Z Oil Change: Miles or Time?

FricFrac

Viscosity is very important. Nissan engineers designed your engine to run with a specific viscosity. Read the manual and determine which is the right viscosity for your climate. Oil flow is critical although a lot of people think the oil presure is the most important. They try to fix low oil pressure by putting in thicker oil which raises the oil pressure and reduces oil flow. Now the oil doesn't get to where it needs to be and the oil that is there doesn't get replaced as quickly with fresh oil. Oil temp is also very important as that is what determines viscosity to some degree. Bobistheoilguy is a good web page if you want to learn about oil.

Quieter valve train, smoother reving, etc is a poor analysis of how your oil is working. It's very subject to to many variables especially the power of suggestion. Send your oil to the lab for testing and research independant lab results on used oil from other 370Z memebers as well as VOA results...... which brings us to a point actually related to this thread. Has anyone had results from any of the labs for oil that has sat in the vehicle for extended periods of time (eg low useage/mileage 370Zs)?

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'09 370Z - '93 300ZX Vert - '83 280ZX - '83 280ZXT -'81 280ZXT stroker - '72 240Z - Stillen CBE, HFC, G3, Grounding Kit, Sways // Swift Spring // H&R 15mm // 5% Tint // Clear Bra //

LinPark

I sent Blackstone Labs the original ester oil with 1,173 miles on it (after 4+ months of driving) and the replacement ester oil that had 1,963 miles on it (after 7+ months of driving). The original Redline is still in it from March '11 with about 3,000 milies on it - I'll change that out on Memorial Day weekend and send the sample in for analysis. I'll post those results which should show all 3 sets of data side by side.

rebe945

That would be great to know since mines low mileage.

MightyBobo

When I sent my initial oil change out for analysis (~1100 miles or so), and then compared it to my NEXT change (~4000 miles), Blackstone found a significant amount of the block casting materials were missing in the 2nd sample.

All this did was confirm to me that I dont want that junk swirling around my engine for the 4000 or so miles that Nissan recommends before you change the oil during break-in.

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I don't own a car anymore.

LinPark

Oil change is done, sample is taken, and I will mail it out on Tuesday. I'll post up the report once I get it back.

JARblue

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LinPark

As promised, here is the oil report that came back:



I did add the Stillen G3's during this sample so I'm guessing the silicon came from the new air filters on those - not sure why it was even raised given that the silicon is much less than the previous sample. Other than that it looks pretty good - if I stick to his suggestion of 5,000 miles, this oil will stay in the car for almost 2 years. I doubt I'll do that, but would be very interesting to see what would happen - any volunteers?

JARblue

+1

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370Z Purist

Wow, 14 months and only 3100 miles? I change every six months regardless of mileage. What does your odometer read?

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-Phil

"Since one of my brake light bulbs just went out, the forum told me that my piston rings are about to blow."

IDZRVIT

Guessing the silicon may have come from fine particles of sand. Blackstone suggested this in their comments - abrasive silicon. Check your air filter for damage or not fitted properly.

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Vette: 355 cid, 400 rwhp
'13 CTS-V Coupe: 6.2L LSA, 556HP

LinPark

You could actually add it up from the oil report since all 3 of them are shown - I'm at 1,173+1,963+3,124 = 6,268 - actually drove the car this past weekend so I am right at 6,300 today.

Will do - just seems odd that the amount is half what it was last time after 50% more usage - maybe I'll give them a call and see if he was looking at the wrong row or something. Wouldn't be unheard of to find "abrasive silicon" on the west coast of Florida. Thanks!