oil disapears! help!

sicksilver99 · Feb 7th, 2006, 06:02 PM

Since i changed my oil last fall i started losing oil and i didnt know why. my car didnt seem to be burning oil and i checked for leaks, but i lost like a quart every month.that was the first time i used a fram oil filter, and also my auto teacher said that fram oil filters are so good at filtering that if they have bypass valves the oil bypasses the filter most of the time. so i thought it was the filter and i changed my oil a month ago using an stp filter. the oil didnt disapear until yesterday i noticed about a 1/4 of a quart was gone. its not as bad as before but its still a problem. whats going on? how can i tell if my car is burning oil?, and what should i do?

79kz400 · Feb 7th, 2006, 09:56 PM

There is a rectangular oil seal inside the valve cover that is a known cause for this. I cannot find the old post but if you search "oil" in this section of this forum you might find it, the post was last used about 3 months ago. It has the dealer part# in the post so you don't have to guess. I paid just under $6 @ the dealer.

The seal measures about 1" x 2" and is rectangular in shape.

JeenYus · Feb 8th, 2006, 12:37 AM

Really common problem with this engine is the front seal leaking. I'm not sure it could come on as quick as it seems to from you or not. A good way to check if you're burning oil is to look at your tailpipe. If it's got a lot of black soot like stuff, you might be burning oil, if it's clean, you probably aren't. Again, that's a pretty crude way to check, but can be a start.

sicksilver99 · Feb 8th, 2006, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79kz400

There is a rectangular oil seal inside the valve cover that is a known cause for this. I cannot find the old post but if you search "oil" in this section of this forum you might find it, the post was last used about 3 months ago. It has the dealer part# in the post so you don't have to guess. I paid just under $6 @ the dealer.

The seal measures about 1" x 2" and is rectangular in shape.

i found that section and the part number. how can i tell if that seal is bad? if this seal is bad then where does the oil go?

i'm definitely not leaking oil cause i park in the garage and there is nothing on the floor.

79kz400 · Feb 8th, 2006, 08:57 PM

good find!
When I started this post I assumed that the newer GA16DE has the same seal as my '91 B-13 sentra. Someone correct me if i'm wrong on this one.

I don't really know where the oil goes. I guess that it enters an intake valve and is burned.

Only way I know to find out if its bad would be to take the valve cover off and look at the seal. If its all @$%&@'ed up or looks funky replace it.
Mine was sort of squished/wrinkled in the middle but in decent shape overall. Some members are reporting that the seal was all rotten and came off in chunks.

You may consider replacing the valve cover seal while you're there if your motor is nice and clean.

Hit up the $tealership. While you're there save yourself some time and price a new front main seal. Yep. I know yours dosn't leak... yet. AutoZone wanted $44 and the local dealer got me the part for $6.85. Dealer's prices may vary.

Would you please post a link to the thread you found the part# on?

**wes** · Feb 8th, 2006, 10:03 PM

Fram makes the WORST filters around. Your shop teacher is wrong about them being good. I would't put one on ANY motor I own, my lawnmower included. Use an OEM or a WIX filter.

SuperSentra4203 · Feb 8th, 2006, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wes

Fram makes the WORST filters around. Your shop teacher is wrong about them being good. I would't put one on ANY motor I own, my lawnmower included. Use an OEM or a WIX filter.

I agree, Fram sucks. When I worked for Advance Auto Parts, Honeywell (Fram's parent company) sent us a warning about Fram filter being used on certain vehicles, such as Nissan, Toyota, and newer Chrystlers. I always stuck with either AC Delco (for my Grand Prixs) Purolator Pure-One (for my Nissans and DSM) and Mobil 1 (for my Trans Am).

sicksilver99 · Feb 9th, 2006, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wes

Fram makes the WORST filters around. Your shop teacher is wrong about them being good. I would't put one on ANY motor I own, my lawnmower included. Use an OEM or a WIX filter.

i meant that he said that the filter was so thick that it gets clogged up easy.

i'll be sure to check that seal. the link is here

79kz400 · Feb 9th, 2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wes
Fram makes the WORST filters around. Your shop teacher is wrong about them being good. I would't put one on ANY motor I own, my lawnmower included. Use an OEM or a WIX filter.

Its OK sicksilver99. Thats the publik edukation system fro ya'

If you want more info on oil and filters go visit http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

sicksilver99 · Feb 13th, 2006, 04:00 PM

ok i finally had some time to take the valve cover off(first time) and check that oil seal. i dont think i found it. there was a rectangular looking black thing on the yellow piece on the valve cover, idk if thats it or not but it looked good. does anyone have a picture of what this seal looks like?

jer28 · Feb 15th, 2006, 08:52 AM

Okay, go to this thread and look at the second picture. You will see the hole for the gasket above the oil dipstick. If we are talking about the same thing here.

http://www.nissanforums.com/showthread.php?t=116964

sicksilver99 · Feb 15th, 2006, 04:07 PM

ok thanx , one last thing, do i need to replace the valve cover gasket now that i took the valve cover off?

jer28 · Feb 15th, 2006, 04:22 PM

I would, and I believe that most people do. Remember to use a thin coat of rtv around the distributor.