1993 Nissan 300zx Turbo and Mobil 1 0w-30

[madkiwi]

So this year I was wanting to see about running my 23 year old 300zx Twin Turbo on Mobil 1 0w-30. Since I have had it (and most likely all the miles before 2010) were on synthetic 10w-30. This is the oil specified in the manual.

On the 300zx forums there seems to be some debate. On the one hand, some people are saying it is stupid to run anything other than what Nissan's engineers decided was best, on the other there have been a lot of advancements in oil technology since the car was first made (1988), so maybe if 0w-30 was available then Nissan might have chosen it.

I read on this forum (and others) that a 0 weight at cold really is still a lot thicker and less free flowing than a 30 weight when warm, so to my thinking it would be better than cold 10w-30 during warmup.

My Z is a summer car only, but we are in the mountains so morning starts are going to be in the 40 F range.

Should I do it, or just keep using 10w-30?

Thanks

 

[simple_gifts]

Quote:

I read on this forum (and others) that a 0 weight at cold really is still a lot thicker and less free flowing than a 30 weight when warm, so to my thinking it would be better than cold 10w-30 during warmup.


That is true; Run the 0w-30

 

[Virtus_Probi]

Originally Posted By: madkiwi
So this year I was wanting to see about running my 23 year old 300zx Twin Turbo on Mobil 1 0w-30. Since I have had it (and most likely all the miles before 2010) were on synthetic 10w-30. This is the oil specified in the manual.

On the 300zx forums there seems to be some debate. On the one hand, some people are saying it is stupid to run anything other than what Nissan's engineers decided was best, on the other there have been a lot of advancements in oil technology since the car was first made (1988), so maybe if 0w-30 was available then Nissan might have chosen it.

I read on this forum (and others) that a 0 weight at cold really is still a lot thicker and less free flowing than a 30 weight when warm, so to my thinking it would be better than cold 10w-30 during warmup.

My Z is a summer car only, but we are in the mountains so morning starts are going to be in the 40 F range.

Should I do it, or just keep using 10w-30?

Thanks


For 40F, 0W and 10W are going to behave the same...and you might get higher NOACK with the 0W.
Unless you're going well below zero, I don't see any reason for you to switch now.

 

[Ramblejam]

One should probably understand the Z32/VG30DETT before offering replies on oil selection here...

 

[bbhero]

+1. This information is spot on 100%.

 

[dlundblad]

I am failing to see what understanding the engine has to do with anything since OP already mentioned 10w30 is recommended in the OM.

Various xxw30 oils would hold for better than others for the turbo, but that is about it IMO.

If you are stuck on 10w30, I vote Mobil 1 10w30 HM. Its an A3/B3.. the turbo will thank you. If not that, Rotella T5 10w30 or possibly the Castrol 0w30 but it is more expensive and harder to find. You could also step it up to M1 0w40 with is also an A3/ B3 and on the thin side for a 40 weight oil. Both M1 oils I mentioned will be the same price as the M1 0w30 and the better buy IMO.

 

[Jimzz]

For winter the 0w30 might help if starting on a very cold morning after sitting.

For the rest of the year a HM oil, like M1 HM 10w30 as dlundblad suggested, would work well.

 

[Merkava_4]

Being that you'd be taking a chance on getting clickety-clacky engine noise switch Mobil 1, you might wanna stay with 10W-30. Try that SuperTech full synthetic 10W-30.

 

[Garak]

Or, he could avoid the ILSAC oils altogether, and still get a 0w-30 or a 5w-30 that would be thicker at operating temperatures than SuperTech 10w-30. Merk, aside from possible price, what would SuperTech synthetic 10w-30 give him in an advantage over Castrol 0w-30 A3/B4 or 5w-30 A3/B4?

 

[HTSS_TR]

It's really depend on how you use your vehicle. If you only drive your 300zx Twin Turbo in summer and redline often then synthetic 10W30 is a better choice for shear stable. Usually 10W30 (dino or syn) has much lower NOACK than 5W30 or 0W30.

If your 300zx has oil temp gauge you should choose an oil grade based on oil temp that you're encounter on daily driving. Higher oil temperature needs thicker oil such as xW40, cooler temp then 10W30 will be sufficient.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Or, he could avoid the ILSAC oils altogether, and still get a 0w-30 or a 5w-30 that would be thicker at operating temperatures than SuperTech 10w-30. Merk, aside from possible price, what would SuperTech synthetic 10w-30 give him in an advantage over Castrol 0w-30 A3/B4 or 5w-30 A3/B4?


