Oil leak problem
 

Well members its been a while since I have posted about this problem..... But I have still have an oil leak problem. This is what I have done so far

1. Cleaned old pan and replace silicone - still leaking

2. Cleaned old pan and replace silicone - still leaking

3. New pan and silicone - still leaking

4. Replaced oil cooler o-ring - still leaking

It leaks when the car is parked and over night I will have a spot the size of a baseball and golf ball.

Any suggestions would great.

Thanks

You sure it is coming from the oil pan instead of other sources, like the rear main seal?

well its on the side of the oil pan.... i know that doesn't mean much as oil can travel to where ever on the car then drip..... but it pretty consistent.

I have also thought about the oil pressure switch....maybe?

rear valve cover?

Can't imagine why this has not been said before, so I'll say it now:

:worthless

I would clean everything and try to catch the oil leaking red-handed.

Ok after a long wait here are some before cleaning and after cleaning pics. Please look and tell me what you think I am still thinking the oil cooler O-ring is bad even after replacing it once. ITS FOR SURE NOT THE UPPER GASKET!!!!!

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_0159.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_0146.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_0144.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_0153.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_0155.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_0152.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_0160.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_0162.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/IMG_0166.jpg

Front main seal (although I seem to recall some sort of bronze washer rather than a typical rubber seal). It seems to come from above the oil cooler.

Also, is this coolant hose torn?

http://i28.tinypic.com/2qunl8k.jpg

Now that it's clean, you have to wait for it to start leaking again. Would hazard an early guess of the front main seal. You should take it for a drive, let it sit for 1/2 an hour and check. Post new pics after the drive.

Its clean right above the cooler:)

No the hose is not torn

I forgot the name of them but its have you checked the selonoid beside the rear valve cover??? Both of mines was busted and I thought it was the oil pan but it wasn't... no to condole speeding but try flooring the car and see if it smokes at a certain speed... I don't remember what the name of the part is but its like an oil pressure selonoid...

No it doesn't smoke at all!

Neither did mines... it only smoked at WOT inn the middle of 3rd... driving regular only had me thinking the oil pan was leaking... anyways check those out

Ok after coming out this morning and looking and this is what I see! everything is dry but the cooler....

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...MG_01852-1.jpg

So what do you think now?

I think it's ironic that a 5.5 gen is losing oil through leakage.

exactly

Yea, that helps him.
There is an O ring behind the oil cooler. I'd start by removing the cooler to see whats going on. Might get away with just replacing the O ring.

Do this again.

For starters I'd pressure wash your engine bay to clean everything, then start the engine and see what starts to leak and where.

x2, make sure you clean all surfaces before reinstalling.

OK installed a in oil o-ring and that did the trick....;)

I removed the old one and it looks like it twisted on installation.... I have to give big ups to a .org member that said to just remove the 2 cooler lines and that made it easy as pie and I lost zero coolant!

Thanks again

if you just unbolt the coolant hard line, you dont have to disconnect anything.

Yep that's what I did:p

Oil leak resolved!

i had that same prob for a month and it drove me crazy. changed the oil cooler o-ring and the leak was gone.

Thank god for these forums, I have the same leak! I'll be fixing it soon!

Mine is leaking at the same spot. How much is this gasket?

like $3

Is this o-ring behind the part that the filter mounts to? If so, how do you get it off?

Drain oil and optionally the coolant, remove oil filter and remove the bolt the oil filter attaches to. I did it myself no problem, just clean the hell out of everything before reinstall. You also have to disconnect the coolant lines to the oil cooler. Be prepared to catch the coolant.

Got it. Thanks!

.....I had a chuckle as well.....

"I love the smell of burnt oil from a VQ in the morning!" :D

Glad the OP got that fixed....i would have guessed main seal.
Didn't know there was an o-ring at the filter junction.


gr

dont worry about draining or catching any coolant, just unbolt the 2 bolts holding the hardline on.

Also I believe the oil cooler bolt is a 22mm

I think mine is leaking here too. Where do you get the o-ring. Dealer says they don't have it.

Call DaveB at 888-254-6060 mention maxima.org forums to get the discount.

Thanks str8max,vastmax and all others for this post. I had this leak for some time,no one figured out where the leak was from but because of you guys leak is gone now.
Thanks.

I was told by DaveB that this leak only happens to 3.5 'cause the 3.0 doesn't have an oil cooler.

I have a leak around th same area ... I wonder where this leak is coming from ...

good to know...another reason to love the 3.0!

Just got around to doing my oil cooler o-ring. Pretty easy! As vastmax said, I unbolted the two brackets that hold the coolant hard lines. This gives you enough play to remove the cooler enough tho replace the o-ring without disconnecting the hoses.. What is weird, is that when I went to the dealer, they said they had no listing for the 0-ring. They showed me the picture on their computer and it indicated that they only sold the cooler as a unit for $226. I told him that that was rediculous and that I know from the forum that the part exists. I went home and got the part number from this thread. Called the dealer with the number and he says he has two in stock. I asked how that could be possible, and he tells me that those o-rings are probably used in other vehicles too, but not available for a 2002 Maxima. I said that's either a rip off trying to get you to buy the whole unit or just plain stupid. Anyway, no more oil leak thatks to this forum.

I need to check my car as I have a nasty oil leak. I have oil on the a/c compressor and alternator. I was told by mechanic it is the timing cover. I have replaced the oil pan gasket. This problem started after a oil change by walmart. Im guessing they over filled the motor. I have cleaned my motor, and now my belt makes a funny sound...

Thanks for the above info...

I too started with the oil pan gasket. I suggest everyone that has leaks similar to this start with the oil cooler oring.