Hello,
Disclaimer first: I'm not in any shape or form recommending or advising to change Nissan recommendation of using 5w30 oil viscosity as stated in the user manual. Use your own judgement and don't hold me liable for any engine damages you may encounter based on my post.
I know Nissan (in USA) recommends 5w30 API SM or newer and ILSAC Ii or newer oils.
But also have this chart in the FSM


Anyway,
My 09 burns about half a quart of 5w30 every 1.5K miles. Engine is bone dry no leaks and so clean I could eat on it. But still noticed dipstick half way between the H and L marks on dipstick every 1.5k miles. I was using Pennzoil ultra platinum for the last 5 to 6 OCIs. My change interval was anywhere between 2.5k miles to 4k miles.
I've been reading a lot on bobistheoilguy forums and gathered a lot of information from various knowledgeable posters there. M1 0w40 caught my attention being:
1. Readily available at Walmart
2. Good price
3. High TBN with good dose of Calcium as a detergent
4. Being a "thin" 40 grade oil (close to a thick 5w30)
5. Has to meet some tough requirements like MB, Porsche and VW, as well as Nissan GTR approvals.
6. Shears to a mid viscosity 30 grade oil over 1.5k to 2k miles of use
7. Good winter performance
8. Very good oil analysis reports from various VQ engine owners, like Infiniti, Z350s and the like

So went ahead and dumped that PUP 5w30 (which is a thin 5w30 BTW). I used a Nissan filter like I always do.

My initial observation is smoother idle (used to have some sporadic dips to less than 550rpm), smoother revs, very quiet engine, and car feels smoother in general.

I know all that can be a placebo effect. But time will tell. What I am after the most is oil consumption and secondly more protection at the extremes of weather. MPG seems on par with 5w30 based on the 100 miles since the oil change.But will keep an eye on that too.

I am sending a sample of the PUP 5w30 for analysis and will compare to the 0w40 sample in my next OCI.

 

Interesting....I'm at 200K and still on Mobil 1 synthetic 5w 30.....never noticed any burned oil missing.....and never even check it i'm so sure, maybe ill check it later this morning since I have an 09 too and its been over 3K miles since my last oil change in city traffic driving too and some highway.

 

Yep, I just switched to M1 0W-40 on my last change. Same benefits noticed...engine is definitely quieter at idle, and seems smoother but as you said could be placebo. The only reason why 5W-30 is spec is due to CAFE...other countries spec higher weights routinely. The VQs also tend to shear a little more quickly from what I understand due to the timing chains and being high revving motors...less so on the DE with the lower redline but still.

 

I switched to this oil, for many of the same reasons, at last oil change.
I had, previously, used it, exclusively, in my 2006 Audi A6, which I sold @212k miles.

 

I mean LtLeary has 530k+ miles on "vanilla" M1 5w30, but again he and his car and routes are not standerd, his usage is almost ideal with nice FL weather (at least in winter) and interstate miles.

 

Cool. But if you're burning oil, the "type" of oil you use is a irrelevant, as you have a much bigger problem. And a quart and a half to two quarts every 5k is a problem.

 

A little typo should read 440K (Covid has really cut down my mileage) Haven't done an oil change in 6months!!! (used to doing it every 6 weeks (5K Miles)
I don't see why 0-40 would hurt much. The thinner viscosity may seep thru seals and gaskets a bit easier but it is ultimately your call. (I am an EE not a ME so I personally defer to the engineers who designed the engine) I expect this would benefit the Texicans and southwest states with their months long periods of +100F days and some chilly winters in the hills.
It got down to 60f last night so I saw a bunch of people out with their coats, shorts and flip flops this am.

 

Agreed, you really need to find out where that oil is going! That is worse than my old 67 chevy!

 

I've owned 2002 and 2003 before this 2009.
Both of them burn 1 to 2 quarts per 1 OCI(3k to 5k miles) We drove both for 70k to 80k miles before the 03 hit the junkyard when an idiot ran a red light and t boned the 03 when my wife was driving it. The 02 was sold at 177k and engine was still pulling very hard. Man I miss that 6 speed. I got used to always carry 1 quart of oil in the trunk in both cars the 7 years we had them.
Anyway VQ engines burning oil is not uncommon, especially if you're unlucky. Some of them even since new.
PCV valve is on my to do list.

 

Good idea! That is a good place to start!

 

Nissan recommends 0w20 for this engine that is used in the Murano's , so using 0w40 should not be an issue

I might try using 0w40 in mine after I do my next oil change since I already I bought the 5w30 for the next oil change.

 

That's not true.
Nissan recommends 5w30 for Muranos (pretty much most if not all Nissan engines) before 2015. After that 0w20 is the recommendation.
M1 0w40 is a thin 40 oil, with little shearing it becomes a thick w30 oil.
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Yes! it is true, but my bad as I wasnt clear about what gen I was talking about, 0w20 is recommend in the later Murano's ( like our 2019)
https://owners.nissanusa.com/content...ner-manual.pdf