Magnetic Drain Plug Necessary?
 

Someone please enlighten me on this. If there were some ferrous (iron, steel) particles suspended in the oil pan, wouldn't the filter capture it there? I just don't get the need for a magnetic drain plug, but maybe I'm missing something.

It's for EXTRA protection, yeah in THEORY it's the filter's job, but maybe that piece of metal is big enough and your oil is flowing fast enough to blow a hole through the filter?
It's more preventative and/or, 'if you're gonna do it, might as well overdo it'

I've never cut my filter open to look at it but I've seen stuff on the tip of the magnetic drain plug. I thought there were pics on the web of folks who had cut the filters in half and you could see the stuff trapped on the side of the filter. If you don't want to spring for the $25 and put it on then don't. I know I sleep better at night knowing it's on there. :)

Just wanted to say thanks for the great write up and info from all.
I will reference this thread if I ever have to write a paper on oils.

:tup:

Alternate to Tiny 370Z Oil Filter
 

Sorry if this has been covered here, but I ain't readin' all these posts to find out.

I agree, ridiculously small. I'll be damnified if I'll use the stock pencil sized motorcycle filter on this car. I've been using oversized filters on my Z since the last couple changes. Here are a couple filters that fit (with the same or nearly the same by-pass relief press. spec.) The tiny Z recommended filter is listed at the bottom.

The one I used below is the Wix 51334. Much bigger (i.e. Height and O.D.).

I just found these myself, so use at your own discretion.

370Z ALTERNATE Oil Filters

Wix: 51334 (bigger)
UPC Number: 765809513341

Height: 3.194
Outer Diameter Top: 3.252
Outer Diameter Bottom: Closed:
Gasket Diameters O.D. I.D. Thk.
Attached 2.475 2.173 0.233

Thread Size: 20X1.5 MM
By-Pass Valve Setting-PSI: 8-11
Anti-Drain Back Valve: Yes
Beta Ratio: 2/20=6/20
Burst Pressure-PSI: 280
Max Flow Rate: 9-11 GPM



Part (Wix): 51344 (bigger still)
UPC Number: 765809513440

Height: 4.069
Outer Diameter Top: 3.242
Outer Diameter Bottom: Closed
Gasket Diameters O.D. I.D. Thk.
Attached 2.490 2.200 0.148

Thread Size: 20X1.5 MM
By-Pass Valve Setting-PSI: 8-11
Anti-Drain Back Valve: Yes
Beta Ratio: 2/20=6/20
Burst Pressure-PSI: 360
Max Flow Rate: 9-11 GPM
Nominal Micron Rating: 21

Fram XG3593A. I like this one.

SPECIFIED FOR 370Z

Product Line: NAPA Gold Filters
Part Number: FIL 1358 (Tiny)

Attributes:
Beta Ratio : 2/20=6/20
Flow Rate : 8 - 10 gpm
Gasket I.D. (Inches) : 2.23"
Media Type : Glass Enhanced Cellulose
Oil Filter Gasket O.D. (Inches) : 2.42"
Oil Filter Height (Inches) : 2.782"
Oil Filter O.D. (Inches) : 2.685"
Oil Filter Style : Spin-On Lube Filter
Burst Pressure : 265 psi
Gasket I.D. (mm) : 57 mm
Oil Filter Gasket O.D. (mm) : 61 mm
Oil Filter Height (mm) : 71 mm
Oil Filter O.D. (mm) : 68 mm
Oil Filter Thread Size (mm) : 20 x 1.50 mm


WIX (equiv.)
Part Number: 51358
UPC Number: 765809513587

Style: Spin-On Lube Filter
Service: Lube
Type: Full Flow
Media: Paper

Height: 2.782
Outer Diam Top: 2.685
Gasket Dia. O.D. I.D. Thk.
2.475 2.173 0.233

Outer Diameter Bottom: Closed:
Thread Size: 20X1.5 MM
By-Pass Valve Setting-PSI: 8
Anti-Drain Back Valve: Yes
Beta Ratio: 2/20=6/20
Burst Pressure-PSI: 265
Max Flow Rate: 8-10 GPM
Nominal Micron Rating: 21

