Oil consumption fixes.
02-12-2016, 12:38 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Oil consumption fixes.
Ive seen tons of oil burning on here but never any solution posts. My problem has gotten to the point where fixing it is going to be worth the time and effort in the coming months. With my job I can't really be out of the car for more than a week and I can't just ditch the Z because I just bought it less than a year ago. My options, with my budget as I see are as follows.
1. Buy a used engine, drop around 1.5k and .5k fixing the minor issues used engines have. Problem is I'm not experienced with that. I'm confident in my ability to do the swap but not very quickly.
2. Buy new heads, drop $500 on rebuilt ones with all parts, drop $750 on gaskets, timing chain, other things that should be replaced.
3. Hope I'm right that it's just the valve seals and swap those along with the timing chain for around $400.
4. Find some cheap piece of sh** car that runs and surrender my Z plates while still making payments on it and selling my body on the streets in an effort to one day fix my Z with the cost of another car.
5. Pray to the japanese gods that my engine lasts long enough for me to just save enough to fully build my ran to hell engine in say a year.
None of these seem to have the pros outweighing the cons at all. The cheaper fixes still leave me with a 150k mile bottom end that might be drinking nearly as much oil as my top end and the expensive fixes are well, timely and expensive. If I eat ramen everyday I can manage to save about $550 a month and I currently have 1k.
Anyone have any experience or advice?
1. Buy a used engine, drop around 1.5k and .5k fixing the minor issues used engines have. Problem is I'm not experienced with that. I'm confident in my ability to do the swap but not very quickly.
2. Buy new heads, drop $500 on rebuilt ones with all parts, drop $750 on gaskets, timing chain, other things that should be replaced.
3. Hope I'm right that it's just the valve seals and swap those along with the timing chain for around $400.
4. Find some cheap piece of sh** car that runs and surrender my Z plates while still making payments on it and selling my body on the streets in an effort to one day fix my Z with the cost of another car.
5. Pray to the japanese gods that my engine lasts long enough for me to just save enough to fully build my ran to hell engine in say a year.
None of these seem to have the pros outweighing the cons at all. The cheaper fixes still leave me with a 150k mile bottom end that might be drinking nearly as much oil as my top end and the expensive fixes are well, timely and expensive. If I eat ramen everyday I can manage to save about $550 a month and I currently have 1k.
Anyone have any experience or advice?
Last edited by allmycarsdie; 02-13-2016 at 07:49 PM.
02-12-2016, 03:25 PM
#2
General & DIY Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
iTrader: (64)
The other option is to purchase a rebuilt engine with a warranty and pay a shop to install it for you. Costs more, but if you schedule it right the downtime will be less as well. Otherwise, #4 looks like your best bet.
02-12-2016, 05:04 PM
#3
When your car broke down did it end up being the CPS sensor? How much oil is it burning now? Are there other issues that are causing you to want a new engine, which is the feeling im getting based on your posts?
How ultra pissed would you be if it still ran crap after the repairs?
You need money for repairs bottom line, and there is no easy solution if youve exhausted all the easy ones. So either live with it until you can afford the repairs (paying a shop to install a rebuild motor with a warranty is by far the best option for you), or get another car and/or get rid of the Z.
Or better yet, do a little planning and sell yours plus "invest" the additional money you would have put into repairs, into a Z that actually runs. And stay in the Z family, which I always highly encourage. Unless you are upside down (likely if you financed), which makes it more difficult to extract the max equity from your current Z, esp if it isnt running right.
How ultra pissed would you be if it still ran crap after the repairs?
You need money for repairs bottom line, and there is no easy solution if youve exhausted all the easy ones. So either live with it until you can afford the repairs (paying a shop to install a rebuild motor with a warranty is by far the best option for you), or get another car and/or get rid of the Z.
Or better yet, do a little planning and sell yours plus "invest" the additional money you would have put into repairs, into a Z that actually runs. And stay in the Z family, which I always highly encourage. Unless you are upside down (likely if you financed), which makes it more difficult to extract the max equity from your current Z, esp if it isnt running right.
02-12-2016, 06:31 PM
#4
General & Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
I've had several cars that needed a pint top off every week. If it runs well and you don't want to spend money, don't.
02-13-2016, 07:47 PM
#5
Registered User
Thread Starter
When your car broke down did it end up being the CPS sensor? How much oil is it burning now? Are there other issues that are causing you to want a new engine, which is the feeling im getting based on your posts?
How ultra pissed would you be if it still ran crap after the repairs?
You need money for repairs bottom line, and there is no easy solution if youve exhausted all the easy ones. So either live with it until you can afford the repairs (paying a shop to install a rebuild motor with a warranty is by far the best option for you), or get another car and/or get rid of the Z.
Or better yet, do a little planning and sell yours plus "invest" the additional money you would have put into repairs, into a Z that actually runs. And stay in the Z family, which I always highly encourage. Unless you are upside down (likely if you financed), which makes it more difficult to extract the max equity from your current Z, esp if it isnt running right.
How ultra pissed would you be if it still ran crap after the repairs?
You need money for repairs bottom line, and there is no easy solution if youve exhausted all the easy ones. So either live with it until you can afford the repairs (paying a shop to install a rebuild motor with a warranty is by far the best option for you), or get another car and/or get rid of the Z.
Or better yet, do a little planning and sell yours plus "invest" the additional money you would have put into repairs, into a Z that actually runs. And stay in the Z family, which I always highly encourage. Unless you are upside down (likely if you financed), which makes it more difficult to extract the max equity from your current Z, esp if it isnt running right.
02-13-2016, 07:52 PM
#6
Registered User
Thread Starter
I'm leaning most towards this, or buying the new one, doing the swap, and then fully building my current one. My plan in buying a high mileage Z was always that old parts need to be replaced and I would upgrade every time something gets bad. I just didn't expect the engine would crap out until at least 175k at worst.
02-14-2016, 08:14 AM
#7
Same advice applies as in your other thread, reinforced by jhc...if the only thing you are having to do is add oil...then just add oil.
Cheapest solution by a long shot and yes, if you buy any used motor you run the risk of having the same issues.
Which is why unless you are prepared shop/tools/time wise to undertake an engine swap by yourself, the best option is to buy reman with a warranty and get a shop to install so you have recourse if things dont work out the first time.
Cheapest solution by a long shot and yes, if you buy any used motor you run the risk of having the same issues.
Which is why unless you are prepared shop/tools/time wise to undertake an engine swap by yourself, the best option is to buy reman with a warranty and get a shop to install so you have recourse if things dont work out the first time.
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