Have a 01 pf and it has leaked oil since I got it in 05. Drips enough to be a pain. Appears to be from oil pan/gasket. I/family have owned other nissans and all seemed to have leaked oil in this manner. Is this a common issue or am I just lucky? Is there a diy remedy?ThanksBrian

AFAIK, its NOT a common problem. Whats fairly common, and what we have all come to live with and are absolutely not perturbed about given the quality of the vehicle otherwise is the PCV valve sucking oil out from under the valve cover.

Thanks for the feedback. How big of a project to replace PCV valve?

bdstacey wrote:Thanks for the feedback. How big of a project to replace PCV valve?

It's a rather large project; replacement of the PCV valve requires removal of the upper intake manifold and maybe the lower intake manifold (not sure about that one though).

Figured it would be. Thanks for the help. Have you heard of many oil leak problems? I had an old hardbody and maxima and both leaked, otherwise really good vehicles.

bdstacey wrote:Figured it would be. Thanks for the help. Have you heard of many oil leak problems? I had an old hardbody and maxima and both leaked, otherwise really good vehicles.

The three most common oil leaks are the valve cover seals, the rear main seal and the oil cooler (only A/T R50's have the oil cooler). Other than those I haven't really heard of oil leaking from anywhere else on the VQ.

Thanks again. I will start trying to narrow down the source

Check out below on how to replace the PCV valve. Its pretty straightforward and seems like one doesnt need to remove any of the intake manifolds.

zer...0-qx4

Replacing the PCV valve would help but is not a fix to the problem.

Try the below. I will be doing that soon when I replace my PCV valve. Pwnin suggested that to me sometime back, about installing an inline catch can and below is what it is is my understanding.

zerothread/186408

I remember coming across a howto with pics for the oil cooler as well if you pin the leak down to that.
Modified by ugharin at 4:01 PM 1/27/2010

Appears to be leaking form below, around oil pan or gasket

FYI ugharin: That link you provided re: changing the PCV, is for the 2000 model year with the 3.3 engine. You're right, it's pretty straightforward.However, bdstacey wrote that he has a 2001, which would have the 3.5 VQ engine. Changing the PCV on that engine does require removal of the intake. It's a pain.

Ah!! Thanks for clarifying. I knew I was missing something as I was typing.

I've had Nissans for 38 years. None of them has ever leaked a drop.

'72 240X. 1972-1988 Sold with about 110K miles. Still on the road a year or two ago.'70 Pickup. ~1980-1989. Sold with (I think, odo must have rolled around when I got it) 250K miles.'87 Pathfinder. 1986-1995. Traded with 130K miles.'95 Pathfinder. 1995-2001. Traded with 130K miles.'01 Pathfinder. 2001-present. 180Kish miles. Still tows my boat most every weekend.

NO oil leaks on any.

And full disclosure:

'87 Corvette. It's been in my garage 1986-present, though I've only ownedit 1996-present. No leaks there either. But only 35K miles.

Chuxkb
Modified by Chuck Tribolet at 7:27 PM 1/31/2010

My 01 QX4 has the same issue,either the drain plug or pan gasket lets enough out to be a pain but that's about it. However my 85 720 4X4 P/U with the Z24 engine never leaked any oil at all so I guess we're both "just lucky" like you said bdstacey!

Nuthin like a little good luck huh

I've had amazing luck with my '01 205,000+ miles and not a drop.

Billy

well after removing the intake about 4 times its easy as hell to me now lol, you have to take the upper an middle intake plenum to get to the pvc valve if your goin to do this you should do the threadlocker on the power valve screws

Thanks for the info. Sounds like that may be beyond my tool box. Any experience w a/c bearing squealing and replacement or repair.ThanksBrian