The oil has been leaking for quite some time. I have already put well over 2k$ into this car which is why I have been holding onto it aside from the reliability factors compared with my last cars.

The oil leak is very small and never requires more than half a qt of oil to be added in between oil changes, Though my parking spot is looking terrible from the accumulated oil.

The problem is I can't tell exactly where its leaking from. I initially thought it was only the valve covers, but included pictures from underneath where its an alarming amount of oil accumulated.

I am not very familiar with these cars, and looking for advice. Can just the valve covers cause this much oil to accumulate in the area? If not what could be leaking along with the valve covers?

I have also included a pic of my transmission, which looks minor, is it something I should be concerned about as well? Or is this normal on these cars?. Thanks







Oil pan Area

Oil pan from the front.

Transmission

 

 

in short.

start with ez things.

for example pressure wash everything and check every day for leaks maybe you'll catch exactly where it's coming from

take the plugs out. if the tubes are oily then do the covers. check that off.

do the front main seal. just take the pulley off that's on ez one.

do the lower pan gasket usually the stock sealant is hard as a rock.

then do the upper if still leaky.

mine was just as dirty and i did all seals except for the rear mean which wasn't leaking but every other seal was.

hows he power steering line? usually those are trashed by that milage.

 

Refrigerator drip pan?? Are you saying its leaking from the pan as well?

 

Naw man, throw one of those under your oil sieve engine so you don't mess up your driveway! It was a joke, but not really. There's too much going on in your photos. Who knows what the problem is. .5qt a month? Yeah, get a pan under it and just keep it topped off with oil. You'll do well if you get another 50k mi out of it then buy a new car. Or, the kinky guy above has a good plan. Go that route if the car means more to you. You'll never figure anything out without a thorough cleaning, though. Post a bunch of pics from above once you get it cleaned.

 

Thanks, I would have to take it to the shop to have it pressure washed.. Unless I Can use a car wash? I should be extra careful to not have water get into my alternator right? I had the tubes checked when I had the coils changed, and I'm for sure its leaking from the front and back.
If I did all of this work myself it would have end up costing about 50$ My biggest concern is that intake plenum over the back of the VQ35, I know it easy to some people, just a first for me.
The power steering line is ok as far as I know, since I have not had any steering issues aside from when I'm turning at a slow speed to park I hear strange rubbing noises from the front end that sound like run on flatulence, It has done that for a long time as well, that wouldn't have anything to do with the power steering line would it?

 

If you're regularly replenishing your power steering fluid, then it is leaking. If not, then the inverse is true.

 

Oh I see,, Once I clean up the mess it has left, I will put some cardboard underneath. It leaks about .5gt's per year, and has done so since 147k. I don't know much about the VQ35's other than what I have heard regarding them lasting well over 300k, the main reason I got one, It's also the limited sports edition, Beautiful car, even after the infiniti dealership scratched it during the free car wash.

 

Not sure how much .5gt's is, but it doesn't sound like enough to worry about. Any car will last you into 300k if it is taken care of. Oil changes are an A list priority. EVERYTHING else is easier if the oil is changed regularly.

Get a bunch of Gunk and a hose and go to town. Be mindful of electronics.

 

I was thinking the same thing, half a quart per year, this is how it looks after 7 years.. I randomly smell it in the cabin, and when I get out of the car. I have used royal purple for the last few years, and thinking of switching to Redline, I doubt it would leak more or less. Most of the accumulated oil is around my alternator, so i think I will leave it alone, or have some professionals do it. I had my alternator changed a year ago, they told me that the oil leak had nothing to do with it. Probably should have told them to pressure wash it then. If I was for sure this leak wouldn't cause any extra problems I wouldn't worry about it at all. I heard that this generation last longer than the newer because of the CVT's

 

Valve cover gaskets (rear leaks a lot, b/c it's cooked more, WILL eventually start a fire if you have cats), oil cooler seal and obviously RMS.

Replace VC gaskets and RTV the tube seals (or drill out tube seals and replace, not worth buying new VCs). Oil cooler seal is a few bucks and a bottle of AT-205 for RMS.

 

so i assume u have tools and stuff.
just buy the valve cover gasket set and do the front and maybe you'll be comfortable enough to start on the rear.
you'll need an intake gasket and throttle body gasket too. the actual hard part is getting a wrench back there to undo the bracket that
goes to the intake. after you take that off just leave it off you don't need it.

just so you get an idea on what you're looking at.
allot of stuff you have to disconnect first but it's not allot of bolts.

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/156811228@N08/, on Flickr

 

No need to ever replace the IM gaskets unless yours is trashed and leaks. TB isn't touched.

 

What's up with the toilet pic?

 

Yea that makes since for the rear valve cover to leak the most, Im hoping most of the oil that is accumulated in the driveway is from the oil cooler seal since that is the easiest fix. My transmission fluid has been at the same level since I have owned the car, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to throw in a bottle of AT-205, wished it was something made like that for the valve covers. But I will do the front first, that's after I fix the oil cooler seal. Thanks for your input

 

Wow that looks like a challenging job.. Did you have to remove the intake as well? On my car the intake blocks the rear valve cover which I hate. I plan on doing the oil cooler seal then the front, I think that's where the majority of the oil underneath my car is coming from.

 

it just takes time because you have to basically take all vac lines off breather hose air intake hose.
but after that just unbolt the egt flange behind the throttle body and the 8 or whatever bolts that hold the intake down.
i think that's why i took the throttle body off maybe the 2002+ you don't have to do that but it's all just un hooking stuff and remember
where they all go again. take allot of pictures i guess.

 

It's easy on the 3.5.