The Nissan 370Z is powered by the VQ37VHR, a high-revving 3.7L V6 that loves to spin toward 7,500 RPM and runs hot when you push it. That combination is hard on oil, so picking the right full synthetic matters more on this car than on a typical commuter. Nissan calls for an API SN or newer 5W-40 in most markets, with 5W-30 accepted in cooler climates, and the engine punishes thin or cheap oil with ticking lifters, oil consumption, and faster timing chain wear.
We focused on full synthetic oils that hold viscosity under sustained heat, protect the chain and VVEL hardware, and stay clean over a real track or spirited-street interval. Every pick below is a genuine, widely available oil that 370Z owners actually run. We ranked them on shear stability, additive package, heat tolerance, and how well they suit a naturally aspirated VQ that gets revved. No fluff, just what we would pour into our own Z.
| Photo | Product | Score | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Motul 8100 X-cess 5W-40 Full Synthetic Best Overall Viscosity 5W-40, full synthetic, API SN, ACEA A3/B4, 5L jug |
9.5 | 🛒 Check Price |
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Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5W-30 Full Synthetic Best for Daily Driving Viscosity 5W-30, full synthetic, API SP, dexos-class additives, 5qt |
9.3 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Castrol EDGE 5W-40 Full Synthetic with Fluid Titanium Best Film Strength Viscosity 5W-40, full synthetic, API SN, Fluid Titanium technology, 5qt |
9.2 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Liqui Moly Synthoil High Tech 5W-40 Full Synthetic Best European Formula Viscosity 5W-40, full synthetic, API SN, ACEA A3/B4, 5L |
9.0 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Pennzoil Platinum 5W-30 Full Synthetic Best Cleanliness Viscosity 5W-30, full synthetic from natural gas, API SP, 5qt |
8.8 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Royal Purple HMX High Mileage 5W-30 Full Synthetic Best for High Mileage Viscosity 5W-30, full synthetic, API SN PLUS, high-mileage additives, 5qt |
8.5 | 🛒 Check Price |
 |
Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic 5W-30 Best Value Synthetic Viscosity 5W-30, full synthetic, API SP, anti-wear additive boost, 5qt |
8.2 | 🛒 Check Price |
1. Motul 8100 X-cess 5W-40 Full Synthetic: Best Overall
If you drive your 370Z the way Nissan engineered it to be driven, the Motul 8100 X-cess 5W-40 is the oil we reach for first. The VQ37VHR generates real heat at the top of the tach, and this oil’s full ACEA A3/B4 high-shear rating means the 40-weight film actually stays a 40-weight when oil temperatures climb during back roads or a track session. Owners consistently report quieter valvetrain noise and stable oil pressure, which is exactly what you want from an engine known for ticking when it is fed thin or worn-out oil.
The honest weakness here is flexibility. This is a dedicated 5W-40, so if you live somewhere with brutal winters and want the easier cold cranking of a 5W-30, this is not the bottle for you. It also carries a premium feel in every sense, so daily drivers who never see redline may not extract the full benefit. But for a 370Z used as intended, the protection-per-mile value is genuinely hard to beat.
- Strong 40-weight film for sustained high-RPM heat on the VQ37VHR
- ACEA A3/B4 high-shear rating resists thinning when the engine is worked hard
- Strong detergent package keeps timing chain guides and VVEL passages clean
Pros: Excellent shear stability that holds viscosity on track days; Very popular and trusted in the 370Z and 350Z community; Quiets cold-start lifter tick on higher-mileage VQ engines
Cons: Premium positioning means it sits at the higher end for value; Not the right choice if you want a thinner 5W-30 for cold climates
2. Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5W-30 Full Synthetic: Best for Daily Driving
For the 370Z that mostly sees commuting, errands, and the occasional spirited on-ramp, the Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5W-30 is a smart, dependable choice. It carries the current API SP rating, flows beautifully on cold mornings so you get oil pressure to the VVEL system fast, and its extended-interval additive package stays effective across the longer drain windows that street-only owners tend to run. Nissan accepts 5W-30 in cooler climates, and this oil fits that brief without drama.
The trade-off is right there in the grade. A 30-weight film simply does not have the same high-temperature cushion as a 5W-40 when you start hammering the VQ on a hot day or a circuit. If your Z lives a hard life, step up a grade. But as a clean, consistent, easy-to-source daily oil that keeps the engine quiet and protected, this is one of the safest picks on the list.
