G35 OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE- POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION SUIT

[viperdoc]

I am not a g35 owner- yet- In doing my research on the car ( either an 05 or 06) I was looking on multiple g35 sites to get info/problems/opinions from current owner. I came across an oil consumption issue that I read mentioned briefly on this site, but thought I would continue to spread the info, because what I am hearing is very ALARMING!

The basics- for VQ engines in both G35s and 350Zs, mainly MT transmissions, there is a KNOWN oil usage problem- apparently to both consumers and NISSAN. It apparently due to poor piston rings. The real issue is that all of sudden, the engine will start consuming oil, so fast in fact that there have been numerous accounts of the engine running totally dry in as little as 2-3k miles. The damage that ensues to the engine necessitates a whole new motor. Not only is this a big issue in and of itself, but because NISSAN and its dealers know about it, they are trying to search for reasons not to repair it on warranty. THey have apparently denied warrantied repairs (or at least tried) due to "modifications" to include ONLY intake and exhaust systems.

Some members on other sites have actually been able to get a new motor in their car but after only 3k miles, have had the SAME PROBLEM! again, this is an inherent issue with the motor. This is not- as another member put it on this forum- due to negligence by the owner of the car. You should not have to add 1qt of oil to your cars every 1000 miles- I don't care how big the engine is. The corvette had this issue in 2001, but was fixed by using different piston rings. Why NISSAN has not fixed this is beyond me....oh...but wait....the new engine in the g37 and 2007 sedan is "80% new". This issue may be a reason ( at least a part of it).

The reason I am spreading this is because this issue can come up SUDDENLY. and the effects can be horrible. I want a g35 so badly, but this is honestly making me very wary. So beware- and check your oil often. If you have not had any problems, great, but if you notice an issue, take it into your dealer ASAP. and make sure you have documentation that you followed the recommended maintenence schedule.

No other major engines have this issue, and NISSAN loves to tout that the VQ is a tried and tested engine, but as one member put it "being told that I had total engine failure at 20K miles on my new 2006 g35 coupe that cost $40K, due to excess oil usage is not acceptable."

[G_whizz]

Where did you see this...

[viperdoc]

the longest thread is on g35driver.com. But I also saw quite a few members talking about it on http://www.6mt.net

Here is the site for G35driverhttp://g35driver.com/forums/sh...10973Hopefully that will take you there.

[Q45tech]

My MY a brand new poster hypeing two other sites in his second post.How GAUCHE.

"The reason I am spreading this is because this issue can come up SUDDENLY. and the effects can be horrible"..................................

Suddenly? We have been discussing this since 2002 when the redesign [power up] was first used.

So far Nissan has been easy about replacing the few hundred engines that exceed the INDUSTRY NORM of 1 quart per 1,000 miles.

What one wants as oil consumption and what one gets and what is legally too much is often another matter.

[viperdoc]

Yeaaaaaahhhhhh... that is exactly what I am doing. Do with the info what you want. I couldn't care less about where you spend your online time. Silly me for thinking this info could actually be valuable to some else who is car enthusiast. Jeez....

[G_whizz]

Hey Q...he only answered me because I asked where he got the info!

[AZhitman]

Dennis is right, it has been a topic of great discussion.

Has anyone set up a centralized database to compile this info? Or is it just a bunch of G owners whining? Are attorneys involved yet? The implication is that there are (class action), yet I don't see any mention of a firm accepting the case.

We're good at organizing such matters here, one of our strengths.

[viperdoc]

My MY a brand new poster hypeing two other sites in his second post.How GAUCHE.

"The reason I am spreading this is because this issue can come up SUDDENLY. and the effects can be horrible"..................................

Suddenly? We have been discussing this since 2002 when the redesign [power up] was first used.

So far Nissan has been easy about replacing the few hundred engines that exceed the INDUSTRY NORM of 1 quart per 1,000 miles.

What one wants as oil consumption and what one gets and what is legally too much is often another matter.

Well then, sorry for not being up on it as much as you are. I have been looking into this car for the past year, and just now became aware of it. I guess it just struck me odd that such an expensive car would have this kind of issue. But.... whatever I guess, since i am not offering anything new.

[Q45tech]

Nissan has been preemptive of a successful class action suit:By setting up a defined limit and replacing those few hundred engines [out of multi hundreds of thousand sold] that exceed this limit.

