I just did an oil change and switched from PP 5w30 to Mobil1 0w40. Don't ask why, I'm not sure myself... Now the engine sounds different. It's more noisy and it's clicking more. I think it was fully warmed up (3 mile trip), coolant gauge at normal temp.
I'm writing this because I'm worried that I chose the wrong viscosity for the cold climate up here in Ontario. It gets as cold as 0F up here!
I figured a 0W oil would flow easily and be OK...
Any thoughts?

 

Thats what I use on my bike. I think you need to be 5w30 or 10w30.

 

I put diesel in my G. Not sure why, the sticker said premium unleaded only, but I pulled up to the diesel pump on accident, so I just went with it. The pump didn't really fit in the tank so I just kind of sprayed it in there like a hose. I got diesel fuel all over the rear quarter panel, but that's no big deal, I just wiped it down with a dirty napkin I found laying on the ground. The car started smoking pretty bad and the idle is terrible. Any thoughts?

Does that made up story sound ridiculous? So does yours. Your car is running terrible because you put the wrong oil in. Drain the oil and put in the right stuff, problem solved.

 

Mobil 1 0w40 is actually a better oil than PP 5w30, it's using higher quality base oils and although viscocity is not the same as what is reccomended by manufacturer, 0w is actually better for winter usage than 5w. You are fine, any noises you hear are most likely not oil related but if you are really worried - take it to a professional.

 

No, it's not. The cold operating viscosity of 0 isn't a deal breaker (will actually be more fuel efficient and the car will start easier in the cold due to the lighter weight), but the 40 weight at 212 degrees fahrenheit is just plain wrong. There is not any benefit to having that sludge in our highly engineered engines that call for a 30 weight oil. It's putting more stress on the engine by running a thicker weight oil and could result in the oil breaking down and burning.

 

Running a heavier weight oil will also run the risk of voiding your warranty if Infiniti finds out, due to the additional stress it puts on the engine.

 

There have been tons of UOA done on Mobil 1 0W40, it's actually closer to 30 weight than 40 so it's perfectly fine for VQ engines. Also it's made out of very high quality base oils (not so for other Mobil 1 weights), and together with Castrol 0w30 (also known as German Castrol) these are the two best oils you can buy for VQ in terms of engine longevity.

The burden of proof is on the dealership, they can't void your warranty unless they can prove that it was oil that caused the engine to blow up. You act like everything Nissan or dealership says is gospel while in reality they are just trying to make a buck.

 

I wouldn't be comfortable making that as a blanket statement (40 weight being OK), but if there has been adequate UOA's performed and the weight is closer to 30 (which is what's called for) then that particular oil should be OK.

Our engines have very tight clearances and advanced technologies that I would be very uneasy about a 40 weight oil actually getting to all the places it needs to be for proper lubrication. If lubrication cannot make it through all passages the result will be engine wear in the long term.

 

That's not what serega13 was saying at all. Mobil 1 0-40 pours like a 30 weight oil, but the synthetic base allows it to stay thin (and flow better) at low temps. At higher temps, it'll protect like a 40 weight oil, but will never have that kind of viscocity.

UOAs on VQ engines have found the tight tolerances of the engine seem to prefer the superior flow properties of M1 0-40 or Castrol Euro 0-30.

 

What about olive oil? It pours like motor oil and color is about the same.

 

80w90 next oil change, lol. Funny how some poeple get worked up on forums (Ryne)
The car runs fine, actually, smoother than ever after I let it warm up enough. I read on BITOG that M1 0W40 is very well suited to our VQ. High shear resistance being the key benefit. I`m at 75k miles, so our tight engine tolerances are probably not so tight anymore. (now I remember why I chose to go with 0w40)
Maybe 3 miles in extreme cold isn't enough to bring up the oil temp
Anyways, I have no further concerns regarding my choice. 0W40 FTW

 

I'm glad your problem resolved itself in 24 hours for no apparent reason. I'm just stressing the fact that if you do something non-OEM to your car, expect non-OEM results - which may be better, worse, or a mixed bag.

Your original post stating that you put in the non-OEM oil and you have no idea why you would do such a thing, made you appear to have made a thoughtless decision. If you would have posted in a different tone, perhaps: "I read that Mobil 0W40 oil had benefit X, Y and X, but I am experiencing this...", I wouldn't have come in from that angle.

For what it's worth, engines don't really "loosen up" like your describing with your comment about engine tolerances and 75k miles isn't that many miles anyways.

I do recommend the 80w90 oil after 100k miles though. The engine is sorority girl loose at that point and gear oil is a good solution to keep it running. It should click and clank similar to your 0w40 setup so you'll be happy with it.

 

I've had to many Nissan cars to count. Many G35's G37's, Z350's, Murano's, Altimas, Rogues... My experience with 0w-30 is engine noise. Especially at start up. Thickness is that of water when warm and I hear lifter noise etc... I agree it's energy conserving, but not thick enough to protect the engine. 5w-30 is preferred. Even in cold climates. I also bought a Rav4 limited in December. It shows 0w30 or 5w30 on oil cap. Previous owner had 0w30 in it. I hated the ticking noises at start up... changed it to Castrol Syntec 5w30 and it's a quiet motor now. I've had similar engine noise with mobil 1 5w30 and switching to Castrol syntec 5w30 solved them. Mobil 1 just a little to thin / energy conserving for my tastes. Just my 2 cents worth. Everyone will experience differences and our ears / tolerance levels for engine noise differ's as well. But you CANT go wrong with Castrol Syntec 5w30 year round for ANY Nissan / Infiniti Engine. I've got 4 in the garage from 20k miles to 115k miles. :-) and my old Muranos have 135 to 160k and going strong. Sold them to friends.

 

^ Not sure how I feel about a paragraph of bold text. lol

 

I'll second that Mobil1 oil runs lean under high heat (i.e. Subaru's boxer motors & our VQ motors), the 0W-40 is perfectly acceptable to a normal 5W-30

I've been running the Mobil1 0W-40 Euro blend on my G37x for 14,000 miles now, and my friend has been doing the same for over 40,000 with zero issues or excessive wear. This SPECIFIC blend is Nissan GT-R approved, and meets all API approvals (Nissan says API 1 & 2 cert approvals)

This oil also got excellent reports via BobTheOilGuy
Mobil1 0W40, 5000 OCI, Infiniti G37S VQ37VHR | Used Oil Analysis - Gasoline | Bob Is The Oil Guy

Oil Specs
Mobil 1? 0W-40

If there's some aversion beyond "Nissan says 5W-30" I'm curious what it is? I looked into this pretty thorough before making the switch and didn't find any horror stories.