Low Oil Caused Dead Engine - Advice needed
 

Howdy,

I haven't been on here much since I got my Z back in 2011. Everything has been going along smoothly with my daily driver. Until last week.

I actually had a 60,000 mile service scheduled at my local shop. I'm currently on 62,048. I had recently started hearing a strange noise when starting it up that sounded like a fan belt running. It would only last a minute or so.

I had no driving issues, saw no oil leaks, there was no smoking, no warning lights... nothing. It drove like it always did.

Then I go to drive home last Thursday and it was just chug-chugging out of the parking lot and the "need service soon" light was on (for the first time). I shut it down and had it towed to my shop the next morning.

To my absolute horror, he told me it had less than a quart of oil! I was (and still am) shocked beyond belief. After looking at a valve replacement/timing job he said there were metal shavings and that it needed a new engine.

He said there was some leaking from the plug, and I was about 4500 miles overdue for an oil change, but like I said, I had never had any issues or warnings to indicate that it was low. Without any other evidence I can't fathom that I lost all that oil without any other mechanical issue going on causing the engine to burn oil at an abnormal rate.

I have been using the same oil tech for the past year or so with no issues. He uses Mobile 1.

I'm pretty devastated and am just looking for some guidance before throwing down $7,000 on a new-to-me engine (16K miles).

I've got a call into the warranty person at my dealership.... is there anything else I can do or another direct Nissan number that I could call?

I really thought I had been taking good care of the Z, I don't push it at all, have been doing regular oil changes, had a 30,000 mile service, am on my 3rd set of tires.... I'm just gutted.

Thanks for any advice.
Mike

You don't mention checking the oil. If you didn't check it often, the blame is on you. :(

4500 miles past due on an oil change. Sorry man but it sounds like you are eating a new motor. 7 grand seems a little high tho. Wasn't there a guy on here parting out a wrecked 2011? Maybe he can hook you up.

4500 past due is a lot considering u should change it every 3000 miles. It's pretty much like u missed two oil changes.


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Unless you were using the cheapest oil you could find, even 10,000 miles shouldn't be enough to crater the engine. It's definitely not good to go that long, but it's not going to kill the engine if you are DDing the car.

Running out of oil is a different story.

What do u consider normal oil change intervals? I've got a hunch your changing every 7500 which would mean you put 12,000 miles on that oil. If that is the case what happened to you makes complete sense. I'm very sorry to here about your issues but I wouldn't expect warranty work.


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You're a little SOL...

4500 miles over is a LOT... I set my oil change light for 250 miles before its due so I have a week or so to get in for a change...

And $7000? Try eBay... $3k all day...

Granted we can argue that he isn't all that much over now that I think of it. I believe it was this year Nissan has extended the oil change interval to 5000 miles. Someone else can do that math but what is bad is that he had an oil leak as well. Compounded the problem.

OP don't take it in the *** paying 7 grand for a used engine. Like DE said, ebay that bitch or hit some junkyards.

OP doesn't state what OCI he is using. If you really went a lot over 7500 mi, then Nissan would be within their rights to deny warranty (asserting you have it, 5/60 is gone, extended could be there).

If you are 4500 mi over a 3K OCI< its 7500 mi, which is Sched 2 interval and I would argue within spec. 1 qt seems off: car should have thrown a low oil light long before then.

Perhaps time for a second diagnosis as well.

Good luck,

- b

Just because he went 4k miles past an oil change doesn't mean the oil just magically disappeared. It went somewhere. Yes of course its not good to go that long, but oil doesn't evaporate... it will get dirty, break down and lose its viscosity. OP said the tech claims there was only half a quart in the engine. Sounds like bad piston rings to me. Good luck OP with whatever happens. The dealership is probably going to put up a fight with the warranty.

Lessons learned guys... check your oil at least once a week, and there is NO low oil indicator light!!!! Its low oil pressure, and that doesn't indicate your oil level!

If he thinks 4500 past due isn't a big deal id bet he's not changing oil every 3000 miles.....


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That motor has been sold sorry brother. So sorry to hear that. Do you have any crazy ex's who know how to drain the oil on a car?

-.- No! Bad!

No modern oil in a modern car needs to be changed every 3000 miles. EVER...except if it is tracked. 4000 or 5000 is plenty.

And synthetics can go 7, 8, or even 12,000 miles between changes.

Me and you Arrvaxx will never agree on that. I payed a decent amount for my car and 70 bucks every 3000 miles is a very small price to pay to have peace of mind.


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If I actually drove 5,000 miles in a year I might go that long on an oil change.

Really if you went 4K over the OCI and never checked the oil... Well I'm not thinking this is the car's fault.

An overly lengthy OCI does not explain the loss of all the oil -- that's clearly the old "some VQ37HR's burn oil" problem...

That said, the real issue is that you are probably out of warranty on the drivetrain if you are past 60K. That means, even if you had clear records of following recommended OCI's perfectly, Nissan technically is not obliged to replace your motor...

No harm in trying -- the oil consumption issue is not new and not unique to you -- but odds are you will get stuck having to buy a new engine.

Good luck -- you might find one off a wrecked Z with low miles that you can get for far less than a new one from the factory out of a crate.

