I'm trying not to get upset or freaked out here. I've had this car just over a month....
Monday on my way to work I hear a loud clattering up front...sounds like maybe a clutch chatter or valve rattling....car warms up and noise goes away.
Think nothing of it. Later that day I'm going around a corner and my oil light comes on. Goes back off but comes back on every time I go around a corner fast.
Then I notice that my oil pressure is way lower than it has been for the last month. It's about 10 psi at idle and highest it gets under acceleration is 30 psi....seems low...
Then I'm almost home today and the SES light comes on....
I checked the oil when I brought it home and it read a little high. I checked it Monday and it still reads high.
I called a local dealer and they're going to pull the code tonight but I don't have much confidence in this place...
Does anybody have an idea what the problem might be? Something I should look for?
I'd like to be informed when I go in because I have a feeling the dealership won't be.

Thanks!

 

Correction, the oil was low...extremely low. I was getting erroneous readings because I wasn't waiting long enough after it cooled down.
bEfore I left for my appointment I checked the oil again and it was barely even reading on the dip stick.
Fortunately it seems like I got a good tech at the dealer.
He said that it was significantly more than a quart low, he added to the full level and told me to check in 500 miles and a thousand and if it was low again to bring it in. I got it documented.
The SES code was something to do with valve timing. He said it might have been due to the low oil and it caused a bubble(his words).
The oil pressure is back where it should be. Appx 30 psi at idle instead of 10 and 60 when cruising instead of 30.
At least I started right to correcting this problem but I'm still bummed that I have a brand new car with engine trouble.

 

If you have an 06 do a search. This seems to be an issue with them. Check my buddies post trehlo. He had problems. That was one of them samething too he took a turn light came on. Got it checked was bone dry. Hey I say have them do that oil cosumption test. Call nissan open a case # on it.

 

Yep yer screwed too.

After I had my first oil change done and about 500 miles away from my 2nd oil change was comming due my oil PSI dropped too and was worse (lower) when going around corners, which is how I noticed the problem. The PSI was at about 5 when idling, like holy **** man My oil light never did come on though, not once or any other lights, just the PSI drop. When I noticed the PSI was low, I pulled over ASAP, let the car sit for 15 minutes and checked the oil level in the new Z for the first time. Something I should have done way before obvisouly. Honestly I never checked the level in the thing because I never saw a drop of oil anywhere and since it was a brand new $30K car, I figured it should be fine. Oh that's right it's a Nissan, DOHHH!!! Long story short, I ended up having to add 3 quarts of oil to bring it back near the full line.

I'm brining my car in for it's 3rd (1,000 mile) oil consumption test reading next Sat. Right now between the first 2 readings they took, my average consumption is just over 1 quart per 1,000 miles.

The first 1,000 mile reading was .6 of a quart low and the second 1,000 mile reading, which had a lot of freeway miles was 1.5 quarts low WTF??

What is wierd is when I checked the levels, what I got what half as bad as what the dealer got. When they got .6 of a quart low, my reading showed that it was at the 3/4 full mark, which would indicate to me 1/4 low not .6. On their 1.5 low reading, my reading showed that it was at the 1/4 full mark, which would tell me 3/4 quart low???

The dealer only lets the car sit for about 15 minutes when they check it and with the expection of the first time I checked it, I wait anywhere from 4 hours to 5 days when I check it because I drive it mostly on the weekends and the car sits and plus I find it easier to get a clean accurate reading after a few hours. I guess there is just that much oil that doesn't make it's way into the oil pan in 15 minutes. I dunno. Either that or the distance between the low and hi mark on the dipstick is 2 quarts and not 1 quart which would be a first in my book.

Either way my engine is a POS. Everybody says that black soot on the exhaust tips is normal. Then why have I seen Z's G-35's and other cars with ZERO zoot inside or outside of the tips. Are those cars and Z's abnormal.

It gets a nice sh!ty coating of this ozzy black almost drippy soot **** after like 20 miles and that's just not right. I'm conviced that it's so bad that it is making my Nismo exhaust louder because it is actually cloggong up the mufflers recess'. Probably the only good thing about the whole mess is my exhaust is getting louder

 

Yup, my car was doing the same thing. Oil light coming on around corners. I find it alarming that the oil light doesn't come on a lot sooner than it does. I mean if it's not reading on the dipstick you'd think the light would come on.
What makes me mad is that we have those oil pressure gauges for a reason and when I told the service chick at the dealer I bought it from that my oil pressure was alarmingly lower she talked to me like I was dumb and said it was just from break in. Well, obviously not now. I'm tempted to call her back and ***** her out.

Anyway, I'm really upset that the brand new car I've wanted so long might be a lemon. I hate this limbo place I'm in, not knowing if I'm going to keep it and it will be fine or if the engine is crap. I know one thing for sure, if the engine is bad I'm not letting them put a new engine. They're buying the car back or giving me another Z. Maybe if I'd put 30k on the car and had problems that would be ok but on a month old Z I'm not getting screwed like that.
I'm just mad that I really can't enjoy my car now...I feel like I can't get too attached to it.

 

Yes it is true, my new Z is in the shop with an oil leak. Dealership say's it's an improperly installed valve cover gasket at the factory. what a way to start this week's vacation.

 

Did any of you guys follow the engine break in procedure in your owners manual?
You should always check your oil level with any new engine, the rev up engines (300hp) seem to be a little more oil thirsty while they are breaking in.

 

I have an 03 that is leaking oil from the drivers side valve cover too! It is not to bad but it just bothers me.

 

Are you kidding dude?(sleepy)
That's what I would expect to hear from a dealer not a fellow enthusiast. Did you follow the break in procedure? How do you treat your car?

