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

+1........:tup:

seriously 1+

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

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. :)

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

:shakes head: :shakes head: :shakes head: :shakes head: :shakes head:

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.

Sounds like a major ball-bust to me. :wtf2:

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 :icon14:

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

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.

:tiphat:

roflmao!!!!!

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 :).

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

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.

Yikes! You live and learn :tup: