370Z Engine Failure

MightyBobo · 07-15-2010, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilsonp

A modern car shouldn't need babysitting. These aren't Ferraris.

And yet, they are still highly complex machines that have many working parts.

Jordo! · 07-15-2010, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VCuomo

So much for the "bad luck" theory...

There is absolutely no reason a brand new engine (or even one with some miles on it) should drink up that much oil within one change interval unless something is seriously wrong with it.

While he might have avoided the need for a tow truck, that engine must have been fvcked from the day it was built.

Mt Tam I am · 07-15-2010, 11:36 AM

I just hit 1800 miles. I've added two quarts and am down half as we speak. If the OP had a similar problem as I, waiting until 3200+ miles would put close to out of oil.

Originally I only thought to check my oil at 500 miles because of high oil temps (245* during break in under 4000 revs). I was down 3/4 qt. Down another 1/2 at 1000 miles, now 2 1/2 qts at 1800.

billydsz · 07-15-2010, 12:36 PM

Any new car that loses more than a half quart between oil changes is defective.

Jordo! · 07-15-2010, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EazyD

Going to throw in my $0.02 and mention that which you are checking your oil, also keep an eye on your coolant!!

I failed to do this, and didn't notice my coolant getting lower and lower due to a crack in the radiator. After overheating my vehicle, I now have a cracked cylinder head among lotttts of other parts need to be replaced. All I had to do was keep an eye on the fluid level. Stuck in Maine right now at my father's mechanic's mercy.

The temp gauge didn't show any overheating?

A tip for everyone, if the car starts overheating, crank up the heat on full blast -- that will draw heat off the motor to the heater core and should cool things down enough to find a safe place to pull over. Then call a tow truck.

(Disclaimer: At least this trick used to work -- not sure if more modern cars have the core set up differently... if you don't see temps coming down, get off the road ASAP.)

An overheating engine will potentially warp the head and can murder an auto trans pretty quickly.

Zsteve · 07-15-2010, 02:59 PM

it was the take it easy break in period. You have to drive em like you stole em so they wont fail on you.

WShade · 07-15-2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billydsz

Any new car that loses more than a half quart between oil changes is defective.

That is not true. 1.5 qt per 3K miles is within spec for some manufactures. Subaru being one.

Matt · 07-15-2010, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WShade

That is not true. 1.5 qt per 3K miles is within spec for some manufactures. Subaru being one.

Ouch. I think I'd return a car that was burning that much oil. Do they burn at the same rate for the entire life of the engine?

WShade · 07-15-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

Ouch. I think I'd return a car that was burning that much oil. Do they burn at the same rate for the entire life of the engine?

Yes sir. A running joke in the Subaru world is to buy 8 qts of oil per oil change because you will need the extra 3 before the next oil change.

SkyZ · 07-15-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

Ouch. I think I'd return a car that was burning that much oil. Do they burn at the same rate for the entire life of the engine?

usually they dont. ive owned subies for a long time and ive never even had anything close to that type of consumption even though it might be "in spec". and yea i heard a lot of Z owner's consumption go down after time

Modshack · 07-15-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billydsz

Any new car that loses more than a half quart between oil changes is defective.

BS...Most manufacturers have a 1 Qt per 1000 mile reference before they'll even talk to you about a potential defect..

FuszNissan · 07-15-2010, 03:59 PM

It has to be more than a 1qt

wilsonp · 07-15-2010, 07:55 PM

I had to use the heater trick before on an old Dodge Colt - it couldn't handle going down the highway in Florida (shuttle launch) so opened the windows, turned on the heater to cool the engine

WarmAndSCSI · 07-15-2010, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

BS...Most manufacturers have a 1 Qt per 1000 mile reference before they'll even talk to you about a potential defect..

That may be technically true, but no properly built and properly broken-in engine should ever consume nearly that much oil. Even engines I've built consumed at most a quart every 3500 miles, under very loose piston-to-cylinder wall and ring gap clearances and high specific output conditions (i.e. 23-25 psi of boost on a 3.0 L V6).

A modern OEM engine ought to never consume any noticeable amount of oil on a single OCI unless you're racing with it. If it does consume, there is most likely something "off" - probably poor break-in. It still gets me that manufacturers suggest an "easy" break-in when they know it's worse for the engine.

VCuomo · 07-15-2010, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

There is absolutely no reason a brand new engine (or even one with some miles on it) should drink up that much oil within one change interval unless something is seriously wrong with it.

While he might have avoided the need for a tow truck, that engine must have been fvcked from the day it was built.

Not true. Even on a broken-in engine he could have lost 3.5 quarts of oil over the 5700km that the OP drove and still be considered within spec (see Modshack's note above). On a new engine, he could have lost even more. That's why I said "So much for 'bad luck'."

07-15-2010, 02:59 PM	#36 (permalink)
Zsteve A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: TX Posts: 3,298 Drives: the 2 balled club Rep Power: 22	it was the take it easy break in period. You have to drive em like you stole em so they wont fail on you. __________________ 2010 LS3 C6 Silver coupe corvette

07-15-2010, 03:59 PM	#42 (permalink)
FuszNissan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: St. Louis Posts: 14,275 Drives: Pure Sex Rep Power: 542	It has to be more than a 1qt __________________ Mods: Too Many to list! LouFuszNissan ZDAYZ 2012

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07-15-2010, 11:36 AM	#33 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3843	I just hit 1800 miles. I've added two quarts and am down half as we speak. If the OP had a similar problem as I, waiting until 3200+ miles would put close to out of oil. Originally I only thought to check my oil at 500 miles because of high oil temps (245* during break in under 4000 revs). I was down 3/4 qt. Down another 1/2 at 1000 miles, now 2 1/2 qts at 1800.

07-15-2010, 12:36 PM	#34 (permalink)
billydsz Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Bern Posts: 252 Drives: 9 370z SptCp SRd 7AT Rep Power: 16	Any new car that loses more than a half quart between oil changes is defective.

07-15-2010, 07:55 PM	#43 (permalink)
wilsonp A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,134 Drives: 2009 Touring Sp Nav Rep Power: 17	I had to use the heater trick before on an old Dodge Colt - it couldn't handle going down the highway in Florida (shuttle launch) so opened the windows, turned on the heater to cool the engine