Excessive oil consumption?
 

This doesn't seem to be a common problem to most, but when it hit's, it appears to hit's big.

What do you think is the "cause" of the excessive oil consumption that some of the Z owners are experiencing? Something originating from the factory in manufacturing or assembly, or a part that slipped by quality control, or an improper break-in, or maybe someone red lining the car on at test drive?

All I can think of is rings or valve guides, but those kind of things take lots of miles to cause a problem, and that sort of thing shouldn't effect a brand new engine. What do you think is the cause or causes?

Since I'm one of those unfortunate soles to have this issue, I'm curious as well. Also curious to hear from anyone who has had to have a long/short block replacement as a result (or whatever else).

do search, there are plenty of topics about oil consumption already.

RevUp 350Z
 

I don't know if this will be of any comfort to you, but I have a 2006 Rev Up 350Z which consumed crazy amounts of oil initially. My tail pipes and lower portion of the rear bumper were black from all the oil. I decided to just check and add oil frequently as I did not want to go through an engine replacement.
Anyway after about 20000 miles the issue resolved on its own, and I now have 85000 miles on the car without any issues.
As a matter of fact I still have the original brake pads and clutch, although 90% of my driving is on the highway.

You're thinking along the correct lines. All of these "problems" are not really problems. They are perfectly normal with a new engine. Piston rings need to "seat" (or break-in), machined surfaces need to "burnish" (or glaze), and other factors lead to excessive oil consumption. BUT, this is normal to new engines. After the normal break-in period, and well beyond that in most cases, this oil consumption issue will not continue.

Again, this is not a problem. Unless there are some other mitigating circumstances causing oil consumption. (Usually covered under warranty.)

Don't open the hood.................!
 

Just enjoy the car and Don't open the hood or check the oil. Just change it at every 3K mark and don't worry about it. If it runs out of oil between the oil changes or seizes up, its Nissan's problem not yours. If you have the extended warranty you still don't have to worry about it after 36K, so have fun and as I said "Just enjoy the car".
:tiphat:

Excessive oil consumption?
 

Makes sense 6MT, good input.

This may suggest that if someone is having an unusual oil problem, after the break in period, when they do the first oil change, they should stay with the Ester oil, and really drive the Z to help what 6MT described happen in the engine, then go with the better lubricating synthetic.

:facepalm:

Remember also, that the 1200 mile break-in is just a recommended number to get everything working well together. Gears, differential etc. Many motors take well more than that to truly beak-in and stop using oil. 5, 10, even 15K is not unusual in some cases..

He is just asking a question?

It could be that Nissan didn't learned it lesson with the 2006 MT model, Quality Control or Just in Time (JIT) when they grow so fast that the company losses focus of their Quality Assurance.

Or just simple mismanagement and someone needs to be fired in Nissan is that is going to be an issue also on the 370Z. For now enjoy the car! ;)

If it's so normal, how come my '04 350z didn't burn any oil in the 5 years I owned it? I guess it was a factory freak? How come Nissan is replacing my short block? I guess they enjoy replacing engines unnecessarily?

Sorry about the sarcasm, but a brand new engine (under 20k miles within the first year) should not be consuming 4-5 quarts of oil between oil changes. That, to me, is a serious issue.

Victim here too was losing a quart of oil every 1k miles.... First trip to Nissan was a new timing belt and gear... Second trip was new motor... Just got back last week. Only 10k miles on car and fresh motor...

Lynch - I'm curious... did you get a short or long block? Luckily I just got a call informing me they canceled the order for the short block and are ordering a long block instead. Nissan wants to capture the entire engine for analysis. It's completely normal operation, though. :wtf2:

Amazes me that Nissan still produces alot of oil burners, this problem started with the 3.5. Lots of 350Z, 02+ Maxima and G35/37 guys have this issue, this comes up alot in those forums as well. The old VQ 3.0 and VG series did not have this issue nearly as much.

Mine was replaced with a long block looking at the parts list....

First, I love this car! I purchased this car for myself March 09 base manual pearl white with sports package. I avoid driving behind anyone without mud flaps. I’m that guy that parks way out there away from it all. I hand wash & dry it with only my hand.

So, the car has had 4 oil changes all done buy Nissan. I took car in at 11k because the loud slapping sounds at start up coming from the engine. The Service Mgr requested servicing records when and where last oil change was done. The Servicing Mgr stated the vehicle had practically no oil. I became upset the fact I didn’t check this. My last oil change was done at the Dealer and it was a disaster. I will never go to that Nissan Dealership again. There Service Departing has a 1 star rating when I googled them, anyway they curbed my rear wheel in 3 separate locations while fixing a nail in the tire my rear tire and dented the rocker panel. They offered to resurface the wheel and gave me touchup paint. I called Nissan Consumer Affairs and they did not believe me nor care point blank. I also called BBB and I got a call from the GM. The resolution was swapping parts from a new Z.

