Any mechanics in here? VQ35 help needed.

A&Q about 350Z
Q:



My mom has a G35 with a serious oil leak. The leak is coming from behind the oil filter mount.. in between the mount and the block. Its way past warranty now, so looks like I'll be replacing the part. Has anybody had any experience replacing this part? Anybody have any tips?

pic:


The arrow indicates the spot I'm talking about. I wiped it clean, but its a fairly significant leak.

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1985 300ZX n/a


Post Edited (Dec 11, 12:26pm)


A:



take it to the dealership.... but a g35 with an oil leak that early, strange ...BTW change that crappy oil filter!!!! Get a nissan one please....


A:



Yeah I know my dad put Fram on it.. but, did you know that a nissan one is just a Fram filter with a check valve on it?? its still a piece of crap..
read: http://www.zcar.com/forums/read.php?f=3&i=292539&t=292063

And no, unless its under warranty (which its not) I refuse to go to a dealership for maintenance. I either do it myself, or have a local shop that I trust do it if I can't do it myself. F!ck dealerships! There's a reason I don't work at a Nissan dealership anymore.

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1985 300ZX n/a


Post Edited (Dec 11, 4:30pm)


A:



i agree phx. dont take it to the dealer-you will get raped and hard leaving you a case on law and order svu-haha

i would imagine there is some type of seal there that was one of those cheaply made parts that go bad at certain mileage, like as soon as warranties go out

check courtesy nissan/call them or maybe even coz and see if there is a seal there and what you can do

last resort take it too the mechanics

i hope for your sake you can fix it your self though

93 z32 convertible=pearl white, 5 speed
jwt pop-charger, hks hypers, asp underdrive pulley


86 z31 na=super white, 5 speed




A:



thats not the part leaking thats a seal. the only place that seal can be found would be the dealership.


A:



well you can't see it in the pic cause the angle isn't right, but if you look up into that thin gap between the block and that filter mount, it looks as if the mount is dinged or something...
It would be impossible for a rock to do it, it almost looks like the part was dropped or something before it was put on the car at the factory.

Even if the part must be ordered from a dealership, i'm much rather just order it and do the work myself... I don't feel like paying some tech at the dealership $100/hr to work on the car and have him also tell me i need other parts and such..

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1985 300ZX n/a



A:



If you're going to replace the system yourself, it would be helpful to print the service manual so you have some reference to check with. I think last month someone posted the 04 350Z manual. It'll be the same thing.



Post Edited (Dec 11, 6:51pm)


A:



phxZ31,

The component between the oil filter and the cylinder block is an oil cooler. Note the rubber hose connected to the side of the cooler. If your arrow is in the correct location, it may be that the cooler experienced a fatigue failure in the braize weld of the cooler.

I do all of my own oil changes and while I've not changed the oil on my '05 350Z yet, I have the same engine in my '03 FX35 Infiniti. It has the same oil cooler. I can't recall from memory how the cooler assembles to the engine block, but because the cooler has engine coolant running through it, you would have to drain the coolant from the engine before you replaced the cooler.

One of the other readers made the comment of a possible rock strike. If the plastic engine cover was in place the way it comes from the factory, that's not possible. My guess is that it is a fatigue failure at the weld of the assembly.

My wife's Volvo has a similar style cooler, and the Audi S4 I owned before my FX35 also had an oil cooler integral with the oil filter group. The VQ35 is a high performance engine and with Nissan requiring 5W-30 viscosity oil, I'm sure the Nissan engineers want to make sure the oil temperature stays below 275 degrees F. Hence, an oil cooler was worked into the design.

Like the rest of the respondents advised, I too would have your Mom's Infiniti dealer do the work. She can request "Service Policy" consideration to the dealer service manager and she may get some assistance on parts or labor. If the coolant has not been changed in a while, go ahead and do that preventitive maitenance function as well.

Let us know what you find out. You've got me curious now.

Zed Head
2005 350Z Enthusiast in Silverstone
AZA Z-2 18x8.5 & 18x9.5
Yokohama ES100 245/40-18 & 275/35-18

2003 Infiniti FX35
Bone Stock


A:



Thanks a lot for the info. That will really help. I hope to be able to replace it tomorrow.

Really it takes 5W-30? I know my dads been putting Castrol GTX 10W-30 in it, i bet its not a significant problem though. I've told him about using those damn Fram filters though and he keeps using them.

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1985 300ZX n/a



A:



you could wait for a recall? :o


A:



No I already fixed it. It was a few o-rings between the block and that thing that the oil cooler thing or whatever it is.

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1985 300ZX n/a


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