The oil was changed on our 1998 Nissan Sentra GXE on 10/19/05. When my uncle was installing new brake pads last Wednesday we noticed the car was leaking oil. When we checked the oil level it was below the minimum line and it took 1.5 quarts to bring it back up to the full line. Yesterday we took the car back to Jiffy Lube and asked them to double check their work to make sure that it wasn't something they did wrong. Everything was ok but they did say that there was oil all over the pan but it didn't look like the oil pan was damaged. Possibly the front crank seal or oil pan gasket? About how much does that kind of repair run?
Also, when we had the oil changed on 10/19 there was no oil leak. Jiffy Lube did tell us that the car was burning oil and suggested putting in a high mileage oil (I believe it was 10W30). Would changing the type of oil damage a seal?
its the front main seal. there is the sticky at the top of the page.
You were absolutely correct it is the front crank seal. Firestone is also telling us that it is the timing cover seal and oil pan gasket leaking as well. Their estimate was about $1,532 to repair all of the leaks. Yikes! Fortunately I know someone that does engine work and he'll most likely make the repairs for much, much less. I know the 98 Sentra has a timing chain, so if oil is leaking on that chain is the risk of damage the same as it would be if it was a timing belt? I need to know how risky it is to drive this car at the moment. The oil is being checked daily and being kept at the full line.
You were absolutely correct it is the front crank seal. Firestone is also telling us that it is the timing cover seal and oil pan gasket leaking as well. Their estimate was about $1,532 to repair all of the leaks. Yikes! Fortunately I know someone that does engine work and he'll most likely make the repairs for much, much less. I know the 98 Sentra has a timing chain, so if oil is leaking on that chain is the risk of damage the same as it would be if it was a timing belt? I need to know how risky it is to drive this car at the moment. The oil is being checked daily and being kept at the full line.
Well if anything is leaking, its prolly just a bad VC gasket 20 dollar fix. And your oilpan really doesn't have a gasket, its just RTV sealant
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by hendrix
I can't wait until Hurrican Jamal sweeps up the east coast and steals the wheels and stero out of your car
You were absolutely correct it is the front crank seal. Firestone is also telling us that it is the timing cover seal and oil pan gasket leaking as well. Their estimate was about $1,532 to repair all of the leaks. Yikes! Fortunately I know someone that does engine work and he'll most likely make the repairs for much, much less. I know the 98 Sentra has a timing chain, so if oil is leaking on that chain is the risk of damage the same as it would be if it was a timing belt? I need to know how risky it is to drive this car at the moment. The oil is being checked daily and being kept at the full line.
I know for a fact that the FMS and the Oil Pan "gasket" can be repaired a hell of a lot less than 1,532.. Front Main seal is $7 at your local nissan dealership, and RTV sealant is probably a couple bucks from your local auto store. $1,532 is a total ripoff.
Well if anything is leaking, its prolly just a bad VC gasket 20 dollar fix. And your oilpan really doesn't have a gasket, its just RTV sealant
I'm thinking that Firestone is trying to rip us off. I really need to find a reliable, trustworthy mechanic in my area. This is ridiculous. I expected that it would be the front crank seal but I'm very skeptical about the other things they are mentioning. Seems shady to me. I'll have to get this car to our family friend who does engine work and have him take a look to see what the real deal is, I just hate asking favors of friends and family but I can see that it is necessary because we obviously can't trust these shops.
I know for a fact that the FMS and the Oil Pan "gasket" can be repaired a hell of a lot less than 1,532.. Front Main seal is $7 at your local nissan dealership, and RTV sealant is probably a couple bucks from your local auto store. $1,532 is a total ripoff.
Oh yea, they are trying to slam us with roughly $900 in labor which is ridiculous and I know those parts do not cost $600! We'll be picking up the parts ourselves and getting a family friend to do the work.
I know for a fact that the FMS and the Oil Pan "gasket" can be repaired a hell of a lot less than 1,532.. Front Main seal is $7 at your local nissan dealership, and RTV sealant is probably a couple bucks from your local auto store. $1,532 is a total ripoff.
rtv is $8 at autozone
__________________
I have a set of headlights tail lights and corners for sale none are yellowed
Well if anything is leaking, its prolly just a bad VC gasket 20 dollar fix. And your oilpan really doesn't have a gasket, its just RTV sealant
Since this car has a chain is there any reason for concern in driving this car until we can get it fixed? I know with a belt there are risks to the engine but is that still a concern with a chain? It may be a week or so before our family friend can fix the car so I just want to make sure that continuing to drive the Sentra to work is not going to be a major issue as long as oil is kept in it.
Since this car has a chain is there any reason for concern in driving this car until we can get it fixed? I know with a belt there are risks to the engine but is that still a concern with a chain? It may be a week or so before our family friend can fix the car so I just want to make sure that continuing to drive the Sentra to work is not going to be a major issue as long as oil is kept in it.
there shouldn't be a worry.. try to clean the motor, run it for a bit after you clean it and see where the oil is coming from.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by hendrix
I can't wait until Hurrican Jamal sweeps up the east coast and steals the wheels and stero out of your car
We have the same car as mentioned in this thread which has about 75000 miles on it.
