I've read heaps about the DLC and it's relationship with ester based oils. It must be a Nissan USA thing to mandate ester oil for the earlier model 370z (up until 2010 model iirc). In Australia, you will get a wtf response from the guy at the parts counter if you asked to buy Nissan ester oil. The stuff doesnt exist here. We have no idea which company makes the genuine oils but based on the bottle design i concluded it most resembled a Shell Helix oil bottle. There doesn't seem to be much noise being made here about noisy valvetrains in cars filled with non-ester based oil, even in the 09 models - but i might be wrong and just not read much about them on the Aussie forums. The TSB that Nissan USA issued about a software update to hush the valvetrain does not exist here.
Dealers here use whatever oil is most profitable and suitable for most models. I have an unused bottle of the Aussie Nissan oil which i might send for a virgin oil analysis for curiosity's sake. I do agree that less noise and less heat would indicate less friction. Less noise could also indicate a thicker oil film acting as a cushion. Some virgin oil samples did show a high moly content in the Nissan ester oil.
It's interesting that you got worse wear using an 0w30 vs 5w30 because there's heaps of positive results from folks running Mobil 1 0w40 in their G37 and 370z so the viscosity itself probably isnt the determining factor but the unique chemistry of each brand that makes the difference. Then there's debate about Brand A 5w30 being lighter/heavier than Brand B 5w30. But just like oil every other oil debate, let's not turn this into one of those threads.
I just did the smooth throttle table last night. The car does seem more peppy from 2000rpm upwards. i did have a bizarre issue tonight just then where i got almost zero throttle response in 1st and 2nd gear as i pulled into a parking lot. The issue didnt reappear on the drive home.
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