watch that oil cooler seal! neighbor 4 qts low!

[tomcat27]

Nissan 3.5; neighbor complained that the check engine light was on. P0011. timing off on bank 1. hmmmm. pulled dipstick. 4 quarts low!!!
It was an easy repair: replace the o ring between the oil cooler and the block. supposedly book time is 1.2 hours. didn't take half that.

 

[FermeLaPorte]

That was a close one for your neighbor

 

[Ducked]

Watch that dipstick might be more generally applicable advice, assuming you have got one.

 

[Mr Nice]

Are the piston rings shot ?

 

[SwampSurvivor]

My replacement 5.4 is permanently noisey from that happening. Oil cooler went bad and it dumped 6 quarts of oil into both the coolant and out of the cooler itself while driving. Never had the oil light come on, but it was realllll low.

 

[LeakySeals]

I acquired a free 03 Maxima with a 3.5L with the infamous busted radiator/tie bar support. When I got it the 3.5 was dangerously low on oil. I added 3.5 qts! There are a couple of leaks. One is the cam sensor o ring. Another is from the pan area. I assumed its the drain bolt washer. Could that possibly the o ring you describe??

 

[28oz]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
I acquired a free 03 Maxima with a 3.5L with the infamous busted radiator/tie bar support. When I got it the 3.5 was dangerously low on oil. I added 3.5 qts! There are a couple of leaks. One is the cam sensor o ring. Another is from the pan area. I assumed its the drain bolt washer. Could that possibly the o ring you describe??



The O-ring is behind the "oil cooler"......the round thingy that the oil filter screws onto. You remove the filter, then there's a big nut behind it (if memory serves correctly). The housing (oil cooler) is then able to move away from the block. There is a big O-ring behind it where it mates to the block. They tend to start leaking above 100k miles. Get the replacement from the dealer. They've been redesigned over the years and I think I only paid about $8 for it.

Edit: There are two rubber hoses that connect to the oil cooler. They contain coolant. Be careful with them..........unless you're replacing them also. Mine were oil saturated from the leaking O-ring, so I replaced mine.