So I purchased a Z a couple weeks ago for a pretty good price. (thought so at least). I went to change the oil the following weekend and noticed what looked to be a lower oil pan leak. So i changed the gasket ad thought I had it fixed. Well a couple mornings after I noticed a very small puddle of oil under the car. So i finally got the car on a lift today and took some pictures.

First off, the car is an 04 6mt with 119k miles. Want to also mention i noticed the spark plug seals are leaking as well when changing the plugs last night.

Where i noticed it was most wet

 

Also wanted to ask what you guys think would cause what looks like oil grime to build up on the plenum area like this?

 

I can't see where the leak is from the pics, but the grime on the plenum is just blowing up from below. Best bet is to get the engine completely clean, and then look for the source. You might even try some UV dye in the oil.

 

This. After it's clean and you add the dye, let it leak for a couple days and then shine a UV light on it. You'll find the source quickly.

 

pretty cool never heard of this b4

 

The oil cooler, under the filter, has a gasket that leaks, which looks like yours is.

The oil on the back of the head is either the valve cover gasket, or the cam position sensor seals, which are very common VQ oil leak sources. Change both anyway if it's my car, neither is terribly expensive or a big deal. The cam sensor o-rings might be hard to find separate, but if you remove them and match up new ones you should be fine.

The oil on the top could be residue from spillage on oil changes (it doesn't evaporate so it collects dirt) or you could have an oil cap that isn't sealing well and allowing vapor to blow out onto the manifold. That one needs to be cleaned well and see where the source is.

 

Appreciate the help guys. I'm trying to hunt down the part # for the oil filter housing gasket that Italianjoe1 mentioned.

As of now it's not leaving any puddle whatsoever. Even though it looks like it does in the pictures. I've had the undertray off all day and cardboard under the car after driving it and it hasn't dripped at all. Assuming it's a very small leak. And as hard as it is to get an accurate reading on the DE dipsticks, it does look like it's reading normal levels.

 

Found 2 oil filter o-ring parts. Anyone care to clarify which one I would need?

https://conceptzperformance.com/niss...11a_p_7832.php

https://conceptzperformance.com/nism...de_p_24065.php

 

hey OP,

as stated above i would clean up all the oil with. I've had this issue and cleaned the mess by buying 3 or 4 cans of brake cleaner. Brake cleaner is the best degreaser IMO for metal parts. I'd spray the top of oil pan, sides of the block where you see oil and around the oil filter. brake cleaners cleans right up in seconds.

this is the oil cooler O ring you might be talking about. I would also check to make sure oil filter connector bolt is torqued to 36 ft/lbs or leaks can occur.

http://g35driver.com/forums/engine-d...er-o-ring.html

the gasket can be found here:

https://www.z1motorsports.com/oil-co...et-p-6351.html

ALSO i know for sure i have a leak behind the engine at the camshaft position sensor. those sensors have a gasket on them and over time they can degrade. I was able to see that leak when the car was on a lift looking directly up, nothing is needed to be removed to see that. Check your PCV to make sure its not clogged or defected also.

 

If you ever need it done, I have a fully-equipped garage and I'm just up the street

 

Hey thanks man i appreciate that!

 

happen to have a link to the cam sensor gaskets you mentioned?

 

i haven't replaced it yet since its not a big leak. but i do not know where i could buy that gasket. when i do replace it i will jsut replace the whole cam sensor itself when it comes time in spring.

 

With that much oil loss, how much is left in the motor? Check your dipstick religiously.

 

Common problem with the plenum is that stupid oil cap rubber ring or whatever it's called. Someone must have taken the plenum off and when they reinstalled it, they didn't clear that rubber ring out of the way.

Does the car run rough?

 

Car runs absolutely perfect tbh. Threw a misfire and low input knock sensor code. Changed the plugs, noticed valve covers are leaking. But other than that, yeah runs fine.

I took the undertray off while i've been trying to find the main leak source and there hasn't been a drop of oil on the ground in the past week.

 

 

I know this is an old thread but recently ran into this very exact issue. Could an upper oil pan look exactly like the one in the picture? If it was leaking from the camshaft o-ring why would the oil run toward the front of the engine along the sides?