Hey everyone, I am in the process of trying to make my Z work for me until a) the GTR hits the lots, and due to the recession, I can get one for very close to MSRP
b) the GTR hits the lots, and I can't get one for very close to MSRP, so I need to get something else.

When I took my 03 Enthusiast for the 60k servicing (actually at 67k, so no warranty), they found oil in the spark plug housing. The diagnosis, I need to replace the gaskets that keep oil out of the spark plug housing. Unfortunately, there is a big backorder on the part, and now I don't feel comfortable driving the car. Also, they say they cannot order the gasket alone, since the part only comes as the entire housing/casing, and Nissan no longer sells the gaskets alone.

My questions:
a) What damage can I cause while I wait for the part? From what I know, I should be able to drive it for a while, with the worste case being it will missfire on me. Do I risk damage to the coils, or to the new plugs? Do I risk any really expensive damage?
b) Is the tech pulling a fast one on me? Should it be easy to get the gaskets alone, and should the work be easy? He quoted 260 a part times two parts, and over 4 hours of labor, which comes out to around 1100 bucks. On older cars, I thought that doing this work was pretty simple, and could be done with 25-50 dollars worth of gaskets and a few do-it-yourself hours of maintenance. Is the job significantly larger on the Z?
c) I am getting fed up in hoping I can get a GTR for MSRP, and I will not wait through another winter without AWD. Yesterday, I took a qoute on an 08 RS4, being delivered in May. Is the spark plug housing job pretty large, and is it basically just the correct decision to trade the Z in in the next two weeks, don't do the work, and get myself into a new car sooner, rather than later?

Any and all help appreciated. I don't want to leave the Z community, I have had mine since it was new. But, I need AWD, am looking for a little more refinement than my 03 Enthusiast. Should I fix the problem and wait it out (there will always be goodd cars to buy), or is this spark plug oil problem really a large issue? I am tired of sinking money into this car, when I could have another one under warranty...

Thanks

 

you dont need to change the gasket, when i did my first oil change at 20k miles i had oil in the 2 back plugs...its just blowby from the engine breaking in...my next change at 60k had no oil at all

 

I would use some RTV around the old rubber, than install the part. That should hold you a while. And you are safe to drive as is right now.

 

I might just monitor the plugs and see if oil gets on them. How confident are you that it is only blowby? My car has been fine for a long time, could it have gone unnoticed this long?

Is blowby a common problem on the Z, or could it be something more major? The part is on backorder for a few weeks, so either there are a lot of shady misdiagnoses, or there is somthing I'm missing

 

Is this pretty do-it-yourself, or do I need a professional? As backround, I grew up on a ranch and worked some on machinery and my parents older cars. I can find my way around simple procedures if I read up on how to do it. However, newer cars are much more complicated under the hood, and I don't know how big of a job it would be on the Z?

Can I damage the coils if they are in oil for an extended period? I assume if I am not misfiring, I am okay?

 

I have seen pics here of someone doing it, but I can't find the post.... I am sure anyone can do it.

 

Yeah, I don't know if I just lack the skills to do a search, but it seams like it is impossible to find anything with the search function. I couldn't find anything either....

 

gakets are on back order because almost every Z at 100k when they changed their plugs has oil in there. Very common.

Anything is do it yourself when it comes down to taking something apart and putting it back together. I've never done one myself, but i know what is invovled and i would consider this a more advanced replacement. You'll have to remove a lot of **** to get to them which takes proper tools and know it how. If you dont do everything to your Z on your own then i wouldn't suggest this repair.

 

well i had oil on my back 2 plugs and after the last 2 changes there is no oil...ive seen this on other cars ive worked on

 

I just found videos of the procedure on an 03 G35... More comnplicated than I want to get into, with my very limited experience.

I just went out and put a deposit down on the RS4, I think it will be more fitting for my lifestyle (daily driver, even in winter, great performance, I love the look, and very appealing interior, compared to my 03Z).

I'm going to either trade the Z in, or sell it private party. If interested, PM me, and we can talk. You know the only problem with the car. Aside from that, it has new brakes, almost new tires, just got a tune up, runs great, and has never been modded.