If you want to go the distance, install an oil pressure gauge.

I have a habit of checking my Oil and My SC oil at EVERY fill up. simple and might just save your bank account.

My routine too. If im off a spirited run pull up let car run a bit with hood up to get oil temps down.

Gas up
Check oil
Check brake and clutch lvls and any substantial color change

Reset odo A (b is reset every oil change)

Wave to the gas clerk (they know and watch me everytime)

Slowly ease out of gas station and then redline first.

OP's profile indicated he/she drives an 2005 350z. :confused:

To a certain extent, I disagree. If you have the car in the air for an oil change, it is not difficult to open the fill plug and stick a finger in to verify the level of the fluid is even with the fill opening. This is applicable to the diff and manual transmissions. Automatics are slightly more difficult since the fluid level needs to be checked with the fluid heated to a certain temp and not cold. You will need a new washer for the fill plug each time is about the only downside (~$1).

True if doing an oil change but not so much if just doing a periodic fluids check.

True if one has some mechanical experience and the right tools. Sounds like OP may not have either one.

But, yeah. If one can check trans/diff, one should do so every now and then.

I'm getting too old to be crawling under cars. :)

i had synthetic oil change 6000 miles ago and have been told synthetic should be done every 5k...so just slighlty over... either way i do not think an engine with no signs of oil leaks should be completly bone dry unless its Nissan fault especially with no indications anything was wrong or an oil light.
i found both my oil receipts from service this year.

These engines are hell on oil. I change every 4k. I use synthetic also.

Why do you say that? I do the same but every oil analysis I get back even with 4k and a full track weekend the results still say the oil is good for longer.

Yeah I change at 4k (synthetic) as well but I know damn well I could probably go for double that and be fine. People thinking they need to change their engine oil every 3k miles (even non synthetic) is the one of the biggest scams in automotive history IMO. :stirthepot:

:iagree: :iagree:

Furthermore, I also don't find the engine have any oil consumption issue as other stated. Again this is only based on my experience with the Z and G37s.

Dealers aren't suggesting 3000 mile OCIs any longer. Most owner's manuals suggest 7500 miles or more these days for new cars. Some new Fords are on 12K mile intervals.

The real scam is $80+ for an oil charge when I can find Mobil 1 for $25 at Walmart and most shops charge $10-15 for labor.

If you want a real idea of what your OCI should be for your specific car, get an oil analysis done by Blackstone Labs.

Full Synthetic oil can handle 7500 miles without any issues. I was told by some that even conventional oil can go 5000 miles easily.

BMW M3 has an 15k miles oci.

My concern about oil change interval is not about miles, its about time. I can never reach the miles in a single year that would require me to change the oil in my Z. I change the oil at the end of each driving season / year before putting the car in storage. On the topic of oil use, I have not had any oil use issues with either of the Z's I currently own or have owned in the past. Like it's been said, I am going on personal experience.

The way those M3's spit out crank and rod bearings I wouldn't use that car as an example. Just sayin.