Only rejecting those claims where owners didn't follow the 2 simple requirements [documented oil changes and document additional fills] or modified the engines in any material way.

Notice the wording in the warranty document.

After all even 70 quarts of oil is not a serious financial loss.

Maybe class action owners will get lucky and Nissan will deliver the 3 cases of oil by UPS.

Toyota/Lexus did finally buckle and extend the sludge warranty life of engines.

"The agreement will allow consumers whose claims have been denied by Toyota to submit those claims to a third-party mediator at no cost for binding arbitration. "

"The agreement provides owners of sludge-damaged Toyotas eight years plus 120 days from the original purchase date to file a complaint. "

Still the independent mediator must agree whose fault it is!

[G_whizz]

Great info...Thanks Q

[Rooster Cogburn]

I'm having the exact issue with my 06 g35 MT. They replaced the engine at 3k miles, and it started doing it again 3k miles later.

Now they added oil to it and told me to wait for the fix to come out for the engine. Any advice on what i should do now?

[Rooster Cogburn]

Wow, an infiniti tech defending the manufacters known defect,

how gauche!

And its great they replace the engine with another engine that has the same defect, great quality assurance.

My MY a brand new poster hypeing two other sites in his second post.How GAUCHE.

"The reason I am spreading this is because this issue can come up SUDDENLY. and the effects can be horrible"..................................

Suddenly? We have been discussing this since 2002 when the redesign [power up] was first used.

So far Nissan has been easy about replacing the few hundred engines that exceed the INDUSTRY NORM of 1 quart per 1,000 miles.

What one wants as oil consumption and what one gets and what is legally too much is often another matter.

Modified by Rooster Cogburn at 8:40 AM 4/3/2007

[G_whizz]

Keep on them...weekly, daily..etc.

Tell them you want a copy of whatever they are putting down in your file...of all your complaints and responses...get it ALL in writing to be on the safe side

[kmech_7]

Funny? If its realy a piston ring problem how come i dont see any people with autos having the problem. the engine is the same!! the only diff is the transmission and computer program. this would be happening in both, unless....people are over-reving thier engines and damaging the rings. This would cause any engine to have this problem. But, doesnt the manual G/Z also have the rev limiter? hmm.......

lil fishy?

[infinititech1]

i don't think we ever denied any claims because of intake and exhaust mods. lol at one time we had like 4 short blocks sittin out back

[viperdoc]

i don't think we ever denied any claims because of intake and exhaust mods. lol at one time we had like 4 short blocks sittin out back

Infinititech1- Ok, so I understand that not all engines have this problem, and it probably only affects a small percentage of motors in these cars. Someone above alluded to a "fix" by nissan. Is this something that is actually going to happen for those motors affected by this issue? Obviously the only reason I ask is that I want to know if I shell out $38K for this car, and something is wrong (which I TOTALLY understand happens from time to time!!) that there is something that can be done so that I am not having to repeatedly face the same issue after they swap engines out, or add oil, or I change my driving habits, etc.

Sorry if I annoyed anyone with starting this thread- after all I don't even own a g35 yet. But I figured this is the best venue to get reliable information about the car. But when you hear people saying that their motors have had to be replaced after only 3-4K miles, isn't it understandable that some people might get really nervous?

Thanks for everyones input. I will still buy a G in the coming months, but whether it is a 35 or 37.... will have to see.

[G_whizz]

Your info was appreciated! And it was an honest attempt to get to some valuable info. before you purchase. Always a smart thing to do!

Nothing wrong with a little "controversy" once in awhile

I can honestly say I have had no problem with oil consumption in my G. Now..gas consumption is another story...still trying to figure that one out. I had my "Schrader Valve" (I think thats how you spell it) replaced recently.

Some would say it's a heavy foot...but not sure yet!

Anyways, be sure to let us know when you pick up your toy!

Hopefully you weren't scared off

[lsena04G]

Thanks for the info Vipor. I own a G and I wasn't aware - until now. I'm not worried about it but it's good to know. I've tried to ask questions on this site before and people love to run you into the ground if you're not in the know like they are. I guess they feel everyone should be a know it all like them. thanks again.

[G_whizz]

OUCH Isena!!

That comment kinda caught me off guard?? I just searched every post you ever created or asked a question on as it concerned me... the only post you ever created where someone "flamed" you a bit was on that Vortex question. And that was in good fun.

I think everyone here..aside from the odd few (like every forum) is very helpful and respectful of eachother.