Of course I followed the break in procedure. It's not that tough to go easy on the throttle for 1200 miles. I'm careful about my vehicles, this isn't the first new car I've had. We just broke in my wife's Murano a couple months ago and it's not having any problems.

I did check the oil in my car when I first brought it home to make sure the lot boy didn't screw something up. But to frequently check the level on a bran new car? No way should that be normal procedure. A modern, well designed engine should not consume large quantities of oil, break in or not.

I'm not going through an engine tear down while they try to figure out the problem either. That's just not acceptable in my book.

 

If I had an '03 and it was now starting to leak after 30k miles that would be a different story. I'd be pissed but it would be more reasonable than a brand new engine.

 

umm, what surprises me is that no one checks there oil. Ok sure the car shouldnt be doing that... but just because its new your going to neclect it?

I check my oil every time I wash my car, which is once a week. And if I am going on long trips I check it on every fill up station. I dont care if the car just came off the lot, or is 20 years old.

Sure if the engine blows up, its not at your direct cost. But how much is time waiting for the tow truck, getting a rent car, having to be in the rent car, and getting your car back really worth to you? For me its worth a 2 min check so it doesnt happen in the first place

Also when a car is new, I check it every 500 miles + one time each week (for the first 7,000 miles). The reason why, is new cars do strang things to oil, where as older cars tend to have a history behind them.

 

Oil light: Oil lights are triggered by low oil pressure, not the level in the sump. I do think it is odd that companies don't have a oil level indicator, really, most throw a light when the water is low.

Engine clacking: Most likely you are not pumping enough oil to keep the rod bearing suspended. This can lead to premature bearing failure, I would consider pushing for a new motor but be gentle and try to convince them it is their idea.

Lots of new motors burn oil before the rings properly seat, but yours sounds excessive. My 04 was about 3/4 of a quart low at 3k and about the same at 6k, since then its been fine.

It is clear from its dip stick design that Nissan never intended anyone to check the oil in the Z.

Chris

 

An enthusiast would check their oil, and most likey all fluids to make sure everything is ok. A new or rebuilt engine is always going to consume oil during its break in period, it is only common sense to check.

You did it to yourself then. I'm sorry that you believe engines do not consume oil during break in.

BTW Engines also consume oil during normal operation as well. (not trying to sound condescending)

 

I have an 04 Z and I got new in 04, anyways after I had my first oil change done at the dealer everything was fine..... for a while. I checked my oil a week after the change and it was still high but about a week after that my oil pressure gauge was running a little low and the oil was also a little low. Since this was a new car I told Nissan about it just to be cautious. All they did was top off the oil and told me to keep an eye on it.

A couple days later it was doing the same thing but worse so he scanned it and couldn't find anything wrong. So he topped it off yet again and told me to bring it back in 500 miles. Before 500 miles was even up I had to take it back because the oil was very low. So they kept doing scans and test and couldn't find anything so they ended up putting a new engine in. They were stummped no oil leaking, or burning. Ever since they put the new engine in I've had no problems.

Thank God it was under warrenty then.

 

I appreciate those who have commented about something besides checking the oil.
To those that say I should have checked the oil somebody should slap you on the back of the head. Did you read the part where I checked the oil when I first brought it home? And then when I first noticed the engine rattle? Sleepy, please don't post in here anymore unless it's something constructive and you actually read what I write before responding.

My point was that you "shouldn't have to" check it frequently. I check my oil a couple times in the first few thousand when I get a new car just to get used to the car. I've had several new cars in the last few years and none have consumed a noticeable amount of oil in the "break in" mileage. I could see losing 1/4 quart or so in a couple thousand miles...but to lose a few quarts? Glad I didn't take the Z on our road trip last month. If this engine is supposed to consume large quantities of oil that's not normal and Nissan should have an advisory to the customer buying the car. I wouldn't have bought one if they said "you have to check the oil level frequently, they burn oil."
Hyper- thanks for the post. I agree it would be helpful if companies put oil level sensors in. If the oil level can drastically change in a week or two then some advanced warning would be nice.

Now the car knocks when accelerating....it sounds like that valve or rod rattling. My mom's Maxima did that but it was after a few years and 100k miles....
Not happy so far with this car.

 

The VQ35DE is a world-class motor. Having said that, it sounds as though you've got a legitimate and serious oil problem with your Z. When you take the car into the dealership, be sure to mention the knock you hear under acceleration, along with the other information. You didn't mention whether you were using a synthetic oil or other additives, your engine is so new the rings and bearings are still seating!

David Muramoto
Senior Editor
Nissan Sport Magazine

 

let me know how it turn out im trying to get nissan to buy my car back but they are giveing me a hard time

 

Thanks David, I appreciate the feedback.
I just got frustrated when I posted about a concern and some members wanted to hassle me about checking the oil.
I know the V35 platform is super reliable and has been tried and tested for years. That's part of why I'm so frustrated with this problem. It shouldn't be happening. I didn't buy a Pontiac where I would expect problems. I guess I just am one of the rare, unlucky guys...usually I have much better luck. Everybody else has problems and I get the good one.

Anyway...

Only thing I've put in it is premium gas(and now the oil that the dealer added). I haven't changed the oil....problem was noticed at 2200 miles so I hadn't made it to the first service interval. Most cars if I switch to synthetic(don't usually unless it's called for) I wait for a couple oil changes to go by. The only car that I put Synthetic in from the start was a VW but those engines call for it.
We'll see how it goes. Still trying to put miles on it, only 300 so far and it's almost down to the low mark(was at high when I brought it home from svc dept). That sounds like more than a quart in 500 miles....