Why no oil change recommendation in the owner's manual?!?!
 

What's up with that? No oil change or service recommendations in the owner's manual?

Does anyone know when oil changes, oil filter changes, etc. should occur?

Also, if I switch to Mobil 1 5W-30 on my first oil change, what will my oil and filter change interval be? For example, my Mini Cooper S gets an oil change every 15,000 miles...

Help me out, please...

Thanks

^Every 15,000 miles?! Do you mean 1500?

I think 1500-3000 is pretty standard for most vehicles.

2009 Nissan 370Z Service & Maintenance Guide PDF by AK

It is in the above that was included with your car in a separate manual. I would not leap to 15,000 Mobil1 Extended so early in the mileage game.

Yes, I mean 15,000. Minis and BMWs go that long between oil changes...

Why not? You think it might hurt the engine?

You reduce the risk of both contamination and unwanted engine particles when you changeout both the oil and the oil filter frequently on a new engine. You are asking the oil filter to do a lot of protection for 15,000 miles or one year (whichever comes first according to Mobil1 Extended requirements); I would assist matters by changing at 5,000 on synthetic and 3,000 on dino. At least for the first 10,000 miles. There will be at least three (3) oil changes completed within the first 10,000 miles on our 370Z.

Wow that's impressive!

Just do a oil change every 3000 miles using an OEM filter and some dino oil. It is really cheap preventative maintenance. $5 for an OEM filter and $10 for 5 quarts of 5w30 dino oil at $2 a quart.

Companies like BMW et al, those that offer "free" maintenance programs, benefit from longer service intervals because the company does not need to pay for as many services. If you look at any company that has a free maintenance program as opposed to ones that do not, the manufacturers that offer a free maintenance program always have maintenance intervals that are 3 times longer at least than the one that don't offer it.

As for those companies that recommend longer intervals between services, it is more of a sales pitch that their vehicles can go longer between service intervals, hence, they can claim a lower cost of maintenance and ownership than if they recommended more frequent services.
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So 3 oil changes over a span of 9K miles will set you back about $45 if you do it yourself. Or if you go to the dealer and shell out $30 for an oil change, around $90, which is nothing.

I actually split the two. I always run full synthetic and change it at 6 months or 6k miles.

BMW never recommended 15,000 mi. until they started paying for it. Let's not forget the lifetime coolant and gear lube. Looks great for the environment and puts money in BMW's pocket after the warranty expires and things go south.

That's why I would never buy a BMW off lease no matter how good it looked.

I changed the oil in my 335i twice before it hit 7000 and they thought I was nuts.

I've been changing the oil in my MINI S every 5000 miles, using Mobil 1 (or, sometimes, Redline). More often when I take the car to the track. I certainly don't trust the oil filter for 15000 miles, whether or not the oil would be OK.

Normal driving, I'll probably do 3-5k miles on synthetic depending on how much is freeway and how much is short trips. Obviously the best thing to do is check your oil level and quality every now and then.

i know a chick im stationed with and her dad works for mobil 1 and that 3k change thing is bs 6k is fine as long as your not driving around like a mad man all day

Except for the first OIL change at 500 miles along with the first introduction of Royal Purple 5W30. This engine will recieve oil changes every 3,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first.

wow i dont even change the oil every 3months on my 20year old Porsche.. :p

so, from the factory, the 370z comes with dino not synthetic? that's kinda weird...

You don't want synthetic on a new engine, it will prevent proper break-in. Most people switch to synthetic at around 1200-3000 miles.

Sigh, I remember when I took my 370 to dealership for its first oil change at 500. I told them to just put dino but they kept insisting that all Z's(including 350) comes with synthetic from factory.

However, It's not like he was trying to take my money because he then insisted I shouldn't even get my oil changed since it was unnecessary.

You'd be amazed at the number of manufacturers that fill with synthetic at the factory. Porsche and BMW to name a few.

Yeah - that's about it - I like to change my oil halfway between one service and the next, then it gets one at service time too. This works out about every 5k miles for me - fully synth too.

Strangely, I actually love doing it :p

An oil change on a rear-engine Porsche is about $300 because it's a total PITA. BMW corporate is paying for the oil change on their cars so they're going to try and stretch it as much as possible. Modern engines are built with such tight clearances that the break-in period in reality is pretty short, but I still like to avoid synthetics in that time.

You don't need to change your oil every 3,000 miles. You're just wasting your time and money.

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^ good post. I never understood how so many people go on car message boards saying this about oil change intervals and that about break in period and so on with nothing to back it up.

Most drivers will never use Blackstone Lab's services, and feel it cheap insurance to change their oil at certain intervals. Not a bad policy. There are those who go waaaaay beyond any of this with dual oil filters, engine pre-oilers, and extra oil capacity. The good thing is that oil is recyclable. I would rather have people changing their oil and performing engine maintenance than driving behind those who clearly do not.

OEM Oil change interval in Nissan Service Maint. Guide
 

The info is in the Nissan Service Maintenance Guide for your vehicle year. It states, "7500 miles/6 mo." No "break-in" oil change, nor "remove particles from machining" oil change is identified. There is a 1200 mile "Break In" procedure, but it is only for acceleration, braking, etc., not oil. Mobil1 5-30 may not be a correct choice for your 370Z, as its base is hydrocracked petroleum oil, which is not synthetic. BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, have tested many oils, and identify Mobil1 0-40 as an oil that meets their high compression, high speed, high rpm engine requirements. It is a PAO base with ester additives. Don't use a primarily ester-based oil, as it absorbs water unless it reaches high temps for extended periods, such as racing. Ester-based oils also need more frequent changing than PAO as they are not as durable. The Nissan oil, recommended for your Z, is a very good oil, albeit expensive. This oil is not ester-based, but PAO based, with ester additives (0.5-5.0%), as identified in the patent documents for the oil.

Good reading!

Wrong. :rolleyes:

I would NOT use the Nissan oil filter (and do not use a Fram oil filter either) - use a Purolator PureONE, Mobile 1, Wix, NAPA Gold, or K&N. There are other threads that go into detail on this topic...

I was in your same situation. I let Blackstone lab guide me though it. In the begining they wanted me to keep it below 5500 miles, then 6000 and now I'm at 7000 miles. In the comments section when you send the sample, ask them when you should do your next oil change. You don't have to do this for all oil changes during the ownership of the car but at least do it for the first 5 -6 so that you know what's a good interval.

I'm Redline Synthetic BTW

http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...hetic-oil.html

...and Corvettes. Factory fill and recommended oil is one of the Mobil1 xW-30 (either 0, or 5).

Nissan recommends every 3750 miles
 

I asked the master mechanic the day I bought my Z.

Ester oil by the way

LOL...He's probably on commission...

In theory, it would be to get rid of various wear particles foalting around, but it's unlikely to be an issue.

I had thought about 5K was recommended before switching to synthetic to ensure proper ring seating (synthetic oils are much more slippery!), but with modern engines, it probably doesn't matter, and many come from the factory with syntehtic already in them.

I'll wait out of superstition... :ugh2:

On that note -- is the block/bores/etc aluminium? If so, folks that have sprung for the oil filter magnets are kinda wasting their money...