Nissan has begun rationing synthetic motor oil and reducing shipments to dealerships, with stores instructed to prioritize certain customers over others.
The issue affects Nissan-specific formulations of 5W-30 and 0W-20 synthetic oils, according to a service bulletin cited by Automotive News.
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Starting this week, dealership supplies of 5W-30 have been cut to 70% of last year's volume, while 0W-20 supplies have been slashed to 55%.
Priority Customers
The bulletin tells dealers to “prioritize the use of Nissan Genuine 0W-20 (and 5W-30, where applicable) for warranty, extended warranty, recall repairs, goodwill, and prepaid maintenance.”
This means customers coming in for a regular oil change may not receive the specially formulated oil.
Nissan is not alone.
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Toyota has warned dealers about possible shortages of 0W-8 and 0W-16 from ExxonMobil, encouraging them to make “motor oil substitutions.”
The shortage stems from the United States importing nearly half of the Group III base oils used to make synthetic oil and other lubricants.
The Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association expects America will “run out of Group III base oils from the Gulf region by June,” with the shortage possibly lasting until mid-2027.
“We’re all grabbing it and we’re all paying stupid prices ...
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to have it,” said Arnold Gacita, CEO of Petra Automotive Products, adding that costs will ultimately be passed to consumers.