- Long-interval additive system suited to mixed street commuting
- Strong cold-start flow for easier winter starts in a 370Z
- API SP rating with modern anti-wear chemistry for the timing chain
Pros: Excellent cold-weather flow and quick oil pressure on startup; Widely stocked and easy to find anywhere; Clean-running with low evaporation loss over long intervals
Cons: 30-weight film is thinner than the 5W-40 a hard-driven Z prefers; Less ideal for sustained track heat than a true 40-weight
3. Castrol EDGE 5W-40 Full Synthetic with Fluid Titanium: Best Film Strength
Castrol EDGE 5W-40 with Fluid Titanium is built around the idea that film strength matters as much as viscosity, and that philosophy fits the 370Z perfectly. The VQ37VHR puts huge instantaneous load on the bearings and chain when you bounce it off the limiter, and Castrol’s titanium chemistry is designed to keep the oil film intact exactly under that kind of pressure. It is a genuine 5W-40, so it matches Nissan’s grade recommendation and gives you the high-temperature margin a 30-weight cannot.
It is not flawless. A handful of owners notice slightly more cold-idle tick than they get from Motul, and the 5W-40 grade is not always on the shelf at every parts store, so you may need to order it. Those are minor gripes against a strong, well-priced full synthetic that does the core job of protecting a hard-working V6 very well.
- Fluid Titanium additive boosts film strength under heavy load
- Holds the 40-weight grade Nissan specifies for the VQ37VHR
- Resists viscosity breakdown during high-RPM operation
Pros: Strong film strength under pressure for high-revving use; Correct 5W-40 grade for hot-climate and spirited driving; Reduces metal-to-metal contact at the top of the rev range
Cons: Some owners report a slightly higher idle tick than with Motul; Availability of the 5W-40 grade varies by region
4. Liqui Moly Synthoil High Tech 5W-40 Full Synthetic: Best European Formula
Liqui Moly Synthoil High Tech 5W-40 brings German engineering discipline to the 370Z, and it shows in how clean and quiet it keeps the engine. The full synthetic base resists thermal breakdown impressively, and the ACEA A3/B4 rating tells you it is built to hold shear under exactly the conditions a revved VQ creates. Owners who switch to it often comment on smoother top-end behavior and a noticeably cleaner valve cover when the oil comes out.
The practical downsides are packaging and price. It is usually sold in one-liter bottles, so you end up doing a bit of quantity arithmetic to hit the 370Z’s roughly five-quart-plus capacity, and it is not an inexpensive oil. If you value a meticulously formulated European synthetic and do not mind the bottle juggling, it is an outstanding choice for this engine.
- German full synthetic base with strong thermal stability
- ACEA A3/B4 rating for high-shear, high-temperature protection
- Excellent cleanliness that keeps internal passages clear
Pros: Very stable under heat with low volatility; Smooth, quiet running and clean engine internals; High-quality base oil and additive engineering
Cons: Sold mostly in liter bottles, so quantity math is less convenient; Carries a premium price point
5. Pennzoil Platinum 5W-30 Full Synthetic: Best Cleanliness
Pennzoil Platinum 5W-30 earns its place on the strength of how clean it keeps an engine. Its PurePlus base oil, made from natural gas, starts life remarkably pure, and that translates into low deposits in the 370Z’s VVEL passages and on the valvetrain over time. For a daily-driven Z in a cooler climate where Nissan permits 5W-30, it offers refined, quiet operation and dependable cold-start protection that is genuinely reassuring.
As with the other 30-weight picks, the limitation is high-temperature headroom. The lighter film is excellent for street use but does not give you the cushion a 5W-40 provides when oil temperatures spike on a circuit or during sustained hard driving on a hot day. Keep it in the daily-driver lane and it rewards you with one of the cleanest engines in the group.
- PurePlus gas-to-liquid base oil runs exceptionally clean
- Strong protection against deposits in the VVEL system
- Good cold-flow for reliable startup oil pressure
Pros: Outstanding engine cleanliness and low deposit formation; Smooth, refined operation on a daily-driven Z; Easy to find at most retailers
Cons: 30-weight is lighter than ideal for track or hot-climate abuse; Less high-temperature margin than the 5W-40 options
6. Royal Purple HMX High Mileage 5W-30 Full Synthetic: Best for High Mileage
Once a 370Z crosses into higher mileage, oil consumption and slightly tired seals become real concerns, and Royal Purple HMX 5W-30 is formulated exactly for that stage. Its Synerlec additive technology builds a tougher film on bearing and chain surfaces, while the high-mileage seal conditioners help swell and soften aging seals to curb the weeping and consumption that older VQ engines can develop. Owners of well-loved Z cars often report a quieter, smoother engine after switching.
It does carry a premium price, which is worth weighing if your car is still low-mileage and does not need the high-mileage chemistry. And like the other 30-weights, it leans toward street duty rather than sustained track heat. But for an aging 370Z that you want to keep tight and quiet for many more miles, it is a thoughtfully targeted choice.
