Oil
 

I've been using Mobil 1 5w-30 full synthetic with a Mobil 1 M1-108 filter and wondering what is better for the Z I know Mobil 1 is a name brand but my are some people using red line . What is so noticeably different

Mobil 1 5W-30 is perfectly fine for the Z. But try this, put some Redline in at the next change and see if you find a noticeable difference in how the car runs.

Used oil analyses do not give Mobil 1 very high marks with the VQ engine, but you'll get a ton of people who use it and say that it's fantastic. Crazily enough, Royal Purple doesn't do that great either.

Mobil 1 5w-30 isn't even a true synthetic and is not labeled as such in Japan, as it uses a conventional oil as a base. Their filter isn't bad at all, however. It's a paper-based filter, but it filters very well. For a true synthetic from Mobil 1, you'd have to get their 0w-40.

Amsoil's oil filter is synthetic, not paper, but it's pretty expensive. Purolator's Pure1 is a good compromise between the two, in my opinion.

Anyway, here's a big thread dedicated to your question. You'll get a bunch of people talking about how they use whatever oil it is that they've used and they don't have any problems. That kind of answer doesn't go very far toward answering "what's the best oil for the VQ37", as an oil analysis is the best way to objectively tell what lubricant works well with the engine.

http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...hetic-oil.html

Only a 101 threads on this topic. But welcome to the site.

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...ps431637e0.jpg

Funny!

Different formulations. M1 you are using is a Group III base stock synthetic (yes it is legitimate to call it that: you can thank Castrol and others...). Redline is PAO based IIRC. Different, more expensive base stock.

As already mentioned, a UOA is the best thing to do to trend how any oil performs in *your* engine with *your* use cases.

I used SJ-SN based M1 in 3 cars for 450+K miles of driving, so it does something right in many use cases :)

Based on some UOA's I have seen, I have been using Pennzoil Ultra 5/30 in my Z. If I had only one oil to stock in the garage however, it would be M1 0/40 (which is a light 40w, shears to a 30 quick...fantastic additive package) for 7500 M extended OCI's.

For now, I run 4-7500 miles Sched 2 service on the Z, I bring my oil to the dealer in its 5qt jug and keep it this way until the extended warranty is over.

If you are running conservative Sched 1 (3750) OCIs then honestly for the street, any oil today should be fine: SN oils have good add packs for the most part.

- b

Mobil 1 makes some of the best oil filters, they will filter down to 10 microns while maintaining flow. They are made by champion labs.

Mobil 1 along with Pennzoil platinum ultra are probably going to be the best oils you can get in the "wal-mart" price range. This does not mean they are the best. Will they do great in a DD, absolutely. As stated before they are group 3, not a "true" synthetic.

If you want the absolute hands down best you need to go with Redline. Redline is a Ester based oil which is recommended for our Z's VVEL. Along with being a ester and all of its benefits, redline has a high amount of ZDDP (anti-wear EP additives).

Why is it that Nissan recommends Nissan high ester oil in the Z but the GT-R comes from the factory with Mobile 1 in it?

I use Mobil 1 Extended Performance. Seems to hold up well and I can get it cheap at Wal-Mart.

Mobil 1 EP is no bueno?

EP is not bad. They tend to have extended use additive packages. If you are changing out in less the 5k it likely is a waste however.

UOA trending tells all based on remaining additives etc.

Redline is a good product but you can't say it's the best. There is no one best. I have seen UOA that shows redline isn't the best extended OCI product out there. :)

- b


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They do not advertise themselves to be the best extended drain. They are the best when it comes to abuse, high heat, and protection.

Money! Like all these cars with factory fills like mobil 1, it is a contract. But I think the GTR has switched now, not 100% sure.

ive said this multiple times but ill say it again.

you must change the redline at 3k miles. even at 3k miles the oil comes out looking horrible! the engine ran a little quieter and smoother but for normal DD'ing its over kill. i ran redline for the first 20k miles, then switched to M1 5w-30.

if you can afford double the price for redline and have no issues replacing it RELIGIOUSLY at 3k miles then YES it is prob the best oil to use. for me its overkill and expensive.

(i even tried M1 0w-40.... the oil heated up quick but i noticed my engine burning more off than normal. so i went back to 5w-30.)

I use redline and Blackstone recommended a 4500 mi oci.

Hmmmm....oil thread.....hmmm.....we've been down this road before....

Do you have any scientific backing to this besides it looked dirty? UOA? An oil can be dark and still be perfectly fine.

Nissan recommends 3,750 anyways. The reason they also recommend ester is for the VVEL. The biggest thing to running a higher quality oil even if you change it the same amount is to stop and prevent wear. The ester oil also has many more inherited beneficial properties with it.

:icon18:

no.... and im not saying it was dark. the sh1t came out looking like molasses. (and yes i know the diamond polished components in the VVEL need ester to fully coat and cool the parts...yada yada yada.....)

bottom line the ester oil is amazing stuff, just not worth it in my DD.

wow! kinda crazy if you ask me. the ester (alcohol) based oil is supposed to break down faster than conventional stuff.

whatever works for you guys....... :tup:

Sounded high to me too, especially considering the turbos. But, they analyze oil for a living. I'll defer to their experience.

i agree.....

plus id prob switch back to redline if i was boosted too.

It really comes down to each motor & how the driver abuses the car.
Adding turbos, or tracking, or just DD will all have different abuse on the engine. I have been doing 4,000-4,500 (redline) oil changes and it comes out looking fairly good but each car is different.

I'd also assume that people running oil coolers can run longer ocis because of the greater capacity and lower temperatures.

I run Castrol synthetic 5w-30 here in Florida. I'm also boosted so it don't really matter. I change the oil every 2k miles

Have you had an analysis done to determine that oci, or is it more of a peace of mind thing? Seems a little short to me.

Jus for peace of mind. I'm sure the oil could last longer. I'm runnin an oil cooler as well. I jus prefer to switch it out at 2k for peace of mind n safety.

Makes sense. Hell, changing it at 2k with castrol is probably still cheaper than running redline for 4k.

Yea. I'm runnin 12 lbs. 540 hp. The heat n humidity in Florida can be horrible. Plus I run the car hard. 8k miles so far no problem.

Anyone have thoughts on Amsoil?

Amsoil is a GOOD oil, not the best like their pyramid marketing likes to suggest. Just remember only the signature series is a group 4 oil, the rest is group 3 or 3/4 blend. This is not ester.