Another look at possible oil issue...

ZKindaGuy

I would like to ask something. My 370Z - I drove its first 3800 miles which was all highway driving. This was over a 4 week period and while driving on average 60 MPH. Highest temps I reached was a single time in the first week of driving of 240 degrees for about 5 minutes. Then it dropped to around 220 degrees and stayed there. I did the 3750 mile oil change and it showed a half-quart of oil loss.

I had Nissan ester oil put in. I am presently at 4876 miles which is over a course of another 3 weeks of highway driving averaging between 60 to 70 MPH with some additional time spent in short periods of 80 to 90 MPH.

I pulled the stick this morning after the car sat all night and before starting it today. It showed a full compliment of oil and the oil was still clear. Since that one 5-minute period my 370Z has not gone above 230 (not 240) degrees and has mostly settled into a rather normal 220 degrees most of the time. The 230 occurs while in rush hour traffic which was always in the high80 to low 90's in outide ambient air temperature.

So I ask why is my engine NOT burning the amounts of oil that are being reported here in this and a couple other thread in this forum? If the oil of other owners is being burned as fast as is being reported in the various posts found in this forum then one has to stop, step back and take a moment and think to examine how they each drive their 370Z.

It stands to reason that if a person is more often than not either stomping on the accelerator and making quick starts and stops OR is not driving at prolonged highway speeds where the engine's cooling is assisted by the airflow coming into the front air-damns then the engine is going to be subjected to much longer sustained periods of heat buildup as a result of not having a continuous flow of air available for the cooling of the engine. In such a scenario where the engine is "air-cooling" starved and is running continuously "hot" like an oven, then increased oil consumption of 2 quarts would be expected.

I suspect that most of those owners reporting the oil losses are perhaps pushing the pedal in their cars more often then they really realize. If this is the case then the increased amounts of oil burn are actually going to be the resulting artifact of their driving habit or at least be exacerbated by it and are par for the course for that type of driving.

Just some food for thought folks...

Modshack

I think your exxperience is more the norm than the exception despite the "Sky is falling" posts here. Seems a great number of guys on this forum drive their cars VERY hard...

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ADmaster71690

not to derail this thread, but that was what I was worried about concerning all the "horrible paint" threads. I'm not sure if the paint quality is really as bad as people are making it out to be.

FricFrac

Its like most things in life. Very few people make a big deal out of little things and all of a sudden everyone thinks it is a big thing (when in fact it isn't). Time passes on and the vast majority realize the few people making a big deal are in fact a few people....

Moral of the story - there are no TSBs for the 370Z yet....

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spearfish25

This oil burn issue sounds pretty isolated. I drive with a heavy foot a lot of the time. Checking my oil level shows it's right where it should be. My Z isn't consuming any inordinate amount of oil. It's amazing how negative rumors spread like wildfire here.

zZSportZz

Well I drive with a very heavy foot...and I only burned less than half a quart in 4k (edit: 3700 miles). I also pretty much ignored the break in period with a couple red lines. So I dunno....

Personally there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to who does and doesn't burn.

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bluzman

I too agree that many of the "problems" are overblown. FWIW: Z Owners, check your oil, post mileage and how far "down" it is...

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FuszNissan

I should have never posted my issue. It had nothing to do with burning oil, just bad seals.

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dad

You did not know that, when it happened! Not your fault!

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kannibul

Bad seals, burning oil - same difference in the end. Oil is lost.

The whole intent of my thread was to get people to check their oil, and post any losses, if any.

From there, it was blown out of proportion.

Forrest

If i remember correctly a few people had low oil, if it was not for you, maybe they never would have checked and damaged there engine.

Honestly you did a good thing.