No idea what oil was last put in car __
No idea what oil was last put in car __
Author
Discussion

turboblag

Original Poster:

57 posts

146 months

Monday 27th May 2019
quotequote all
So, this could be a noobish question ... but, oh well!

Yesterday, I picked up an 05 350Z 😁 I’ve been looking around and have eventually found that 5w30 fully synthetic is the best oil to use (makes sense)

My question, however, is whether there’s any way to figure out what oil was last put in and whether it’s pretty safe to assume people only use fully synthetic these days?

Last service was oct 18 but it doesn’t note what oil was used. After looking through the many service receipts, I’ve found one that lists 5w-30 part synthetic ... but that was back in 2008.

Should I just get some 5w-30 fully synthetic and assume it’ll be fine?

InitialDave

15,142 posts

149 months

Monday 27th May 2019
quotequote all
Your easiest option is to just do the oil change if you're not confident it's got what you want in there. Assuming you'd do an annual change anyway, a few months early is hardly going to hurt anything.


anonymous-user

84 months

Monday 27th May 2019
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For a top up yes, All API oils have to mix with every other API oil its part of the requirements to meet the specification. So the latest fully synthetic SM 0w 50 mixes with 10 year old mineral oil, Do you get the beautiful of the latest expensive oil of you add a pint to some crap already your engine no, but you can't damage an engine, they have to mix..If you have the wrong spec in your engine adding a little of the right stuff want improve the unknown crap.

paintman

7,860 posts

220 months

Monday 27th May 2019
quotequote all
InitialDave said:
Your easiest option is to just do the oil change if you're not confident it's got what you want in there. Assuming you'd do an annual change anyway, a few months early is hardly going to hurt anything.
^^^^This.
Assume that it needs all filters & fluids changing & you won't go wrong. You'll then know that it's actually been done & what fluids have been used.

p4cks

7,521 posts

229 months

Monday 27th May 2019
quotequote all
Berw said:
Do you get the beautiful of the latest expensive oil of you add a pint to some crap already your engine no, but you can't damage an engine
I tried I really did, but what the fk does this mean?

anonymous-user

84 months

Tuesday 28th May 2019
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Sorry spell check, 'benefit'. If your just topping up something unknown until the next oil change then you are not 'improving' the oil by adding something expensive, if the sump is 90% full of crap and you add 10% of real quality you just get 100% crap.


Pit Pony

11,406 posts

151 months

Tuesday 28th May 2019
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I once paid 40 quid for a car that had a full service history over 15 years to 17k. The second owner took it from 17k to 70k in 2 years and never serviced it, hence the price. He was selling due to head gasket failure.
Anyway i did yhe head gasket, and changed the oil, putting in the cheapest correct spec semi synthetic in. What came out wss lumpy treacle. Ran it for 500 miles and then changed it again. And again 500 miles after that. But that time with oil bought from.the main dealer with a trade club discount.
Happy days. I kept it another 50k until.the head gasket went again. Its still.alive 15 years because i saw it on the owners club website on a show report.

p4cks

7,521 posts

229 months

Tuesday 28th May 2019
quotequote all
Berw said:
Sorry spell check, 'benefit'. If your just topping up something unknown until the next oil change then you are not 'improving' the oil by adding something expensive, if the sump is 90% full of crap and you add 10% of real quality you just get 100% crap.
Ahh getcha, I agree. I think the OP might be being a little paranoid