Oil dripping as car is running. What could it be? 04 G35 Coupe AT 180XXX Miles
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Silver 04 G35 Coupe AT
Oil dripping as car is running. What could it be? 04 G35 Coupe AT 180XXX Miles
oil dripping onto hot exhaust pipe and smoking and then and leaking onto subframe near back of engine before pooling onto the ground. No valve cover leak (just replaced) and I just replaced oil cooler gasket. What could it possibly be now 
Sounds like a valve cover leak. If you just replaced it, double check that something didn't get pinched during install causing a bad seal. Seal could have slipped out of the cover while setting it down, especially in a hard to see corner.
Once you triple check that, start looking for where it's coming from. Spray the area with brake cleaner so it's "dry", then check it after running for a bit. The o-ring around the cam sensors at the back of the head were leaking on mine. Noticed it while changing the clutch.
Once you triple check that, start looking for where it's coming from. Spray the area with brake cleaner so it's "dry", then check it after running for a bit. The o-ring around the cam sensors at the back of the head were leaking on mine. Noticed it while changing the clutch.
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Buy a telescoping inspection mirror and a good flashlight. Look around until you find where it's leaking from.
Protip: shine the flashlight on the mirror and it reflects the light onto the surface you're looking at.
Protip: shine the flashlight on the mirror and it reflects the light onto the surface you're looking at.
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Silver 04 G35 Coupe AT
Sounds like a valve cover leak. If you just replaced it, double check that something didn't get pinched during install causing a bad seal. Seal could have slipped out of the cover while setting it down, especially in a hard to see corner.
Once you triple check that, start looking for where it's coming from. Spray the area with brake cleaner so it's "dry", then check it after running for a bit. The o-ring around the cam sensors at the back of the head were leaking on mine. Noticed it while changing the clutch.
Once you triple check that, start looking for where it's coming from. Spray the area with brake cleaner so it's "dry", then check it after running for a bit. The o-ring around the cam sensors at the back of the head were leaking on mine. Noticed it while changing the clutch.
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Take off the PCV valve and see if it's all clogged up but I doubt that's the problem, you would have to clog up BOTH heads for there to actually be a problem like that.
However I would definitely get an inspection mirror in there first to verify EXACTLY where the oil is coming from.
However I would definitely get an inspection mirror in there first to verify EXACTLY where the oil is coming from.
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Silver 04 G35 Coupe AT
Take off the PCV valve and see if it's all clogged up but I doubt that's the problem, you would have to clog up BOTH heads for there to actually be a problem like that.
However I would definitely get an inspection mirror in there first to verify EXACTLY where the oil is coming from.
However I would definitely get an inspection mirror in there first to verify EXACTLY where the oil is coming from.
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Just out of curiousity are you using any rtv sealant? If so are you making sure to let it cure for 24 hours +/- depending on ambient temperature before driving? Also, did you thoroughly clean the gasket surfaces on both sides with brake cleaner before installing?
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Silver 04 G35 Coupe AT
Just out of curiousity are you using any rtv sealant? If so are you making sure to let it cure for 24 hours +/- depending on ambient temperature before driving? Also, did you thoroughly clean the gasket surfaces on both sides with brake cleaner before installing?
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At least it's the driver side and not the passenger. Half the work
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I put a dab of rtv every few inches on the valve cover and then put the gasket on and put some weight on the cover and let it cure for about an hour so the gasket doesn't shift position while putting it back in, especially the corners
At least it's the driver side and not the passenger. Half the work
At least it's the driver side and not the passenger. Half the work
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I used just rtv and no other gasket, the FSM doesn't call for a rubber gasket. Typically a rubber gasket is for installations that can't wait for the rtv to cure overnight.
It's a trade off, rubber gasket can be driven immediately but will fail sooner, rtv requires a cure time but lasts longer. Certainly no harm in using both though and on some installations it's easier to use dabs of rtv on a rubber gasket to hold it in place in cramped working quarters.
How long did it operate properly before blowing out the gasket?
It's a trade off, rubber gasket can be driven immediately but will fail sooner, rtv requires a cure time but lasts longer. Certainly no harm in using both though and on some installations it's easier to use dabs of rtv on a rubber gasket to hold it in place in cramped working quarters.
How long did it operate properly before blowing out the gasket?
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Silver 04 G35 Coupe AT
I'm not 100% sure when it blew but i know it was sometime right after installation. I just replaced the gasket and have the stock pcv setup on the car as well. Will let you know how it holds up by the end of the week.
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