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What did you do with your Z today? 🙋🏻‍♂️

up4speed

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Crap conventional gear oil... A quality full-synthetic is an easy upgrade. I personally used Redline 75W-90 GL-5, but there are a lot of good options.

Our Wrangler looked very similar, and the Grand Cherokee wasn't a whole lot better. All of them got two break-in changes.
If I'm correct, the sport model comes without an LSD, and the factory uses synthetic fluid. The Performance and the Nismo have an LSD and they use conventional oil. I'm guessing that the LSD will chatter if the wrong stuff is used. Maybe a synthetic can be used with a friction modifier, but I didn't want to reinvent the wheel, so I used the Penzoil GL-5 80W-90 Axle oil, which is what the dealer also uses (I thought they would have given me a Nissan branded oil, but they didn't).
The owners manual clearly states that the LSD requires "Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid LSD GL-5 80W-90 or equivalent conventional (non-synthetic) oil" so that's what I used. I figured I'll just replace it often to keep it fresh. It's easy enough to do since I have a lift. The fluid is only about $12/qt, the washers are a few bucks each, and it only took 2 quarts. No big deal, so no reason to not do it every so often.
 

KrackaC8

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If I'm correct, the sport model comes without an LSD, and the factory uses synthetic fluid. The Performance and the Nismo have an LSD and they use conventional oil. I'm guessing that the LSD will chatter if the wrong stuff is used. Maybe a synthetic can be used with a friction modifier, but I didn't want to reinvent the wheel, so I used the Penzoil GL-5 80W-90 Axle oil, which is what the dealer also uses (I thought they would have given me a Nissan branded oil, but they didn't).
The owners manual clearly states that the LSD requires "Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid LSD GL-5 80W-90 or equivalent conventional (non-synthetic) oil" so that's what I used. I figured I'll just replace it often to keep it fresh. It's easy enough to do since I have a lift. The fluid is only about $12/qt, the washers are a few bucks each, and it only took 2 quarts. No big deal, so no reason to not do it every so often.
Correct regarding the potential for LSD chatter with a slippery synthetic. The key is to use a high-quality one with a robust limited slip additive package to avoid the chatter without having to add any additional friction modifier.
 

KyleWI

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I just changed the differential fluid at 6,000 miles. It was WAY dirtier than I expected. There were also way more particles on the magnetic drain plug than I expected. I wish I did it sooner, but I didn't think it would be so bad. I recommend that everyone does this on their car. I'm sure that the first time will be the worst due to break in.
I did mine at 3500miles, after one track day of use, it looked just like this too.
 

KrackaC8

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I am a HUGE Amsoil fan and user...this stuff is fantastic ..

https://www.best-synthetic-oil.com.au/AGL

LSD.webp
I have Redline in the Z and Wrangler, but have Amsoil SG in the Grand Cherokee. Both are basically the best available on the market.

Funny timing on this diff fluid discussion...just last night a thread I started a decade ago on the C7 Corvette forum about this exact topic just became active again! Basically the same comments too, just how nasty the fluid looks and sludgy the drain plug magnet is, even with very low miles. Once you're through break-in, that almost completely subsides and you can start extending drain intervals much longer (easily 30-50k, sometimes even 100k miles, depending on the vehicle & fluid).
 

trackratZ

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Nissan, per the manual, recommends hypoid LSD GL-5 conventional non-synthetic gear oil for LSD diffs. I will do this maint soon but wondering on first and second short interval changes to keep using non-synth, then switch to full synth afterwards for the longer intervals. I've always used Redline, but AMSOIL is also excellent. Read way back somewhere about the reason for using straight dyno gear oil in diffs, vs synthetic.
 

Thefunk

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Also, I was surprised to recently learn here the NISMO doesn't have the capability to pull up an oil pressure gauge, whereas even the "lowly" sport does. Weird.
That's all 9AT Z's. The ECU in the autos doesn't read oil pressure. I believe it is completely handled mechanically via solenoid
 

Zplz

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That's all 9AT Z's. The ECU in the autos doesn't read oil pressure. I believe it is completely handled mechanically via solenoid
My Z Sport is a 9AT and I see the oil pressure fine on my panel.
 

FSUZ33

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I've read online that all AT's have no oil pressure reading available. It appears this is only the NISMO. I believe Sport and Perf owners here have both said they have oil pressure on the multi-gauge display.
 

haohmaru

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Cleaned my tires and applied some fresh coats of Dura Coating. The shine lasts for months and months. I don't use tire shine gels or sprays anymore.

This is how they look when done. They are dry to the touch and won't pick up road grime. Easy to clean too. A pain to apply but worth it.

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