370Z oil consumption
 

Hello All,
I picked up my 370 in April & now have 3400 KM (2100 miles) on the odometer. I have since added almost 2 liters of oil, anyone in the same boat?

just FYI for US members, 1 liter = 1.057 quarts
 

It is NOT unlikely for a car to burn a little oil during break in period (0 to 1200 miles). I think if you burn more than 1 quart/1000 miles, then it's an issue. I personally have no oil burning problem along with hundreds of other 370Z members. I say top it off and see if it still burns. If so, give your dealer a call.

:iagree:

btw, welcome :hello: :tup:

Thanks for the welcome! I just came back from the dealer, I had the oil changed & they ageed that this level of oil consumption is excessive even for break in. They will now monitor the consumption so when ever oil needs to be added I will bring it in. The service rep said they will do this for the next 5 top ups before they make any kind of descision.

H.

Oil consumption
 

Yes, have the same situation. Most of the Z club guys locally say this is a bad deal. Some of the earlier new model changes had the same problem. Mine shows up in the tailpipes as well, does yours?

Yes, I had to use mag cleaner to get it off. It was not too bad though.

for the two of you guys that have oil drinking engines, how did you break in your car? Thanks.

I have noticed my tailpipes are a little dirty...

... now I'm worried.

Come on people....give the oil issue some time to work itself out. Many of these engines are still in their break-in period. High-performance 4 and 6 packs are known to consume oil for as long as 10K miles.

I have more concern for those folks who see every little thing as a problem. Its this kind of reaction that starts to cause the car to come under relentless and unnecessary scrutiny for absolutely no reason...and once this kind of over reactive :BS: starts getting into the car magazine reviews the entire car starts to drop unnecessarily in its value quickly all because of supposition and conjecture.

So how about showing some patience and restraint and quit posting your needless concerns until there is a definite and provable problem identified and a root cause of a real failure instead of all this dust some of you folks keep kicking up about nothing.:shakes head:

Tailpipes are always gonna get black regardless of whether the motor burns oil or not. Monitor your dipstick every 1k miles or so.

Take a look at the dirt,oil burning car's,the soot is 'oily' type like 2 strokes motocycle,'dry' & black soot is 'rich' running engine...

That use to be the case but I think a lot of things have changed in the last 10 or so years. The 370Z engine has been around for the last two years and while the 370Z platform is new there is a lot of stuff that is very similar on the 350Z, G35 and G37. I've found this new car to be surprisingly unquirky. There is the odd thing but not really an unusual amount even for a vehicle that's been produced for a number of years.

That being said at 5300KM I had burned a liter of oil. Not too concerned about it....

since the G37 was released.. a few friends (who work at or with Nissan/Infiniti dealerships) have advised me that many 3.7 vq's are loosing oil.
At one dealership, 3 g37's were waiting on new motors.

So once again, OC issues arise with our beloved VQ motor.. Coming from 2 revups, I can feel your pain.

If I do purchase a 370z, I will def be waiting on the 2010 model.

<0.5qt every 3000 so far. I'm at a little under 10,000 mi on the Odometer.

Is that due to simple fluid breakdown, or is it getting evaporated out? Or is that grounds for a definative leak somewhere and we should be flashlight scrubbing our blocks at night for drips?

That sounds perfectly normal..

Oil doesn't evaporate out. If it's not leaking it's getting burned. All engines burn some oil even if only a fractional amount. Most manufacturers won't even raise an eyebrow until it starts to exceed 1 qt per thousand miles..

Thats what I figured, I know it sounded retarded, but wanted to knock it out and confirm its not even plausible lol. But ok, then I won't be jacking up the car every night looking for drips on the driveway..

Coming from an '06 350 that had the original engine replaced for OC, I hope this isn't a problem for the VQ37.

John

Hrmm...every vehicle I've ever owned the tail pipes turn black. I guess every car I've owned must burn oil.

Edit: That was sarcastic btw.


These are combustion engines that burn fossil fuels. There will be soot in the tail pipe over time. Also, keep in mind that these cars run REALLY REALLY rich.

I have some blackness in my tail pipes and my oil level hasn't moved. Lets not get worked up over nothing :)

Black tailpipes are usually carbon deposits from the burning of Gasoline. The richer a car runs, the blacker the tips..

HEHE, I was editing my post as you posted this. I agree, I was being sarcastic.


Edit again: I did go back and read the OPs post though, and he has added in oil. I lost sight of the original post and for some reason thought this thread was about black tail pipes = burning oil. Think I misunderstood.

^+1

I know for certain the VQ37 is loosing oil, not necessarily burning it, but def loosing...
All to familiar for me...:shakes head:

And you know this how? If an engine is losing oil and NOT burning it through the combustion chamber, it is leaking it. Fix the leak. Pretty simple. Not all of the tens of thousands of VQ37 motors are consuming oil.

So back to the issue... less than a quart per oil change interval is ok, but more would be indicative of a oil-burning issue?

No, Not really..... Very few manufacturers will give you the time of day if you're not burning more than a quart/1000 miles. Chevy (for the Corvette) even has a published bulletin that says 1 qt per 500 miles is acceptable if used in an aggressive manner (aggressive being defined as operation above 3000RPM's...LOL). A quart between changes, or even 2 would not be considered excessive enough to warrant correction with most all companies...
When you get into the serious usage area they will do a monitored test by documenting miles and sealing your oil fill to determine true usage..

(Just ignore the idiot trolls)

just checked mine. 6000 miles and 150 from next change. It's slightly overfilled still.

