Darwin award winner: ME / How much damage did I do?

[zippyslug31]

I pride myself as a "car guy" and better than the average bear with maintaining my cars. The other day I did one of the stupid things EVER (still kicking myself).

About 2 weeks ago I began hearing a light rattling sound in my G ('06 coupe, 6MT). This sound would usually kick in between 3k and 4k RPM. I popped the hood, check out my CAI since it was one of the few items I've replaced in the car; just waanted to make sure it wasn't loose. Also checked my the cat-back system since, to be honest, I was convinced it was an exhaust issue. This sound was very similar to a heat shield vibrating on the exhaust; figured something worked loose over time.

Had the car up on stands and checked everything I could think of but never did find anything. This sound was driving me nuts and occasionally got relatively loud. About 2 weeks and aprox 100-200 miles goes by and I'm really stumped. I was close to taking it to the dealer.

One day on my way home from work I suddently get a "service engine soon" light followed immediately by an intermittently-flickering oil light! "CRAP, now what?" I thought.

I get home and check the dipstick. I find the dipstick really hard to read so I start to add oil. First a half-quart... nothing. Then the rest of the quart... nothing. I add another entire quart... still nothing. I start to add a 3rd and finally see a little bit on the bottom! After another 1.5 quarts (we are up to a total of 3.5 quarts by now) it finally shows where it should. Took it out for a test drive and I realize the source of the sound has 'magically' vanished.

Questions:- what sort of damage have I done? I'm reluctant to take it to the dealer since I doubt they would be able to tell me much and I also don't want to get a black mark on my service history for fear of it voiding or somehow affecting my warranty.

- the oil light is off now, but the "service engine soon" light remains on. Will this eventually go away after N miles or after so many restarts?

- I was within a couple hundred miles of my 3rd oil change on this car. I did the 500, then one at 3500, and was getting very close to the 6500. I am SHOCKED to see an '06 with only 6500 on the clock using this much oil.

All I can think to do ging forward is check it constantly over the next few months after every drive. If I see it dropping again I will have to go to the dealer and ask them to check it, but I just don't have a lot of faith they will give me a concrete diag. I believe they will give me the old BS line of "it will use a quart every thousand miles" just to get themselves off the hook of honoring a warranty.

[Jacko3]

Zippyslug31:

Don't worry, be happy! Take it easy. Don't get rattled like the car. The truth of the matter is that some 6MT cars from 05 - 07 models have oil consumption problems. Infiniti knows about this and they are replacing engines under warranty, when customers complain. I had the same issues with my 07 6MT and I was given a revised engine. The revised engine is superb. Does not loose a single drop of oil. It has 5K miles on it so far and I use synthetic oil. In addition, I flog this car regularly, and I have already moded out the revised engine---puts a smile on my face each day.

The rattling noise you heard was probably a pre-knock noise, which I have read on this blog, is good reason dealerships use to install a new engine under warranty. Some small damage may have occured in your engine. If the engine did not make it to the next oil change, I am sure if you complain to the dealership, they will request a new engine for you.

So, go back to the dealership and complain. If you have to shed a tear or really go into full cry mode, then that is what you need to do. The ealier the better. If you keep driving the car as is, the dealer will assume the car is okay when it is not. I would suggest you take the car back to the dealership if it is under warranty.

Anyone else with a better advice?

[Beancooker]

This is a common problem with many of the VQ35. The rattling was most likely the timing chain rattle, which according to another forum, in many members Maxima's, that was the cause of the noise. I have an 04, so I don't have this issue. I do think that there may be a little damage. The easiest way to tell is to take it to the stealership, if you're under warranty. If your warranty is expired, take it to AutoZone and have them run an OBD2 scan tool and tell you what the code is. That will make it easy to diagnose.

[rn79870]

I'd do a search here for oil consumption. People have posted service bulletins that you may like to look at and others have offered advice on how to bring the consumption to Infinifi's attention.

[Q451990]

- I was within a couple hundred miles of my 3rd oil change on this car. I did the 500, then one at 3500, and was getting very close to the 6500. I am SHOCKED to see an '06 with only 6500 on the clock using this much oil.

Were your oil changes at the dealer? If not, hopefully you documented the changes with receipts for the oil and filters (preferably OEM filters). Even if not, I think at 6500 miles you're good in terms of the maintenence schedule if your driving conditions are not "severe."

I think I would take it to the dealer for it's next oil change. Then monitor the level and take it back every time it's a quart low. You want to document the issue... At some point in the near future start complaining about the consumption and they will do a consumption test where they put a tamper-proof seal on the drain plug (I think) and have you bring it back at certain intervals to check the oil level. As long as they can justify the warranty claim, they want to change your engine out... and if it's drinking that much oil, you want it changed too - so at least in theory you're all on the same page...

Heath

[zippyslug31]

Update: my dealer is running an oil consumption test as predicted.They, too, have mentioned this issue and the very real possibility of me needing a remanned motor.

Will know the results after 1000 miles when I take it back to them.

Just a little disappointed that I might have to exchange an engine with only 6500 miles for some rebuilt, potentially previously abused motor. The guy at the counter couldn't tell me exactly how much would be rebuilt in this other motor... complete, top-end, or ???About my only assurance is that this other motor won't consume as much oil.

[telcoman]

Update: my dealer is running an oil consumption test as predicted.They, too, have mentioned this issue and the very real possibility of me needing a remanned motor.

Will know the results after 1000 miles when I take it back to them.

