A few facts first:

1. I own a 300Zx NA which I am very happy with.

2. I don't wish to start any arguments, I just want to understand better.

 

The 300ZX is a one of a kind car, but one thing niggles me about it. If it is so good, why are there so many of these "Fantastic" cars around which have had new engines only after 80k miles. I've seen quite a few for sale on the board with this ailment. If the cars have been lovingly looked after by the owners, why did they need new engines ? I have seen many comments that the Z engine is good for 150k+ miles. Is it the case that these cars have been heavily modded.

Please remember, this is not a dig - I am just trying to understand !!!!

It also comes down to how well the car was looked after before we owned them. If it was abused in the early years then later on its not going to be as reliable. My car has done 150,000+ miles and still have the original turbos. The only mod it has is the exhaust and soon induction. Craig's Z has done around that too and I dont here about his engine blowing and his is more modified than mine.

It also depends on how the car has been driven over the years. If its been redlined very often, thats not good. If its never been over 4000 rpm is its life, thats not good. An engine is supposed to have a good blast every now and then. Mazda recomend that you redline the RX-7 about one a month to get rid of carbon deposits.

My car was a company car at first, which has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that is got its service bang on time for its first 4 years of life, the most crutial time. Disadvantage is the mileage, which doesnt bother me, infact its a great tribute to a fantastic engine. Saying that most of the miles when done after it was a company car. After a company car, I still have history of oil changes, services etc. and I can see it was serviced virtually on time every time, this is why I think my car is still going very strong after 151,000 miles.

Most Jap imports come into this country with no history at all, which makes it hit and miss whether its been looked after, also many of them are modified.

Also bad tuning and modifying can make a Z engine's life shorter. Ask Warren

Or it could be a combineation of a few things.

 

You have to remember that the Nissan 300ZX/Fairlady was not an enthusiasts car when it came out. Some people would have bought it driven it, and not really looked after it. It was a fashion icon then. Not saying that all where not looked after.

 

 

Staurt

Stuart - thanks for the reply, it was exactly what I had been thinking. Also, thanks for the reasoned response. I was expecting to be flamed to death.....

 

Cheers.

well said Stuart

 

my car has 145k miles now, and is still on original turbos as far as i can tell, and is mildly modified with intake, exhaust, boost controller and now intercoolers, no chip.

 

it is starting to make a few little noises and rattles now, but i think thats down to its slightly chequered history before i owned it.

Craig - jeezus, 100,000 posts plus! How many keyboards have you gone thru?

 

I too agree with Stuart. Treat the car well as he says and it will last and last and last. It's suprising how well they last even when abused and/or extreme modded. J-land engineering is quite astonisingly good (mostly).

 

Kawasaki have an in-line aircooled 750 four which has been in loads of different bikes in various guises and when in the GT750 (courier tool - much abused) could go round the clock on nothing more than oil and filter and plugs. Record was over 250,000 on the last one I saw which was 7 / 8 years ago.

 

So look after your engine and it will look after you!

 

Cheers - Gio

Keep it basically standard and service it regularly and it will last well. Modify it past exhaust and induction and drive it hard - well even if you service it regularly it will be back in the workshop. Superb and reliable car, but if you change what the manufacturer originally then you are going to lose some of that reliability sometime.