I have a 2010 Maxima I bought a few months ago. Has a free oil change with the purchase. I used it today and the service guy said its required to use Ester oil in these cars. He said its usually $100 an oil change. Is this true or a load of BS?

 

It's a load of BS

 

the general consensus is that no it's not required, full synth is fine. recently i was talking with a guy who used to work for Nissan, AAM and now run's Hill's Garage (Frank Hill) and he mentioned that it will make the engine run a little quieter, but that is about it.

 

Two things: first, Ester oil is not required. It isn't even recommended by Nissan. Check this explanation out: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...change-battery
"If Nissan was to stipulate its own brand of oil exclusively, it would be required by law to provide it free of charge. Otherwise it would be a violation of the Robinson-Patman Act."

Second, if any Nissan dealership ever told me that an oil change on a Nissan Maxima was $100, I'd laugh in their face, complain to the manager, write a letter to Nissan corporate, and demand they take my car back for a full refund of the purchase price. It's up to you to choose to go synthetic or use plain old dino juice.

My advice would be to complain very loudly to the dealerships service manager, general manager, and corporate HQ. This is stealing, no matter what they tell you. One Nissan dealership by where I live offers an oil change with lube and filter for under $25. Of course, this is with old fashioned oil. If you want synthetic, it's more, but not 75 freaking dollars more. Screw that dealership. Let them know you don't appreciate being lied to or their attempts to rob you. Then tell everyone you know not to go there and write a nasty Yelp review.

Find another dealership or go to a local garage and have them do it for you. An oil change using synthetic oil should cost between $50 and $65. Tops.

This is why dealerships end up losing customers. It is also why places like Jiffy Lube do so much volume. Dealerships that screw customers lose customers.... It's shameful.

It reminds me of the time I took my old VW to a dealership years ago. I came in because I needed an oil change and had a squeaky belt. When I came to pick it up, the service writer reviewed my bill, which included the belt change. I paid and left. On the way home, the belt was squeaking just like before. I called the service writer and he told me that they never changed the belt. I took it back after yelling at the service manager and they changed the belt. I never went back. If they are willing to lie to you about how much an oil change costs, what else are they willing to do?

 

Its just a dealer gimmick to make a couple extra bucks, for what the Nissan ester oil cost its not worth it, and the used oil analysis don't have good results, go regular, blend or synthetic

 

Exactly, I have used good ole Dino in my Z for nearly 4 years now without issue....Our manual says the same thing regarding Ester...