Need some help here trying to figure out what the ultimate issue is with my 350Z (2003 Track Edition, Manual Transmission)


Guess to start, a few months back I noticed that my Oil Pressure Gauge was bottoming out during turns. I had just changed the oil a month or so before this issue started happening (only got about 1500 miles).
I changed the oil/filter again just to see if the issue would persist. It did! 1400-1500 miles, pressure started to drop a lot to where my check oil light would come on.
When I started pulling the top engine apart, I found oil in my 3rd and 5th cylinder coil packs. The spark plugs were covered in it as well. I tried taking it to the dealer and they wanted over 2 grand just to take my engine apart. I've worked on cars before and have performed the following:


New Intake Manifold Gaskets
New Plenum Gaskets
New Valve Covers (Both sides)
New Valve Cover Gaskets
New Coil Packs
New Spark Plugs
New 5W-30 Synthetic oil with new oil filter (Bosch)
Everything has been torqued to required dealer specifications.


I'm 700 miles in and I'm back to the same issue. My Oil Pressure Gauge is getting low and will be at the point of bottoming out when I turn again very shortly. I cannot find any Oil leaks. I did notice a small amount of blue smoke coming out of the exhaust which was temporary (probably due to the oil that seeped through the gaskets prior to making these changes).


I know that the Oil Sender Sensor hasn't been replaced but I can't imagine that being the problem. It would read no psi if it was dead. One thing I forgot to do and am praying to god it is not the problem is checking the pistons compression. I have done extensive research and it seems like the DQ engines had some issues in the early years of 350Z, mine being one of them (2003).


If there is anyone who could share some knowledge to what more I could do to fix this oil consumption problem, that would be AWESOME! I'm too poor to pay the dealer what they want and quite frankly, I just don't trust a lot of the mechanics these days due to horrible past experiences. Any questions that I can answer to narrow down the possibilities, just ask.
Thanks!


I'm only 800 miles into

 

Also, the car has 97K miles FYI

 

"This is NOT a place to ask car/modification questions!
For posting feedback, suggestions or comments regarding our My350Z.com forum."

/ Moved

 

I read your post twice and I don't think that you mentioned how much oil you're actually losing/burning.

Did you have oil in your intake/plenum? checked the pcv valve? If you have done the valve covers, then the next biggie is the piston rings.

 

Do you know where the dipstick is and how to use it?