370Z oil consumption

toner123 · 05-19-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBSS2008

I have a little more then 25k on my Z and it definitely consumes oil. (I did do the proper engine break in suggested by the manual). I drive pretty aggressive, a lot of highway driving with a little city mix, and a few runs at the drag strip. I get my oil changes every 3500 miles with the ester oil at the dealership, on a Cold Engine Oil should be all the way up to the top hole. After 1500 miles of driving when I check my oil is half way between top and bottom hole (Cold Engine Oil Check). I will put in 1/2 quart at this point which for me is like once a month; yeah I drive at least 1500 miles a month.

Cold Engine (Oil Check): Oil should be all the way up to the top hole
Warm Engine (Oil Check): Oil should be at the half way between top and bottom hole.

I think 1qt every 3000 miles is way too much oil to consume but it's not grounds for a new engine. And the fact that it is consistently consuming 1qt every 3k and has not changed since I bought the car is I guess a good thing, not getting any worse but isn't getting any better either.

Oh well I love the car and have 5qts of Nissan Ester at the house to keep the oil levels in check.

Well personally I dont think it is the break in then thats causing it because I broke mine in exactly like the book said to. It has been about 1500 miles since I had my last oil change and the oil is at the halfway between the two dots. Also I have 7400 on the OD. I bought my car last march in 09. So to me sounds like this is normal but I am going to call my dealership and ask them if nissan put out a message about this and if he had any cars coming up there saying the same thing. This is going to be a long shot but is it possible that since our cars have such high oil temps that its breaking down the adatives in the oil and burning them. Like I said don't flame me on that was just wondering. I am also using the Ester oil from nissan just fyi.

Frank

TBSS2008 · 05-19-2010, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toner123

Well personally I dont think it is the break in then thats causing it because I broke mine in exactly like the book said to. It has been about 1500 miles since I had my last oil change and the oil is at the halfway between the two dots. Also I have 7400 on the OD. I bought my car last march in 09. So to me sounds like this is normal but I am going to call my dealership and ask them if nissan put out a message about this and if he had any cars coming up there saying the same thing. This is going to be a long shot but is it possible that since our cars have such high oil temps that its breaking down the adatives in the oil and burning them. Like I said don't flame me on that was just wondering. I am also using the Ester oil from nissan just fyi.

Frank

I sheepishly admit this is probably the first car I have ever watched for oil consumption. I have owned several cars in my life and could not tell you if any of those cars consumed oil, I just made sure I got the oil changed every 3-4k.

But after joining this forum I became more aware of oil consumption. Maybe it is the high oil temps I’m not sure. As long as it does not get any worse I can live with 1qt every 3k. I drive a lot and want this car to last 200k which would be about 8-9 yrs of ownership for me.

zilent_jay · 05-21-2010, 04:13 PM

Just when I thought I was in the clear after the engine swap... (1200 miles)

Driving home from work... I notice smoke coming from under the car. Since I was a mile from my house I came home to check it out. The underside of the engine is covered in oil, and this is what the engine bay looks like:

Lucky me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FricFrac · 05-22-2010, 09:45 AM

What is Nissan's measuring stick for excessive oil consumption? Is it X mm on the dip stick per 1000 miles,etc?

Modshack · 05-22-2010, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FricFrac

What is Nissan's measuring stick for excessive oil consumption? Is it X mm on the dip stick per 1000 miles,etc?

Unlike some manufacturers, it is not documented in writing.... Seems guys who have had a consumption test done and are burning MORE than a quart per Thousand are in line for new engines....

Rick_370Z · 05-22-2010, 12:23 PM

I just got my car back after having the longblock changed out. It was consuming about 1.5 qts every 1000 or so. It feels so much different now!! Just be patient with the dealerships and everything should work itself out.

zilent_jay · 05-22-2010, 12:36 PM

So it looks as if the OIL SPEWING issue was a result of a damaged part, probably in shipping/installation of the replacement longblock. I think he called it a intake valve timing solenoid... it sits right there on the front of the engine... they actually let me in the shop (thought that was an insurance liability, but I'm not complaining).... every time the guy revved the engine oil would shoot out.... directly onto the belt.... which in turn flung oil everywhere... even the inside of my tires are coated in oil along with the entire engine bay...

The guys at the service department have been really great in taking care of me.... not a single complaint there. But... that doesn't change the fact my car ONCE AGAIN.... is sitting at a ******* dealership with no part availability and no ETA while I'm making payments on a $35,000 PAPERWEIGHT.

Irritated.

ChrisSlicks · 05-23-2010, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zilent_jay

Just when I thought I was in the clear after the engine swap... (1200 miles)

Driving home from work... I notice smoke coming from under the car. Since I was a mile from my house I came home to check it out. The underside of the engine is covered in oil, and this is what the engine bay looks like:

How did you get that much oil sprayed around the engine bay? Source?

zilent_jay · 05-23-2010, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

How did you get that much oil sprayed around the engine bay? Source?

By the time I got it to the dealer (3 miles) it was even worse... I didn't have my camera with me or I would have taken pictures... the insides of my front tires were coated in oil....

I think the guy called it a intake valve timing solenoid.... it's a little part on the front of the engine that controls the timing and is oil actuated... every time you step on the gas... (wouldn't do it at an idle) oil would spray onto the nearby belt and get flung all over the place.... the part was physically damaged at some point because you could wiggle it around freely... my guess is it happened during shipping/handling of the replacement long block. The guy who did the install did a fantastic job otherwise and I don't think he had anything to do with it... the problem wasn't present/obvious directly after the swap... Coincidentally, it started directly after the point I started revving to 5k instead of 4k during the break-in process. Once I felt the motor start to loosen up my plan was to work it at 5k for a while and then get the oil changed before going all out. Guess I get my oil change now.

05-22-2010, 09:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
FricFrac A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 1,481 Drives: 370Z 300ZX 280ZX 240 Rep Power: 230	What is Nissan's measuring stick for excessive oil consumption? Is it X mm on the dip stick per 1000 miles,etc? __________________ '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 //

05-22-2010, 12:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
zilent_jay Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: OKC Posts: 96 Drives: 2009 MB Base Sport Rep Power: 18	So it looks as if the OIL SPEWING issue was a result of a damaged part, probably in shipping/installation of the replacement longblock. I think he called it a intake valve timing solenoid... it sits right there on the front of the engine... they actually let me in the shop (thought that was an insurance liability, but I'm not complaining).... every time the guy revved the engine oil would shoot out.... directly onto the belt.... which in turn flung oil everywhere... even the inside of my tires are coated in oil along with the entire engine bay... The guys at the service department have been really great in taking care of me.... not a single complaint there. But... that doesn't change the fact my car ONCE AGAIN.... is sitting at a ******* dealership with no part availability and no ETA while I'm making payments on a $35,000 PAPERWEIGHT. Irritated. Last edited by zilent_jay; 05-22-2010 at 12:48 PM.

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05-21-2010, 04:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
zilent_jay Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: OKC Posts: 96 Drives: 2009 MB Base Sport Rep Power: 18	Just when I thought I was in the clear after the engine swap... (1200 miles) Driving home from work... I notice smoke coming from under the car. Since I was a mile from my house I came home to check it out. The underside of the engine is covered in oil, and this is what the engine bay looks like: Lucky me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

05-22-2010, 12:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rick_370Z Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: by the beach Posts: 11 Drives: 2009 370Z Platinum 6 Rep Power: 18	I just got my car back after having the longblock changed out. It was consuming about 1.5 qts every 1000 or so. It feels so much different now!! Just be patient with the dealerships and everything should work itself out.