So Nissan is now undergoing an oil consumption test and I am advised to drive 1K and report back. I drove the car normally as daily commute to work. I noticed a loss in power and the noise came before 1k was completed. Service dept stated oil is low again and if it were a millimeter lower the engine would be replaced. The car had to be toped off to redo the oil consumption test. I called Nissan Consumer Affairs again and I told them I no longer want the car and requested them to buy it back, they stated that’s not practical and its under warranty. Perhaps I’m not being reasonable. I am that guy!

Just like most of the '06 350s. Nissan has got to do sump'n on this issue.

"Most" 06's did not have a problem, and in case you haven't noticed, all EXCESSIVE oil consumption issues reported here (not the whiners using a quart every 3K) have been dealt with by replacing the motor..

That's exactly what I mean, mod'; a spanking new ride shouldn't need a new engine in the first place, man. The "Quality Control" personnel at Nissan need to get on the ball. Sorry if I hurt sensibilities, dude, but these "clunky MT", "oil consumption", "hatch door issue", "squeak", etc., posts are popping up like rabbits.

the only problems I have had so far are the windows not popping back up and the boot door.

oil consumption is really low for some reason

I understand your car is "FLAWLESS" but understand, that cars are made by man and machines..they can't be perfect...ever. It's a New model and small glitches are to be expected. Despite that, JD Powers gave it the highest initial quality award in it's class...(that award determined from owner feedback, Doh!) The VAST majority of 370's have no issues at all despite what you read here. Reports here are from a very small cross-section of owners that don't seem to really know much about cars.

Initial quality? What good is initial quality if the motor only lasts until your first oil change? LOL.... let's see a real metric after a year or two.

I appreciate that last comment too. I enjoy going to the track and knowing a thing or two about what I am doing. I also like taking pictures. :)

Hallett Raceway 8-29-08
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/...5ea0f1d2c3.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/...f0a61ed4c8.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/...d837b6d36a.jpg

Sheriffs Track 7-20-08
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/...8fa44647b8.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/...c23dca6b5c.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3290/...2786a21614.jpg

Sherrifs Track 6-22-08
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/...732d2b850d.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/...6f4f831aa0.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/...5e66865223.jpg

So, let's get rid of this notion that these oil hungry motors only affect noobs who don't know how to check their oil. If that were the case then damn near every 370 would be having issues.

BTW... I'm @ 500 miles since last top off and already almost a quart low. Damn, I must be doing something wrong!! LOL

update
 

Just arrived at 13K after completing 2 oil consumption tests. New Engine will arrive within 2 weeks.

I have a 2010 370Z and it is at Nissan replacing the short block! :( oil constantly low at oil change, 3/4 low at 1500 miles

The only vehicle I have heard of that stopped using oil 5K miles or later in life was a BMW motorcycle with their crazy hard rings/walls. If the car is still using after 1200 miles I would suspect an issue.

It's pretty common with modern tolerances.

That has not been my (albeit limited) experience. Then, I have only owned one BRAND NEW car, so I am at a bit of a loss there.

What exactly do you claim is going to change in that engine that has not already changed at 1200 miles that will prevent further oil burning?

on the S, there were guys that saw oil consumption for the first 7k, then went on and have 150k+ with no issues.

S2K did not have conventional cylinder walls, either. IT falls into the category of the BMW motorcycle as an outlier. The 370Z has steel-lined aluminum cylinder walls and hypereutectic pistons along with plasma-moly rings, no?

Your problem is patience. Give it 5k miles and you'll see (and I'm 100% sure, unless you oil starve the engine) oil consumption will no longer be this "issue" you are concerned about.

And NO, I'm not being sarcastic or trying to pick a fight. Flame me if you want, but the majority, 99.99%, of all oil consumption "issues" are not problems but normal usage because of ring seating.

Again.... if you missed that.... give it some more time!

i don't think the frm walls make such a big difference....

You told me they did. Further, I think the S2K uses forged pistons, no?

I never said that:ugh2:

My Z06 stopped using oil at 600 miles. Hasn't burned a drop since (at 3600 miles now). I was just saying I have never heard of a conventionally constructed engine burning oil beyond 12-1500 miles if broken in correctly.

You cited it as an example. Can you think of a different example, with conventional steel liners/hyper pistons?

how about the vq35? Well known to burn oil for quite a while...

Does it then stop?

I have read that this series of motors from Nissan doesn't produce peak performance on the dyno/strip until 4-10K miles.

people say it does...

Huh, well if my 370Z happens to use oil, I will give it 5K or so to start slowing down, then. Thanks! :tiphat: