This isn't going to be a "what type of oil should I be using" thread but instead just a clear cut "this is the oil that I am using" thread. Mostly everyone is aware that Ester Oil is recommended but many of us just can't justify the cost. So my question to you is What type of Oil are you using? Also, how many miles you have been running that oil for would be helpful.

 

Full Synth. Just changed it a couple days ago at the 3750 mile mark. The decision was made easier since i had already bought the oil to change in my 350z before it went the way of the dodo... Double easy since apparently they use the same filter.... No trip to the store required.

 

Full synthetic, usually Mobile 1 or Pennzoil. Whichever is currently cheaper/available at Walmart. Every 5,000 miles. I use the K&N HP 1008 filter. Easier to get it off with the nut on the end of the filter.

 

I used regular Mobil 1 Full Synthetic for my 3k mile mark. I plan on putting in that Esther crap every 18,000 just to clean out the engine. The dealership almost swindled me into putting in the Unique oil every oil change. The failed to tell me that it's only 'RECOMMENDED' until I told them I looked online (thanks maxima.org members!)..

 

Full Synthetic. Purchased the "VIP" plan from the dealership with my car making the full synthetic Mobil 1 oil changes only $20 for as long as I have the car. Also got me $750 towards the purchase of my G/F's Rogue so has already paid for its self.

 

I use Valvoline SynPower and will be changing every 5k from here on out!

 

Ester: Just did my first oil change at the dealer (3,100 miles). Didn't want to switch to synthetic so soon.

 

Lets see, where is the option, whatever the dealer feels necessary

1000 Ester Oil
3750 Ester Oil
7500 Castrol GTX
11250 Pennzoil Syn Blend

 

09 Maxima, Shell Rotella® T6 Full Synthetic 5W-40, K&N HP-1010
09 370Z, Redline 5W-30, K&N HP-1010

 

Shell 5W30 dino oil. Approaching 12,000 miles.

I sometimes move along rather rapidly (too fast to post here without drawing the moderator's attention), but try to avoid needless WOT acceleration. I have never had the rpms above 5500, and have seldom reached 5,000. I also go out my way whenever possible to avoid traffic congestion. Smooth and easy does it for me. For my gentle driving style, dino is the perfect oil, and it is what my two dealerships always use unless told otherwise.

 

What ever Nissan put in my VQ... lol

 

ROYAL PURPLE $50 with filter

 

Ive heard Royal Purple is pretty good you notice a significant difference? If so I might make my next oil change a Purple one

 

Always done at the dealer, I think they use Total, but not sure what type. I'll ask on Saturday.
I did first change at 1500 km,(900 M) second at 5000 km and the scheduled maintenance is every 5000 (3000 M) km when they are changing the oil and the filter and performing some other check-ups

 

compared to mobil1 royal purple is better IMO....noticed better pulls from my Integra years ago till I blew the tranny LOL,and kept using it till now....people hear love amsoil oil also...#1 rated here,but for 50 bucks with filter included Royal purple wins

 

Total sounds good for breakfast while driving

 

Not sure which to vote on as I am still currently running Dino and probably will switch to a blend for the next two changes @ 7,000 and 10,000. At 14,000 I plan to switch to a full synthetic.

People who change their own oil opinions will vary widely on this topic. You might have opened another can of worms with this one...

As far as Esther oil, never used it. Don't see how it's any better than a synthetic. Our owners manual recommends it but they also recommend using only the Nissan oil filter over all the rest because it has a anti flow back check valve but I use a purolator pure one oil filter and it has the same thing. I don't see the advantage in using their oil filter just because they recommend it when others have the same features, are easier to obtain and are less expensive because they don't say Nissan. They will recommend putting the dollar back into their pockets over someone elses everytime.

 

I was hoping this wasn't going to turn into another oil debate topic. I was trying to keep the can of worms sealed tight by asking what you are currently using. Not what people want to use, not what people think I should use etc.... That way when a newbie comes along and has no idea he can get the general sense of what everyone is currently using and feel at ease.

 

Valvoline full Synthetic. Just passed 16,000 miles

My driving habits are very much the same as LOH's. First oil change on a road trip @3750 miles...dino oil while passing through Asheville. Back home at 7500 miles my service rep almost turned purple insisting that I use synthetic. Being "easy", I relented and switched. However, after studying the service manual, etc., I am using the 7500 mile service interval. As described in the manual, my driving habits suit that. However, I do get closer to the "premium" level service at my 7500 mile interval. I had 150,000 miles on my '04 SL when I traded it in, and had been using the 7500 mile interval with dino oil just about the entire time...no problems. As to synthetic, the harley factory recommends a 5,000 mile interval for my air-cooled V-twin which gets super hot. I figure if I can go 5,000 mile on it with synthetic, then I can go 7,500 miles in my max with no problem, as gently as I drive.

 

I am one of the dino users but am switching to German Castrol at the next change. Will be about 14k and I'm ready to try a synthetic. 7/23/2010 switched to European Castrol. 0-w30. It is a full synthetic unlike some syntec siblings. Will get a UOA in about 5k miles and see how it is working. It is a PAO Ester based oil so the engine should be quiet and happy.

 

Since a lot of us, myself included are using full synthetic in our Max's I thought you guys might like to look at a full synthetic comparison test that was done!

http://www.synthetic-motor-oil-chang...g-competitors/

It seems that Amsoil is the best, and Valvoline, Mobil, Pennzoil, and Castro are all tied for second bests since each of them did better than others in different categories!

But hey, use what you want, its your car and money, use it how you want to!

 

Mobile 1 every 5k. Now over 71K and exhaust pipes are still immaculate on the inside.

 

Only used Dino oil in my cars since 1964. Not a single engine problem, though I was always careful about changing every 3,000 miles.

My Maxima dealer threw in 2 years of maintenance at 5,000 mile intervals so they might be planning to use something other than dino juice. Will find out in another 4,000 miles when the first change is due (or sooner, since 5,000 miles to the first change doesn't feel right to me). Synthetics are probably better, but I don't see any reason to switch unless they are the same cost.

 

Car is only a month old so the dino is still in there from when I bought it. Always been a fan of synthetic tho, last 2 cars were a Benz C230 coupe and a VW GTI, both of which used synthetic. 10,000 mile intervals on both. Wish I could do that with the Max.

 

I use whatever Nissan wants they pay for it anyway. I have the gas n go on both included in the deal as an after thought so it cost nothing extra a month.

 

I guess what ever nissan puts in it. I will ask the next oil change though. I have always used synth in all my other cars. Mobile1!!

 

I'm just curious, even though I'm using a full synthetic in my Maxima right now, for any of you currently or previously that used a synthetic blend, which one did you use and why?

I'd like to know, just what one you used because I've found plenty of comparison tests and talks comparing the full synthetic oils from Amsoil, Valvoline, Castro, Pennzoil, and Mobil but am having difficulties with these companies synthetic blends. I know alot of people will sometimes, because most companies are still putting in some sort of dino oil from the factory, they like to do a synthetic blend for 3-5k miles before putting in a full synthetic as a sort of gradual change over to full synthetic!

Also, if you'd like to comment on how the synthetic blends from Amsoil, Valvoline, Mobil, Pennzoil, and Castro compare to each other that would be great too!

Look forward to hearing what everyone thinks and/or uses!

 

I used to use a blend from Quaker State that my old 300M just loved. It seemed to "quiet down" the engine (best analogy I can come up with) and indeed I saw the mileage go up over the full synthetic Mobil 1. Unfortunately, finding it was rare at most oil changing shops so I ended up standardizing on Mobil 1. I can honestly say that if I could get my local Lube store to stock it, I would switch in an instant.

My favorite full synthetic I ever used was call Agip 2000. My old Fiat 124 Sport Coupe loved that over Dino and just pep'd up after an oil change with Agip 2000. Wish I could find it here in FL.

I've tried Castrol in my bride's Jeep but haven't seen much improvement over Dino there. Wouldn't think to put this in my Max.

Not a fan of Penzoil (yeah, I know they've changed since the 70s but still blame them for the early demise of my treasured 67 Impala.) Sometimes I'm not as open minded as I would like to be and can carry a grudge too long.

