you should at least give them a call and ask for the proper weight to be put in. the leg you have to stand on is simple. the manual says 5w-30 and they put in 0w-20.

 

indeed ... you want 0 weight oil protecting your engine while it's cold?!? To each his own!

What does nissan recommend?

 

lol.. Here we go. Getting all hype over oil.

 

You realize oil gets thinner as it warms. A hot 30 or 40 weight is thinner than a cold 0 weight. A 0W-X is reducing starting thickness to get it closer to operating thickness.

OP: If your worried get them to change it because they didn't follow the recommended oil weight.