Arrvaxx is 100% correct here, modern engines do not need oil changes every 3000 miles. That's a notion from the 80's and 90's that is no longer true. A friend of mine just bought a new civic and they were told to come in every 5k for an oil change. Mobil1 synthetic is guaranteed up to 15k miles, and I change mine at half that. Hell, Amsoil is guaranteed to 25k miles.

I'm not trying to be a ****, and you're more than welcome to do what you want with your car, but don't spread misinformation on the forum and make this guy sound like an idiot for driving 7500 miles on one oil change, I've done that with my last 3 cars with no problems whatsoever. That's not the problem here, the problem is that he didn't check his oil levels once a month.

Also, ditto on the motor costs. You shouldn't pay over $3k for a motor. Good luck OP!

Zdayz 2014!!

7500 miles on an oil change isn't the problem, it's 5000+ miles without checking the oil.

Sorry guys old habits die hard for me and I have remained skeptical over the years so forgive me. Never intended to start an oil debate I just asked the OP what his intervals were and then speculated from there. Any way if I ever sell my Z on here just remember I'm the @$$hole that always has super clean oil.


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That wouldn't happen to be Mobil 1 Synthetic would it? I have had an issue with my wife's 03' Maxima. If you go over the 6 months ( with less than 3,000 miles) the oil will disappear. The volatility of Mobil 1 synthetic is not that good, hence the disappearing oil. I check the cars oil regularly. It has never been more than a quart low, one time, and that is when I caught the issue. I am switching oil. Not sure what I am going to run, leaning toward Amsoil, but also looking at Pennzoil Platinum stuff too. I have been running this oil for years (20 years), I am not sure what they changed, but it was not for the better.

Thanks for all the posts and thoughts on my issue.

My motor pricing sounded high, but I didn't explain it well and with what I've seen on ebay it doesn't sound too out line. The total cost is $6200 out the door (plus tax). The cheapest on ebay was that one for $3500 + $450 shipping. I'm getting charged about $1500 for labor and I'm sure he's also covering for the work he tried to do when I initially brought the car in so I just rounded it up to $7k.

Like others suspected, the dealership was no help. Since the car was out of warranty and at another shop with the engine broken down, they weren't in the mood to be helpful.

I guess I've come to the conclusion that yes A) I waited too long to get an oil change this time and B) I could have avoided any of this by just checking the damn oil one a week but I still think something happened that I wasn't aware of like an oil leak or unusual burning of the oil. I usually get my oil changed about every 4500 miles. Like I mentioned, I was on my way in that week to get a 60,000 mile service and just didn't realize how long I'd gone before that. Never in a million years would I have guessed how low it was.

So to keep myself sane, I'm running with the mantra that I don't think I did anything wrong to the car, but I surely could have avoided this mess by at least checking the oil every week. Expensive lesson for everyone out there.

I guess the bright side is I'll have shaved off 45,000 miles from my engine when I get her back. I gotta look at the bright side here or else I'll never get over this :)

I'm glad you were able to track down a motor and get the work done -- the total bill isn't unreasonable either.

I make a habit of checking the oil once every 2 - 4 weeks, just to minimize the likelihood of surprises. That said, I think you had a bum motor, and you were getting close to the end of your warranty so this may have happened anyway even if you were checking more -- it's hard to say.

In the end, sounds like it all worked out -- so congrats and good luck with the new motor :tup:

I check my oil at least once a week, no matter what. Glad you are getting it worked out with a new bullet installed.

Quick update, just got my Z back today. Can't tell you how much I enjoyed the 20 minute ride to work after driving the wife's Jeep Commander for two weeks!

It's a 2011, but the new engine is a 2012 with 12K on it. I'm told this one has an oil cooler that the previous year's didn't have and about 10 more HP... so that's the good news. Of course the bad news is the state of my wallet!

I still will do some more research on this "some VQ37HR's burn oil" problem, but I'll be treating this car like a newborn from here on out.

Glad it worked out. As a matter of practice, I always check my engine fluids every 60 days; although, you should probably do it every 30 days.

I was about 4500 miles overdue for an oil change shame on you that poor Z how would you feel a couple pints low of blood.

?? I usually change the oil around 5k .. I check my dip stick every 1k mile.
If I can still see clear through it with a slight shade of red then its still good.
Mobile 1 Extended performance with M1EP filter M1-110 [Titan Filter]

I drive two cars each about 7.5k a year. They get one oil change a year with full synthetic. Last oil change on the accord I sent a sample to Blackstone. I think it said I could go to 8500 miles next time. I try to check my oil at every fill up. Just make it a habit.

Glad to here your car is well again!

I'm having the same problem my eyes 2011 nismo started rattling in the engine compartment and now I and now I think I'm having the same issues.
I've had my 98 Trans Am ws6 do the same thing, 1 quart low every 3000 miles, but not as bad as having 1 quart of. oil left in the oil pan after 4000 miles.
my 2008 350 Nismo never had a problem I wonder what happened.
I'm taking every mod off my off I mean everything since nissan north america denied my claim when my car caught on fire due to a short tn the passenger side taillight.
Oh best part is when I asked them what the diagnosis was, what started it... They told me they're not at liberty to discuss it with me but as far as I'm concerned it wasn't their part that caused the fire and they handed me my keys in my hand and I had to drive a car home and they told me to call my insurance.