AUSTRALIAN X-TRAIL FORUM :: Fuel & Oil :: Best oil to use - synthetic or mineral ?

Australian X-Trail Forum Fuel & Oil
Best oil to use - synthetic or mineral ?

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dazmit Profile
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X-TRAIL NEWBIE

Date Registered: 02-2007
Location: Brisbane
TOTAL POSTS: 38

Best oil to use - synthetic or mineral ?

Hi All

I noticed a lot of forum members are using Castrol Edge 5W30 fully synthetic oil.

Interesting that on the Castrol lube guide site they recommend GTX 3 modern 10W30 or Magnatec 10W40.
The Castrol edge bottle claims it's more for high performance turbo engines and although I think the Exy engine is a fine grunty performer ,I don't consider it a highly tuned performance engine, therefore this oil seems a overkill.

I asked the local Nissan service dept what oil they use and they tell me Magnatec professional 5W40 which is a fully synthetic and not generally available in the auto shops as it comes in 20l or 200l drums. Incidentally I rang QLD Diesel spares which is a great spot to get oil and filters for my Diesel Landcruiser and they can get a 20l drum of the magnatec 5W40 for $231 which works out at $57 for 5l - Ouch.

I ended up buying some Castrol edge on special for $30 since it was the same price as GTX modern, however I have always changed my engine oil at 5000km instead of 10000km.

My understanding of synthetics is apart from able to handle higher temperatures before breaking down it can be used for extended oil change intervals but I noticed a couple here are thinking of going from 10K to 5K oil changes hence negating 1 advantage of running fully synthetic.

Can anyone tell me why the majority are using fully synthetic Castrol edge over GTX 3 modern mineral oil ?

Cheers

Darryl

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2007 ST Auto with ST-S alloys, tint, roof racks, cargo barrier, tinted bonnet protector.

2/Nov/2007, 6:32 pm

jalalski Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100

Re: Best oil to use - synthetic or mineral ?

Hi Darryl,

If you put the word "Oil" in the forum search engine it will bring-up many existing threads covering the use of synthetic Vs. mineral oil and why some of us chose the Castrol 5W30 which is one of the recommended engine oils in the Castrol Lube Guide (see the bottom of the lube guide page). in addition to Castrol Magnatec 10W-40 and CASTROL GTX3 MODERN ENGINE 10W-30

---

2/Nov/2007, 6:49 pm

dazmit Profile
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X-TRAIL NEWBIE

Date Registered: 02-2007
Location: Brisbane
TOTAL POSTS: 38

Re: Best oil to use - synthetic or mineral ?

Thanks Jalal - Damn I keep forgetting the search function although
I did a scan through the oil & fuel section.
Looks like a lot more reading ahead of me tonight emoticon

Cheers

Darryl

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2007 ST Auto with ST-S alloys, tint, roof racks, cargo barrier, tinted bonnet protector.

2/Nov/2007, 7:01 pm

PMcDermott Profile
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X-TRAIL FANATIC

Date Registered: 06-2007
Location: South Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 414

Re: Best oil to use - synthetic or mineral ?

In a nutshell synthetic is better.

But really a mineral synthetic blend is fine.

Depends on how you feel about your car.

The difference between synthetic and a blend is usually about 15 bucks.

For my money I would go the synthetic.

If you are doing your own oil change from mineral/synthetic to synthetic it is worth doing an engine oil flush.

You can buy it pretty much anywhere for about $10/$12 and all you do is pour it in before the oil change and then run the engine for about 10 minutes, after that do you oil and filter chnage as normal.

while it is a different kettle of fish I can tell you that I, and most bikers I know, would not ever, ever put mineral oil near our bikes end of story

Nasty nasty mineral carbonation build up

but that said the diference between a 4 cyl 250cc bike and a 4cyl 2500cc 4WD is a difference

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Paul - X-592
Check out my 07 ST-S Xtreme

27/Jan/2008, 1:59 am

Munners96 Profile
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X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST

Date Registered: 04-2009
Location: Northern Beaches, Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 101

Re: Best oil to use - synthetic or mineral ?

I have a sports bike and I only use fully synthetic oil in it. Though I've done this ever since my first oil change (about 1500klm).

I would prefer to use a fully synthetic oil in the Exy but it already has 65K klm on the clock. Is this too late to make the switch since the engine would have bedded in under mineral oil conditions. If I switch now do I risk the oil rings not doing their job properly and issues with oil seals?

I would have to perform an engine flush, particually if going from a fully mineral to fully synth oil.

Any other pointers or know issues?

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Gerard X-1247

8/Oct/2009, 1:30 pm

jalalski Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100

Re: Best oil to use - synthetic or mineral ?

Not too late at all, I started using the fully synthetic at 60,000kms and yes, full engine flush is required.

I had no issues whatsoever and the engine is loving it.

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8/Oct/2009, 3:24 pm

Revhead Kev Profile
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Date Registered: 10-2006
Location: Mona Vale, Sydney, AUSTRALIA
TOTAL POSTS: 6360

Re: Best oil to use - synthetic or mineral ?

I would expect engine age would have no effect on whether mineral or synthetic oil could be used.
Provided the synthetic oil has the same viscosity ratings then it should be fine to use at any time.

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Kev X450(c) T30 Guru
03 Titanium Ti T30 Series 1 **MODIFIED**
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8/Oct/2009, 10:23 pm

Munners96 Profile
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X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST

Date Registered: 04-2009
Location: Northern Beaches, Sydney
TOTAL POSTS: 101

Re: Best oil to use - synthetic or mineral ?

So on a T30 (2005) the following oil should be OK (Service Manual states 5W30). Are all 2005 models the same?

Castrol Edge Sport
Fully Synthetic
5W30

I noticed that there is a Shell Helix 5W40. Has anyone used this oil before. Seems like everyone uses the Castrol Edge (at least for the newer diesels from what I can tell).

Should a 5W40 oil be more expensive than a 5W30 as it has a greater temperature range (from what I understand, unless i have it wrong).

---
2005 Ti-L Man Black
Gerard X-1247

12/Oct/2009, 10:59 am

jalalski Profile
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Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100

Re: Best oil to use - synthetic or mineral ?

5W30 is what I use.

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12/Oct/2009, 12:58 pm

rescue1 Profile
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X-TRAIL HOLIC

Date Registered: 01-2009
TOTAL POSTS: 1384

Re: Best oil to use - synthetic or mineral ?

Spoke with one of the service guys at my local dealership and his advice is if you change oil every 5000km use mineral, if you want to go to 10000km use synthetic.

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Alan & Phillipa
2008 X-Trail TL White Diamond
Plumpton NSW
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12/Oct/2009, 4:00 pm

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