Dirty gritty drained oil when I did the oil change today

dlmartin81 · 03-10-2010, 08:02 AM

^^ Well, I was under the assumption that with full synthetic oils, the intervals don't have to be as frequent.

theDreamer · 03-10-2010, 10:25 AM

With a synthetic you can wait longer, the Nissan ester oil is recommended for changes around 3750 I believe while RL and others say you can go around 5-6k. The issue blackflag is having is these companies doing oil changes every 10-12k.

j.arnaldo · 03-10-2010, 11:40 AM

Quick one AK!: As you know, I own an '04 Touring Coupe; I've been using Mobil 1 (non-ester oil) since the mid-nineties, with NO complaints at all. Should I go the ester way, or is Mobil 1 O.K. for my year model?? This ester thing has me thinking. I know 370s should get the ester formula synth' oil, but, how about my 350Z? THANKS.

Trips · 03-10-2010, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.arnaldo

Quick one AK!: As you know, I own an '04 Touring Coupe; I've been using Mobil 1 (non-ester oil) since the mid-nineties, with NO complaints at all. Should I go the ester way, or is Mobil 1 O.K. for my year model?? This ester thing has me thinking. I know 370s should get the ester formula synth' oil, but, how about my 350Z? THANKS.

I'd suggest stick to MB1, Syn wont hurt, but if it ain't broke why fix it....

j.arnaldo · 03-10-2010, 01:57 PM

Thanks, Tripleman! That was my logic, too. My main issue is that I stocked up with Mobil 1--cases and cases!--so I GOTTA keep using it up till I exhaust it! Thanks, again.

blackflag · 03-10-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theDreamer

The issue blackflag is having is these companies doing oil changes every 10-12k.

Absolutely - that's ridiculous.

(Though, even with synthetic, I still do 3k-4k. Call me crazy. Carbon builds up in synthetic oil, too, and that filter still fills up.

The last car that gave up the ghost on me went at 230k miles. I miss that car.)

WICKED_GRIN · 03-10-2010, 08:29 PM

My Pennzoil Platinum looks almost new when it’s drained at 4K….

SoCal 370Z · 03-10-2010, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlmartin81

Would love to have taken an oil filter cutter to that K&N and seen what was inside.

jpit · 03-10-2010, 09:08 PM

Did you save any of the oil for analysis?

dlmartin81 · 03-10-2010, 09:41 PM

Oil filter is long gone. I do still have the oil but don't know if it's any good because I did an oil change on my wife's vehicle, as well as mine. So the oils are mixed together.

AK370Z · 03-10-2010, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlmartin81

Oil filter is long gone. I do still have the oil but don't know if it's any good because I did an oil change on my wife's vehicle, as well as mine. So the oils are mixed together.

That's not good (the mixing part). Maybe next time. You actually have to bring up the oil temp (I bring it up to 210 usually) before getting the sample.

As many said, change your oil now. Run it for maybe 3-4 months (or 4000 miles whichever comes first) and then see what's the end result.

Good luck man!

TheSnakeJake · 03-10-2010, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlmartin81

So yesterday was my first time swapping out old RL oil. It was also my first time with an oil containing ester. So as I was draining the oil, I noticed some unusual properties. 1) The oil color was milk chocolate like, mixed with some copper. RL does have a golden-amber color out of the quart. So I guess this is normal. Is it?? 2) The oil was kind of gritty. My engine has roughly 9.3K miles on it...still pretty new. Could the grittiness be because it's still in a break-in phase and those are the metal remains. Or perhaps this is normal. I probably never noticed it with other oils because of the color. Typically, all other oils were pitch black when I swapped them. RL color perhaps makes it more noticeable.

Below are some pics to help explain what I saw. Please tell me this is normal.

sorry to say man, but that looks terrible... i would definitely be concerned. what happened to the gasket on the filter?

dlmartin81 · 03-10-2010, 11:34 PM

Nothing wrong...the rubber gasket just comes of easily.

dlmartin81 · 03-10-2010, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK370Z

That's not good (the mixing part).

I just want to make something clear. I'm afraid some might be getting the wrong idea. When I said the oils are mixed, I was referring to the oil in the oil pan. I did two oil changes that day. Mine and my wife's. I wasn't actually mixing oils and dumping it into the engine. By having the oils mixed in the oil pan, it will be difficult to get a sample.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK370Z

As many said, change your oil now. Run it for maybe 3-4 months (or 4000 miles whichever comes first) and then see what's the end result.

Are you saying that I should change the oil again, after the fact that I did that this past weekend?

dlmartin81 · 03-11-2010, 09:50 AM

^^ Yeah, I'll be sure to do that next time.

03-10-2010, 10:25 AM	#17 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4210	With a synthetic you can wait longer, the Nissan ester oil is recommended for changes around 3750 I believe while RL and others say you can go around 5-6k. The issue blackflag is having is these companies doing oil changes every 10-12k. __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

03-10-2010, 11:40 AM	#18 (permalink)
j.arnaldo Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 937 Drives: Nissan 350Z, 2004 Rep Power: 0	Quick one AK!: As you know, I own an '04 Touring Coupe; I've been using Mobil 1 (non-ester oil) since the mid-nineties, with NO complaints at all. Should I go the ester way, or is Mobil 1 O.K. for my year model?? This ester thing has me thinking. I know 370s should get the ester formula synth' oil, but, how about my 350Z? THANKS. Last edited by j.arnaldo; 03-10-2010 at 11:42 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
oil change	ddvette9	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	45	01-04-2010 05:58 PM
Dirty exhaust tips? Car running too rich from stock?	mcwoowoo	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	7	10-08-2009 09:26 PM
Drifting Dirty	o0javi0o	Nissan 370Z Photos / Spyshots / Video / Media Gallery	8	09-19-2009 03:46 PM
1st oil change	KiddAdelaide	Australia/New Zealand	8	08-26-2009 05:58 PM
1st Oil Change	tooohip	Mid-Atlantic Region	4	06-25-2009 08:50 PM

03-10-2010, 08:02 AM	#16 (permalink)
dlmartin81 Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chalfont, PA Age: 43 Posts: 923 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 608	^^ Well, I was under the assumption that with full synthetic oils, the intervals don't have to be as frequent.

03-10-2010, 01:57 PM	#20 (permalink)
j.arnaldo Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 937 Drives: Nissan 350Z, 2004 Rep Power: 0	Thanks, Tripleman! That was my logic, too. My main issue is that I stocked up with Mobil 1--cases and cases!--so I GOTTA keep using it up till I exhaust it! Thanks, again.

03-10-2010, 08:29 PM	#22 (permalink)
WICKED_GRIN Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: New England Posts: 466 Drives: 370Z Roadster Black Rep Power: 16	My Pennzoil Platinum looks almost new when it’s drained at 4K….

03-10-2010, 09:08 PM	#24 (permalink)
jpit Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 440 Drives: 370Z Tour MT w/Spt Rep Power: 16	Did you save any of the oil for analysis?

03-10-2010, 09:41 PM	#25 (permalink)
dlmartin81 Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chalfont, PA Age: 43 Posts: 923 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 608	Oil filter is long gone. I do still have the oil but don't know if it's any good because I did an oil change on my wife's vehicle, as well as mine. So the oils are mixed together.

03-10-2010, 11:34 PM	#28 (permalink)
dlmartin81 Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chalfont, PA Age: 43 Posts: 923 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 608	Nothing wrong...the rubber gasket just comes of easily.

03-11-2010, 09:50 AM	#30 (permalink)
dlmartin81 Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chalfont, PA Age: 43 Posts: 923 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 608	^^ Yeah, I'll be sure to do that next time.