Z Oil Change: Miles or Time?

LinPark · 04-04-2012, 10:44 AM

If you only drove 2k miles a year would you still change it every 6 months? Doesn't that also mean you should check the date on the oil when you buy it? What if its been sitting on the shelf for like 6 months?

Also, on the Honda item I'd be shocked if it uses RPM's - I'd bet it uses miles because my indicator drops to 15% at precisely 6k miles each time. I've been sending the oil into Blackstone Labs and have gotten to the point where I run the oil for almost 8,500 miles and it could go further (this is just basic Honda Oil) - so I have to believe that I could run Redline longer than that in a 370Z.

I suppose I could take a sample of the oil from the 370Z and send it in without changing the oil. I've had this car for 2 years now - I changed the oil once with Nissan Ester at 1,100 miles and switched to Redline at 3,100 miles on 3/5/2011 - the car now has 5,900 miles but I haven't changed the Redline oil yet. Seems kinda sad to spend that much on oil and only use like 35% of its life. Guess I'll send it in to Blackstone Labs and ask them how it looks. I'll report back what they tell me.

Davey · 04-04-2012, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LinPark

If you only drove 2k miles a year would you still change it every 6 months? Doesn't that also mean you should check the date on the oil when you buy it? What if its been sitting on the shelf for like 6 months?

Exactly!

The time recommendation is based on the idea that if you go less than 1,000 miles a month, you are probably doing lots of short trips and never warm the oil up.

I drive my car at least 30 minutes on the highway at 70+ MPH every time I drive it, it's not a problem.

roy'sz · 04-04-2012, 02:34 PM

[QUOTE=LinPark;1639485]If you only drove 2k miles a year would you still change it every 6 months? Doesn't that also mean you should check the date on the oil when you buy it? What if its been sitting on the shelf for like 6 months?

It doesn't matter how long oil has sat on a shelf, being that it is vaccum sealed from factory it wont collect moisture. HOWEVER, when you open the oil and remove the seal and don't use all the oil (1/2qt) that is when moisture will build up.

ZMan8 · 04-04-2012, 02:52 PM

Quote:

It doesn't matter how long oil has sat on a shelf, being that it is vaccum sealed from factory it wont collect moisture. HOWEVER, when you open the oil and remove the seal and don't use all the oil (1/2qt) that is when moisture will build up.

there is the issue...we need 5 and 1/8 qts which means you will always have remaining oil sitting if you do your own oil changes

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04-04-2012, 10:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
LinPark A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,077 Drives: '17 Camaro 2SS A8 Rep Power: 24	If you only drove 2k miles a year would you still change it every 6 months? Doesn't that also mean you should check the date on the oil when you buy it? What if its been sitting on the shelf for like 6 months? Also, on the Honda item I'd be shocked if it uses RPM's - I'd bet it uses miles because my indicator drops to 15% at precisely 6k miles each time. I've been sending the oil into Blackstone Labs and have gotten to the point where I run the oil for almost 8,500 miles and it could go further (this is just basic Honda Oil) - so I have to believe that I could run Redline longer than that in a 370Z. I suppose I could take a sample of the oil from the 370Z and send it in without changing the oil. I've had this car for 2 years now - I changed the oil once with Nissan Ester at 1,100 miles and switched to Redline at 3,100 miles on 3/5/2011 - the car now has 5,900 miles but I haven't changed the Redline oil yet. Seems kinda sad to spend that much on oil and only use like 35% of its life. Guess I'll send it in to Blackstone Labs and ask them how it looks. I'll report back what they tell me.

04-04-2012, 02:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
roy'sz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: palmdale, ca Posts: 1,299 Drives: 2010 nissan 370z Rep Power: 16	[QUOTE=LinPark;1639485]If you only drove 2k miles a year would you still change it every 6 months? Doesn't that also mean you should check the date on the oil when you buy it? What if its been sitting on the shelf for like 6 months? It doesn't matter how long oil has sat on a shelf, being that it is vaccum sealed from factory it wont collect moisture. HOWEVER, when you open the oil and remove the seal and don't use all the oil (1/2qt) that is when moisture will build up.