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Strange engine noise, oil on the air filter & erratic fuel gauge. (T31 Diesel)
Hi,
I purchased a new Diesel T31 X-Trail Auto in September 2008. Within 4 months had my first problem of a strange noise coming from the engine. Every time I throttle back or take my foot off the accelerator, the engine makes a loose metal bracket/shackle vibrating noise. The sound develops only when the engine is under load, but no sound when the car is stationary. Dealer states this is due to the turbo waste gate opening, but I am not convinced as the sound developed after 4 month of use. If it is normal, then the sound should have been present from day one.
Then the EGR valve failed and the vehicle became very sluggish. Apparently engine oil is leaking on to the EGR valve and Nissan Japan is unable to figure out why? They said there are similar cases in VIC, SA & WA. The oil leak is so serious oil gets sprayed on to the air filter. Nissan temporarily replaced the EGR valve and the air filter, but advised me that I may have to bring it back for repairs when they find a solution for the oil leak. That I should keep a close eye on the oil levels and inspect the air filter every week.
After that the fuel gauge started to behave erratically. When the tank is full it shows three quarter and when the tank is half, the low fuel indicator lights up. The dealer said the fuel gauge problem was caused by fuel sender unit failure and replaced it. Furthermore, they told me that they have replaced many fuel sender units in various Nissan vehicles and it is a common problem with the Nissans.
Since I purchased the X-trail I have visited the dealer 8 times. This is very inconvenient and time consuming. The vehicle is good and serves my needs, but the regular problems are frustrating me.
What are your views?
Cheers.
Last edited by jalalski, 21/Sep/2009, 6:39 pm
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Cheena
2008 Diesel T31 TS Auto
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21/Sep/2009, 12:04 pm
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Re: Strange engine noise, oil on the air filter & erratic fuel gauge.
Hi Cheena,
The engine noise could be related to the EGR failure and the spray of oil in the engine bay.
After reading a post about a seized T31 diesel engine, the engine noise you're experiencing could by a failed or on the way to failure oil pump and this could also explain the spray of oil on the EGR valve.
I am astonished by the similarities of the previous T30 diesel defects and problems with the turbo diesel of a completely different engine and what you're reporting now and would have thought that Nissan would have solved these issues by now.
The only thing remains to be seen is turbo failures due these oil leaks, but a seized engine is even worse of a failure to have.
In regards to the fuel gauge problem, I wouldn't worry too much about that. There is something wrong with the sender unit Nissan Japan included on most Nissan cars and my wife's Tiida and a friend Navara had exactly the same problem as well.
Please keep us updated regarding the oil leak in your engine bay, as this is something that I personally haven't come across yet on other xtrail forum and/or community yet where the T31 diesel is available (especially in the UK where they had all these T30 turbo failures before)
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21/Sep/2009, 6:38 pm
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Re: Strange engine noise, oil on the air filter & erratic fuel gauge. (T31 Diesel)
That is quite a lot of oil spillage for sure! 
I wouldn't have accepted Nissan's so called "patch-up" maintenance solution and giving you the responsibility of monitoring oil levels and leaks. I would have left the car with them until they can figure out what was wrong with it or insist on a new car being given as replacement if they can't find an answer. This is simply un-acceptable with a brand new car and no owner should go through that and put-up with it.
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22/Sep/2009, 9:59 am
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Re: Strange engine noise, oil on the air filter & erratic fuel gauge. (T31 Diesel)
On the M9R diesel engine, there is a PCV hose which connects to the intake tube near the air filter.
This PCV hose comes from an oil separator unit on the top of the engine.
I am wondering if the oil separator is faulty if excessive oil is being sent down the PCV hose and finding its way into the air filter box ?
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Kev X450(c)
2003 Titanium Ti Luxury Series 1 |
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22/Sep/2009, 12:17 pm
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Re: Strange engine noise, oil on the air filter & erratic fuel gauge. (T31 Diesel)
Hi Cheena,
Kev is spot on with his comments.
I did some research about the oil on the air filter and it seems it's not new to Nissan and the T31 diesel.
You need to ask the dealer to replace the oil seperator which is an integral part of the top of the engine.
The seperator forms part of the breather system, seperating the oil from the crank case pressure that is developed by the engine when it is running.
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26/Sep/2009, 6:21 pm
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Re: Strange engine noise, oil on the air filter & erratic fuel gauge. (T31 Diesel)
23/09/09 the dealer informed me that Nissan Australia has instructed them to advice me to keep using the car although engine oil is leaking, and that they have no solution for this problem.
However as this is a serious issue, I wrote a letter to Nissan Australia requesting further clarifications on:
1. Is the vehicle safe to drive with a continuous oil leak? What would happen if the engine fails on the freeway at 110kph? Will the car stop abruptly causing a major multi vehicle accident and loss of life?
2. If oil is getting sprayed on the inner surface of the air filter contaminating the EGR valve and other components, then it could also get sucked in to the combustion chamber. What are the long term repercussions of burning so much oil? Would components such as diesel particulate filter and catalyst convertor get clogged or damaged?
3. Does Nissan Australia cover all direct or indirect damages caused to the vehicle as a result of the oil leak?
4. Will you be providing free engine oil to compensate for the loss of oil due to the leak?
5. Are all costs related to a break down covered including missed transport connections, hotel accommodation and meals, transport from the break down point to the destination and back and etc.
Let’s see what they have to say.
Cheers.
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Cheena
2008 Diesel T31 TS Auto
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27/Sep/2009, 10:05 am
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Re: Strange engine noise, oil on the air filter & erratic fuel gauge. (T31 Diesel)
The major question in my mind is whether enough oil can get through to cause the engine to run away and self destruct?
Its something a mate has had happen a few times now in Toyota workvans, but thats due to ring or piston failures usually....
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Ian X-1289(c)
2009 Platinum TL Xtrail - Scanguage2, Mio Moov360 GPS, Fridge, 100AH AGM 2nd battery, cargo barrier.
1998 GU Patrol 4.5 Petrol, lifted locked, barred...... so much there.
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5/Oct/2009, 12:04 am
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Re: Strange engine noise, oil on the air filter & erratic fuel gauge. (T31 Diesel)
Over twenty yrs ago I had a VW Golf diesel and whenever I got over 80ks or so the engine would just begin to rev uncontrollably and I would be flying down the road gaining speed, this lasted 10 or so seconds, seemed longer, before returning to normal.
Now I'm now expert so not sure how it worked but it was eventually fixed with a by-pass hose running from the sump, I think, to the top of the engine somewhere, remember it was a long time ago, so it must have relieved pressure somewhere.
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Diamond White T31 CVT Petrol
Towbar
Rubber Mats
TomTom GPS
Garmin Etrex H for Geo-caching
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5/Oct/2009, 10:50 am
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...if it is failing already, I reckon it probably needs to be be part of the regular Nissan Service "empty and clean" if possible.
