Oil Specs, I'm confused....

The specs mean it is suitable for all classes listed as for a 3ltd it must be above cg4. Look in business search for Syncforce & follow link to their web site for more info.

The latest oil is CI-4 previous to that was CH-4 and before that was CG-4. I don't know what all the letters and numbers mean but Rimula X is CH-4 so it is also suitable for CG-4 which has a lower specification. I think Caltex Delo Gold is CH-4. I am looking at the Caltex lube product guide and they reccommend Havoline Premium which has a specification of Sl/SJ/CF and is 20W-50 whereas the Delo 400 CI-4 is 15W-40. If you have a particular oil brand find a container in the shop and they all have a technical phone number on the side give them a ring and ask what their reccommendation is and ask them to send you some technical litrature on the reccommended oil. It will only cost you local phone call.

Hi Leroy,

If you check previous posts, there is a lot of info on this. But for a quick rundown read on.

Basically, the API diesel oil grades are in order of introduction ...CD, CE, CF(-4), CG-4, CH-4, CI-4. There are many differences in the oil, but "GENERALLY" the higher the grade the better the oil.

However, the 3.0GU specifically states NOT to use CG-4 grade oil. This grade of oil, although "higher" rated than CF-4, is not suitable for the 3.0TD Patrol as it has a lower detergent (ash) content. This means the oil can become overloaded with contaminants (typically the sulphur in our dirty diesel) and not last to the next oil change (this is a generalisation but accurate enough here). The CF-4 grade oil actually has a higher detergent content and hence the recomendation from Nissan.

However, the CH-4 oil also has a high ash (detergent) content and IMHO is also suitable. Shell Rimula X is a CH-4 rated oil and is what I have previously used. But I would NOT use a CI-4 oil as there are reports from the USA that this has issues with the EGR valves (and the 3.0TD has questions over its EGR valve).

I believe that the CH-4 rating came out after the Nissan manuals were written and would probably include the CH-4 now. But I doubt any Nissan rep would actually tell one that.

The 3.0TD is a high performance motor and I believe its very cheap insurance to 1) change the oil every 5,000kms and 2) use the right grade of oil for this motor. I suspect (but cannot confirm) that "some" of the issues with the series 2 motor were exasberated by using wrong oils or too long of an oil change interval. Some of the series 3 EGR valve issues "may" be caused by peolpe using the CI-4 oil in the belief that the higher the oil spec the better, not realising they "may" be adding to a problem.

So, in a nutshell, do NOT use an oil who's highest rating is CG-4, but "should" be OK if CH-4. And avoid CI-4 oil IMHO.

Please note, this is a very brief condensed version about oils and one could write a book about it (actually there are many!!!)

Cheers

Captain
(Chemical Engineer)

Leroy

I have the 2003 Nissan 3.0GU and use the oil recommended off the Shell Web Page. I have used Shell Helix Diesel 15W-40 [used to be called Shell Helix Diesel Super but they have just repackaged it - apparently it is now a "Rejuvinated Formula]. Comes in a yellow container. I provide the oil to the mechanic [not Nissan Dealer] along with the filters and he charges me $35 to change the oil and stamp the warranty booklet.

I used to have a Toyota L/C 105 Diesel [no turbo] and used Shell Rimula X all the time I had that. I've got a 20 litre drum of that stuck in the shed. Its CG rated so no good to me. A mate just brought a 100 series TD and he's a mechanic so I can see a second battery appearing in my Nissan [his labour - my bits] and a 20 litre drum of oil disappearing in his Yota.

Seems like a fair deal to me.

If you go to any of the major companies web pages they will have a recommended oil for the Nissan. I reckon its worth the hassle of buying one type for the life of the car. That way the detergent levels and stuff never change.

I change it every 5K along with the filter. Some say it should go to 10 but for 40 bucks worth of oil I feel better doing it more often than it might be required [and I'm not convinced that I do]

Regards

Dave

Thanks for your feedback guys. I have decided to go for Caltex Delo 400. It conforms to all the Nissan specs. Yes it is a CI4 rated oil. CI4 oil spec is made for diesels with EGR so we shall see what happens.

Leroy

OK you have done your homework, just that the viscosity range was different for the recommended oil than the Delo 400 but they would know better than me. Did you ask for a technical paper on Delo 400 which shows the way soot contaminates your engine? It's a good read.