a little dramatic considering i bought a new engine from nissan for $9k

So basically, they're saying they're not even gonna try? F-ing losers.

Im inclined to agree...that sounds like a lame excuse and they could have said, "Hey, we grew vaginas...sorry!"

They'll change their tune when the competition succeeds, then they will be scrambling to catch up.

Everyone Ive talked to who works with MegaSquirt says it sounds relatively easy to work with...

I changed my oil this past weekend at 9k miles and sent it off to Blackstone. Here are the results. I'm running Redline 5W-30, btw.

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...0-uoa-9000.jpg

Semtex,

Did you oil look like mine? I did my RL oil change just over 9K but it looked odd.

Um, no. Not at all. Sorry to say this, but yours looks kinda scary. Mine was like black, no specks of copper or whatever that is. You might want to send a sample off to Blackstone.

Well the problem with sampling my oil is that this past weekend I did my wife's vehicle and mine, so our oils are mixed together. But yeah, it didn't look right. It was kind of thick and gritty, and copperish......you saw.

Do you think if I take it to the dealer, would they try and diagnose it? I have to go there tomorrow anyways to get a new set of lift springs for the rear hatch. So I'll mention it to them.

Maybe do a partial drain and see if it's still like that? Like you don't have to drain it all out. Just let a qt or so run out, which you can easily top back off afterwards.

Semtex,

I noticed in your report that you had slightly high copper levels. I guess in my case I had over the top copper levels. So the next logical question is, what does that mean?

Anyway, I was already scheduled to go to the dealer this afternoon for something else, so I'll bring this up to them.

Well, the remarks on my report lead me to believe that losing some copper is just part of the normal break-in process. Now, we're assuming those flecks in your oil are copper, but we don't know for 100% sure, do we? In any case, if they are indeed chunks of copper, it may indicate that something has gone terribly wrong as far as your break-in goes. How many miles do you have on your engine? Did you follow the break-in process in the manual?

I currently have close to 9.4K. I did follow the break procedure. I did the first change a little before 3,750. Well, if something is terribly wrong, I'm assuming the warranty will cover it because I did no harm to it. The car is still bone stock.

Oh and I'm 90% sure that those 'flecks' were copper...especially after reading your report.

Thanks for your input.

I think you should fish some of those flecks out of your used oil and put them in a ziploc or whatever. Take them with you to show the dealer.

hehe...I won't be able to do that today. I work about 45 mins away from home. But I do plan to send an e-mail containing the pics I posted earlier. I'll see what they say. If they need a sample, then I guess I'll do what you suggested.

What the heck in our engines (or engines in general) is made of copper? Isn't copper a weak metal?

I just spoke to my mechanic. He said it might actually be brass you're seeing, not copper. So what's brass used for in engines? He said it's typically used in bearings and valve guides. I'd take this with a grain of salt though. I asked him what copper would be used for and he couldn't think of anything. But clearly, there's copper in engines because Blackstone tests for it. And the don't test for brass. So, I don't know how solid what he told me is.

Wow...thanks man! You went above and beyond by asking your mechanic.

You know what though, before I did the oil change, I noticed some valvetrain type of noise (buzz). I don't know how long that was going on because I usually drive with the radio on. But one day, had it off and noticed that noise. The noise was noticeable around 3-5 RMP. But it's been so long that I have driven with the radio off that I couldn't remember if that's what it always sounded like. Plus, the VQ37 has that bad rep for noise, so I didn't think much of it at the time. And after the oil change, the noise has gone away.

So maybe it's a valvetrain issue

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It will be detected as 2 separate metals by the analysis.

Beat me to it, Chris. +1 rep :tiphat:

Ah...well then what he told me suddenly makes sense! :tup:

FYI, here's my comments on my trip to the dealer today regarding my oil situation. Basically, it's a waiting game till the next change.

love the work so far!

Fresh baseline dyno numbers
 

Okay, in preparation for installing the Long-Tube Headers from F.I., I went and got a fresh baseline dyno done this morning at Forged Performance. Here are the results.

HP and TQ:
http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...n-04-07-10.jpg

HP and AFR:
http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...n-04-07-10.jpg

For reference, here are the charts from my last dyno in October, when I got my ECU tuned using UpRev.

HP and TQ:
http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...Tune102809.jpg

HP and AFR:
http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/t...e102809_AF.jpg

So it looks like I somehow gained 4whp in between last October and now. And it's warmer today that it was back in October. Not sure how that works, but I'll take it. Actually, looking at the graphs more closely, it looks like for the one in October, Sharif lifted as soon as he hit 7500 rpm, and this morning he held it to just short of 7750. That alone might account for the slight 'gain' from last time. (I have my rev limit bumped up to 8k.)

Anyway, now I have a fresh baseline and after I get the LTHs installed, I'll take it back for another dyno (and re-tune if necessary). I'm thinking there's a real good chance I'll crack 330whp, which is a quite a feat considering the dyno that this is being done on.

WTB Torque...... Looks like 250 peak?

I'm not terribly surprised. That's why I'm getting rid of the Stillen shorty headers.

Can you specify which number relates to what? Looks like you have the same HP as you have TQ and that can't be right.... right?

Looks like you need to update your sig! :tup:

I'm not sure what you mean. HP scale is on the left, TQ scale is on the right.

Chris is dyslexic.

It looks like that is the case if you eyeball where both plots are at 7500 they are pretty even. If he gave you the run files you can overlay them on the same chart to compare.

Santa came!
 

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...damage-box.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...ked-nicely.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...unwrapping.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/semte...-condition.jpg

Sweet!

hope santa installs soon!

:santa::santa::santa::santa::hohoho::hohoho::hohoh o:

:D im excited for the dyno results of this....

Semtex...you have any updates for us on the LTH's?...Hope you do an overall review on install and everything...like you've done in the past...Throw us a bone!!!!!

They'll most likely be going in this week. And yes, I plan to do a full review with dyno graphs, vid clips, etc. But you'll need to be patient. I have other things going on right now that are a little more pressing.

that's not allowed man, you know that this forum is more important than anything else going on! :ugh2:

Good luck with the install, hopefully the results will be better than you imagined :tiphat:

You're absolutely right...where is my consideration....I should've known you were tied up...Especially since you didn't slap these mothers on yet....


:worship:

I talked to my mechanic. The plan is to put them on tomorrow (Wed).