My local dealers are horrendous, and if I can avoid them I will do anything I can to do so.

What's everyone's opinions on doing routine oil changes on the Z at oil change "specialists " such as Jiffy-Lube, etc.?

 

I just got my oil change at Performance Nissan for $21.95 for regular oil. 30 minutes or less or else its free. Good thing mine took 40 minutes

 

Change the oil yourself. Oil changers like Jiffy Lube are hit and miss at best. Meaning that in a lot of cases, the 'kids' are just careless while other instances you get a 'decent' oil change.

I've heard and read about horror stories at 'specialty' oil changers. If I HAD TO get an oil change by someone other than myself, I'd do it at the dealer.

 

Don't use these guys. they have screwed up many of my cars...although dealers have done the same. Still, I think their employees are poorly trained (if trained at all), and they often don't replace washers and filters.

NzZ

 

Yikes! Washers I can understand, but not changing the filter...?

 

I agree... Change the oil yourself. It is very easy to do, and will save you money.

All you need is some rhino ramps from autozone. While your there, also pick up a filter remover, these nissan filters are so freekin small, the typical filter wrench is too big. These are a couple of dollars.

You can get a 5 qt jug of Mobil 1 5-30 synthetic oil from Walmart for like $18.88. And you can get your oil filters, and washers from here:

http://www.courtesyparts.com/Merchan...e=15208-VQ35DE

Good luck

 

How do you guys get your Z up Rhino Ramp? my Z is not lowered and i can't clear my set of Rhino Ramps that i bought 8 years ago. Did they change the angle of incline?

 

Don't know the incline of past Rhino Ramps, but current ones have no problems for clearance. Measure your current ones and then go to the auto shop to see if there's a difference. The ramps are SO MUCH easier than having to jack up the car and place jack stands.

 

as Yobri mentioned, these oil changing specialists are hit and miss and not worth the risk. the last time I had my oil changed, it was at a Jiffy lube and it was a nightmare. I watched them as they worked and I just cringed. They started my engine without the oil filter on it and, as you can imagine, oil got everywhere. For a couple of weeks after the change, I went back there a few times due to oil leaking from somewhere. I still don't know if the leak was actually a leak or if it was left over oil spewed from not having the filter on. I'm also missing some screws that hold up the plastic "skid" plate/cover (not sure what you call it). A couple of days after repeated visits to Jiffy lube, I stood back from the car and noticed this cover hanging down and dragging on the road. Besides this, the grease monkeys left oil residue all over the interior along with scuffing my door panels with their filthy boots.

I normally do my own oil changes, but the Z was way too low to get under, but since this experience with Jiffy, I've picked up a set of Rhino ramps and have no problem rolling onto them to replace the missing screws.

BTW, if you want to pick up a set, don't buy them online. I did a search online for a set and found the cheapest for somewhere around $40 (if I remember right). Went to my local Sears and found them for $20/set.

 

kinda OT but a ? about the rhino ramps? Could you use these and back the car up on them to do the exhaust? just a thought.

 

Don't know about using ramps to install an exhaust (seems like it would work) but you'll more than likely scrape up the front bumper and undercarriage if you were to lift the back without doing the same for the front. The front bumper seats rather low on this car.

 

Yup I installed my old Tanabe exhaust with just ramps

 

wouldn't it be possible to get two sets of rhino ramps (4) and just drive up on those to raise the entire car (front and rear simoultaneausly)?

 

The Z is too low for the ramps to fit under for the rear (if you are doing the driving up for the fronts). You can only back up on to them to get the rears, but then you'll miss out on the fronts. Either-or situation... more easily done with 4x4's that have sufficient rise

 

I have a set of rhino ramps (brand new) and my Z just barely clears the ramps. Too close for my comfort, so I place a 2x6 in fron the ramps, which seems to help out the clearance just a bit. Not the perfect solution though. If I had to do it again I'd get a nice racing jack and jack stands.

 

yeah i'm thinking about doing it myself. dealer charged me $40 last time. I was just lazy at the time. gonna get some rhino ramps when i get the chance.