Loud ticking noise from engine

Waiz · 02-26-2012, 08:05 PM

Let's not jump to conclusions, just take it in and I'm sure you will be taken care of.

I don't believe the oil brand was the culprit.

specblue02 · 02-26-2012, 08:24 PM

Hi All - I had a similar issue happen to me last week as well. Thursday evening coming home from work I noticed something was wrong with the car (I commute 45m each way). When I got home the idle was extremely rough and with the hood open you could hear a clanking noise inside the engine as well. Didn't quite sound like what happened here but still loud engine noises. My dad checked the oil and it was on the low side and we put in roughly .5 quarts and it brought the level up to the middle between L & H. I researched and found the TSB on here. I started it up Friday morning just to see if maybe it was because it was hot from when I got home. Car started up but quickly died after about 15 seconds. I called the dealership and they recommended I tow it which I did. Should hear back tomorrow on what the issue is (I assume the TSB).

Disclosure - Car is 2010 (turns 2 tomorrow) with 46k miles (it's a DD with 90m a day for work). Luckily this happened inside my 60k powertrain if my engine has to be replaced.

Does anyone who had this issue thought about getting rid of your car after the fix? I commute a lot and will be out of powertrain by August and can't risk a 7k engine replacement if it were to happen again.

Synack · 02-26-2012, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by specblue02

Hi All - I had a similar issue happen to me last week as well. Thursday evening coming home from work I noticed something was wrong with the car (I commute 45m each way). When I got home the idle was extremely rough and with the hood open you could hear a clanking noise inside the engine as well. Didn't quite sound like what happened here but still loud engine noises. My dad checked the oil and it was on the low side and we put in roughly .5 quarts and it brought the level up to the middle between L & H. I researched and found the TSB on here. I started it up Friday morning just to see if maybe it was because it was hot from when I got home. Car started up but quickly died after about 15 seconds. I called the dealership and they recommended I tow it which I did. Should hear back tomorrow on what the issue is (I assume the TSB).

Disclosure - Car is 2010 (turns 2 tomorrow) with 46k miles (it's a DD with 90m a day for work). Luckily this happened inside my 60k powertrain if my engine has to be replaced.

Does anyone who had this issue thought about getting rid of your car after the fix? I commute a lot and will be out of powertrain by August and can't risk a 7k engine replacement if it were to happen again.

After this I will simply just use Redline oil and check the oil levels a couple times a month. If I had known the VQ was notorious for having oil consumption issues then I would've checked the oil more often. I just assumed that because it was new that I could just do regular oil changes and be fine like every car I've owned in the past.

specblue02 · 02-26-2012, 09:30 PM

I use Royal Purple in my car. I wasn't down that much oil compared to you and others I see posting on this issue. Dealer only wanted 1 specific person to look at my car when I brought it in and that person hasn't been in yet but will tomorrow. They called Saturday and told me to bring my oil change records in tomorrow morning so I'll drop that off first thing in the morning. It seems like they know what's up and that this is going to be an engine replacement. Good luck to you! I think I'll be trading in for an Evo X once I get her back

tjlazer · 02-26-2012, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfearl1

i don't think adding oil would disqualify you for warranty work. you did what anybody would naturally first think to do - add oil. personally, i'd be straight up with them.

Yeah be honest and tell them after you heard the noises you checked the oil level and it was bone dry--so you added oil.

So it looks like if you do your own oil change you are screwed as you won't have "Oil Change Records" Nice. I guess people who change their own oil can always pencil whip some up and hope that is ok? That is BS.

I never use a crush washer either. Never had a problem in over 20 years.

specblue02 · 02-26-2012, 10:29 PM

I have a spreadsheet put together with copies of my receipts for buying the oil. Hopefully that is sufficient...my dad believes that should be enough. I'll post tomorrow once I get word.

Synack · 02-26-2012, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjlazer

Yeah be honest and tell them after you heard the noises you checked the oil level and it was bone dry--so you added oil.

So it looks like if you do your own oil change you are screwed as you won't have "Oil Change Records" Nice. I guess people who change their own oil can always pencil whip some up and hope that is ok? That is BS.

I never use a crush washer either. Never had a problem in over 20 years.

I'm hoping the dealership is as awesome as they have been since I've known them. Everything was always done correctly oil change wise. Ron knows that we did it correctly, minus the crush washer, but that doesn't matter because there were no leaks. I'm not going to pretend like I took it somewhere to get the oil changed and lie about it lol. It is just as simple as you said: engine all of a sudden made noises. oil level was gone, added new oil.

Synack · 02-26-2012, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by specblue02

I have a spreadsheet put together with copies of my receipts for buying the oil. Hopefully that is sufficient...my dad believes that should be enough. I'll post tomorrow once I get word.

Sufficient for what? I'm confused.

specblue02 · 02-26-2012, 10:39 PM

Sufficient for the warranty work should I need a new short block assembly. Sorry, wasn't clear on that.