- Synerlec additive technology boosts film strength and protection
- Seal conditioners help older VQ engines control oil consumption
- Strong wear protection for engines past the break-in years
Pros: Seal conditioners reduce leaks and weeping on aging engines; Excellent anti-wear chemistry from the Synerlec additive; Noticeably smoother running on higher-mileage Z cars
Cons: Premium price for a high-mileage formula; 30-weight base may not suit hard-driven hot-climate use
7. Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic 5W-30: Best Value Synthetic
Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic 5W-30 is the sensible, no-drama choice for the 370Z owner who wants genuine full synthetic protection without chasing boutique oils. It is API SP rated, carries a boosted anti-wear additive package aimed squarely at long engine life, and flows well on cold starts so the VVEL system gets pressure quickly. It is also easy to find on any shelf, which matters when you just want to get an oil change done and back on the road.
The honest limitation is that it does not reach for the same high-temperature ceiling as the premium 5W-40 oils above it. As a 30-weight street oil it is excellent, but a hard-driven, hot-climate Z will be better served by a dedicated 5W-40. For everyday driving with solid, dependable protection and great real-world value, this Valvoline is a strong pick to round out the list.
- Extra anti-wear additives target engine longevity
- Reliable cold-start flow for consistent startup protection
- API SP rated with modern detergent chemistry
Pros: Strong protection-per-mile for an accessible full synthetic; Widely available and consistently stocked; Good detergency keeps the engine reasonably clean
Cons: Does not match the heat margin of the premium 5W-40 picks; Best kept to street use rather than track abuse
Frequently Asked Questions
What oil viscosity does the Nissan 370Z actually need?
Nissan specifies a full synthetic 5W-40 for the VQ37VHR engine in most markets, with 5W-30 accepted in cooler climates. The 5W-40 is the safer choice if you drive your 370Z hard, take it to track days, or live somewhere hot, because the thicker 40-weight film holds up better under sustained high-RPM heat. A 5W-30 is fine for mild-climate daily driving where Nissan permits it. Whatever grade you choose, make sure it is a true full synthetic that meets at least API SN, and ideally the newer API SP rating.
How often should I change the oil in my 370Z?
For a 370Z that sees spirited driving, most owners change full synthetic oil every 3,500 to 5,000 miles, which is more conservative than Nissan’s longer maximum interval. The VQ37VHR runs hot and revs high, both of which shorten oil life, so erring on the frequent side pays off in chain and valvetrain longevity. If you track the car, change the oil right after a track day regardless of mileage, since a single hot session can shear and degrade the oil significantly. A daily-driven Z on a mild commute can stretch toward the longer end of that window with a quality extended-performance synthetic.
How much oil does a 370Z take?
The VQ37VHR holds roughly 5.1 quarts, or about 4.8 liters, with a filter change. That means a standard five-quart jug leaves you just short, so it is wise to keep an extra quart on hand to top off to the correct level on the dipstick. Always fill, run the engine briefly, let it settle, and then check the dipstick rather than relying purely on the stated capacity. Overfilling a VQ can cause aeration and foaming, so it is better to add gradually and verify than to dump in the full amount at once.
Why does my 370Z engine tick, and can oil fix it?
The VQ37VHR is known for a degree of valvetrain or lifter tick, especially on cold starts and on higher-mileage cars. The right oil genuinely helps. Thin, worn-out, or off-spec oil tends to make the tick louder, while a quality 5W-40 with a strong additive package and good film strength often quiets it noticeably. Switching to a solid full synthetic like a 5W-40 and keeping to a shorter change interval is the most common owner fix. If a loud, persistent tick remains after fresh quality oil, it is worth inspecting timing chain tensioners and guides, which are a known wear point on this engine.
Can I use a 5W-30 instead of 5W-40 in my 370Z?
Yes, within limits. Nissan accepts 5W-30 for the VQ37VHR in cooler climates, so a daily-driven Z in a mild or cold region can run a quality full synthetic 5W-30 safely. The thinner oil also offers slightly easier cold starts. However, if you live somewhere hot, drive aggressively, or take the car on track, the 5W-40 is the better call because its thicker film gives more high-temperature protection right when the engine needs it most. Match the grade to how and where you actually drive rather than defaulting to whatever is on sale.
Our Verdict
For most 370Z owners who drive the car the way it was built to be driven, the Motul 8100 X-cess 5W-40 is our top pick thanks to its excellent shear stability, correct grade, and proven reputation in the VQ community. If your Z is a mild-climate daily driver, the Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5W-30 is the standout runner up, offering clean operation, easy cold starts, and dependable protection with the convenience of being available almost everywhere. Match the grade to your climate and driving style, keep the change interval short, and your VQ37VHR will reward you with years of high-revving service.
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