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-   -   Z Oil Change: Miles or Time? (http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivetrain/12636-z-oil-change-miles-time.html)

JARblue 05-15-2012 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDZRVIT (Post 1721947)
There is a message here - 3750 mile oil changes under normal driving conditions (no tracking, etc) are not necessary. Obviously, Mercedes has a lot of confidence in their engines from not breaking down given their 12K mile oil change intervals. I have the same confidence in the Nissan engine, my 355 SBC, '03 Sport Trac and John Deere LT150. All use Mobil 1 and the oil is changed once a year irregardless of the mileage. But that's just me and my 35+ years doing my own maintenance and repairs. Hey, why pay $100/hr labour rates when you can DIY?

:iagree:

We put enough miles on the Z that I am changing it every 6-7 months on average. The dealer did the first two cause I had some credit with their service department, but going forward, I will be doing them myself. I will say that if you do the recommended 7500 miles or 12 month increments, I think that the cost per year for oil changes just isn't significant, even if you do pay someone else to do it. We ARE driving $30K vehicles after all, so if you don't want to do it yourself, then pay the money to have it done right. I, for one, am looking forward to doing my own maintenance on the Z. It is my first true sports car and really the first car I haven't thought of as simply a mode of transportation.

Coon-azz 05-15-2012 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDZRVIT (Post 1721947)
There is a message here - 3750 mile oil changes under normal driving conditions (no tracking, etc) are not necessary. Obviously, Mercedes has a lot of confidence in their engines from not breaking down given their 12K mile oil change intervals. I have the same confidence in the Nissan engine, my 355 SBC, '03 Sport Trac and John Deere LT150. All use Mobil 1 and the oil is changed once a year irregardless of the mileage. But that's just me and my 35+ years doing my own maintenance and repairs. Hey, why pay $100/hr labour rates when you can DIY?

No way....:tiphat: what kind of mileage out of curiousity...sorry..

Shamrock 05-16-2012 06:44 AM

I bought my z with exactly 15000K and told the previous owner that he had to foot the bill for the oil exchange. I told him to tell them at the dealership to put in the gt-r oil and not the z oil and I would pay the difference. At my dealership the oil for the gt-r is not the same as the Z. Does anyone know what the difference between the two oils is? I hope it's ok that I did this. My friend who has had a z for two years recommended this. Does the gt-r oil need to be replaced more frequently? Does it keep the engine in better condition or was it a waste of money?

IDZRVIT 05-16-2012 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coon-azz (Post 1721952)
No way....:tiphat: what kind of mileage out of curiousity...sorry..

The Z is only a weekend driver so not a lot of kilometers put on it. Oil/filter is changed in the fall before going into winter storage. I won't leave 'contaminated' oil in it over the winter only fresh oil. The Sport Trac clocks around 10K miles/yr. Change oil/filter in the fall. I've owned the JD LT150 for 5 years and it came used with the house when I bought it. It gets used every week or so in the summer to mow 15K sq. ft. of lawn. In the winter it is used as a snow blower and used maybe 5-10 times. I changed the oil and filter about 3 years ago. I'll probably change it again this year. The 'vette gets very little use so the oil is changed every second year. All vehicles are in excellent working condition and no weird noises from their engines.

IMHO, Nissan and other car makers recommend oil change intervals way too often. It's a win-win for them because most owners (assumption) of these cars take them to the dealer for scheduled maintenance. Nissan supplies the parts and the dealer installs whether the car actually requires the maintenance or not. Mercedes doesn't seem to think so and their engines aren't anything special as in made entirely out of exotic metals. In closing, I don't buy into all the hype about changing oil every few thousand miles or every few months. But for those that feel by doing these frequent changes for peace of mind then continue to do so. Your engine won't last any longer or any less but I don't have any hard facts to back this up - just my own experiences.

IDZRVIT 05-16-2012 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamrock (Post 1722630)
..... was it a waste of money?

Yes, but if it gives you peace of mind..............

Shamrock 05-16-2012 08:33 AM

What are the differences between the two oils?


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370Z Purist 05-16-2012 09:15 AM

GT-R's motor oil is just Mobil 1 Synthetic, isn't it? That isn't that special; although oil for the tranny or diff in the GT-R is super specific (and super-expensive). The Z oil by comparison is more "special," since it's the ester base with "microdiamonds."

2009 Nissan GT-R: Bargain Supercar Gets Expensive

Shamrock 05-16-2012 01:50 PM

Sorry. So it is better to use the gt-r engine oil or the z engine oil in the z?


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LakeShow 05-16-2012 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamrock (Post 1723147)
Sorry. So it is better to use the gt-r engine oil or the z engine oil in the z?


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If you put GTR oil, your Z will produce 530HP and develop a Twin Turbo.

JARblue 05-16-2012 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakeShow (Post 1723162)
If you put GTR oil, your Z will produce 530HP and develop a Twin Turbo.

If that's the case, I have GT-R Oil for sale @ $50 per quart :rofl2:

http://thejungle.ath.cx/370z/Not370z/GTRoil.png

IDZRVIT 05-16-2012 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue (Post 1723183)
If that's the case, I have GT-R Oil for sale @ $50 per quart :rofl2:

http://thejungle.ath.cx/370z/Not370z/GTRoil.png

I'l take two cases!:icon18:

IDZRVIT 05-16-2012 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamrock (Post 1723147)
Sorry. So it is better to use the gt-r engine oil or the z engine oil in the z?


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Shamrock, in all seriousness, I would recommend you use a 'normal' synthetic oil such as Mobil 1 5W-30. You can even use dino oil if you want to save a few bucks but don't waste your money on 'specialty' oils.

Shamrock 05-17-2012 03:49 AM

Ha ha guys! All I want to know if the Z oil is ok in my engine, not causing damage. I got it. I won't get it again. Is it ok until the next oil change? Joking aside.


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IDZRVIT 05-17-2012 07:03 AM

No, it won't cause any damage.

JARblue 05-17-2012 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamrock (Post 1723890)
Ha ha guys! All I want to know if the Z oil is ok in my engine, not causing damage. I got it. I won't get it again. Is it ok until the next oil change? Joking aside.


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To answer your question: No, the recommended Nissan Ester oil will not harm your Z.

I decided on Mobil 1 quite a while ago, primarily for its universal nature in the sense that I can find it virtually any auto store or any lube store (when I used to pay for my oil changes). If you take it to lube shop, you're pretty much stuck with a dealership if you use the Ester, and for any other specialty oil, you likely will need to bring the oil with you to the shop.


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