Got me paranoid, especially after owning an '06 OC Z. Just checked the oil level, 2500 miles since the first oil change, 4500 miles total on the car. Level was just below half, approaching 2/3 down from High......... that makes me feel better. A little off topic, but checking the level just now, it has been 4 1/2 hours since I got home, car has been sitting in the garage. The engine was still so hot that it would burn your hand to leave it on any metal part for longer than a second or two. Man, this engine bay is tight and closed off, no heat dissipation at all. Any one else notice this?

John

Pull all the rubber gaskets across the rear of the engine (they just snap out). They will allow a bit of ventilation, both moving and stopped. I've recorded significant temp reductions on other cars. Things will be a little louder as the gaskets are mostly for NVH, but you might like the induction growl. You can also pop the plastic piece at the rear strut tower mount for even more air. This engine dies not run partcularly hot. I generally see 182 degrees water temps while moving which is pretty cool..

If I pull the gaskets out across the rear, any issues with water running down into the engine bay?

John

No more than if you drove around with no hood at all.

None whatsoever..

Apparently you have not tried it. I'd throw some datalogged charts up but I don't think you'd get it.....:shakes head:

I was only responding to the risk of water. Everything in there should be weathersealed. I've driven many cars around without a hood. Some even during the rain.

I must say that too many of Z owners seem to blow things out of proportion. I am at 7500 miles with my 370Z, daily driver from early April and I haven't had a single issue. I even drove it on 900 mile trip without stopping to Miami without any issues. 110 degree heat 100% humidity in south florida and my oil temperature never reached 230 degrees (I was driving normally). I have the dealer change my oil at 3000 miles, and if I am to exceed I stop driving the car until it's changed. I use synthetic oil and never had to refill.
My only real complaint is that those wide rear tires with sport package create way too much road noise for long trips.

I have never had oil or any other issues, other then passenger window motor needed to be replaced on my 350Z as well.

I agree completely with your first statement. Many folks not only blow things way out of proportion but they are far too critical. I have noticed that some folks between the ages of 20 and 35 (I guess) seem to be under the completely mistaken and unrealistic impression that any car they buy is supposed to stay brand-new and not require any maintenance of the smallest or simplest kind despite their constantly putting the car through its paces on some race track or on the road on a regular basis.

These whiners are lucky they have been born in the later years (late 70's and and 80's) rather than the earlier years of the 50's and 60's when the laws weren't as they are in this day and age where just a mere wimper from someone causes the courts to over-react and eventually help with the forcing the car manufacturers out of business due to the numerous number of frivolously rediculous nuisance suits in the courts brought upon by the consumer's prima-donna valley-girl like reactions.

Now your one statement or practice where you stop driving your car when you reach the 3000 mile mark. This is absolutely NOT necessary to do. The fact that you use SYNTH oil in your car allows your oil changes to be extended from 3000 miles to 5000 to 6000 miles. So if you hit the 3000 mile mark relax and continue to drive the car until you get it over to the dealer to change.

Just as an FYI even the oils refined before 20 years ago weren't required to be changed every 3000 miles but rather every 5000 miles. And those engines ran every bit up to and passt 200,000 miles. This whole "change your oil every 3000 mile :bs: was osmething that had its start around the time cars became fuel injected and was really a push by the refineries to try to capture the dollars they lost during the mid to late 70's oil embargo. Through their partnership with the car manufacturers they together have managed to create and maintain one of the best and relentless propaganda campaigns over the past 20 years and have got the consumer completely buying into the crock hook, line and sinker.

The irony of it al is the oils of today are of such superior quality and engine protection over those oils produced prior to 20 years ago. If anything the oil changes should have gotten extended not reduced as they have historically become.

But like PT Barum said "there is a sucker born every day". Its just so happens thre has been two entire generations born that have bought right into the :bs: of the oil industry. Do yourself a favor and don't be one of them.

I know this from talking with master mechanics at various Infiniti dealerships.. also having close friends who work at the dealerships, helps..
^ 6 cars between March - June, were waiting on engine replacements... can't be a fluke. and when they check for OC, its supposedly similar to the amount seen with the Revup Motors.

Question:
-How would you fix a leak, when the problem with the revups were supposedly caused by valve overlap.. This overlap created a vacuum which would suck the oil via the guides and out the exhaust.
So how do you fix an inherent flaw in the design?
Do you think Nissan is going to issue a massive recall and loose millions?

I hope my information was somehow limited to those vehicles that I heard of.. but I would not hold my breath.

As the owner of an '06 OC 350, who did a lot of research on this, from what I could gather you are basically correct ......... vacuum suckout through the exhaust.

John

if the car was broken in 'easy' you may have a ring seal issue...break um in hard kids, helps the rings seal

I have this issue with mine as well just rolled over 10k and after the first oil change at 3000k the oil was gone within 3000 miles... enough of a loss with no warning light to make them replace the timing belt and gear.... 3000 miles after no oil showing yet again on the dip stick... I think this is a major flaw... taking in tomorrow again to get them to fix it... No car should have to fill the oil as much as you fill the gas tank... No warning lights saying its low nothing at all. Guess will be selling to someone else to deal with before the warranty runs out unless Nissan fixes the issues....

~4200 miles, no issues. I have seen as high as 230ish oil temp but upon checking the oil after cool down it is exactly where it needs to be. I drive it hard on occasion but not enough where it is abused, I also stored it outside for 8 months under multiple tarps. Only 1 oil change done thus far, I used Nissan Ester Oil, I know it's not required but why risk otherwise. I dynoed on a dynojet yesterday, I'm happy to report humbly that the motor seems healthy and strong. Not to add fuel to the "break in" argument, but I babied her for the first 1850 like the manual says, many ranges of revs and speeds didn't really hit redline a whole lot, maybe that helped...