Hi,

I'm new to this thread and new to owning a 300zx.

I just brought mine yeasterday and drove it home some 35 miles. When I was half mile from home the car sounded like a lifter was shot and needed replacing. I checked the oil and it was about 80% between L-H. It has also had some kinda change as the oil is faily clean sort of semi black.

I topped it up and thought i'd need to change a lifter.

The next day i tried th car and it sounded very quiet again as it was when I brought it. Now I'm wondering if it's having breather problems and i'm planning a change/ clean up of the system. Also the oil pressure starts at 60ish psi and once warm drops to 30psi and under from low to moderate revs.

 

Does anyone know what might be the problem

 

Also can anyone tell me if I can use slick 50 in a turbo car. I don't intend to use an engine flush as this isn't meant to be good for the turbos as far as I've heard.

 

I would greatly appreciate any sound advice?

 

Thanks

 

300zx tt

Not sure on the fault. But you cannot really go off the std zx oil pressure guage as the magority of them are faulty.

 

Best take it to a garage to do a compreston test.

Not sure on the fault. But you cannot really go off the std zx oil pressure guage as the magority of them are faulty.

 

Best take it to a garage to do a compreston test.

 

Your right about the first bit, standard gauges being poor regarding true oil pressure, but the second bit, compression test ??? whats all that about. He says it is ruuning fine but a bit tappety. I would go to Halfords and get some of their jollop for lifters before stripping/replacing/paying a garage to do anything. The other thing you can do is to add a tin of engine flush, and drive it very carefully for about a 100 miles, drain and refill with fresh oil including a new filter. Sometimes the lifters get sludged up and this will shift that.

Do not put slick 50 in it.

OK thanks,

 

Does slick 50 ruin the turbos? I've heard that engine flush does the same?

Does anyone know a good way to flush the oil system out & where the oil breathers are located?

If you put any sort of engline flush in it and drive it normally then you could do it damage, if you do try and flush the engine with anything drive it carefully as Old Zed reccommends.

 

To be honest your oil temp gauge doiesn't soudn too bad, the pressure starting at 60 and dropping as the engine heats up is fairly normal.

 

What oil are you using ?.

It may just be that the oil that was in there is the wrong type and too thin.

Any sign of smoke ?.

 

The lifters in the 300zx do take a good beating at times.

 

You can see in the picture below that they build up a sludge on the contact side which starts to set with the heat leaving you with ring marks.

 

The picture from top to bottom on the right is the lifter surface before, during and after a heated oil soak. This was a lifter that was reconditionable, I think I had about 7 out of 24 that were pass the point of no return.

 

 

Forgot to add, if you are talking about oil bather pipes that you want to change, do a serachon here for PCV. you'll find tech docs and diagrams on how to change these.

Big help people thanks.

I dont know what viscosity is in it but it is said to be gtx magnetec.

I was wondering whether to use 10/50 or 15/50 as the manual gives me a big range in the warmer months?

If youve bought it from someone who doesnt know the cars well and they have changed the oil you can bet they have put 10w40 semi in it. 10w40 is a bit weak at hight temps for the zed so if your car has a fragile lifter it may be highlited by this oil.

 

If i were you id drain the oil out and put a quality 5w50 or 10w60 fully syn oil in it and see if the problem clears up.

 

Id especially recomend the 5w50 for you as if it does have a weak lifter the 5w rating at cold will help it too, you may find it a bit ticky on 10w60.

 

The general concencus on the VG30 engine is dont use slick 50 and NEVER NEVER EVER use radweld of any sort!!

Your right about the first bit, standard gauges being poor regarding true oil pressure, but the second bit, compression test ??? whats all that about. He says it is ruuning fine but a bit tappety. I would go to Halfords and get some of their jollop for lifters before stripping/replacing/paying a garage to do anything. The other thing you can do is to add a tin of engine flush, and drive it very carefully for about a 100 miles, drain and refill with fresh oil including a new filter. Sometimes the lifters get sludged up and this will shift that.

 

 

My bad i ment to say get the oil pressure checked just in case :rolleyes:

Well just an update really.

 

I put w50 syn in itand noticed an imediate difference, more freer reving an responsive. I ran it around for 2 weeks mostly driving calm and last night took it for a burn.

Its now sounding very tappy and theres a knocking noise under neath on the near side coming from the sump. Id say its big ends.

On reading the buying guide i'd conclude there's a few symptoms that tell me i brought a bit of a crock,

I'd also say the previous owner knows this too which is a shame because i try to treat people how i expect to be treated.

 

Does anyone have any advice on buying/repairing a z32 engine?

Firstly, welcome to the nut house.

 

It is a shmae that you have ended up with a bad engine.

 

Can't really give any advice on how or what to do.

 

In my experience you are better off getting one of the recognised guys doing the work for you if you can afford it. Not sure there are any in your area however.

 

Good luck getting it sorted.

 

Darrell

Where abouts in essex are ya 300_tt?

Yeah, cheers Coopers-SWB. I might have someone on hand to do a rebuild if I can save up for it.

I'm loving all the zeds going up on here btw

 

Siquo,

 

I'm near Lakeside, You?

 

Siquo,

 

I'm near Lakeside, You?

 

I'm about 40 mins away, near south woodham ferrers area if you know that?

 

I can't believe how many essex ppl there are on the site

 

Tony

does that mean there's not many or loads?

Yes I think I'm closer to you than that.

I'd like to meet up with a like minded group of enthuisasts if that happens around these parts

Hi,

Dont think my last post went up.

 

Yes I closer than that around 16 miles. I have noticed if there's alot of people or not?

It would be good to meet up with like minded entusiasts once i have some of the wrinkles ironed out of it. I am enjoying it despite the fore mentioned

I think there's a fair few from essex from what I've seen

 

Would be good to get a meet together one day, especially for the new ppl who don't know anyone!

So what you got then?