05 Q zero oil consumption?

[O5Q45]

So in my spare time I've read the first 46 pages of the Q forum. I've seen a few things my 3rd gen is doing, seat rocks, sometimes ignition has no response from key turned.. But my question is, the common thread is about oil consumption on these 3rd gens. I've had mine for about 5,000 miles now and had an oil change. However mine doesn't use one single drop of oil. I continue to randomly check it at fuel fill ups or messing around in the driveway.. Did Nissan do anything to the VK45 to stop this problem? I've read this motor took the place of the twin turbo 6 in the Japanese GT500 series around 03 with minor changes. Internals the same.. it's original design was for the GT500 according to several sites. Also, I have all the records from Nalley Infiniti in Atlanta, and the car has had three 30k services where all the fluids down to brake fluid even is changed in full. I don't understand everyone having this oil consumption issue but me? I've got 89,755 miles now..

[EdBwoy]

Well, from what I have read, it was just a luck of the draw. Some owners even as early as 2002 didn't have the issues whIle others ended up getting replacement engines. Nothing I have read clarifies whether break-in habits had anything to do with that. Would have been nice to know what Nissan found out when they took the defective engines back.

All I can tell you is that as late as 2006, the vk45de as used in the m45 was still consuming oil. I'd thank my lucky stars and keep driving.

If I may ask, how long has your car's oil change interval typically been? Every v8 I have ever owned consumes some oil, this engine more than most - the reason I still insist to change my own oil at home is to capture any oil losses. I assume that a chain store doesn't go through the effort of collecting used oil from each car individually... as such a minor loss like half a quart in 3,000 miles might go undetected.

[O5Q45]

Change intervals haven't been exact milage ever with this car. It was a company car in Atlanta and according to the service reports every single service was done at Infiniti anywhere from 1500 miles to once 6,000 between oil changes. It looks like the car sat for 8 months because the milage and the service dates show.. I spoke with the previous owner and in 85,000 miles the car never saw more than 2000-2200 rpms, and a majority of those miles was in heavy Atlanta traffic since the lived downtown and worked downtown but on opposite sides. It looks as if servicing the car was no big deal financially because he would just ask for big service packages to be performed such as 15k and three 30k's. Never just an oil change.. so, idk why it doesnt burn oil. I am very thankful it doesn't. I am 1900 miles into this last oil change and the dipstick reads full as the day they changed it. Everything is still original too strangely, even all the bulbs in the car are still Toshiba from Japan..

[EdBwoy]

Seems like it was treated like royalty. Open checkbooks make for very good used cars.

... in 85,000 miles the car never saw more than 2000-2200 rpms...

This might be the biggie here.
The dipstick is a good approximation, but might not tell the whole story. You could try to run longer, say 5,000 miles and see if your level changes at all.

[O5Q45]

Guess I could, but I've been worried if I change up the routine this Q is used too that it may open Pandora's box.. I've even done my best to mimic the 2200 rpm limit. I'd say the electric valve in the duel function muffler hasn't opened much if only by me.. I did punch it from a standstill and whoa, I thought I tore up the road lol.. a couple of times now merging onto I-26 there has been to much acceleration. Also, would anyone think switching to full synthetic would cause seals to change or leak? Or should I continue with Nissan's synthetic blend it's had all its life?

[Q451990]

I definitely think it's a luck-of-the draw thing. Supposedly, Nissan loosened up the engine tolerances to gain horse power. I certainly wouldn't hold it at low RPMs like that... what you might be saving by doing that you're probably getting in carbon build-up. You mentioned I-26... sounds like you're in my neck of the woods.

[O5Q45]

I thought the same thing in reference to carbon buildup. Do guys use seafoam in a vacuum line method with Q's? Honestly the car runs smooth as silk. It's never idled rough or anything. I am wondering if I should pull a plug/coil apparatus out and see if I have the dreaded valve cover gasket issue yet. I have 89,800 miles and I assume that issue is not far off. My 2001 LS430 AND my 2007 Subaru Outback both filled plug tubes with oil.. what gives with the Japanese and these valve cover gaskets??? Is there anything I should avoid doing to prevent the gasket from malforming? Yea I am off I-26 in Johnson City Tn. I drive the Q to Asheville everyday over the mountains and go over Sam's Gap. Not looking forward to the Q in the snow on the mountain.. do all these systems help at all with snow? VDC, slip, and electronic brake dist.. I hope so! We in the same area?

[Q451990]

I'm a couple of hundred miles south of you in Columbia, SC - so when it snows every couple of years we just stay home

I don't think I'd pull anything just to check for problems. If it's as smooth as you say, I'd enjoy it and wait until you replace spark plugs for the first time to find out if you have gasket issues. I don't think there's anything you can do or not do to make gaskets last longer.

[O5Q45]

I come through there twice a year on the way to Myrtle Beach.. traffic always slows a bit there lol.. and it's normally hot as blazes! Yea,, I don't think I want to go looking for trouble.. so I wanted to ask specifically about these gaskets and there failure.. is the oil leakage/seapage only into the plug tubes? Or would I have oil escaping out onto the exterior of the valve cover onto the engine/manifold? What will the car do when this problem becomes critical? Will it be immediate failure and I'll be on the side of the road or will I have ample warning something's not right? I would assume the plugs are sealed and the oil would just sit in the tubes?? Or will it be able to penetrate the coil assembly? Maybe a misfire will begin ..? And lastly, whats the cost on replacing the gasket and will the new one do the same?

[EdBwoy]

is the oil leakage/seapage only into the plug tubes? Or would I have oil escaping out onto the exterior of the valve cover onto the engine/manifold?

In my experience with the vk45de, you will typically see the oil on the exterior of the valve cover if your gasket fails. The tube seals sometimes fail and will let oil into the plug tubes. When the latter happens, there's no cheap or simple fix but to replace the valve cover. Again, not typical, and the valve cover-head seal will go before you have to deal with the tube seals.

What will the car do when this problem becomes critical? Will it be immediate failure and I'll be on the side of the road or will I have ample warning something's not right?

At worst, you ignore the oil leak and run your engine a little low on oil and start a bad chain reaction, but this will only happen if you ignore -> If enough oil seeps thru the valve cover gaskets, it will make it to the exhaust manifold and stink when it's burned.

I would assume the plugs are sealed and the oil would just sit in the tubes?? Or will it be able to penetrate the coil assembly? Maybe a misfire will begin ..?

Oil goes the other way. The space between the head and valve cover will have oil and at pressure it seeps through the tube seals if they have deteriorated. They thus make it past/down the coil pack tubes, but will just pool there since the spark plug has blocked the exit of the tube.

And lastly, whats the cost on replacing the gasket and will the new one do the same?

I have bought sets online at typically 40 bucks per pair. IIRC, oem was about 60 bucks and I would assume the rubber will last just as long as the original leaky one lasted.

But I'd also like to say that the oil consumption was separate from any valve cover gasket maintenance. Even then I don't think vk45s had issues with their valve cover seals.

[O5Q45]

Thank you EdBwoy, I really appreciate the responce- I don't have any indication anything is afoot with the gasket or consumption. I am 2000 miles into this oil and still no indication from the dipstick that any has been consumed. So far my 05 produced 12/04 hasn't experienced ANY of the issues I've read about. Maybe Nissan worked out the bugs, seems 05 and 06 models are a safe bet. I can't believe 1129 were sold.. I found 18 of them in junk yards here on the east coast and also, 7 reported to NHITSA as exported.. I am trying to figure how to insert a photo

[chipahoy]

My 1999 Q45t has 250k and still no oil consumption. white plugs