Your comments are un-founded..

[Q45tech]

Let the buyer beware and an EDUCATED CONSUMER are 2 well known mantras that apply to everything including new cars.

I know before I spent $38k on a car I would spend 40 hours researching it and download or somehow secure the FSM and study TSB and buy a master tech lunch at a dealership asking him if he would buy the car model if he was spending his life savings.

[lsena04G]

That's your opinion whiz. Your good fun is not taken the same by all. Also, i'm not just referring to myself. Did you search EVERY post on this site? There are many people here with legit questions and a lot of times they are responded to with ccondescending remarks. When we all become know-it-alls, we will not need this site anymore. Until then, we should all be respectful and considerate of everyone's level of knowledge - on any subjects. I'm pretty new to this site as you can see, however, just because you have twenty-thousand posts doesn't give you say on founded or unfounded opinions.

[G_whizz]

Your comment is the FIRST I have ever seen in the G forum that says people here run you into the ground for not being educated. If that was the case then the big cheese on this site (AzHitman) would step in. I have never belittled anyone here.

You weren't stating your opinion..you we're making an unjust remark.

And my post count is under 1000 BTW.

Anyways, I refuse to banter back and forth on this with you..so we'll leave it at that...

[redhed]

can anyone tell me what the heck a "shrader valve" is?

[G_whizz]

http://autorepair.about.com/cs...a.htm

Think of when you are fuelling your car and the pump keeps shutting off before your car is full...I believe that is due to a faulty Schrader Valve

[Q45tech]

The air valve on wheels is a type of S valve.............commonly used to test pressures [air, fuel, and AC] where pressures don't exceed 250 psi normally.

[BigWill]

Your comment is the FIRST I have ever seen in the G forum that says people here run you into the ground for not being educated. If that was the case then the big cheese on this site (AzHitman) would step in. I have never belittled anyone here.

You weren't stating your opinion..you we're making an unjust remark.

And my post count is under 1000 BTW.

Anyways, I refuse to banter back and forth on this with you..so we'll leave it at that...

Hey Sean... I get what Isena was trying to say, albeit not so eloquently. There have been responses to posts that were a bit 'flamy' by people who have some knowledge about our cars. Whether that is because the individuals responding are a bit exhausted by what they might consider the ignorance of others, or maybe reacting to what they deem an incorrect statement, based on emotion... or simple lack of interpersonal social skills... or just that the individual speaks their mind on all things.

It is a simple issue of approach, and it does not happen that often. It has happened to me... but only once, and it could have actually been my misunderstanding. Just a matter of the fact that it is easy to mistake someones demeanor, or intent when reading the written word. There is no way to determine someone's state of mind... whether they are joking, saying what is on their mind without filtering, or actually being rude.

I would just say to Isena that it is simple human nature. You gotta let the stuff roll off your back... or actually confront the individual to find out what the intent was. Either way... there are a LOT of people here with a LOT of differing opinions and attitudes. Conflict is gonna happen.

Can't we all just get along??

[telcoman]

SCHRADER VALVE

Definition: A type of valve fitting that opens when depressed. Schrader valves are used in tire valve stems, on air conditioning hoses and on the fuel rails of many fuel injection systems.

Telcoman

[telcoman]

I am a 2006 G35 6sp manual Sedan owner with 24k miles. Yes I was surprised that my G35 uses oil. The past two thousand miles it only used one quart. The oil consumption seems to be improving as the total mileage on the vehicle has increased. I check my oil weekly and change it myself every three thousand miles. I would advise every G35 owner to do the same. Monitor your oil level closely. My old 74 Mazda RX4 Rotary Engine also used oil because an oil metering pump used to drip oil to lubricate the engine seals.Just because an engine uses a little oil is not a sufficient reason to not buy the car. Oil is cheap.

The Infiniti is a fantastic automoble and I love mine.

Telcoman

[redhed]

thanks for the definition. i'm still wondering how this would affect fuel mileage signficantly if not operating correctly; and NOT cause a service engine soon light...?

[BigWill]

http://autorepair.about.com/cs...a.htm

Think of when you are fuelling your car and the pump keeps shutting off before your car is full...I believe that is due to a faulty Schrader Valve

That's interesting Sean... I have had that happen a couple of times to me, which was causing me to think that maybe there was something wrong with my car. It didn't occur to me to think that it would be the pump failing.