Ultimate 350z Oil Guide – Everything You Need To Know

Is it time for a refresh of your 350z oil? We cover everything you need to know, from choosing your oil and filters to adding your new oil in a few easy steps.

night drifting nissan

Introduction
350z Oil Type – What’s Best?
How Often To Change 350z Oil
How To Change 350z Oil
Conclusion

Introduction

Are you struggling to figure out which oil you need for your Nissan 350z and how to replace it? Well, that is about to change.

Interestingly, cars are similar to the human body. Though it may sound absurd, the human body contains blood. Similarly, your pride and joy will rely on the correct oil.

If a specific blood type is incompatible with the body, it will suffer considerable damage. As a result, before a blood transfusion can occur, the blood must be screened for compatibility.

The same can be said for an automobile because it needs a recommended oil to function correctly.

Furthermore, ignoring this recommendation may impact the engine performance and, in the long run, may result in permanent damage.

So, that’s why you need to obtain the proper guidance to ensure that you have all the necessary information for your 350z oil.

This Nissan 350z oil guide will reveal everything you need to know about Nissan 350 oil and how to change it.

Nissan 350z Oil – What’s Best?

There are several considerations when choosing the ideal oil for your needs, depending on your climate and budget.

Oil Weight

When considering the engine oil used for Nissan 350z, we need to consult the recommendation as stipulated in the Nissan owner’s manual, in which Nissan states that you can use either the 5W-30 or 10W-30 motor oil.

But, your choice is also dependent on the weather condition in your region.

When the weather is hot, like in the summer, you can use the 10W-30, and during cold weather in winter, you should use the 5W-30 weight oil.

The 5W-30 is a code that represents the viscosity and the temperature. The W stands for winter with a viscosity of 5, which makes it thinner and less dense, and that’s why it is most suitable for winter because it flows better.

While the last number, “30”, represents the viscosity in hot weather, and the higher the number, the more viscous the oil.

Oil Specification

According to Nissan’s owner manual, engine oils used for Nissan should meet the API (American Petroleum Institute) or ILSAC (International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee) certification and SAE viscosity standard.

Synthetic or Conventional

When selecting an oil type, you also have to consider the synthetic or conventional composition.

Experts always recommend the synthetic blend because it is better on engines and has lesser impurities. And it has a longer lifespan than the conventional blend.

Where the conventional oil requires changes every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, the synthetic range is between 10,000 to 15,000 miles. Therefore, though synthetic oil has this ability, it is advisable always to change the oil after 7,500 miles.

Another angle to look at is the mode of driving. For example, when you intend to drive your Nissan 350z very hard, it will be wise to cover your engine with a synthetic blend oil.

It protects your car engine from strain when you tow or haul heavy materials such as your spare drift wheels.

How Often To Change 350z Oil

The frequency at which you should change your oil depends on a few different factors.

For example, the year make of your 350z, the type of oil you’re using, and your driving habits influence how often you need an oil change.

If you have a newer 350z, you can probably get away with changing your oil every 5,000 miles or so.

However, if you have an older model or tend to drive in stop-and-go traffic frequently, you might need to change your oil more often.

If you’re using conventional oil, it’s typically recommended you change it every 3,000 miles. However, you can usually go a little longer between synthetic oil changes.

How To Change 350z Oil – A Step-By-Step Guide

To effectively change the oil in your Nissan 350z, you will have to follow every instruction carefully.

But, before we get into the step-by-step guide, adequate preparation needs to be made to ensure that all the tools you need are made available.

Preparation

When preparing to change oil, you will need to get the necessary tools and materials. And you will have to dress appropriately in your gloves and goggles to protect yourself from any harmful substances.

These are the tools and materials needed to change your Nissan 350z oil:

Motor oil (5W-30 or 10W-30)
Oil filter
Funnels
Drain pan
Shop towel
Oil filter wrench
Sockets set
Gloves and safety glasses
Jack
Wood and jack stand

Step-By-Step Process

Follow these simple steps closely to ensure the best outcome:

Step 1: Jack up your car

Since the Nissan 350z is a low car, you will need to jack the car. But before you do that, ensure that you use a block of wood and a jack stand to block one wheel to prevent it from rolling.

Step 2: Open the car hood

Locate the interior hood release lever in your car’s cabin, and lift it. The hood will pop up, and then release the safety catch and raise the hood.

Next, lift the hood prop and insert the end to suspend it.

Step 3: Warm up your vehicle

Start your car for a few minutes to warm the engine because dirty oil will come out more conveniently and faster when it is hot.

Step 4: Loosen the oil filter cap and pull out the oil dipstick

Locate the oil filter cap and loosen it, as this will also increase the rate at which the oil flows out.

Step 5: Remove the plastic panel covering the bottom of the engine

At the bottom of your car, locate the plastic panel covering the engine at the bottom and unscrew it and remove the clips.

Step 6: Unscrew the drain bolt

Locate the drain bolt, and unscrew it to allow the oil to drain into the drain pan.

Step 7: Fix the drain bolt and use a copper drain plug gasket

You can get the copper drain plug from the Nissan Parts Counter for just $1, and Nissan recommends a special copper drain plug 2mm thick. After draining the oil out, install the drain bolt with a wrench.

Step 8: Use the oil filter removal tool to remove the oil filter

To replace the oil filter wrench, you can purchase this from Nissan with the part number “KV10115801”.

A filter wrench is a small tool used for tightening the filter at 11-15 FT-LB or 14.7-20.5 NM. Before tightening the oil filter, use your finger to apply oil to the filter o-ring.

Step 9: Clean visible oil on the filter and drain bolt region.

Clean the drain bolt area and the filter if there is spilled oil around them. And then re-install the plastic cover.

Step 10: Remove jacks, jackstand, and the wood

After installing the plastic cover, raise the car using the jack and remove the jack stand and wood from the wheel before lowering it to the ground.

Once you’ve ensured that everything has been removed from under the car, you can lower it.

Step 11: Use a funnel to pour new oil into the car

Pour your fresh oil carefully into your 350Z using a funnel, but ensure that you check your manual for the capacity you need to add.

Then, use the oil dipstick to determine the level, or you can gauge using the high and low levels in the dipstick.

Step 12: Check for leaks

Start the engine for a few minutes and inspect the drain plug for leaks.

Conclusion

The Nissan 350z is a fantastic car for both drifting and daily driving that works well with the recommended 350z oil type.

You will have an excellent driving experience if you adhere to the suggestions and recommendations highlighted above, with your 350z performing to the best of its abilities.

Although this guide for changing oil is very detailed and easy to follow, ensure that you do your due diligence to follow it carefully without skipping steps.

Finally, ensuring the longevity of your engine requires frequent maintenance check-ups, improving your vehicle’s performance and lifespan.

So, there we have it! We hope that we’ve covered everything you could want to know about 350z oil in this guide.

Are you looking for upgrades for your 350z now that your fresh oil has got it running sweeter than ever?

We’ve got plenty of 350z tuning guides for you to enjoy, from turbo kits and exhausts to coilovers and bash bars.

Thank you for reading our Nissan 350z oil guide.

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Photography credits

We thank the following entities for the use of their photography in this article:

Rian Castillo on Wikimedia Commons

Written by Joe Terrell Drifted.com founder, motoring journalist and all-round car enthusiast. Read more about Joe and the Drifted team on our about us page.