Did my oil change yesterday, thanks for the write up AK. Of the 16 bolts theres two that on the sides that go into metal clips not solid metal. These lil bastards were a mofo to get off and I find it strange that no one else in this thread has mentioned these. I had my first oil change done for free by the dealer so Im thinking maybe they screwed them up somehow because when I was trying to take these specific bolts out the clips just rotated with the bolt. Anyway my solution in the end once I finally got them removed was that 14 bolts will hold that plastic cover on just fine.

Really only necessary to remove 4 bolts when you do an oil and filter change on a 370Z. I'm curious why some feel it necessary to remove the whole shroud/16 bolts?

lmao .. I just received 12 bottles of blackstone oil sample pack. Lets see:

oil change interval 7000 miles x 12 bottles = 84,000 miles! I guess they expect me to keep this car for another 84K :icon17:

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/DSC04090.jpg


Also, you can check out my other thread HERE about my vq status from blackstone lab.

Read this entire thread today - really amazing info in here for everyone - I have to guess that this might be the most used DIY on the forum so far - +1 Rep for AK.

My car only has 800 miles on it right now but based on all this reading I'm thinking I should start making arrangements for a first oil change around 1200 miles and then cutover to synthetic around the 3000 mile point.

All of the questions about the copper washer were amusing - Datsun/Nissan has been using those FOREVER - its been replaced on my 280Z so many times I've lost count.

I shouldn't have any problems with putting the car up on 4 jack stands right? Would it make more sense to raise the rear of the car up slightly further than the front?

Also, I didn't see any discussion in here about changing your oil based on time instead of miles - I don't put many miles on my car - should I think about changing the oil based on dates instead of miles or is that just plain stupid?

Thanks again AK for all this work!

EDIT: Might find this link helpful for those who don't have a dealer nearby that stock the copper washers.

The magnetic drain plug is a good buy, but does it come in blue? At the website, it doesn't give my an option to choose which color I wanted.

Yeah, I bought mine yesterday - I think the one for the Z is only red - the blue and gold one in the picture are different sizes for different makes (I think).

Dangit...my whole theme is screwed up with that red drain plug...j/k...imma just get that red one.

just did my first oil change yesterday with the help of your guide!! :tup:

Just got the oil plug today - holy moly is this thing TINY!!!!! Really light too compared to the one in the 280Z - oh well, another 100 miles or so and I'll be swapping out the original oil - anyone save a little bit of theirs for sentimental reasons? :rofl2:

Just did the oil change yesterday, no hiccups. Thanks for the DIY!

For the Fourth of July, my girlfriend and I were getting ready to take the Z on a 800 mile round-trip journey to the Chicagoland area to visit my parents for a few days. With this trip in mind, I started gathering the necessary equipment to change the oil.

Before I was able to even think about changing the oil, I needed a way to get under the car. I thought about using Rhino Ramps, but since I had the front air dam installed, I didn't feel like piecing together a makeshift 2x4 "approach" ramp. Plus, the Rhino Ramps felt cheap and I didn't want the possibility of them sliding out from under the car. Thus, I started searching for an alternative.

I did a quick search on the forums and read some information about Race Ramps. I have heard about them before, but I never took the time to read about them. Although they are expensive, I was very impressed by their reviews. Through the forums, I found a website, Reverse Logic Limited Jack Pad Tools for People Who Love Their Cars, who sold Race Ramps at a very good price. At first, I thought the website was a little sketchy, but a few members on here vouched for them. Since I needed the ramps ASAP, I tried my luck and called them on a Saturday. When Fred picked up the phone, I was startled!

After a long conversation with Fred, I felt comfortable enough to make the transaction. I paid $219 for the 56", 2-piece ramps. That price also included free shipping! Needless to say, Fred is an AWESOME guy and I had my ramps in three business days.

Next, I needed oil, crush washers, and an oil filter. Here is a tip guys; tell your girlfriend to go pick up the crush washers at a local dealership and smile pretty. The dealer gave her 5 washers for free, so I was pretty excited about that! For the oil filter, I went with a Purolator PureONE, which is easily found at many auto stores. Lastly, I needed to get oil. As many of you know, I'm an Amsoil guy so it didn't take long for me to place an order for Amsoil's 0W-30 Signature Series. Since I live in Columbus, I'm able to pick the oil up locally at their distribution center and avoid shipping costs.

All said and done, the oil was changed and I was ready for the trip. The car started up with an effortless roar, the idle was noticeably smoother, and the engine just felt happier. I never thought an oil change could have such a positive impact on my driving experience, but I'll spare you all the Amsoil dealer jargon :tup:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...Q/IMG_2150.jpg

Indeed, a terrific source to buy Race Ramps from is Reverse Logic Limited ---> Low Profile Ramps & Wheel Cribs

Terrific to deal with, pricing excellent and Fred the owner gets them to you at super sonic speed. I've bought from him twice now and he is good to deal with and an excellent communicator.

I still got some time before doing my first oil change. I'm only at 1500 miles. Will plan to do my oil change at 2500 to 3000 miles.

Great information. Does anyone out there have any experience with the Race Ramps and the NISMO. The front fascia is obviously different and I'm not convinced the Race Ramps would work. Thanks for any help.

I removed 17 bolts. Oh well.