okay its time for my very first oil change on my Z..now im still debating if i should go get my freebie from the dealer and wait 4 ever or just do it myself...

what should i do ?

 

go to the dealer. I actually did my first oil change with them this past sat. in N out in 45 min.

 

I like to do that myself, but I like to know that as much of the old oil was drained as possible, and not all over my underpanel, that the filter and drain plug were installed to correct torque and don't leak, drain plug gasket was changed, and that the oil of my choice was used to replace and filled to the correct level. The underpanel is a bit of a headache, but overall it is an easy car to change.

 

I found a nice little independant Oil Change shop that I can drop by anytime at. He has one Bay you drive through (Like a jiffy lube but small). Guy is super nice and we usually shoot the breeze while he changes the oil. Uses only Valvaline and lets me watch every aspect of the change. He does all of this for $20.00 Flat including filter and oil and even checks my Tire Pressure every time.

If you can find a setup like that, I would do that.

 

Do it yourself, and use a Nissan oil filter. Dealer has NEVER touched my car besides for warranty work...

 

Yep, we did G's (Zincognito) the other day at the hobby shop. Did Engine oil/filter, tranny/diff fluid. All RP and all in less than an hour Dont want to have any "surprises" like they "forgot" to add oil or any other BS. I trust my dealer btw, I just like the satisfaction.

 

Do it yourself..

 

do it urself. then u know it was done right, with no mess.
too simple of a job to trust someone that could screw something up.

 

do it your self...

buy the oil filter here...

http://www.mynismo.com/products/?id=2404

buy the oil here...

http://www.mynismo.com/categories/?id=2274

 

Jas u da man.... just cancelled my appt with perf...lol

 

Be sure to keep any receipts for anything you bought or had done so you can prove that the car has been properly maintained. You don't want to get any crap if you need some warranty work done later.

 

I too say do it yourself, if possible, and as many other routine or simple maintenance items as you can. Straying a little from the topic, do any of you get the "snippy" little e-mails from the dealer letting you know it has been X number of months since your car has been serviced? The last one said it has been 14 months since my last service. They must mean the initial service when they first prepped the car, since that's the last time it was on their lot. They hint the warranty will not be in force if the work is not done at an authorized dealer. That is a load of crap. Neither my Z, nor any of the 4 other Datsun/Nissan vehicles I have owned has ever been to the dealer for anything other than warranty service. Since the late 60s, I have purchased shop manuals for every car/truck I owned. If you get the factory shop manuals every time, you will find really solid text and diagrams that will make you look like a pro when it comes to your car. You would also be amazed at the amount of on-board diagnostic information the Z has available to you, and just how easy it is to access and interpret that information. If you read through the manuals, you will no doubt learn way more about your Z than the dealers want you to know. If nothing else, it will give you ammunition when going to a dealer for service. If you seem to know what you are talking about, the dealer is less likely to sell you service that you don't want or need.

 

just to clarify... is the shop manual = service manual ? (the 400+page pdf download)

 

Do it yourself. Just get the filter and new crusher washer from the dealer.

 

I am far to lazy and impatient to take my car to Nissan, I do it myself and have the satisfaction of knowing it's done right.

Chris