Got a new 2011 G37x several months ago. Got my first oil change with syntethic oil at Valvoline. Called Infiniti dealer to cancel my scheduled service (they are 90 min from me) and they told me absolutely not to use synthetic oil as it is "too slippery" and could damage the engine. Has anyone heard of this. Should I be freaking out?

 

There is an engine knock problem if you used regular oil, but since it's synthetic I don't think you'll have a problem. The dealers use ester oil to stop the engine knock. I would say wait and see or someone with more knowledge may help you out further.

 

Your car is fine. Synthetic oil is not too "slippery", that's exactly why you use engine oil is to lubricate metal parts. Slippery is good. They just want you to spend money getting their expensive service and came up with a particularly poor and misleading excuse to scare you back in. I'd be a bit insulted if they gave me such a lame excuse. They are attempting to prey in your ignorance about oil to scare you into only taking your car to them for service. Shame on those shady jerks.

 

i was told on my 2011 sedan that my first oil change was on the house...maybe its just at my dealership here in Charlotte. im at 700 miles..so i still have a lil ways to go.

i agree with Black Betty... that's ridiculous that they tried to make up some BS like that. dealerships make a lot of $$$ from their overpriced service departments.
i don't plan on taking mine there for oil changes.
i might go with synthetic oil every 12k or something..but mines just a lease

 

Just DIY the oil change w/ synthetic every 5k, I get my oil at O'Reillys when they have their 5qt w/Mobil1 filters for $29. Don't get tight when it comes to oil (even if it is a lease), it's about the smallest expense (for how important it is) you'll have in the life of a car. Infinitis are about the easiest cars to change the oil too

There's been several threads about poor results using the Nissan Ester oil, so I just stick to Mobil1 and have about 60k on both my Gs using the stuff and have never had any oil consumption and cars run top notch.

 

Thanks for the responses. That was my initial suspicion but he was so adimant that this could potentially destroy the engine wanted to make sure.

 

My dealer told me standard oil until ~15,000 and then synthetic after if I wanted. He also suggested I bring my own oil to save money....take that for what it's worth. To me, the frequency and diligence in changing the oil is more important the the standard vs synthetic debate.

 

As Black Betty mentioned dont listen to that nonsense. Whenever any dealer service tells me crazy things like that or you need to change your air filters because they are dirty, when I just changed them before going in. I make a mental note to never go back to that service dept.

 

That is crazy BS. Ask him to look up the Infiniti bulletin ITB08-039 which specifies their synthetic ester oil.

 

Quoted because I couldn't say it any better. "Slippery" = good

 

An oil change at my two closest dealers in Chicago costs less than $30 so I'm not sure how you figure they're trying to overcharge for an oil change on a brand new car with very few miles.

Years ago I took a Ford to Valvoline and they charged $54 for an oil change on a Ford 4.6L.

 

Because $30 oil changes at any Infiniti dealership are rare. They cost twice that much or more in most places so count your blessings. And telling him an outright lie to coerce him to bring it in to them out of fear of taking it elsewhere is some shady BS.

 

With my gray hair comes a bit of wisdom…Trust NO sales executive, 0, Nada, None…..nor believe 90% of what the service manager tells you. Shame, but true…
Save all receipts…that means all if you service outside the dealership.

 

Nice deals right now at Autozone & O'Reillys, a 5+qt (5.28Qts) Castrol Syntec Edge full synthetic oil and a K&N oil filter for $25.99 after $7 Rebate. The Castrol Edge has been getting good reviews and the K&N filters are one of the best available. Just be sure to call the store ahead of time to make sure they have the HP-1008 K&N filter in stock Nice that the 5+qt jugs have almost exactly the proper amount of oil for our Gs (5.2 quarts) so no need to buy that extra qt for top-offs

 

I'm getting up there as well (I imagine most of this forum are in the 16-30 range) and I agree 100%. About as far as I go is "trust... then verify".