Synack · 02-26-2012, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by specblue02

Sufficient for the warranty work should I need a new short block assembly. Sorry, wasn't clear on that.

Oh I thought you were referring to my problems lol.

specblue02 · 02-26-2012, 10:45 PM

This wait since Friday morning is killing me...I just want to know already what the issue is and what the remedy will be.

BigT · 02-26-2012, 11:03 PM

Good luck with your engine dude. I hope the dealer works with you.

After reading this thread, I'm so surprised that there are so many Z owners out there that are using non-ester based oils in there Z's.

MJB · 02-26-2012, 11:06 PM

^ Well I doubt the brand of oil had anything to do with it. If he was 5qts low, I would say his piston rings were obviously shot. To bad OP didn't have a chance to pull some spark plugs.

Compdoc777 · 02-26-2012, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synack

After this I will simply just use Redline oil and check the oil levels a couple times a month. If I had known the VQ was notorious for having oil consumption issues then I would've checked the oil more often. I just assumed that because it was new that I could just do regular oil changes and be fine like every car I've owned in the past.

You should have had a low oil warning light before it ever got that low.

Synack · 02-26-2012, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Compdoc777

You should have had a low oil warning light before it ever got that low.

Man... you're preaching to the choir. With Nissan making their computers as smart as they do it should've told me a long time ago. Not to mention the GTR is basically a computer on wheels.

02-26-2012, 11:06 PM	#103 (permalink)
MJB A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tacoma, WA Age: 41 Posts: 1,498 Drives: a POS truck Rep Power: 496	^ Well I doubt the brand of oil had anything to do with it. If he was 5qts low, I would say his piston rings were obviously shot. To bad OP didn't have a chance to pull some spark plugs. Last edited by MJB; 02-26-2012 at 11:11 PM.

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02-26-2012, 08:05 PM	#91 (permalink)
Waiz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 9,262 Drives: Z33 & GE8 Rep Power: 459	Let's not jump to conclusions, just take it in and I'm sure you will be taken care of. I don't believe the oil brand was the culprit.

02-26-2012, 08:24 PM	#92 (permalink)
specblue02 Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 32 Drives: 2010 370Z Rep Power: 15	Hi All - I had a similar issue happen to me last week as well. Thursday evening coming home from work I noticed something was wrong with the car (I commute 45m each way). When I got home the idle was extremely rough and with the hood open you could hear a clanking noise inside the engine as well. Didn't quite sound like what happened here but still loud engine noises. My dad checked the oil and it was on the low side and we put in roughly .5 quarts and it brought the level up to the middle between L & H. I researched and found the TSB on here. I started it up Friday morning just to see if maybe it was because it was hot from when I got home. Car started up but quickly died after about 15 seconds. I called the dealership and they recommended I tow it which I did. Should hear back tomorrow on what the issue is (I assume the TSB). Disclosure - Car is 2010 (turns 2 tomorrow) with 46k miles (it's a DD with 90m a day for work). Luckily this happened inside my 60k powertrain if my engine has to be replaced. Does anyone who had this issue thought about getting rid of your car after the fix? I commute a lot and will be out of powertrain by August and can't risk a 7k engine replacement if it were to happen again.

02-26-2012, 09:30 PM	#94 (permalink)
specblue02 Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 32 Drives: 2010 370Z Rep Power: 15	I use Royal Purple in my car. I wasn't down that much oil compared to you and others I see posting on this issue. Dealer only wanted 1 specific person to look at my car when I brought it in and that person hasn't been in yet but will tomorrow. They called Saturday and told me to bring my oil change records in tomorrow morning so I'll drop that off first thing in the morning. It seems like they know what's up and that this is going to be an engine replacement. Good luck to you! I think I'll be trading in for an Evo X once I get her back

02-26-2012, 10:29 PM	#96 (permalink)
specblue02 Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 32 Drives: 2010 370Z Rep Power: 15	I have a spreadsheet put together with copies of my receipts for buying the oil. Hopefully that is sufficient...my dad believes that should be enough. I'll post tomorrow once I get word.

02-26-2012, 10:39 PM	#99 (permalink)
specblue02 Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 32 Drives: 2010 370Z Rep Power: 15	Sufficient for the warranty work should I need a new short block assembly. Sorry, wasn't clear on that.

02-26-2012, 10:45 PM	#101 (permalink)
specblue02 Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 32 Drives: 2010 370Z Rep Power: 15	This wait since Friday morning is killing me...I just want to know already what the issue is and what the remedy will be.

02-26-2012, 11:03 PM	#102 (permalink)
BigT Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 469 Drives: 98 2g DSM Rep Power: 13	Good luck with your engine dude. I hope the dealer works with you. After reading this thread, I'm so surprised that there are so many Z owners out there that are using non-ester based oils in there Z's.