I stopped by the local Nissan dealer's parts department to pick up some washer/gaskets prior to changing the M/T oil in my Z. The conversation went like this.

Me: Hi, I need the gaskets for the manual transmission drain and fill plugs on an '03 350Z Track model.

Parts counter guy: Manual or Automatic?

Me: Manual.

Parts counter guy: (Types on the computer and looks puzzled. Finally waves over another guy who appeared to be the parts manager.) We don't stock those. We can order them for you.

Me: (Offhandedly) I'm surprised you don't keep some in stock. What do you do when a 350Z comes in for service?

Parts manager guy: (Proudly, smiling) We reuse the gaskets. There is no need to replace them.

Me: So, the Factory Service Manual which says "Caution: Gaskets are not reusable. Never reuse them." in bold red type - that's a mistake? The engineers at Nissan don't know what they are talking about?

Parts manager guy: It just says that because people tighten them. We leave the plug kind of loose. That way you can reuse the gasket.

Me: Well thanks. I'll have to remember never to bring my car here for service. See you later.

 

OMG!

 

city/state please?

 

wow

 

wow .... one bad dealership story after another ... just posted mine yesterday and i keep seeing new ones everyday it seems ...... why dont all of us owners open up our own dealership with people who know what they are doing and are actually into the Z

 

Wow this reminds me of how fortunately us So. Cal guys are
for having Andy@Performanc and Jeff@WestCovina

 

Parts department workers, do not have a Masters Degree and do not make $200,000 a year.

 

Updated my profile with my location. It was my local dealer. I think I'll be driving to another dealership if I need dealer service.

 

I hate to tell you all, but that's a pretty common practice at ALL dealerships.

 

Exactly why I do all my maintanence myself.

 

all to save a couple of bucks... lame!

 

My local dealer repainted my rear bumper...the color was WAY off....he just shrugged and said, well...not my problem and i am sure and not going to repaint it! It took calling someone much higher up to get it repainted...and even then, when i asked who did it, he said the paint company for nissan did it for free....to top it off, when i picked it up, i walked through the car wash bay...and watched a guy pick a mit up off the ground (outside) and start to wash another car! another reason to not go to the dealership!

 

LOL @ this story, insane...

 

some oil change places actually reuse the old oil filter and charge you for a new one if you don't pay any attention. Always change your own oil lol.

 

you guys are losers.
if you read through the fsm you'll find many things the "factory engineers" say not to do that are also common practice.
look at the gasket.
think about why it may say that in the fsm...

 

Don't you use the oil washers when doing the tranny and LSD?

http://www.mynismo.com/products/?id=4935

 

yep! Performance + West Co Nissan =

 

What's with the name calling? No place for that here, so please stop.

 

when i messed up on my mrev set up i took it in to dealer and they said that they need to order the thin gasket cuz it wasnt reuseable.. i paid soo much for freakin labor.

 

a lil DIY never hurt. of course they will take advantage of the common consumer whos either busy or lazy.