Originally Posted By: JonfromCB
BINGO! Ed is right-on. I'm a Infiniti nut and have researched
this whole VQ37/VVEL/Nissan Ester Oil issue
in depth and almost to a point of a sickness and
compulsion. This oil is all about incrreasing fleet
mileage by significantly reducing friction directly
at the high friction points in the VVEL system....AND
reducing emissions through the use of solid inert friction
modifiers (carbon nano-particles suspended in a very
specific proprietory blend of esters)...as compared to
using hydrocarbon friction modifiers that are "dirtier"
when burned. Since Nissan Ester is the FF, it's what
Nissan Recommends....that's the Law, like it or not
and that's how and why Nissan "recommends it" in
the owners manual.
This engine is VERY hard on oil, It generates tramendous amounts of heat in the VVEL system whenever the throttle gets opened-up....even for short bursts...period. There are literally dozens of cases of noise, limp-mode and VVEL actuator failure cases on the forums . Redline, Motul, and German Csstrol are the only oils I've personally seen that are up to the task in this engine...UP seems promising.
If you love this engine, short OCIs with high heat
handling oil is in order.
Jon,
Awesome info - thank you. I'd love to hear more of your source info, or some good places to go to hear more (other forums, or whatnot).