Z Owners, check your oil, post mileage and how far "down" it is...

imag

How many miles were on the car when you got it?

I ask because it's possible that you may never have seated the rings on your car, driving the way you do. I'm sure you've read that school of thought on engine break-in, but if you haven't, it might be worth pondering:

Break In Secrets--How To Break In New Motorcycle and Car Engines For More Power

The issue you're having seems to be explained by that theory pretty well - namely, you didn't push the engine hard enough to seat the rings. Anyway, I'm not trying to flame - it was just a thought.

I actually just added a quart to mine. Did my first oil change at 1K, and I was nearing the low dot on the dipstick at 3800 miles. I'm going to get it changed when I add my oil cooler next week, so it will be interesting to see how the next 3K miles goes. I bought extra ester oil from the dealer on the assumption that it would eat about a quart every 3K miles. If oil consumption stays in that range, it won't bother me.

drisko

I am absolutely sure my car does burn oil. I have done the "test" described in the first post many times and the oil is ALWAYS a bit lower after even 500 miles of driving. It is not much lower, so not too much is being burned, but it is still noticeable.

Seems like maybe Nissan borrowed Mazda's RX-7 oil burning technology

Medic505

I have checked my oil every week for the last month. The car has 1750 miles on it and is down about 1/4 of a qt. Stopped by my local nissan dealer today and picked up a qt @ $11.14. It's looking like 69 bucks for an oil change may be money well spent. Cheaper than I can buy oil and a filter for.

cab83_750

Update:

just cAme back from the dealer. 700 miles and I used up 1 qt. They are calling Nissan tech line tomorrow. I hope I get a new engine and Nissan doesn't give me crap!

For sale: 2009 370z. 6750 miles on chassis, 0 miles on engine. Heh heh heh.

tbonesteak

gluck!!!!

cab83_750

After posting my data, isn't it amazing how this thread kinda died and the 'it is normal guys' just disappeared?

ZKindaGuy

The oil doesn't have to be checked every week on the 370Z. I have 6000 miles on my 370Z. I spent the first 4000 miles driving 230 miles a day 4 days a week and then pleasure driving in the country on the weekends. I never once had any oil loss.

The car now has 6000+ miles on it and I quit driving the 230 miles a day since I bought a beater. So now I drive the Z on weekends and some week nights for mostly city driving. And I still haven't had any oil loss.

So I am am thinking that perhaps the oil loss is relative to how a person drives their car...not meaning highway v. city but whether or not the driver is mostly always laying into the accelerator alot which causes an excessive heat RATE.

This could certainly lay the groundwork for the engine to always be running hot which would then burn oil because pedal popping doesn't allow sufficient time for the coolant to do the cycles it needs to do to disappate the quick heat buildup before the next pedal pop.

Just some thoughts...

Modshack

WTF does that mean? No one ever said a qt/700 miles was normal. YOu're obviously an exception. Some guys here don't even know how to check their oil or read their dipstick accurately....
If Nissan has verified your consumption, it Sounds like You "Could" be one of the exceptions but it is by no means common....

Stuff happens.

__________________

Steal my car! (SOLD)...Now Porsche Cayman S
Oil Cooler DIY: Here!

cab83_750

Modshack,

you're one of the members I respect. Dude, easy on WTF as I put a smiley at the end of my post.

Anyway I have not heard from the dealer yet. Perhaps I am screwed.

Reality

Not common, yet... (crosses fingers)
Ironically, I recall the same words were repeated by rev-up owners, up until the first official TSB was released.

It could just be that they are documenting everything relating to your potential OC problem.
I hope things work out for the best, GL!

__________________
//2005 35th SB #81 [tyra] SOLD
//2006 GT PPW SOLD

ScooterN2

Mine used 1 quart during first 1500 miles, now ~2/3 quart low at 2400 miles. Having oil changed this week at dealer. I asked Service Manager if I should be concerned about usage and he said "maybe".

I broke mine in fairly mild (with a few excursions from recommendations) and in general do not drive very hard.

I will keep an eye on the level and hope it is a break in thing. I have driven cars for almost 40 years and I feel that 1 quart/1000 is too much even during break in. At $12/quart, that is $1200 over 100K miles.

Timmer1978

Ok I realize I'm a complete newb here but why was the oil so much? From what I've checked on amazon you can get 6 quarts of Mobile 1 synthetic 5w30 for $29.95 after rebate.
Amazon.com: Mobil 1 Synthetic 5W-30 Motor Oil - 1 Quart, Pack of 6: Automotive

I haven't priced out an oil filter yet but I can't imagine it being more than $15 bucks right?

awesomez

To me, this thead has become a place for people who have issues with oil usage so I never come back to it, but I couldn't resist. After 3k miles, I can't confirm that a single drop of oil is missing out of my 370Z engine.

Zed-Hed

I took the first long trip in my car this weekend from Raleigh to Charlotte. It went into limp mode about 30 min. from my house on the return trip. I have 7100 miles on the car and have had the oil changed at 1500 and 4500 miles. The car was barely driveable. Monday had it taken to the dealer to find it was down almost 2 quarts of oil. They changed the oil and are now monitoring oil consumption. I'm 52 years old and have never had an issue like this with any car, including my 03 Evo which was modified.

axio

Checked mine last night. 750 miles after my last oil change, it's down about 1/4 to 1/3 of a quart. Currently have 4000 miles on the car.

Not that bad imo... my honda prelude would have burned a quart by now given the same mileage (H22's have bad piston ring lands so oil consumption does eventually happen)