It says that their "analysis" (AKA document research, phone calls) indicates that it is full or partial synthetic. While this is probably true, the statement from Mobil 1 is too wishy-washy to mean anything.

die oil thread! dyyeee!!!..haha

Valvoline vs. NEO
 

We have 2 2009 370's in our family which we purchased from 2 different dealers. One dealers service department uses NEO exclusively in one 370 while the other uses a Valvoline oil in all their oil changes. The Z using NEO is much quieter at startup while the car running Valvoline ocassionally has a tapping noise at startup and on hard acceleration you ocassionally hear what sounds like ticking between 4-5K rpms. While this is not a controlled study I personally am convinced the NEO is better for the Z. On the next oil change I will convert the Valvoline car to NEO and see if this makes a difference.

When comparing conventional oils, I'm sure this is true, but a true Group IV PAO oil is definitely better for your engine overall than Nissan Ester Oil unless it is also a full synthetic.

In theory, the Nissan oil has a higher affinity at the mollecular level to the DLC coated valve train -- in theory.

Supposedly, this is why Nissan recommends it and why it allegedly keeps the valve train running more smoothly.

However, whether or not that holds true is not well established, nor is it known whether any other similar ester oil (or a non-ester based synthetic) would work just as well.

I picked up the German 0-W30 -- looking forward to seeing how she runs with that.

All good synthetics have additives that are designed to hydrogen or oxygen bond to metal components or the oil itself possesses an affinity for metal surfaces (like Red Line, Motul). I'm honestly not buying the Nissan claims... all good oils are capable of lubricating within a very, very fine film, even on a slick surface. I think what Ester oil may provide is enhanced lubrication of DLC-coated surfaces during startup and possibly shut down right as the valvetrain settles (spring tension).