1997 Nissan Sentra help..

[Marco Esquandoles]

Folks,
I've got a friend with a 1997 Nissan Sentra. It's the 4cyl (I dont know if they had any other options that year). Apparently she's got an oil leak in her oil pan gasket.

The manual calls for a 5w30 motor oil, but I'm thinking of suggesting her to go to something thicker to slow the leak enough to run Auto-RX through the motor twice. It's got over 100k on it.

What do you folks think about this? What would be a good BASE III oil for her to run and what weight? If a thicker oil isn't the answer.. I'm open to anything.

 

[mechtech]

I'd fix the gasket.

 

[Marco Esquandoles]

Eventually she will. But she's got other problems that are more pressing.. like a near dead alternator and bald tires.

I want to patch her up in the meantime..

 

[Quest]

You don't use thicker oil to keep a oil pan gasket leak under control (similar to the analogy of a water faucet leak due to worn rubber washer-you don't put thicker water in hopes of slowing down the drip). get that problem resolved properly (1 tube of RTV sealant + some elbow grease).

 

[m2200b]

I'd be sure its a pan leak by cleaning the
engine above the pan and the pan with a degreaser like simple green. Then you can reexamine the leak when it reappears and trace it again. You don't want to be fixing what isn't broke.

I would not change oil grade if it is a pan leak and would just do simple green cleaning until a repair can be made. Also making sure she keeps the oil at full / mid full on the dipstick so she doesn't run a few qts down and turn the leak into sludge or diaster.

 

[Frank D]

It is most likely the front seal leaking. That is the only leak I had in 240,000 miles on my 96 Sentra. It was an inexpensive repair. Less than $10.00 for the seal and 1 1/2 hours labor as per the labor book.

 

[Drew]

I doubt it is the oil pan too. I agree wtih Frank that it is probably a leaky front seal. If you do replace it, make sure you install a "jiffy sleave" or you'll have wasted your time. Ask me how I learned about Jiffy Sleaves..

 

[Baddog]

I have to agree with the front seal leaking. My 99 Sentra had oil all over the pan and I actually changed the pan gasket. The oil kept leaking so I replaced the front seal. It has been dry ever since. Replacing the front seal is a lot easier than the pan gasket, at least on the 99 Sentra.

 

[Frank D]

Ok Drew, I gotta know about "jiffy sleaves".

 

[Drew]

The shaft that goes through the seal actually can get worn by the seal. A new seal will leak if the worn shaft or whatever is sealed by the seal isn't addressed. A jiffy sleave or speedy sleave is a thing hardened metal sleeve that is pressed over the shaft so that the new seal can do its job.

Here is a better explanation of what one is:http://www.quintec.nl/englisch/cr%20industries.htm

I learned about these the hard way.