While looking for the source of a high pitched noise coming from the engine, I noticed that there was an oil film in the following places:
1) On the front vertical surface of the oil pan, directly under the main crank pulley.
2) Along the most of the channel where the dozen or so bolts that hold the oil pan to the block are found. The bottom surface of the pan is clean.
3) In one and only one of the alternator V-Belt grooves. The corresponding groove in each pulley is also wet.
4) The bottom of the Power Steering mounting bracket. The pump itself is clean.
5) The bottom of the AC compressor mounting bracket. The compressor itself is clean.
6) The oil pressure sensor which is located about an inch or two above the oil filter. The outer surface of the oil filter is clean.
7) Some oil sprayed onto the passenger side drive shaft.
8) Some oil sprayed onto the power steering pump metal hydraulic lines.
Otherwise, all pulleys are clean and the alternator is also clean.
At some point oil must have arrived on the back surface of the crank pulley and got thrown off on all directions by centrifugal force. All objects in line with this pulley's flange appear to have been hit by the mist. Wind passing around the motor when the car is in motion must have also forced the oil film to travel in unexpected directions.
Ironically, the oil level in the pan has not gone down and there are only about a dozen 1" diameter oil spots on the driveway, no more than a few drops per spot.
It is impossible for me to see behind the crank pulley to see if there is a similar oil film there due to a leaking front seal.
I am at a loss to explain where this oil is coming from, but the spots on the drive way appear to be new. My wife took this car recently on a 20 hour non-stop trip up many long hills at 70 mph in 2nd gear, so I know that the engine had a good work out.
My theory is it is either a leaky oil pan gasket or a leaky front seal. But I can't see how this oil could end up wetting the heads of most of the oil pan bolts, while leaving the bottom of the oil pan clean and dry (only the front vertical surface of the oil pan is wet).
We have the same car as mentioned in this thread which has about 75000 miles on it.
While looking for the source of a high pitched noise coming from the engine, I noticed that there was an oil film in the following places:
1) On the front vertical surface of the oil pan, directly under the main crank pulley.
2) Along the most of the channel where the dozen or so bolts that hold the oil pan to the block are found. The bottom surface of the pan is clean.
3) In one and only one of the alternator V-Belt grooves. The corresponding groove in each pulley is also wet.
4) The bottom of the Power Steering mounting bracket. The pump itself is clean.
5) The bottom of the AC compressor mounting bracket. The compressor itself is clean.
6) The oil pressure sensor which is located about an inch or two above the oil filter. The outer surface of the oil filter is clean.
7) Some oil sprayed onto the passenger side drive shaft.
8) Some oil sprayed onto the power steering pump metal hydraulic lines.
Otherwise, all pulleys are clean and the alternator is also clean.
At some point oil must have arrived on the back surface of the crank pulley and got thrown off on all directions by centrifugal force. All objects in line with this pulley's flange appear to have been hit by the mist. Wind passing around the motor when the car is in motion must have also forced the oil film to travel in unexpected directions.
Ironically, the oil level in the pan has not gone down and there are only about a dozen 1" diameter oil spots on the driveway, no more than a few drops per spot.
It is impossible for me to see behind the crank pulley to see if there is a similar oil film there due to a leaking front seal.
I am at a loss to explain where this oil is coming from, but the spots on the drive way appear to be new. My wife took this car recently on a 20 hour non-stop trip up many long hills at 70 mph in 2nd gear, so I know that the engine had a good work out.
My theory is it is either a leaky oil pan gasket or a leaky front seal. But I can't see how this oil could end up wetting the heads of most of the oil pan bolts, while leaving the bottom of the oil pan clean and dry (only the front vertical surface of the oil pan is wet).
Has anyone seen this same oil pattern before?
Thanks
i cant remember exactly how mine looked now but this sounds just like when my front crank seal went. same milage too !!
my front crank seal went out around 100 thousand miles or less. usually that where it is leaking from and the seal is really cheap but getting the pulley out and such can be a bit of a pain. but with the proper tools and know how it shouldnt be too bad.
i cant remember exactly how mine looked now but this sounds just like when my front crank seal went. same milage too !!
The consensus seems to be that if oil leaks from the front seal, it can end up on most of the surfaces that I listed above.
In the case of a leak in the oil pan gasket, it is easy to explain how oil starting out at the junction of the pan and block can end up wetting most of the horizontal pan channel and all of the pan's vertical front wall, but it is harder to explain how this same oil could jump across the 1/8" gap to land on the rear flange of the crank pulley, from where it is easily flung all over the place. It is easier for oil from a front seal leak to jump the same 1/8" distance, but by travelling in the opposite direction from the pulley flange to the oil pan.
Knowing how the air flows around the engine when the car is going 60 mph would help explain a lot of this.
I am ready to clean off all of these oily surfaces and insert some UV light sensitive dye in the oil reservoir so that I can better track the flow.
Last edited by montreal-1 : Sep 23rd, 2006 at 09:41 AM.
Honestly, I wouldn't waste too much time doing that. Just replace your crankshaft seal. It is THE most common seal to go on our cars. This is why the thread you have been posting in was made a sticky thread. I would go through about 1 quart every week and a half to two weeks. Replaced the crank seal and not a single drop on the ground since.
Linear Mode
