Hello

I drive a 2004 Nissan 350z with about 120,000 miles on it.

I have the basic bolt-on mods. Strup Headers, GodSpeed Cat-Back Exhaust, Stock cats, AAM ECU Reflash, AAM plenum Spacer, JWT pop charger.

Anyways, I've had this car since 2006 and never had any issues with it.

But now within the last couple of years I feel like the oil consumption is gradually rising. By this I mean I've had to add about 15 qts of oil in 5,000 to prevent it from coming low.

Now I have friends who say it could be bad spark plugs, others who say it could be the Rings, and others who say it could be the ECU Reflash.

I would def take it in but goin to school full time now, is hard to drop the amount of money I might need to drop so I am looking for someone who can relate to this?

All I can say is I did change the spark plugs myself 3ish years ago, and ECU reflash maybe 3-4 yrs ago, and that's been the time the issues started.

Thanks for reading.

 

15qts? is that right?

Bad rings or bad valve seals are two main reasons a car will burn oil. A plug could be bad from the oil but it will not be the cause of oil consumption, and the car will run ruff. ECU has control over fuel not oil so not likely.

Do you have any light blue smoke from the exhaust?
If you car is idling and you open the oil fill cap, do you get any blue smoke?
Does it run ok? Performance normal or reduced?

 

Do I understand you to say you are burning a quart of oil roughly every 350 miles? I would suspect serious engine problems if that is correct. You might want to have a mechanic do a compression check and a leakdown check.

 

That's really bad you need to rebuild
z1 offers rebuild kit.

Or just pick up a used block but all in all your gonna burn oil at some point best to rebuild

 

Guessing he meant 5 quarts.....

Ecu reflash causing oil loss? Lol

How's the smoke when it's under load?

 

ECU flash could have fried the rings over time if it's overly lean, too much timing ,ect ect. That said basically you've got a slew of bolt ons, no real tune, and high mileage + massive OC....time for a rebuild.

 

Oh oh thats about one quart of oil every 333 miles. You are not going to fix this. The motor if gone. Shop for a rebuilt motor or one out of a wrecked Z.

 

If what your saying is correct that's very high oil consumption. And if it started around your reflash time then ya you got a crap reflash. There is nothing else besides a worn motor that consumes THAT much oil.

 

Yes, 15 qts, not 5 qts. Like by 1000 miles if I hard brake the engine oil light comes on and off. I've recently had the check engine soon blinking as if it misfiring.

I don't know if I've seen blue smoke but if I rev the engine there is smoke

And I feel like the car feels sluggish now.

My 350z looks so good but motor so messed up

 

Im guessing rings as well.

It would explain the missfiring, the low performance and the oil consumption. Although 15 quarts are too many quarts just to be a ring problem. It might be something bigger.

 

Need to scrap that tune if it started to burn oil right after the reflash

 

the mad scientist says, you blew the welds off your piston rings

 

Ricer

 

So is this issue something that def is not covered by the oil consumption issue by Nissan?

I have an appointment on Friday, I called Nissan North America. Car has 121k miles, and is a 2004.

I have a feeling that probably not, but I have nothing to lose so I am still taking it in anyways.

And btw, does Altered Atmosphere not have a website anymore? Are they still in business?

After diagnostics, if the reflash was the reason for the problem, is there something I can do legally if I still have the receipt.

Not trying to get ahead of myself, just asking some questions to know what to do if it were true.

 

^ I hate to say this but I'm 100% you won't get jack from either Nissan nor AAM. With all the aftermarket stuff you have on your car dealership will just laugh at your face. AAM went through some serious complication and is now officially out of business I believe. Even if they were in business I highly doubt you could do anything legally since it's something that hurt your motor gradually.

 

damn F U AAM

 

AAM is still in business its just called AAM Competition now.

 

There's no way you can prove the flash caused your OC issues especially with all the other mods you have. Get a motor and move on.

 

I know an Orange Z that is for sale. I bet the guy will give you a good price.

 

I know of a red z that is for sale and no I won't give a good price.