Increased oil consumption at ~65K miles?

elhombre · 05-14-2019, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misnomer

(I hope this same question hasn't come up recently; I did a search and found nothing, but it could be hidden in a thread with an unrelated topic)

I just spent $$$ having the oil gaskets replaced on my 2010 (my DD, but with only 66,000 miles). I am very, very lucky that I was able to get her fixed up before any engine damage occurred.

The guy at the shop (not dealership) told me that low oil levels are what led to the gaskets basically disintegrating, and that Zs start using more oil at around 65,000 miles. That last bit was news to me. I bought my car used in 2013, and for the past six years I haven't needed to check the oil between changes...or, at least, I thought I didn't. Now I will start checking it every 2,500 miles or so. The guy also recommended adding a cleaner called MOA at subsequent oil changes.

I'm probably a dumbass for never checking my dipstick between oil changes, but it is really a thing that our cars suddenly start using more oil at ~65K miles??

And what about MOA: worth the $25 each time?

(I had an RX-8 two cars ago, and am not thrilled about the idea/discovery of having another oil-eater...but, I ♥ my Z and will do what I can to keep her healthy for as long as possible.)

I check my oil every time I fill up my car...however how did they know that the galley gaskets were failing?

Misnomer · 05-14-2019, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicksilvers

You should lessen your mileage on your oil change intervals and begin using a thicker weight motor oil.

I will start doing these. When the guy at the shop recommended the MOA he said he didn't want to go so far as to recommend that I start using Mobile 1, but I think I just might. Makes for expensive oil changes, but cheaper than a new engine/car.

Quote:

Having known several people how owned Mazda RX8’s they have a much worse motor oil burning/motor oil consumption issue than the Nissan 370Z ever did.

Yep; in moderate weather I'd keep an extra quart or two in my tiny trunk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtec to vvel

Not normal for any car to burn so much oil suddenly.

It just didn't sound right when he said that oil consumption increases dramatically around 65,000 miles. I mean, why would it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by elhombre

how did they know that the galley gaskets were failing?

The oil pressure light started flickering last month. At first I misunderstood the light and thought it was for the oil level, so I got an early oil change, but the light kept flickering from time to time so I finally checked the manual and searched here and realized it was the pressure.

I got it to the shop immediately. They hoped it was just the sensor, but discovered it was the gaskets.

BettyZ · 05-14-2019, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misnomer

I will start doing these. When the guy at the shop recommended the MOA he said he didn't want to go so far as to recommend that I start using Mobile 1, but I think I just might. Makes for expensive oil changes, but cheaper than a new engine/car.

Yep; in moderate weather I'd keep an extra quart or two in my tiny trunk.

It just didn't sound right when he said that oil consumption increases dramatically around 65,000 miles. I mean, why would it?

The oil pressure light started flickering last month. At first I misunderstood the light and thought it was for the oil level, so I got an early oil change, but the light kept flickering from time to time so I finally checked the manual and searched here and realized it was the pressure.

I got it to the shop immediately. They hoped it was just the sensor, but discovered it was the gaskets.

Umm... definitely get a used oil analysis. You may have engine damage.

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JARblue · 05-14-2019, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misnomer

he said he didn't want to go so far as to recommend that I start using Mobile 1, but I think I just might. Makes for expensive oil changes, but cheaper than a new engine/car.

It doesn't have to be expensive. An oil change with Mobil 1 provided by a shop is often upwards of $90

My oil changes are about half that with Mobil 1 if I take it to a shop because I can always find 5 qts of Mobil 1 at Walmart for $25-28. BYOOil to your favorite shop and you should only have to pay labor - typically between $10-15. Add a few more $ if you don't bring your own oil filter.

Misnomer · 05-14-2019, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettyZ

Umm... definitely get a used oil analysis.

Yep, already planning to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

Hopefully you were just idling in the parking lot or something like that and not on the highway when the light came on.

It tended to flicker during long drives that included a lot of stop-and-go, and then also sometimes during idle (while at a light or something). It wasn't coming on during every drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

It doesn't have to be expensive. An oil change with Mobil 1 provided by a shop is often upwards of $90

Yeah, the guy at my shop said a Mobile 1 change would run about $100. If I switch, I'll definitely look into bringing my own oil.

Thanks!

JARblue · 05-14-2019, 10:28 AM

Hope your engine is still good... I would send in a sample of your oil to Blackstone for analysis like BettyZ mentions. The oil pressure light coming on at all is typically a sign of doom for the engine because the light doesn't come on until the pressure is ridiculously low. Hopefully you were just idling in the parking lot or something like that and not on the highway when the light came on.

JARblue · 05-14-2019, 11:03 AM

Make sure you trust the shop or at least tell them you need to keep the empty oil container. That way you can at least be pretty sure they used the actual oil you provided. I've heard of the shop guys keeping the Mobil 1 for themselves and just tossing in whatever oil is cheapest.

Misnomer · 05-14-2019, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

I've heard of the shop guys keeping the Mobil 1 for themselves and just tossing in whatever oil is cheapest.

The shop I use is close to where I used to work, but is 16-17 miles from where I live and work now. I've used them regularly for the past few years, after problems with both the local dealership and a local Meineke. I was relieved to feel like I'd found a good place: as a woman who doesn't know much about mechanics (and sees no point in trying to act like I do) it can be hard to find a shop to trust, and it's been worth the 30-minute drive a few times a year. But now I'm wondering (a) why the guy said the thing about the car using more oil after 65,000 miles, and (b) why no one there mentioned the possibility that my engine could be damaged. Might be time to head to the Mid-Atlantic Region forum and see if there are any recommendations for shops closer to me.