Just a little disappointed that I might have to exchange an engine with only 6500 miles for some rebuilt, potentially previously abused motor. The guy at the counter couldn't tell me exactly how much would be rebuilt in this other motor... complete, top-end, or ???About my only assurance is that this other motor won't consume as much oil.

I've been having a oil consumption problem for over 2 years.

Here is a log of my oil changes and oil consumption



31Dec 05 delivery 33 miles

7 May 06 1637 miles oil change & filter ½ qt low

5 June 06 4745 miles add 1 ½ qt of oil, return from Florida

25 June 06 5245 miles oil change & filter

10 July 06 6123 miles add ½ qt of oil

12 Aug 06 8540 miles oil change & filter ½ qt low

26 Aug 06 9812 miles add 1 qt oil

16 Sept 06 10585 miles add ½ qt.oil

1 Oct 06 11930 miles oil change & filter ¼ qt low

14 Oct 06 13026 miles add ½ qt. oil

28 Oct 06 14172 miles add 1 qt. oil

4 Nov 06 14809 miles new air filter

5 Nov 06 14833 miles oil change & filter

21 Nov 06 15966 miles Tire pressure sensor replaced

26 Nov 06 16033 miles add ¾ qt oil

6 Jan 07 17965 miles oil change & filter, ½ qt low

22 Jan 07 19162 miles add ½ qt. oil

17 Feb 07 20686 miles add ½ qt.oil

21 Feb 07 21030 miles oil change & filter

17 Mar 07 23011 miles add 1 qt.oil

9 April 07 25006 miles oil change & filter 1 qt low, rotate tires

14 April 07 25422 miles replaced cabin filter

12 May 07 27146 miles add add ½ qt oil

18 May 07 27784 miles new air filter

20 May 07 27867 miles oil change & filter

10 June 07 30173 miles add ½ qt oil

12 June 07 31299 miles add ½ qt oil

15 June 07 31597 miles oil change & filter

30 June 07 32900 miles add ½ qt oil

21 July 07 34514 miles oil change & filter ½ qt low rotate tires

18 Aug 07 36849 miles add ½ qt oil

1 Sept 07 38024 miles oil change & filter new air filter

6 Oct 07 39929 miles add ½ qt oil

27 Oct 07 41491 miles oil change & filter ½ qt low rotate tires

25 Nov 07 43420 miles add ½ qt oil

8 Dec 07 44520 miles oil change & filter ¼ qt low

14 Dec 07 45042 miles new air filter

19 Jan 08 47189 miles add ½ qt oil

19 Jan 08 47215 miles new tires, wiper blades, oil change & filter at Infiniti, purchase extended warranty

Here is a photo of my dipstick after 2200 miles



They said its not using enough oil to qualify for a new engine

Telcoman

[Sentientbydesign]

Just out of curiousity, what stops someone who's in Telcoman's position from sticking a small tube into the dipstick opening and sucking a little more out?

[rn79870]

Just out of curiousity, what stops someone who's in Telcoman's position from sticking a small tube into the dipstick opening and sucking a little more out?

Oil gives you the runs.

[C-Kwik]

Just out of curiousity, what stops someone who's in Telcoman's position from sticking a small tube into the dipstick opening and sucking a little more out?

If you take it in for oil consumption, the dealer will top off the oil and "seal" the dipstick and the drain plug. Breaking the seal will render the test void...

[groundrocket]

If Infinity actually seals the dipstick they go the extra step beyond GM - a friend kept having problems with his Camaro a few years back - they kept saying it needed more break in time or gave other excuses until they finally did a test - special drain plug /seal.

As he had several other problems with the car that they claimed were normal and wouldn't address, and he knew the trans was begnning to have issues also that they denied, he did exactly what was discussed earlier - (after meeting the minimum oil consumption requirement)put a tube down the dipstick tube and used a brake bleeder vacuum pump to suck out just enough to be about 1/8" lower than the requirement for replacement.

They subsequently claimed it didnt quite consume enough to qualify (as they must have added some oil before measuring). He had taken pics of the dipstick against the days paper to verify the date and ended up taking it to court under CAs Lemmon law... It took him about 6 mos to get the mess sorted out but they ended up taking the car back and reimbursing for car rentals and insurance for the time it was tied up in the shop as well as a refund...

2 weeks later he used the refund to buy another of the same car in a different color - go figure you can be smart in some areas and stupid enough to repeat the same experiment expecting a different outcome.

[zippyslug31]

Just late last week I got a call from the dealer. They wanted to know if I had covered the prereq 1000 miles to check the oil level.

Since I hadn't yet (I don't drive the car as much as I should be) they just said to get back to them when it's "ready". I did ask them though if I should be checking the oil level myself.... not adding anything to it, but simply keeping tabs on it.The guy on the phone instructed me not to touch ANYTHING. So, I'm not sure if they sealed my dipstick or marked the filler cap/drain nut.

Its a rather odd feeling to be instructed to just "let your car go to crap and not do the normal inspections".

BTW, I also get the vibe from the dealer that they want this to fail. Just an excuse to make some decent money on a motor swap (not from me of course but from the factory).Sure will be interesting to see, if they do in fact swap, what kind of rebuilt junk I might get stuck with.

[Sentientbydesign]

While doing an oil change on Friday, I noticed a little yellow marking right next to the drain plug.

Is it possible that my car had the test done? I don't notice any oil issues, but I though it would be nice to know.