How bad is it *really* to drive a fresh import before oil change?

[pentae]

Hey Guys,

After reading a lot of the threads around here, a lot of poeple have put a lot of emphasis on getting the oil changed as soon as the car arrives before driving it.

After owning several imports, I have driven cars that have come into the country and have not had the oil done, and havent had any problems. I know that most import car dealers dont change the oil in the cars once they arrive..

But how concerned should I be about the oil in the gtr, considering the car has been sitting dormant for 6 months? Assuming the car is running well, I was going to drive it from the compliance center in brisbane to gavin wood at the gold coast to get all the fluids and a service done before I get it registered.

is there much risk, would anyone get it towed instead?

[confuzion]

i personally got mine towed and as soon as it arrived i changed every fluid possible. I cant see a problem as long as the engine oil isnt black and thick as a mofo. I know many ppl who have driven from docks or from here to there without changing fluids yet and have had no problems so its up to you.

[Duncan]

I didn't worry about driving mine....of course I do now have a blown engine.

Surely you would just drive it to the complier and do the oil change straight away? Just don't give it any on the way from the dock

[MerlinTheHapyPig]

I drove my car from depot, to my house, around a bit to show my mates, to compliance and back. maybe 200kms. Then i changed the oil.

It's really an unknown, you don't know when the oil was last changed, then you have to factor in for the car sitting in dealership, at docks, on boat etc. usually the car will be sitting idle for 3-6 months.

Oil will go bad over time, even if car is not driven, which is why oil change intervals is "5000kms or 6 months whichever comes first". So, worst case scenario, assuming owner properly maintaned it, was that it was just due for an oil change when it was sold, so 9-12 months without oil change.

I personally wouldn't worry about it, just open oil cap, and feel oil, if it's smooth and doesn't smell burnt, then keep it, if it's gritty or smells burnt, then get it changed. just take it to a local mechanic - dont bother changing filter. then when you do proper service, change filter and put decent oil in.

i'd just do the change yourself, it's a 30 minute job, and will cost you less than $50, if you have a mate nearby where you're picking it up, just do it at his/her place.

[Blitz]

Its a risk that you take which personally in something like a GTR I would be avoiding.

Is it really worth risking an engine rebuild for the sake of being able to have a quick spin in your car when it arrives?

No.

[predator]

Just check it.. I didn't change mine for about 2 months, even when it got here (although I didn't drive it much). The exhaust will probably smell like crap because of the old oil, but once you change it, should be back to normal.

But wouldn't be fanging it. If the oil has broken down over time, it's only likely to get worse when booted.

[Beer Baron]

don't be a tightwad. you own a GTR FFS. nothing is going to be cheap. an oil change on a car that realistically hasn't had one for 12 months should be a pleasure, it will cost you only $100 and you can do it yourself if you want. mate, if you are tight on engine oil, things are only going to get worse from here on in.

once you've done that look at doing all the other fluids too (or at least test the clutch and brake fluid to see how much water they've absorbed).

[WHITE R32]

i dont think its a case of him been tight man i think its just the pleasure and ease of actually driving it rather than paying for a tilt tray to gavin woods.......

and if he is taking it to gavin he's not a tight ass anyway so i think he just wants to take her for a maiden voyage go for it i rekon as long as u check the level of fluids and that the oil hasnt gotn totally bad i rekon youll be okay....(just dont fang it)

personally i rekon a good drive and a bit of heat and then dump the oil os the way to go because it will loosen up any bits that have settled and theyll come out with the oil and change it then your set

[pentae]

mmmgtir: Hmm, what WHITER32 said..

I would have actually thought that by letting the car idle for a few minutes, and then being very gentle with her the whole way, get some heat through the old oil before dropping it out the bottom.

Is there a definite risk I can blow up my engine simply by having old, broken down oil in the car?

I probably wouldnt be taking it over 4,000rpm until the new oil was in it.

[WHITE R32]

i think oil will break down from getting too hot and been too old and copping a flogging before just sitting for 6 months or so would make it break down... you look at how long some of the q fleet and govt cars sit around sometimes and cars at some yards before they sell i bet they dont change the oil because they have been sitting for 6 months or so... sure they get started every now and then but thats not going to stop oil breaking down....

put it this way... if i was you and i was going to baby it and i just wanted a drive id drive it...

im going to drive my new silvia home from the docks about 2 hrs drive as long as the fluid levels are ok and it runs ok...

but remember in the end the decision is yours because if anything happens (which i honestly doubt) youll have to pay to repair it.....

[Chris32]

Hows this for a comparison -

Would you drink a old stale beer thats been left open for 6 months on a warf/ship, absorbed all sorts of shit out of the air etc or would you rather wait for a nice cold one, even if you have to wait a extra day or pay a bit more for it?

Food for thought

[pentae]

hmmm.. so in conclusion i'll get the compliancer to change the oil (or i'll do it when I pick it up) and drive to gavin to get the rest done

[Chris32]

Personally I'd tow it........

Might get away with a quick check of the dipstick, if it looks reasonable then it may be ok to drive, over just take a jack and change it before driving it

Might pay to take a jerry can of petrol too

[lang]

i drove mine around with no problems, had been sitting on wharf for approx 5 months prior to import

[predator]

Would you drink a old stale beer thats been left open for 6 months on a warf/ship, absorbed all sorts of shit out of the air etc or would you rather wait for a nice cold one, even if you have to wait a extra day or pay a bit more for it?

err.. no :Oops: when you're desperate for a beer, you're desperate for a beer.. ! hehe

[Guest]

It is a 15 year old GTR and going what others say about the condition of their GTR just tow it as Chris32 said, a tow is a lot cheaper then a engine rebuild.

I have know cars to make it 14 klm's from picking it up and another engine blew due to the tune of the HKS computer leaned out to much.

We bring cars in and are fully checked in Japan by a mechanic at his work shop with even photos of the dipstick showing the detail they go to and we still dont drive the vehicles till they have had a full fluid cange and service.

Tilt tray or rebuild and I have known of a car being written off going from docks to workshop and of course no insurance.

[Tyler Durden]

what about just hiring a car trailer for forty bucks and towing it down? Might have to borrow a 4wd to drive it behind. They usually have winches so you dont even have to start the car.

[lwells]

I towed my GT-R from the docks to the compliance centre. Most people thought I was nuts since the drive was so short (docks --> Grey Imports = 5 minutes MAX) but as everyone else has said, the $55 bucks it cost to tow it was nothing compared to

a) the purchase price

B) the cost of an engine rebuild

c) the cost of maintaining a GT-R

Keep in mind that the car will be extremely low on fuel too, which will mean you will have to stop for fuel and refill: if your car is highly tuned you might have the issues DRIFTT described.

Edit: I did have to drive it between the docks proper and the steam cleaning place though. That was about a 5 minute drive (because I had to find where to go). I kept it to 3000RPM and below, taking it extremely slowly.

LW.

[pentae]

Okay i'm towing the car.

[popeye132]

WOW, did had no idea about all this oil implication!! Ive imported 6 cars already, all had no problems except for one which may explain y.

In fact ive imported a 300zx and was stored in japan for over 10 months and after compliance i drove like normal not changing oil 2000km later.

But with my other 300zx i thrashed it all the way home, 20km drive, and the more i drove the car days later the crapper it felt. Then one day it didnt start at all!!

Lucky i saw this thread cos i got a 400hp R33 coming and not knowing all this i would have given it a good flog home.