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Oil leak or normal?

  • 01-11-2017 3:21pm
    #1
    MadMardegan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 461 ✭✭


    Should there be any oil at all on the undercarriage of a car or should it be completely dry?

    I'm in NZ looking at buying a car to travel around in and went to view a 98 Nissan Presage yesterday. 213xxxkm's. 1 owner last 10 years. Past WoF (NCT) few months back and valid until January. Just had oil and filter changed a few weeks back.

    The car was in great condition. Spotless really. Was very surprised for a 20 year old car. Engine looked and sounded good. No smoke from exhaust (though he had obviously had the car running for a few minutes before I got there). No signs of rust, that I could see, anywhere.

    The only thing I was a bit weary about is when I looked underneath the engine there seemed to be some oil around the gear box. I didn't notice any oil when looking under the bonnet. I said it to the owner and he said it hasn't left a single drop of oil anywhere and it's probably around the gearbox (can't remember how he worded it exactly but made it sound normal). I'm not very mechanically inclined but does that sound right?


Comments

  • #2
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    I mean oil shouldn't be leaking in an ideal scenario. You didn't mention what engine is in it... but I don't know anything about these cars so I can't offer much advice. I don't know if I would describe any oil leak as normal... maybe it's a common issue, but not normal...

    It could be something as simple as the engine weeping oil around the rocker cover, which may not be a big deal. But it's just hard to tell really.


  • #3
    MadMardegan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 461 ✭✭MadMardegan


    Alanstrainor wrote: »
    I mean oil shouldn't be leaking in an ideal scenario. You didn't mention what engine is in it... but I don't know anything about these cars so I can't offer much advice. I don't know if I would describe any oil leak as normal... maybe it's a common issue, but not normal...

    It could be something as simple as the engine weeping oil around the rocker cover, which may not be a big deal. But it's just hard to tell really.

    Oh yeah sorry, it's a 3L V6.

    I guess I'm more wondering if it's only a problem if oil is dripping on the ground or should the undercarriage look completely dry?


  • #4
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 3,637 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    MadMardegan wrote: »
    Oh yeah sorry, it's a 3L V6.

    I guess I'm more wondering if it's only a problem if oil is dripping on the ground or should the undercarriage look completely dry?

    VQ30DE engine. We’d known it best from the V6 Maxima.

    Honestly, if you’re asking these questions, you need to pay a mechanic and get them to look it over for you.

    There may or my not be a problem but you won’t learn enough asking here to be able to rule it out. So, pay to have it inspected regarding the leak and a general once over if you really like the car and want to buy it. It’ll be money well spent.


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