RamseyJ · 05-14-2019, 01:07 PM

This just makes me want to swap that useless clock or battery gauge to an oil pressure gauge even more now. Good luck on the oil analysis, keep us updated!

vtec to vvel · 05-14-2019, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

Make sure you trust the shop or at least tell them you need to keep the empty oil container. That way you can at least be pretty sure they used the actual oil you provided. I've heard of the shop guys keeping the Mobil 1 for themselves and just tossing in whatever oil is cheapest.

This right here is grounds for an @$$-whoopin’. It’s sad what society has become. I’m sure there are hard-working/honest mechanics still around, but the ones that give them a bad name will either:

1. Half@$$ the work
2. Do the work, but break something else and scare you into fixing what is already working to begin with
3. Claim and charge the work was done, but really wasn’t
4. Take your car for a joyride

I remember there is a member on this forum who would tell stories about how they worked at Nissan as a mechanic, but had that “not-my-car-so-idgaf” mentality.

Cyer6 · 06-16-2019, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

Make sure you trust the shop or at least tell them you need to keep the empty oil container. That way you can at least be pretty sure they used the actual oil you provided. I've heard of the shop guys keeping the Mobil 1 for themselves and just tossing in whatever oil is cheapest.

So glad dad showed me how to work on cars. This is why I refuse to let anyone do routine maintenance work (like oil changes) on my car. I'm worried they'll not put in the right oil I requested, put in too little or too much, forget to tighten the drain bolt or over-torque it, forget to change out the oil filter or put the wrong one in and then not tighten it properly. That kind of **** would keep me awake at night and I would end up doing it all over myself the next weekend just so I could sleep again.

BettyZ · 06-16-2019, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyer6

So glad dad showed me how to work on cars. This is why I refuse to let anyone do routine maintenance work (like oil changes) on my car. I'm worried they'll not put in the right oil I requested, put in too little or too much, forget to tighten the drain bolt or over-torque it, forget to change out the oil filter or put the wrong one in and then not tighten it properly. That kind of **** would keep me awake at night and I would end up doing it all over myself the next weekend just so I could sleep again.

I started changing my own oil after some numbnuts at a Midas put my 350Z dipstick in the wrong hole, leaving an open tube. Went for a roadtrip and saw I had 0 oil pressure.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Quicksilvers · 06-17-2019, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BettyZ

I started changing my own oil after some numbnuts at a Midas put my 350Z dipstick in the wrong hole, leaving an open tube. Went for a roadtrip and saw I had 0 oil pressure.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Everyone here should be doing their own oil changes it’s very easy and there are write ups here on how to do an oil change on a 370Z. Definitely avoid bringing your 370Z to places like Midas, Jiffy Lube,or any quick oil change shop because a lot of these people how work at these places don’t know much about our cars and can quickly screw up your 370Z. I know one person that went to Jiffy Lube to get his oil changed on his STI and the lube technician drained the motor oil but,never changed the oil filter or refilled the motor oil. One day later his engine catastrophically failed and his turbocharger failed as well.

Get your oil changed by anyone but you at your own risk!

Z's · 05-14-2019, 01:08 PM

Another M1 user here, 10w30 and when I traded in my 09 with 107k miles it never used a bit of oil between 4k changes. And I heat the ghost out of that car. I think it's luck of the draw, regardless of oil brand or even variations in viscosity. Mass produced or hand built every engine is different in it's own microscopic way. Just keep up with checking it and don't worry about it. Now my girlfriend's 05 DE, that's another story lol...

JARblue · 05-14-2019, 09:52 PM

I heard about a guy who had it happen to him. He called out the shop on the oil switcharoo and got a refund. But he wasn't happy about being out the 5 qts of oil he bought. So later that evening, he drove over to the shop with tools and did an oil change on his car in the parking lot right in front of the shop entrance. I drove by and saw the results the next morning. He didn't bother to use an oil pan when draining the oil

05-14-2019, 10:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 45 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684442	Hope your engine is still good... I would send in a sample of your oil to Blackstone for analysis like BettyZ mentions. The oil pressure light coming on at all is typically a sign of doom for the engine because the light doesn't come on until the pressure is ridiculously low. Hopefully you were just idling in the parking lot or something like that and not on the highway when the light came on. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

05-14-2019, 11:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 45 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684442	Make sure you trust the shop or at least tell them you need to keep the empty oil container. That way you can at least be pretty sure they used the actual oil you provided. I've heard of the shop guys keeping the Mobil 1 for themselves and just tossing in whatever oil is cheapest. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

05-14-2019, 01:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
RamseyJ Base Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 8 Drives: 2016 370z Nismo Rep Power: 8	This just makes me want to swap that useless clock or battery gauge to an oil pressure gauge even more now. Good luck on the oil analysis, keep us updated! Misnomer likes this.

05-14-2019, 01:08 PM	#14 (permalink)
Z's Base Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 18 Drives: 2009 Nissan 370z SR Rep Power: 10	Another M1 user here, 10w30 and when I traded in my 09 with 107k miles it never used a bit of oil between 4k changes. And I heat the ghost out of that car. I think it's luck of the draw, regardless of oil brand or even variations in viscosity. Mass produced or hand built every engine is different in it's own microscopic way. Just keep up with checking it and don't worry about it. Now my girlfriend's 05 DE, that's another story lol... Misnomer and elhombre like this.

05-14-2019, 09:52 PM	#15 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 45 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684442	I heard about a guy who had it happen to him. He called out the shop on the oil switcharoo and got a refund. But he wasn't happy about being out the 5 qts of oil he bought. So later that evening, he drove over to the shop with tools and did an oil change on his car in the parking lot right in front of the shop entrance. I drove by and saw the results the next morning. He didn't bother to use an oil pan when draining the oil Rusty, StormWhite and BettyZ like this. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

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