Bad Struts and engine sludge

[GrahamPhotog]

I just took my car in to a Nissan dealership for routine service. The Infinity Dealership is 30 miles away. Anyway, I have a 2000 Q45 with 124K miles on it. The service manager told me that I need new struts at a cost of $3,200 plus I have sludge in the engine. They checked that because my check engine light had been going on and off intermittently.

Is there a way of removing the sludge if it's not too bad? I'm not sure how it got there because I never go more than 5K miles between oil changes. I do use one of those quickie lube places from time to time, and they use Pennzoil. I have read that Pennzoil sometimes causes sludge. I also read that using synthetic oil and changing it every 500 miles for a couple of months will sometimes do the trick of removing the sludge. Any suggestions would be welcome.

The other issue was that they said I needed 4 new struts costing $3,200! The 2000 model has electronically controlled struts which apparently are very expensive. I'm going to get a second opinion at the Infinity dealership. In the meantime, are there are any less expensive fixes for struts that have gone bad?

Thanks in advance.

[Infinitiguy19]

How did the dealer come to the conclusion of sludge in the engine through the On Board Diagnostic 2 reader?

Dealerships are there to make money like every other company in world. Sadly that means that they will do what ever it takes to get that money, lying included.

You can try a BG Quick clean for the engine (red can who's contents go in the engine fill hole) thats only available at the dealer. but if you do indeed have sludge you do have to attack the problem gently. Q45Tech and Goody90Q45 suggest Marvel Mystery Oil, I on the other hand am against it.

[GrahamPhotog]

The dealership ran a diagnostic check using some kind of reader. Not sure exactly what. I'm going to drive up to the nearest Infinity dealership next week, and just bring it in for an oil change (I will have them put in synthetic), and I will mention that the check engine light has been going on and off, and that I would like them to run their usual diagnostic check. If they tell me the same about the sludge and the struts then I will know that Nisan was giving me the straight scoop, and that I will need to replace this car in the very near future.

[Q451990]

to NICO!

I would be very surprised if sludge would cause any OBDII code. It'll be interesting to see what the Infiniti dealer says. You mentioned 5K oil changes - but what was the interval? There's a big difference between 5K oil changes for a garage queen that sees 2500 miles of use a year, and a car that's driven 20K per yer and gets a change every three months!

And not to belabor the point - but


Heath

[loystock]

Sludge is more common with 04 and earlier models from Toyota-Lexus, VW-Audi, Chrysler-Dodge, Saab and Hyundai but not from Infiniti/Nissan. Even some BMWs have had sludge issues but more due to extended OCI.

Your struts are most likely due for replacement. And each one is @ $200 from IoS. Of course there are other parts that need to be replaced but $3200 seems a high price to pay. Give NICO sponsor IoS (Infiniti of Scottsdale) a call for advice on suspension components commonly replaced in your car (link below). You can also do a search within the forum.

http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/partloc ... atalogid=0

[OwnerCS]

Welcome to the club. Where are you located? We may have an affiliate from the club in your area that will treat you RIGHT and save you some $$$.

I've got a vehicle with over 100,000 miles where the oil is changed (maintenance minder recommended) between 5,000 and 6,000 miles -- in great shape -- no sludge.

I would get some second opinions.

[GrahamPhotog]

Thanks for all the replies folks. I live in St. Augustine, Florida which is in the northeastern part of the state just south of Jacksonville. I drive about 12K a year, and most of the time I have had he oil changed every 3K miles, but never beyond 5K. I have always done a lot of preventative maintenance, and so this double whammy came as a shock. If there are some local members that I could contact that would be great.

[OwnerCS]

IMHO - One of the best places to get a Q serviced (in the US) is in Atlanta area. Check out the following link.

http://www.t3automotive.com/

The T3 owner is a legend within the Q community.

[GrahamPhotog]

Thanks I appreciate the referral to T3. My daughter lives near Roswell, and I am going up there to visit her later this month. Perhaps I can have them check out my car at the same time.

[Poyzinous]

Your Q is one of these:

[paranoidjack]

Graham,

I've done all this work on my 2000 AE q45. I also detailed the parts required and installation process here:

anniversary-edition-suspension-overhaul ... 23222.html

Good luck. That price is either a) Waaay too high, or b) including replacement of other parts at the same time (which is a good idea). Tie rods, all bushings, etc....

[GrahamPhotog]

Your car is the same color as mine although your body looks to be in better condition. I brought the car to my local Infinity dealer today and they told me that the struts were fine and there was no indication of any engine sludge. Some belts needed replacing which the other place had not alerted me to. I have made a complaint to the service manager at the Nissan dealership. I have also found out that my old Jaguar mechanic has since taken training on the Japanese cars, and he will be my mechanic going forward.

[Poyzinous]

Graham, Please. You drive an Infiniti.
There's no Y in the vehicle name, just the word meaning 'endless, infinite, without end'

[GrahamPhotog]

Graham, Please. You drive an Infiniti.
There's no Y in the vehicle name, just the word meaning 'endless, infinite, without end'

I know, darned spell checker!