Do I Need to Add Oil

tlr3715 · 09-11-2013, 05:44 PM

I purchased a 2013 Nismo Last month and have 2000 miles on it. I went to check the oil and am having a WTF? moment. I came home from work and let the engine rest for 15 min, and I've pulled the oil dipstick four times. Each time is the same. One side of the stick is exactly at the "L" point and the other side is wet up to the fill line. Although on the full side there is usually a gap and it's not wet consistently. Might be just oil it's picking up in the dip stick line, but it's odd because the oil marks stop exactly if the fill line.

On all the other cars I've had the stick is wet on both sides in the same way. I'm thinking I should just go with the low side. Please let me know if I should be reading it as at the "L" level, and if so how much oil is recommended to add?

Should I go with a quart at a time until it is at the fill line on both sides?

First car I've owned that ate oil.

Alkatraz · 09-11-2013, 06:00 PM

If your practically brand car needs oil after just 2000 miles, i would be taking it back! If it truly is low after so few miles then there is something wrong. Also, overfilling the oil can potentially cause serious issues.

elperuano · 09-11-2013, 06:00 PM

Not sure if serious or........

tlr3715 · 09-11-2013, 06:46 PM

I $#1T you not...

DEpointfive0 · 09-11-2013, 06:49 PM

Read from the lower line

tlr3715 · 09-11-2013, 07:00 PM

How much do you think I should add before a re-check? Should I be shooting for the lower of the two sides to a level somewhere between the two drill holes, or all the way to the top one?

DEpointfive0 · 09-11-2013, 07:32 PM

1/2 qt

SouthArk370Z · 09-11-2013, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlr3715

How much do you think I should add before a re-check? Should I be shooting for the lower of the two sides to a level somewhere between the two drill holes, or all the way to the top one?

Experiment. When I get a different car, I'll usually add a 1/4 quart at a time until I get a feel for it. I aim for 50-75% between the L and H marks.

Edit: Read the stick on the side with the bumps. The other side it brushing up against something and picking up some oil. When in doubt, go by the lowest reading.

phunk · 09-11-2013, 08:50 PM

From the picture, it looks like your right at the low level.

That is not extremely significant... for those of you who never knew.. the standard is for the low mark and high mark on a dipstick to be 1 quart difference. So its not like your car has burned several quarts of oil to get so low. It may have burned half a quart.. but if you never checked it before, its hard to say how full it was when you picked it up.

If youre at 2000 miles or so, I would go ahead and just perform the first oil change (i always do the first one early personally), then from there you can check it.

For my car... i dont know that I ever looked at the dipstick once before I put the turbos on and what not. So I cannot comment on before being heavily modified. But the way it is now, if I fill my Z to the full mark, it will burn off that top quart very quickly like in a week.. then just stay at the low mark forever until my next change. I always figured it was just my turbos burning oil from the level being a tad high for them, but.. I never checked before to know.

phunk · 09-11-2013, 08:54 PM

Nissan VQ's have had continuing oil burning motors coming out of the factory from what I understand. So I also would not brush it off, I would just say collect more data then decide. Supposedly the dealers have no trouble deciding to swap the engine out for those who get one of the oil burners. This is all hear say.. and it makes sense since there are tons of "dealer takeout" VQ engines all over the market. I have a low miles VHR in my garage from a dealer takeout... I am assuming its a oil burner.

tlr3715 · 09-11-2013, 09:33 PM

It took a little more than 1/2 qt. Spilled some on the engine since I didn't have a funnel, which was a challenge to get to with a rag, but that should get me to the first oil change. (I'm on the more frequent schedule since most of my driving is in heavy traffic.)

According to the manual it is normal for the engine to burn oil "especially during the break in period." and basically says it's the owners responsibility to make sure it is checked between oil changes and kept at a proper level or it voids the warranty. I'm sure all manufacturers have that somewhere in their manuals. This is just the first engine that I've actually needed to fill.

Seems to run fine otherwise. Should I mention this during the first oil change just so they have a record of it?