P.S. and for you Fram oil filter haters: If you take a look at their premium filters (like the Fram Ultra Guard Synthetic, or even the Tough Guard) I don't think you'll find much better (standard type) filters. I opened up the Tough Guard and it appeared to be built as well as the top-o-line Wix that I've been using. I did not however stretch the media paper out to check the total area. If anyone has more info on the premium Frams, please post it here. Thx

Great info! Thanks to you, I'll be doing my own oil change~

yeah, RIGHT...dealer here, in vegas, charged me $56 for either the two crush gaskets for the oil, or, 6 gaskets covering the pan/tran/diffy...i axed him if'n they were made outta GOLD and left...gotta a call later to say i had to pay/charge in order to put the order through...

i ordered from victorville, cali, for $12 incl. postage...

eventually complained to the cust. serv. mgr. when change time came an d hopefully got it straightened out...

what a farce...

The Best Oils? Look at the UOA Data
 

Thanks for the info Zforce. I see a lot of people here saying how great this or that oil is based on their feelings and not facts - like UOA (used oil analysis) which I think is the only true measure of oil quality in an engine. I was going to switch to Redline from Mobil1 that I am now using but after looking at the chart for the VQ35DE I'm now leaning towards Castrol Syntec 0W-30 or perhaps one of the other oils with more of the "green" (better than std. deviation) numbers. I think this chart is very telling.
One Caveat: Some of these oils only have 1 or 2 samples taken on this chart so in all fairness, those numbers might not be representative of that particular oil.

If anyone has UOA numbers for the Z eng. (VQ37VHR) and which oil used, I sure would like to see 'em. thanks

I can't get the UOA chart image to copy, so I'll paste the link.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...a/UOAChart.jpg

Search the UOA section in Bob Is The Oil Guy Forum for posts under my name.
There are a couple of results with Redline in my 2009 370Z. I am currently running Pennzoil Ultra and will post the UOA in a few weeks when I do the next change and get the Blackstone results back. One immediate difference is that as I am approaching the 40K mileage point, oil consumption with the 05W-30 Ultra has been less than a half quart in 4000 miles. Using Redline from the 5000 mile to 35,000 mile point, I was using about 1.25 quarts per 5000 mile OCI. Either the engine is finally settling down, or the Ultra has made a difference in consumption. If I get comparable numbers on the UOA I may switch to Ultra, it is considerably less expensive per oil change.

I wrote to K&N Tech Dept to get the factory thoughts about moving up from the standard recommended HP-1008 to the taller HP-1010. Here's the response:

Thank you for your interest in K&N products. We only recommend using the oil filter that is listed for your application, the HP-1008, PS-1008 and/or SS-1008. Matching an oil filter by outside dimensions does not take into account the internal structures of the media, bypass valve (if it has one), inlet/exit holes and related.

Plus, if you use an oil filter that we do not list for the application, it can void the warranty on the oil filter. We design our oil filters to meet and surpass the factory filtration and flow requirements that way by using the correct oil filter will still give you the advantages you are looking for.

If you have any further questions, please reply to this email or call our Customer Support Team at 800-858-3333

Since this thread has popped back up.... Dwight, have you looked into the pennzoil ultra any further? It iis what I have used in my 370z since its first oil change. I also used it in my 2011 wrx for over 30k miles of hard driving . My wrx did not consume noteable oil either. Great cheap oil I feel.

I am doing an oil change next weekend and will send the sample of the Pennzoil Ultra in to Blackstone for a UOA. It will be the first sample with that oil, and it will have about 5000 miles on it. Will be interesting to compare with the Redline.
There has been some buzz on the Bob Is The Oil Guy website that there is some kind of new replacement coming for the Ultra. That may mean some good close out pricing on the current formula, provided you can find any. If you could find a 5 qt. jug for $25 or so I would buy a few.
I'll report my lab results when I get them.

Thanks for the heads up. my best friend manages an advanced auto parts here in town. So ill ask him what they got.

very curious on your results. Especially with 5000 miles. Im always a bit nervous to push it that far. I change around 3500-3750.

Anybody using the Purolator Synthetic oil filters, are they any good? I was using the K&N's but had a defective filter the other day, the car almost bled to death after two days. Thank God nothing catastrophic happened.

im using the black k&n filter right now.

I just started using the black K&N also.

I put on the purolator recommended here last weekend. No issues so far...

I used a regular purgolator filter, it was the same size as the stock one.

Did my first oil change today. Tons of help here. Thanks a ton for this writeup!

:tup:

just did the first oil change since buying my z. i'm no noob, i've been working on my own vehicles for over a decade, but there's something special about doing the first oil change. makes me all tingly inside.

I know what you mean. I drank a glass of the first oil I drained on mine.

Gotta Luv them Magnetic Oil Drain Plugs!
 

re: Magnetic Drain Plug

OK, well you guys got me all worried about nuthin' I suppose (most of the metal particles aren't ferrous anyway) but I went ahead and installed a magnetic drain plug.

I found mine on Amazon: Mishimoto MMODP-12125B Black M12 x 1.25 Magnetic Oil Drain Plug ) 12 x 1.25mm (fine thread).

The first time I ordered I just specified 370Z and they sent me a 12 x 1.50 (coarse thread, I think the pkg. was just mis-marked) so I had to send it back. The second time I specified 12 x 1.25 mm and they got me the right one. It seems well made and has one helluva strong Neodymium magnet in it. I can't wait to capture all them steel chunks!

Also: I returned this one due to a very weak magnet: NRG M12 X 1.25 Gold Magnetic Oil Drain Plug Part # NOP-200GD (from Auto Dynasty).

yah, sounds like a typical mishimoto product.

The only Greddy part I have is a magnetic drain plug.

at least you can Trust them. :D :ugh:

Just wanted to add, you only need to remove the 4 rear most bolts that hold the very back of the splash shield on instead of all 16 plus the 4 clips. The splash shield has a fold in it to allow quick access to the oil filter and plug once the four bolts are removed, just fold it back and hold in place with a strap or cable of some sort and it stays well out of the way of the dirty oil stream and oil filter, hope that helps save some time for someone down the road. :tup:

I think someone already mentioned doing it this way but here are some pics for clarity! I didn't get one drop of oil on anything. This flap was designed for the purpose of doing an oil change I believe.

:tup:

so...its very dumb question but just to make sure

I need 10mm socket wrench and 12mm wrench to remove the necessary bolts? 12mm for the drain plug?

I bought my car used, I am not sure what kind of oil its in (conventional or synthetic)
is it okay if I use full synthetic? anything I should be careful with?

Thank you so much

We would encourage you to stick with any full synthetic 5-30w oil

And make sure to check the oil level often so there are no ugly surprises that may lead to engine failure for assuming that everything was Okay.

:iagree:

the plug is 14mm.

Does the Purolator PL14610 filter fit on a base 2015 370z? I only ask because some websites say that it does not fit. Want to double check before I make my purchase.

So I got my oil change done at the dealer and they put my greedy plug on there. I don't think it had a copper crush washer. It isn't leaking, but should i just put one on there next change or replace the oil and put one on there now? I'm not sure how critical the washer is.

The washer is important. Does your Greddy plug come with its own washer? Most do. If that washer is in place, you are good to go. Note that the Greddy washer is not copper.

+1... that washer is a gasket. you'll want that on there.

I guess I need to jack my car up and check this out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just finished the break-in period for my car and changed its oil for the first time in preparation for a cross-country move. :driving:

After removing the undertray, I noticed there were some white stains on it. I washed them off, but am somewhat curious. :confused:

What leaking liquid in the engine compartment would dry white? It's not a chronic problem, thankfully nothing is visually leaking, but it was disconcerting. :ugh2:

Moving to Cali?

This promo is good until 5/31/15

https://mobiloil.com/en/promotion/mobil-promotions