shortysmash Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 (edited) Ok heres the scoop. I have an 01 LE with 198,000 mi. on the clock. Ive ran mobile1 full syn. for past 5 years. I believe my rear main is the culprit as i see oil dripping from around the inspection port at the rear of the oil pan. The size of the leak is about a the size of a quarter after i park it for a day. Now I now my options are 1)Let it run with the mileage as high as it is and add some lucas and some bars stop leak. 2) Replace the seal 3)Trade/sell get a different car and have a dreaded car payment. The lowest price I have found on replacing the seal is $671 which would be about 2-3 car payments. Or if i change it would i be opening a can of worms. So now im just stirring the pathy pot and seeing what comes out. Thanks Edited May 23, 2011 by shortysmash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towncivilian Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 (edited) I have the same leak, about the same amount too. Nissan wants $1800 to fix. Screw that. I think mine's been leaking since around 100k, and I have 123,465 miles on it right now. Don't use Lucas, it's just some crappy thick gear oil that shouldn't be in your crankcase - it causes cavitation (aeration of oil) too. Try using M1 10W-40 High Mileage for a few oil changes, it might slow it down or even stop it. $671? Where did you get that quote at? Edited May 23, 2011 by Towncivilian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01silvapathy Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 I have started to notice that I have a leaky rear main seal too. Its not so leaky that its dripping yet. Just leaves everything covered in oil and looks wet. I have around 109k on my pathy now. Hoping it stays good for awhile longer, or if it gets worse look into other options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonianwalk Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 The lowest price I have found on replacing the seal is $671 which would be about 2-3 car payments. Fix it. It will pay for its self in 3-4 months! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towncivilian Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Yeah, I would fix it if I could have for $671. I'd still love to know where you got that estimate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverton Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Try using the High Mileage version of the mobil 1. They put additives in there that are supposed to condition seals and make them not leak anymore. If you put any type of Lucas or Bars additive in there, you're going to cause even more problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewebster Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 I guess if you have a manual transmission it could possibly be leaking from there too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towncivilian Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Try using the High Mileage version of the mobil 1. They put additives in there that are supposed to condition seals and make them not leak anymore. If you put any type of Lucas or Bars additive in there, you're going to cause even more problems. I already said that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisPerna Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 i just did mine when i did my trans, what a huge PITA! i have a exter one i am willing to sell, brandy new! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesRich Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 If it's a good dependable vehicle (which most nissans are) fix it and be done with the problem. In the long run it's cheaper than a note. Band aids just prolong the problem. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Never use that stop leak @!*%. It will gunk up your lifters and your truck will be junkyard bound. Fix the seal, take a small hit, drive for 100k more miles happily. Also, good thing you use synthetic oil, especially on a VQ. Forget the BS about synthetic oil making seals leak. Dust should not be holding seals in place anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 On an r50 it's easy to drop the trans since there are no torsion bars in the way like the wd21s. You could probably do it yourself in a day (maybe just slide the trans back after disconnecting everything) if you have the tools/space/etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nismothunder Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Let it ride, it has 200k on it as it is. It is a old truck, try running a 10-30 or something if you want too slow it down. High milage oils are just bs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96Pathfinder4x4 Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Definitely fix it. No car payments. If you were closer, I'd offer to help. Take that "car payment" money and put it toward your retirement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2milehi Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Get rid of the synthetic oil and go to dino oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towncivilian Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Get rid of the synthetic oil and go to dino oil. Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nismothunder Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 Dino oil is thicker then syn oil. Just look at when you pour, a 15-40 of syn will be like water and dino is like oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towncivilian Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 The viscocity of a 15w-40 dino and synthetic will be close at 100C. If syn was significantly thinner vs. the same grade dino, it would be rated differently, wouldn't you think? Thinner oil is always preferable during cold starts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewebster Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Ideally the viscosity would be given by the numbers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick13 Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 I voted for you to take the hit and fix it...but I think it always depends on what your plans are for your rig. Were you at a point of being close to selling it? If so, maybe that changes things for your decision. I love my 01 LE but it only has 98K on her...so I'm keeping her for at least another 100K. Point being, maybe my circumstance is too different to offer up an educated decision on your circumstance...but good luck! BTW - what is the "can of worms" that you're worried about? (Just curious) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nunya Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 no love for Lucas that stuff saved me from having to swap motors earlier than i want to (which i still havent done in this truck) and helped me baby many motors alot longer than they should. As for it fixing leaks? thats a whole different story... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortysmash Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 Yeah, I would fix it if I could have for $671. I'd still love to know where you got that estimate. I got that quote from calling around to some transmission places. They seemed to be cheaper as they are used to pulling the trannys etc. I guess if you have a manual transmission it could possibly be leaking from there too. Unfortunately its an automatic. I voted for you to take the hit and fix it...but I think it always depends on what your plans are for your rig. Were you at a point of being close to selling it? If so, maybe that changes things for your decision. I love my 01 LE but it only has 98K on her...so I'm keeping her for at least another 100K. Point being, maybe my circumstance is too different to offer up an educated decision on your circumstance...but good luck! BTW - what is the "can of worms" that you're worried about? (Just curious) Yeah i was originally considering selling for a while as its high in milage and the value is going down. so i figureed trade or sell while its worth a little. Also the can of worms is just the fact that its almost 200k and once you start moving things that havent been moved befrore things could start going bad, i was just afraid that by doing so more things would start going bad like other seals, the transmission or anything and everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panbacca Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 This is coming from what I would do, given the situation, but if I had already considered selling it, I would, and just buy something different. But if your tune has changed and you kind of want to keep it another 100k miles, then get it fixed. I think that is a very reasonable price to do so. If it hasn't given you many problems to this point, it will probably continue to be reliable for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortysmash Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 This is coming from what I would do, given the situation, but if I had already considered selling it, I would, and just buy something different. But if your tune has changed and you kind of want to keep it another 100k miles, then get it fixed. I think that is a very reasonable price to do so. If it hasn't given you many problems to this point, it will probably continue to be reliable for you. Knock on wood. The only thing major was a transmission at 135k. and the tune hasn't changed yet but may in the next few months with budget cuts at work and what not. a.k.a will i still have the job im at Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nissaneric Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 I would let it drip and keep an eye on it, if its too much to spend to get it fixed right now. whats the general condition of everything else? rust? any other little issues? or big ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now