Guys,

Whats the best time to check the level of these. Some say when the car is cold and others say after a drive (10 minutes after).

Is it unusual for the coolant to be low at around 6500 miles? Before I took it to vegas, my coolant level was low. I added some in. Any comments?

Besides synth oil, what brand of regular oil do you use? My previous changes were done at a dealer and they use Valvoline. Is it requres a full 5 quart? I am planning to do my oil change from now on.


Tony

 

To accurately gauge your oil level, the car needs to sit on a level surface for at least 30 minutes. This lets all the oil drain back into the oil pan, which is where the dipstick measures it. So, the best time to check your oil is before you start up the car in the morning. But you can check it hot, just expect it to read slightly low on the dipstick because some of the oil will be in the upper parts of the engine.

You can check your coolant level hot or cold. Note that there are two different markings on the coolant recovery tank. One for hot and one for cold. The coolant level should always fall between those two marks, closer to the cold mark with the engine cold, and closer to the hot mark with the engine warmed up. As long as the level is somewhere between the marks, you're good.

With respect to oil, use a SF rated oil of the proper viscosity for your driving conditions. Consult your owner's manual for details. Brands don't matter much as long as you use a name brand. Bulk oil of unknown parentage should probably be avoided. A complete oil and filter change requires 5 quarts of oil.

Note, synthetic oils *are* better. They offer better protection of the engine on cold start (where a surprisingly large percentage of engine wear occurs), and also offer superior performance at high temperature. There are several good brands. Mobil 1 is the oldest of the lot, and is the most widely available. Walmart typically has the best price.

 

They're delivered with a low amount of coolant in the reservoir .I added also when I got it .

 

Can we use any brand of coolant of do i need a sertain one because i bought some and its a different color than the one in my car

 

When the engine is warm the coolant level is above the full line. I think the coolant temp runs cooler with a little more fluid. Synthetic oil is far more superior then conventional oil. No sludge build up,runs cooler,less friction especially cold starts. Our Zs run really hot and 5qts is not alot of oil to run cool. Dont our VQs deserve a little more protection with synthetic? BTW at 3000 miles conventional oil turns dark. Unlike synthetic which takes longer to breakdown. But I still change it at 4000miles. The extra $20 is worth it.

 

ok i will put the other color in?

 

That's generally a bad idea. There are three different types of coolants on the market. They shouldn't be mixed.

All coolants have additives to inhibit corrosion, buffer pH, and provide lubrication to the water pump. These additives are different for the different types, and may react badly with each other. This is critically important for engines with a large percentage of aluminum because they are more susceptable to cooling system corrosion than all cast iron engines.

 

For peace of mind, I bought the recommended Nissan antifreeze/coolant. A gallon for ~$20