Murphy's Law and the 370Z

jpit · 03-10-2010, 10:40 PM

My first new car was a 1971 Datsun 240Z. Since that time I try to do as much work on my autos as I possibly can. It is always an uphill struggle as I start each project convinced that something will go wrong and, of course, something always does. Whether it is because I don’t have the proper tools, don’t have the proper knowledge or attempt to take what at first glance seem to be logical shortcuts.

Once when changing oil in a Mazda RX-7, I accidently drained out all the transmission fluid (instead of the engine oil) and added five quarts of oil to the engine (the two drain plugs were very close to each other). I didn’t check the dipstick because I was in a hurry, it always had taken five quarts and the engine hadn’t got any bigger. So for about ten miles I was driving the Mazda with no transmission fluid and ten quarts of oil. I couldn’t understand why billows of black smoke puffed out the exhaust. If I had been able to read these smoke signals I’m sure the car was telling me that I was pretty stupid.

I was once working on my Honda S2000 and had the front end up on ramps. It was the first rear drive car that I had owned in quite awhile. This was dramatically brought into focus when I put a hydraulic jack under the rear of the car and started to pump. When the back end was about six inches off the floor the car rolled down the ramps and through the garage door taking the jack (fortunately on wheels) with it.

The only reason I bring this all up is that on the day we heard about all the oil cooler hose problems I received mine from UPS. I was sure that misfortune lay just around the corner. But with Modshack’s instructions the installation was actually enjoyable and was accomplished without too many problems. Do you realize, however, that when adding an oil cooler you are creating thirteen possible leak points that were not on the car prior to the installation? Each hose connection consists of three potential problems and you have four total connections. Add to that the thermostat and, in my case, another three connections for an oil pressure gauge and there are seventeen possible problem areas. I took off the bottom cover today to have a look around expecting to find seventeen little puddles but there was only one small leak at one of the compression fittings by the core. I disconnected it and added some Teflon tape (which is good to 500 degrees, by the way) and it seems to have stopped the leak. I would recommend Teflon tape or thread sealant on all the connections. I will be sure to let you know when the whole thing explodes

Modshack · 03-10-2010, 10:46 PM

+1........

stiso · 03-10-2010, 10:54 PM

seriously 1+

gumpy · 03-10-2010, 11:49 PM

rofl - too funny man... that stuff would so happen to me... that's why i'll never attempt to work on the car myself.

IMWEZL · 03-11-2010, 01:13 AM

Wow someone else who expects the worse!

Everyone thinks I'm nuts but at least I'm prepared when it happens.

That's why I stopped modding cars at least for now. I created a beastly SRT4 putting down 448whp and 494lbs tq, suspension, brakes, and just about everything else was upgraded too. A so called competition clutch kit from a well respected vendor took a dump on me three times. Finally the vendor admitted it was a shitty clutch, refused to refund any money and the whole SRT4 community still loved them. I ended testing a new clutch from a different vendor and things worked out.

I would have kept the car but there was a beautiful Red Z at dealer's lot that just arrived and I had to have it.

PapoZalsa · 03-11-2010, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpit

Once when changing oil in a Mazda RX-7, I accidently drained out all the transmission fluid (instead of the engine oil) and added five quarts of oil to the engine (the two drain plugs were very close to each other). I didn’t check the dipstick because I was in a hurry, it always had taken five quarts and the engine hadn’t got any bigger. So for about ten miles I was driving the Mazda with no transmission fluid and ten quarts of oil. I couldn’t understand why billows of black smoke puffed out the exhaust. If I had been able to read these smoke signals I’m sure the car was telling me that I was pretty stupid.

WOW!!!!! Not trying to bust your balls but it looks like you have some serious mechanical ability problems.........

NYBladeZ · 03-11-2010, 07:48 PM

OP you are awesome lol. I can appreciate someone who is willing to work on their car, though try not to make the same mistake as you did with the rx7, that sounded horrendous.

370Zsteve · 03-11-2010, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PapoZalsa

WOW!!!!! Not trying to bust your balls but it looks like you have some serious mechanical ability problems.........

Sounds like a major ball-bust to me.

Hey give the guy points for admitting he's human........ lemme tell you about the time I almost drove out of a gas station with the filler hose still in the car

kenchan · 03-11-2010, 08:09 PM

yah, im sure we've all walked around the office (or school) with our fly open...

Horseface · 03-11-2010, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PapoZalsa

WOW!!!!! Not trying to bust your balls but it looks like you have some serious mechanical ability problems.........

Some of us aren't mechanically inclined. At least he has the balls to get under the hood and try it out. I don't get under the hood and have no intention of ever doing so. I know for certain that I'd absolutely fug things up if I did. I barely have the ability to pump my own gas. Besides, I've got enough hobbies as it is without hanging out in the garage getting dirt under my finger nails.

tbonesteak · 03-12-2010, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpit

Once when changing oil in a Mazda RX-7, I accidently drained out all the transmission fluid (instead of the engine oil) and added five quarts of oil to the engine (the two drain plugs were very close to each other). I didn’t check the dipstick because I was in a hurry, it always had taken five quarts and the engine hadn’t got any bigger. So for about ten miles I was driving the Mazda with no transmission fluid and ten quarts of oil. I couldn’t understand why billows of black smoke puffed out the exhaust. If I had been able to read these smoke signals I’m sure the car was telling me that I was pretty stupid.

I was once working on my Honda S2000 and had the front end up on ramps. It was the first rear drive car that I had owned in quite awhile. This was dramatically brought into focus when I put a hydraulic jack under the rear of the car and started to pump. When the back end was about six inches off the floor the car rolled down the ramps and through the garage door taking the jack (fortunately on wheels) with it.

roflmao!!!!!

spearfish25 · 03-12-2010, 05:23 AM

Hilarious!

