Could not find this in other threads but need help if anyone has had this happen. I let my car set for a day or two and when I go to start it it sounds like there is no oil in the engine. but after a rattle or two it sounds just normal. Its an 03 z tourning. Not sure if I need to have it hauled to the shop or drive it there.
Any suggestions?

 

I've not had this happen with the Z, but this has happened with other cars. If the car sits for a while, the oil gradually drains down to the bottom of the engine and it takes a few seconds for it to get distributed around the engine again. Not a big deal. Just make sure your oil level and oil pressure are normal.

 

+1 That is just gravity at work. All you can do is start it and let it warm up fully before driving.

 

Normal - sounds a bit worse as engines age....at least it did to me as my Maxima got +90k miles on it...

 

The first thing you should do is get a new oil filter. If yours has a faulty or stuck open drainback valve, the filter will empty into the oilpan instead of holding oil in the line. The drainback valve in the filter should be able to hold that small volume of oil at normal atmospheric pressure for many days.

Also, if the drainback valve is faulty it is likely backflowing contaminants out of the filter media back into your oil pan. The filter should catch those contaminants again when you start the engine, but you don't want that already filtered crap running through the filter over and over again if you can help it.