 

Grudge man, huh? You are the type that would stop using Firestone 500 tires just because a paltry few million of them disintegrated at freeway speeds during the 1970s. Two of the disintegrators were on my wife's Cutlass.

Your post reminded me that a co-worker (and close friend) in my office heard bad things about his beloved Pennzoil in the 1970s asked me what I used. I told him Castrol, and he still uses Castrol dino today. I have been a big Castrol fan (whether dino, blend or full synthetic) since the early 1960s. I know, I know; oils have changed quite a bit since then. But I'm a creature of habit.

 

LMAO..I too was a victim of the infamous Firestone 500s back in the day and have never returned (of course they disintegrated on me when I could least afford to have them replaced ( young poor and in the service) and ended on some recaps for almost a year.) So yet another grudge!

Knowing that (and how I can carry grudges) Castrol is still used today in my bride's beloved (although I can't see the attraction) Grand Cherokee and at 90K still runs well although I never saw the difference between dino and castrol syn in her car...obviously it is doing the job for her. I don't "swap" brands once I start on a vehicle (hers started as Castrol dino and remains Castrol (albeit syn) today.) Indeed, had they had Castrol Syn the first time I changed oil in my Max, I would still be on it, (and of course I couldn't get the AGIP) but as they didn't, Mobil 1 it is!

 

Funny thing is, we have had great service from Firestone tires on our trucks, and use only Firestone and Goodyear tires there. But I have never even considered Firestones or Goodyears when replacing tires on my Maximas.

I could tell you some sad stories about tires and being in the service. I have put many thousands of miles on recaps. I think two things that can be said for sure about recaps is that they aren't always exactly round, and they don't do well at high speed on hot roads.

 

Hello,
A newbie here....Just got back from the dealership. Oil change (2500 Miles) with Ester oil and Nissan Filter $91.00...Crazy I think.... $11.99 a quart plus 7.00 for the Filter...
Probably will do one more with the Ester oil right around 7500 miles and then switch to synthetic from then on out...I will follow the 7500 miles service.

 

Thats unbelivable. Its a little better than my Nissan dealer who quoted me $96 dollars I think for a Ester Oil and Filter change! Just absolutely ridiculous! You'd think we were driving BMW's with those prices!

 

I wouldn't mind so much, If our intervals were at least 10,000 miles or more..Seems like more and more vehicles are going this way >>

 

Both the Nissan dealers closest to me automatically put a good grade 5W30 dino oil in my Maxima without even asking. They don't even suggest the ester oil.

The good thing is that, although Nissan RECOMMENDS the ester, regular dino oil meets ALL warranty requirements. Says so right in the Owner's Manual.

You will be absolutely fine doing what you are doing; two ester changes, then synthetic at 7500 mile intervals.

 

1st oil change at 3500 miles was free at the dealer, they put in the ester oil.
2nd oil change at 7500 miles was at my local Firestone shop, Full Synthetic Kendal Oil

 

I drive a lot. Have 2010 Premium about 5 months and have 11,000 miles on it already. Changed Oil every 3,750 so coming up on my 3rd oil change. Have been using Dino Oil from dealer, but thinking of switching to Synthetic. Will this cause any issues with Warranty? Also, I might go on 7.500 intervals. Concern is I live in South Florida where it's hot.

 

With your driving situation and climate, synthetic should be a fairly easy choice. With synthetic, a 7,500 change interval sounds about right. Just keep careful records of each oil change, and this shift to synthetic/7.5K will have no affect on your warranty.

 

I am suprised by the results. I expected quite a bit less people using Ester Oil. To tell you the truth I was expecting a near split between Dino and Full Synthetic with a few esters and blends thrown in.

 

Oil is oil, most people do overkill with oil, it has nothing to do with facts, just feeling better, just like cars run better when clean I've met enough guys or come across enough owners on forums who change their synthetic oil every 3000 just cause it makes them feel better.

Nothing makes me laugh harder then cars with synthetic oil changes and all the other fluids are OEM.

It's also a waste of money, they trade the car in way before the engine even gets to 40k, and they are onto the next one