So I was at Infiniti of Montclair this morning to do my second oil change. The first one I did was $49.95. The service technician told me that the G37s and FX50s require some new "Ester" engine oil and it was to cost $89.95. So I did it.

My questions are: Did I get suckered into some overpriced oil change and Is Ester oil really necessary for my car?

By the way, I told them that my exhaust was rattling like crazy and they replaced a spanking new muffler for me. Now the exhaust note seems to sound deeper and louder without the rattling The tips look kinda bigger too.

It was nice that they finished everything in less than 90 minutes and I was watching DirecTV HD while waiting.

 

Service tech is partially right about the ester oil. I wouldn't go as far as saying it's required, but it does relate to the engine knock some people have complained about with non-Ester oil. But it should already be in the bulk oil they use (I believe) and shouldn't be $89.95.

 

Well I personally wouldn't have done the ester oil change because it is not required only recommanded. If he told you it was required than he lied his butt off.

 

The tech did mention about the engine knock. That's why I did it. I figured it's better for my car.

 

A sucker is born every minute

 

Why is he a sucker? just b/c he paid a little bit more to have a peace of mind? If Nissan recommends, its probably for a reason.

This is my 5th Nissan car - one of my previous ones (a late model Pathfinder) had an oil consumption problem and the engine was replaced.
I did all my oil changes at the dealer and the new engine cost me $0.

If Nissan wants you to put their Ester based oil (for $40 more than the regular oil) and you're keeping your car for a while, than why not follow their instructions? If I was leasing a car for 3 years - than I would use the cheapest oil change. To each their own....

 

so Ester oil is better

does Mobil 1, RR, Amsiol, Castrol, ect do they work as well? sorry to thread jack but there some people that change there own oil

 

wow i really need to start up a "mechanic" shop and charge $90 for changing oil... wow oooh i'll call it the STEALERSHIP errr i mean the Dealership.

Please anyone who needs their oil changed, i'll do it cost + some beer, i mean really... I know some people don't have time or don't have the tools/space to change the oil, but for the rest of you who spend 40 grand on a car really need to go buy a cheap jack and jack stands to save yourself a whole lot of time and $$$


if you don't know how, go buy a 12 pack and knock on your neighbor's door. he'll show you how i'm sure and you might make a friend out of it

 

It's for a reason alright...

99% of the time, it's for the dealership to make more money.

myke

 

ester oil is the manufacturers oil they have to use or it voids the warranty, its actually in the owners manual at the dealership, strange though cause its different from the manual in the car!

 

mine was free too, the first one that is, not sure what the second one will be

 

First ester oil change is usually free if you complain about the engine ticking. Here's the good news, because its synthetic you really dont have to change it every 3750 miles. It can easily hold up double that but I plan on doing mine every 5K instead of 3,750. That makes it a little better.

 

Isn't using synthetic oil the same crap as ester?

 

i thought so too, but apparently its derived from formula 1 racing, it bonds to metal itself, and not to itself. synthetic bonds to itself thats it, so when you start your car the ester oil is already all over the engine and can start from cold, while the synthetic has to circulate before bonding to the metal. hope that explains it,
ester oil preserves the engine from start up, there is minimal damage from start up, they say loss of hp is less than 1/2 at 50k, not sure if thats good normal or what,
and the dealership decides whether or not the 1st oil change is free, but if your like me i they threw in the maintanance package in so all oil changes are free for me

 

one thing i do know for fact is that, if you do not follow the manufacters suggested oil change for ester oil it voids warranty it says so on your first oil change receipt,