I can't recommend Castrol synthetic because I've never tried it. Actually, I should've recommended Citgo synthetic since they're ones bottling SuperTech in my area.

 

[wemay]

10w30 did not get frozen in (1998) time while the 0w30 was developed. The're always constant enhancements and improvements throughout all viscosities of every brand.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
I can't recommend Castrol synthetic because I've never tried it.

I'm not talking about brands as much as I am talking about operational viscosity. If SuperTech had a 5w-30 A3/B4, I'd be asking you the same question. Why an ILSAC 10w-30 synthetic ahead of an A3/B4 lube?

 

[aquariuscsm]

Our cars came with a sticker under the hood,"10W30 below 60F,10W40 above 60F". Z32 FSM says do not use 5W20 and 5W30 should only be used in extremely cold conditions and never for extended high speed driving (and never use 5W30 in turbo model),and lists 10W30-20W50. I'd run 10W40 if it's your summer car. Friend of mine owns a Z shop. Don't go thinner than Nissan spec. Specialty Z recommends 15W50 or 20W50 in the TT.

 

[DoubleWasp]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Our cars came with a sticker under the hood,"10W30 below 60F,10W40 above 60F". Z32 FSM says do not use 5W20 and 5W30 should only be used in extremely cold conditions and never for extended high speed driving (and never use 5W30 in turbo model),and lists 10W30-20W50. I'd run 10W40 if it's your summer car. Friend of mine owns a Z shop. Don't go thinner than Nissan spec. Specialty Z recommends 15W50 or 20W50 in the TT.


Quiet.

That molasses/lard has no place in a modern engine.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Our cars came with a sticker under the hood,"10W30 below 60F,10W40 above 60F". Z32 FSM says do not use 5W20 and 5W30 should only be used in extremely cold conditions and never for extended high speed driving (and never use 5W30 in turbo model),and lists 10W30-20W50. I'd run 10W40 if it's your summer car. Friend of mine owns a Z shop. Don't go thinner than Nissan spec. Specialty Z recommends 15W50 or 20W50 in the TT.

Honda S2000 goes opposite direction: above 0F 10W30, below 0F 5W40. Probably 5W40 was/is synthetic only.

We almost never have any temp below 30F from 7-8 AM till midnight in So Cal, so 10W30 (conventional or semi-syn or full syn) is usable all year. But I like a little higher HTHS of 3.0-3.1 of most 10W30, I mixed xW20 with xW40 to get 3.3-3.4 HTHS.

 

[Gasbuggy]

I read on here once that M1 0w30 is a full point thicker at 100cst than M1 10w30.

................. cST@40C ---- cST@100C
Mobil 1 10W30---- 62.0------ 10.0
Mobil 1 0W-30---- 63.1 ------ 11.0

 

[Gasbuggy]

Double post.

 

[BrocLuno]

Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Our cars came with a sticker under the hood,"10W30 below 60F,10W40 above 60F". Z32 FSM says do not use 5W20 and 5W30 should only be used in extremely cold conditions and never for extended high speed driving (and never use 5W30 in turbo model),and lists 10W30-20W50. I'd run 10W40 if it's your summer car. Friend of mine owns a Z shop. Don't go thinner than Nissan spec. Specialty Z recommends 15W50 or 20W50 in the TT.


Quiet.

That molasses/lard has no place in a modern engine.

How many turbo cars you got ...

 

[jdavis]

Originally Posted By: Gasbuggy
I read on here once that M1 0w30 is a full point thicker at 100cst than M1 10w30.

................. cST@40C ---- cST@100C
Mobil 1 10W30---- 62.0------ 10.0
Mobil 1 0W-30---- 63.1 ------ 11.0


Just about - these are from mobiloil.com:

Technical details

SAE Grade 0W-30
Viscosity @ 100ºC, cSt (ASTM D445) 10.9
Viscosity, @ 40ºC, cSt (ASTM D445) 62.9
Viscosity Index 166
Phosphorous (ASTM D4951) 0.065
Sulfated Ash, wt%, (ASTM D874) 0.9
HTHS Viscosity, mPa•s @ 150ºC (ASTM D4683) 3.0
Flash Point, ºC (ASTM D92) 226
Pour Point, ºC (ASTM D97) -50
Total Base Number (ASTM D2896) 9.1
MRV @ -40ºC (ASTM D4684) 13,250
Density @15.6ºC, g/ml (ASTM D4052) 0.842