The vast increase in leak potential with an oil cooler made me realize I probably don't need one (and the ensuing headache I'll have from worrying about problems after it's installed). So instead, I just ordered a GoPro HD

.

djsizzy · 03-12-2010, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

yah, im sure we've all walked around the office (or school) with our fly open...

hahahah this literally JUST happened to me last week. I hate zippers

FirstZin83 · 03-12-2010, 06:53 AM

Good Job. But it's never a good idea to use teflon tape in hydraulic, oil or gas applications. I'd recommend using a product like Loctite 569 Hydraulic Sealant. It's similar to their thread-locking products, but it provides a seal at the threads instead of an adhesion.

elmz · 03-12-2010, 10:25 AM

Yikes! You live and learn

03-10-2010, 10:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
jpit Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 440 Drives: 370Z Tour MT w/Spt Rep Power: 16	Murphy's Law and the 370Z My first new car was a 1971 Datsun 240Z. Since that time I try to do as much work on my autos as I possibly can. It is always an uphill struggle as I start each project convinced that something will go wrong and, of course, something always does. Whether it is because I don’t have the proper tools, don’t have the proper knowledge or attempt to take what at first glance seem to be logical shortcuts. Once when changing oil in a Mazda RX-7, I accidently drained out all the transmission fluid (instead of the engine oil) and added five quarts of oil to the engine (the two drain plugs were very close to each other). I didn’t check the dipstick because I was in a hurry, it always had taken five quarts and the engine hadn’t got any bigger. So for about ten miles I was driving the Mazda with no transmission fluid and ten quarts of oil. I couldn’t understand why billows of black smoke puffed out the exhaust. If I had been able to read these smoke signals I’m sure the car was telling me that I was pretty stupid. I was once working on my Honda S2000 and had the front end up on ramps. It was the first rear drive car that I had owned in quite awhile. This was dramatically brought into focus when I put a hydraulic jack under the rear of the car and started to pump. When the back end was about six inches off the floor the car rolled down the ramps and through the garage door taking the jack (fortunately on wheels) with it. The only reason I bring this all up is that on the day we heard about all the oil cooler hose problems I received mine from UPS. I was sure that misfortune lay just around the corner. But with Modshack’s instructions the installation was actually enjoyable and was accomplished without too many problems. Do you realize, however, that when adding an oil cooler you are creating thirteen possible leak points that were not on the car prior to the installation? Each hose connection consists of three potential problems and you have four total connections. Add to that the thermostat and, in my case, another three connections for an oil pressure gauge and there are seventeen possible problem areas. I took off the bottom cover today to have a look around expecting to find seventeen little puddles but there was only one small leak at one of the compression fittings by the core. I disconnected it and added some Teflon tape (which is good to 500 degrees, by the way) and it seems to have stopped the leak. I would recommend Teflon tape or thread sealant on all the connections. I will be sure to let you know when the whole thing explodes

03-10-2010, 10:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Modshack A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greenville NC Posts: 2,883 Drives: 370Z Sport Rep Power: 976	+1........ __________________ Steal my car! (SOLD)...Now Porsche Cayman S Oil Cooler DIY: Here!

03-10-2010, 10:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
stiso Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: z Posts: 42 Drives: z Rep Power: 15	seriously 1+ __________________ ...

03-11-2010, 07:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
NYBladeZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New York Posts: 2,158 Drives: Lotus Exige S Rep Power: 20	OP you are awesome lol. I can appreciate someone who is willing to work on their car, though try not to make the same mistake as you did with the rx7, that sounded horrendous. __________________ 2009 Carbon Fiber/Red 370z aka Trish: Sports Package, Meisterschaft full catback, Fast Intentions Longtube Headers, Injen Long Tube Intakes, UpRev Tune: Sold 2008 Lotus Exige S Club Racer aka Bella, always leaves me smiling

03-12-2010, 05:23 AM	#12 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Hilarious! The vast increase in leak potential with an oil cooler made me realize I probably don't need one (and the ensuing headache I'll have from worrying about problems after it's installed). So instead, I just ordered a GoPro HD . __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

03-10-2010, 11:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
gumpy Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney Posts: 449 Drives: 09 370z white manual Rep Power: 15	rofl - too funny man... that stuff would so happen to me... that's why i'll never attempt to work on the car myself.

03-11-2010, 01:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
IMWEZL Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: HNL Posts: 603 Drives: 370Z/MKVII GTI Rep Power: 17	Wow someone else who expects the worse! Everyone thinks I'm nuts but at least I'm prepared when it happens. That's why I stopped modding cars at least for now. I created a beastly SRT4 putting down 448whp and 494lbs tq, suspension, brakes, and just about everything else was upgraded too. A so called competition clutch kit from a well respected vendor took a dump on me three times. Finally the vendor admitted it was a shitty clutch, refused to refund any money and the whole SRT4 community still loved them. I ended testing a new clutch from a different vendor and things worked out. I would have kept the car but there was a beautiful Red Z at dealer's lot that just arrived and I had to have it.

03-11-2010, 08:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	yah, im sure we've all walked around the office (or school) with our fly open...

03-12-2010, 06:53 AM	#14 (permalink)
FirstZin83 Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Louisville Posts: 30 Drives: 09 6MT 370Z T/S/N Rep Power: 16	Good Job. But it's never a good idea to use teflon tape in hydraulic, oil or gas applications. I'd recommend using a product like Loctite 569 Hydraulic Sealant. It's similar to their thread-locking products, but it provides a seal at the threads instead of an adhesion.

03-12-2010, 10:25 AM	#15 (permalink)
elmz Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 674 Drives: 2014 Porsche Boxster Rep Power: 17	Yikes! You live and learn