Mobil1 5W30, 3686miles, 2003 Nissan Sentra GXE

[craigq]

Another Nissan Sentra with a coolant leak. WearCheck advises to find the source of the leak, looks like I'll be visiting the dealer sometime soon after I receive the hard copy of the analysis to see if they're willing to do anything about it...


For what it's worth this was mostly short trip driving [between 5 and 10 miles] with 120 mile round-trips approximately once a month.

code:

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Sample Date 3/25/2006

Analysis Date 3/28/2006

Lab WearCheck Canada

***Vehicle ID***

Make Nissan

Model Sentra GXE

Year 2003

Engine QG18DE 1.8L I4

Miles on Vehicle 29495

***Oil Identification***

Oil Brand Mobil

Oil Series Mobil 1

Oil SAE J300 5W30

API SX SL

Miles on Oil 3686

Months In Service 5.28

***Elements***

Antimony Sb NR

Cadmium Cd NR

Vanadium V 0.2

Aluminum Al 4.1

Chromium Cr 1.5

Iron Fe 10

Copper Cu 4.1

Lead Pb 0.8

Tin Sn 0.4

Molybdenum Mo 68

Nickel 0

Manganese Mn 19

Silver Ag 0.1

Titanium Ti 0.1

Potassium K 74

Boron B 125

Silicon Si 17

Sodium Na 60

Calcium Ca 2849

Magnesium Mg 32

Phosporus P 776

Zinc Zn 934

Barium Ba 0.1

***Viscosity***

cST @ 100 C 11.0

SUS @ 210 F NR

***Misc***

Flashpoint (F) NR

Fuel % NR

Antifreeze % NR

Water % 0.2

Insolubles % NR

Sulfur 69

Oxidation 76

Nitration 53

TBN NR



TAN 3.30



Ferrous Debris NR

Fuel Soot % NR

Glycol POSITIVE

ISO Code NR

Additives None

URL NR

Notes Lab recommends

Location Ottawa, ON, CAN

***Filters used***

Air Filter Nissan OEM

Oil Filter Nissan 15208-9E000

***Particle Count***

>2 micron NR

>5 micron NR

>10 micron NR

>15 micron NR

>25 micron NR

>50 micron NR

>100 micron NR

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[Al]

Yea, this engine is prone to head gasket leaks.

 

[jcrow]

Sorry to hear about your coolant leak. I have the same car 03 gxe and that is why I do regular oil analysis to. Keep us informed what goes on at the dealer. Also if you’re not a member at the http://www.b15sentra.net/ is a great forum to get information on your car.

 

[ScottB]

I have to think that all Nissans have this issue.
My Maxima did too - in fact, I think both of my Maximas did.

Love Nissans when they're new, but when they age, they're a PITA and expensive to maintain.

Scott

 

[Cutehumor]

you should still be under the powertrain warranty 5yr/60k warranty. So it should be a free fix unless the dealer stonewalls you like they did me. I had to fight tooth and nail to get the Nissan dealer to fix the headgasket leak in my dad's sentra. Good luck

 

[jcrow]

craigq

Do you have any updates?

 

[craigq]

jcrow,
I will be bringing the car to the dealer on Monday, 10 April, so that they can inspect/test it. I'll post the results/outcome when I receive the news.

 

[craigq]

Update : Nissan/dealership will be replacing the head gasket under warranty.

 

[UncleRunkle]

good for you.

 

[Al]

UOA For The Win

Great. Thanks for letting us know.

Did you have the origional Nissan Antifreeze in there??

 

[jcrow]

Sounds like they didn’t give you much hassle. Did they perform any test? About how much coolant were you leaking and what type did you have in the car?

 

[craigq]

Al : Yes, the original Nissan Antifreeze was still in use; I was waiting for 48 months/96K km before changing it.

jcrow : The coolant level rarely went down; I added coolant maybe once or twice since Jan. 2003, I attributed it to just hot/cold fluid level changes

at the time of inspection. I've no idea what test they performed; the dealer did not give me any hassle at all.

 

[Al]

quote:

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Originally posted by craigq:
Al : Yes, the original Nissan Antifreeze was still in use;

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Great to know. We have in the beginning of this section analysis for different coolants. It appears since you have just a bit more potassium than sodium they use pretty much the sams antifreeze that Subaru uses. Im fonna' make a statement in that thread. Thanks again. Glad it worked out for 'ya.