09-11-2013, 05:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
tlr3715 Base Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 35 Drives: 2013 370Z Nismo Rep Power: 11	Do I Need to Add Oil I purchased a 2013 Nismo Last month and have 2000 miles on it. I went to check the oil and am having a WTF? moment. I came home from work and let the engine rest for 15 min, and I've pulled the oil dipstick four times. Each time is the same. One side of the stick is exactly at the "L" point and the other side is wet up to the fill line. Although on the full side there is usually a gap and it's not wet consistently. Might be just oil it's picking up in the dip stick line, but it's odd because the oil marks stop exactly if the fill line. On all the other cars I've had the stick is wet on both sides in the same way. I'm thinking I should just go with the low side. Please let me know if I should be reading it as at the "L" level, and if so how much oil is recommended to add? Should I go with a quart at a time until it is at the fill line on both sides? First car I've owned that ate oil.

09-11-2013, 06:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
DEpointfive0 Premium Member Bitches Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,824 Drives: a lot Rep Power: 17151	Read from the lower line Wonka2581 likes this. __________________ Do YOU want to know what/where I got my username from? ( Click to show/hide ) NSFW due to language:

09-11-2013, 07:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
DEpointfive0 Premium Member Bitches Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,824 Drives: a lot Rep Power: 17151	1/2 qt __________________ Do YOU want to know what/where I got my username from? ( Click to show/hide ) NSFW due to language:

09-11-2013, 08:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
phunk A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,655 Drives: 370 Rep Power: 944523	From the picture, it looks like your right at the low level. That is not extremely significant... for those of you who never knew.. the standard is for the low mark and high mark on a dipstick to be 1 quart difference. So its not like your car has burned several quarts of oil to get so low. It may have burned half a quart.. but if you never checked it before, its hard to say how full it was when you picked it up. If youre at 2000 miles or so, I would go ahead and just perform the first oil change (i always do the first one early personally), then from there you can check it. For my car... i dont know that I ever looked at the dipstick once before I put the turbos on and what not. So I cannot comment on before being heavily modified. But the way it is now, if I fill my Z to the full mark, it will burn off that top quart very quickly like in a week.. then just stay at the low mark forever until my next change. I always figured it was just my turbos burning oil from the level being a tad high for them, but.. I never checked before to know. __________________ Charles @ CJ Motorsports : Website \| Facebook \| Instagram \| YouTube Home of the 9 second, stock longblock, stock drivetrain 6MT 370z. 9.91 @ 142mph Last edited by phunk; 09-11-2013 at 08:54 PM.

09-11-2013, 08:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
phunk A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,655 Drives: 370 Rep Power: 944523	Nissan VQ's have had continuing oil burning motors coming out of the factory from what I understand. So I also would not brush it off, I would just say collect more data then decide. Supposedly the dealers have no trouble deciding to swap the engine out for those who get one of the oil burners. This is all hear say.. and it makes sense since there are tons of "dealer takeout" VQ engines all over the market. I have a low miles VHR in my garage from a dealer takeout... I am assuming its a oil burner. __________________ Charles @ CJ Motorsports : Website \| Facebook \| Instagram \| YouTube Home of the 9 second, stock longblock, stock drivetrain 6MT 370z. 9.91 @ 142mph

09-11-2013, 06:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Alkatraz Base Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Perth Posts: 215 Drives: 2008 Skyline 370GT Rep Power: 11	If your practically brand car needs oil after just 2000 miles, i would be taking it back! If it truly is low after so few miles then there is something wrong. Also, overfilling the oil can potentially cause serious issues.

09-11-2013, 06:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
elperuano A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southwest FL Posts: 1,374 Drives: G37S Rep Power: 28	Not sure if serious or........

09-11-2013, 06:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
tlr3715 Base Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 35 Drives: 2013 370Z Nismo Rep Power: 11	I $#1T you not...

09-11-2013, 07:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
tlr3715 Base Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 35 Drives: 2013 370Z Nismo Rep Power: 11	How much do you think I should add before a re-check? Should I be shooting for the lower of the two sides to a level somewhere between the two drill holes, or all the way to the top one?

09-11-2013, 09:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
tlr3715 Base Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 35 Drives: 2013 370Z Nismo Rep Power: 11	It took a little more than 1/2 qt. Spilled some on the engine since I didn't have a funnel, which was a challenge to get to with a rag, but that should get me to the first oil change. (I'm on the more frequent schedule since most of my driving is in heavy traffic.) According to the manual it is normal for the engine to burn oil "especially during the break in period." and basically says it's the owners responsibility to make sure it is checked between oil changes and kept at a proper level or it voids the warranty. I'm sure all manufacturers have that somewhere in their manuals. This is just the first engine that I've actually needed to fill. Seems to run fine otherwise. Should I mention this during the first oil change just so they have a record of it?