[smj999smj]

Interesting that you pointed that out, when I picked up my 2014 Sentra SR new the salesman said it must use synthetic and it wasn't a suggestion it is mandatory, it uses 0w-20 while all of my Nissan have always used 5w-30.

Clint

Check your owner's manual. Many of the late model Nissan manuals state that the recommended oil is synthetic 0W-20, but, will then go on to say conventional 5W-30 may be used and not affect the manufacturer's warranty.

 

[smj999smj]

My the manual wife's 2011 Imprezza with the 2.5L doesn't say anything about synthetic one way or another while the same 2.5L for the same year Forester says synthetic only. On the Frontier, my 2013 manual calls for oil changes at 3750 while newer Frontiers say 5000. Engine is the same 4.0L as far as I know. Just goes to show that manufacturers are inconsistent on the subject.

When I started with Nissan in the mid-80s, the factory service interval was 3750 miles; 5W30 was recommended on all models except turbo engines, which took 10W30. Later on, they increased the intervals to 7500 miles. Then, they went back to 3750, back to 7500 and now they are at 5000 mile intervals. When full-synthetic oil was beginning to get more popular, Nissan did not recommend its use in their vehicles. Now, they recommend synthetic. So, "yes," they are very inconsistent!
While I use full-synthetic, personally, one thing I found interesting when I had my oil analyzed by Blackstone Labs is that they claim their own employees use conventional oil. That tells you a lot right there.

 

[smj999smj]

My gal's Honda Fit uses 0w-20...and yet it is not a synthetic.

They may be out there, but the Nissan dealers around here only offer a 'blend' as their synthetic choice. If synthetic oils break down more slowly than conventional oils, then why have/use a blend that would, in this respect, be somewhat inferior?

(Not being difficult, just adding to this debatable debate. :nerd

If your conventional oil is to the point of "breaking down," then you are working your engine way too hard!

 

[smj999smj]

I've heard of synthetic and synthetic blend 0W-20 oils, but who makes a conventional 0W-20? I've never seen that.