Higher Oil Temp after oil Change???
 

So I had my first oil change done at a Nissan dealer and since then the car seems to be running about 10-15 degrees hotter ever since under the same driving conditions. It shoots up to 220 under normal driving (when it used to sit at 200). Anyone else experience this?

I just changed mine and didn't experience this. But I recall another post that experienced what you did. 220 is nothing to worry about.

Have you checked your oil level?

I haven't. I vaguely remember the work order saying 5 quarts of oil. I thought the Z required more than 5. I'm at work can't check the manual. It's seemingly impossible that a dealer can fu$& up an oil change...

5 1/8 qts. but the dealer will likely have filled from bulk.

Check the level. Has the temps there went up? Where you in more stop and go traffic than usually. I think it's normal though.

Temps have been inconsistent but today was low 70's compared to low 50's the past week. Def not more stop and go traffic. I had it up to 100 on the freeway for about 10 seconds when cruising but thats it. I'll check the level first thing tomorrow Am

You probably had their "special" synthetic blend stuff in there and they dumped in the regular stuff. That would be my initial guess.

Run the part #'s on the work-order receipt and see what oil went in there.

I asked for Mobil 1 and they insisted on Ester. I saw the tech write ester on the work order and he also highlighted it. They were the ones who insisted on ester oil

I am unsure about WHAT mobil 1 is now, it used to be group IV, then it was more of a blend of group III and IV, and now with the new Dexos certification, I don't know if they are using IV again or what in their Dexos oils.

I would rather have Mobil 1 in my car than Nissan's III/IV blend, which is what that Esther stuff is as I understand it.

I had read on here about different dealers having different views on the oils. Redline 5w30 synthetic is approved for use in the VQ37. This particular dealer was just towing the company line and pretty much refused to use anything other than the Nissan ester oil.

I checked the level this AM. It was fine. Drove to work, mostly highway, very little stop and go. When I parked the car it was just a hair under 220 degrees, which is a good 15 degrees higher than normal. It's about 65 degrees out here today, and recently has been 15-20 degrees colder. It could just be the ambient temp change, but if this is what it's going to be in 65 degrees, idk how it's going to be in the summer. I was planning on an oil cooler anyway. I'll probably go with a 25 row since a 34 would be too cold to drive up here in the fall/winter months. I know you can cover the cooler to make it whatever row you want, but I'd rather just get the 25 and be done with it. Also, I called the dealer and they said they used the ester, and it shouldn't be running hot from just the oil change. They of course said it was just a weather change, but we've had some days in past weeks where it was mid 70's and I drove the car hard and never went past 210 degrees. Even when cruising on the highway it sits at 210 now when it was always previosuly pegged at 200. It just seems odd that a mild temp change could do it, especially since I took it out on a previous warm weekend and drove it very hard for about an hour and didnt reach the temps I'm getting now from normal driving.

Question...If they in fact did not use ester and just used some non-synthetic 5w30, could this account for the temp changes? I mean I watched the guy write "Ester" on the work order in big capital letters and then went over it with a yellow highlighter.

Keep an eye out on the oil level. everytime I change my oil it runs a tad cooler if not the same, except for one time i had about 1/2 quart less in the car. Added it in, and temps were good again. And i see this diff with any oil cooler. So i imagine lower/higher levels of oil would show more temp variance in a car without one.

Last fall after my first oil change the oil temp went down with Mobil 1. I noticed right after I left the Mobil 1 place that the temp dropped by about 10 degrees and has been running about 190-195 since.:stirthepot:

I would think the outdoor temp is a significant factor too. Low 50s to low 70s. Ive been driving my car all winter and the oil temps definitely rise faster now that its a bit warmer outside.

How many miles are on your 370Z?

2600. 2500 when I had the change done.

Also, are we supposed to check the oil on the Z when the the car is hot or cold? I checked it this AM after it was sitting overnight in the garage.

Irregardless, I'll be using Mobil 1 or Redline next time. And I'll just take it to a quick lube. This dealer $hit is for the birds.

Check the engine at least 15 minutes after engine shutdown to allow oil in the upper engine to find it's way to the sump. I typically check engine oil in the morning before driving. This engine has been known to reduce it temps the more miles you acquire, but if you are spirited driver then you might wish to install an oil cooler.

I'm a spirited driver, but I needed to really get on it for the temps to get to 220, and follow-up with stop and go traffic. It is clearly running hotter than it was before the change, and like I said I drove it hard before when we had a few hotter days in the high 70's and the temps didnt get this high.

Were you running the ester oil on the previous run?

Yea it was the original factory oil in the car. If they didn't use the ester oil it was 100% a scam since it was so visible on the work order. I'll keep checking the oil level, but this morning's check was after 100 miles of driving after the oil change and a full evening of sitting in the garage.

I'd check oil levels then. It they're fine, it's most likely due to different weather and driving conditions.

I'll keep checking it this week first thing in the AM, but I feel like if it was low it would be low already

dont check morning.

go drive the car till its properly warmed up.

get home park it on a level surface.

wait about 45 minutes. then check it.

mine did the same thing. ran 190-200 normally with factory oil then had Nissan do the oil change with ester and it runs hotter now consistently 210-220 but hasnt gone above 220... yet

Isnt the factory oil ester oil or no?

i actually noticed it too, but i dont really give a crap

yah, just keep an eye on the oil level and as long as it's not going into 240+ i wouldnt worry about it.

i use mobil1 (bought from walmart in those 5 qt jugs) and have been under 220. i drive pretty spiritedly at times on the street.

So today was cooler in the afternoon, about 45-47 degrees for my drive home (was about 65 on the way in - NJ weather = FAIL) The majority of the drive it was back to 200, maybe 210 once I got off the highway. It's just odd that it seems like the oil temp has at the very least become more sensitive to the ambient temp, if that makes sense.