High temps, leaking oil!
Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2024 6:12 am
I got a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder SE, I had issues with it on Tuesday in which I was going into work and notice the temperature slightly increase then increase between halfway/three quarters. I got into work fine, told myself probably low on coolant. However on the way back home, I notice the car struggle getting into the onramp for the highway (incline), temperature will increase by half a block driven, and would not generate much speed. Much I accelerated the car would just struggle like something was suffocating from getting speed. About 4 miles into the drive I notice the temperature, pulled over to the nearest gas station. I left the car cool down for 1 hour and a half, opened it, added some water, and drove it back home. 500 feet into the drive, back temps increase to 3/4 of the gauge, manage to get home (this was at 4am), parked it on the street parking in which I was lucky to find one down the block where I live.
My neighbor been a mechanic took a look at it - until he touch the hose to the thermostat and told me it was cooler than the one going to the radiator (upper hose). We opened it up and notice the thermostat had orange gunk (it was never swapped out since I took ownership @ 115K miles - currently at 220K). Upon swapping the thermostat, adding distilled water, we notice that there was a puddle of oil. Well it was the camshaft leaking - it explained on why my last oil change I only got less than a quart out of it. There were times where I did saw on my parking that was some oil spilled (drop size) which I try to examine but did not seem like it was coming from my car. Until this time It is a nice little puddle. I finally got the 2 seals to replace, will I need to do anything extra when exchanging it? timing the engine again? What am I looking labor wise aside from removing the tension belt, loosing the bolts - also what to look out for?
My neighbor been a mechanic took a look at it - until he touch the hose to the thermostat and told me it was cooler than the one going to the radiator (upper hose). We opened it up and notice the thermostat had orange gunk (it was never swapped out since I took ownership @ 115K miles - currently at 220K). Upon swapping the thermostat, adding distilled water, we notice that there was a puddle of oil. Well it was the camshaft leaking - it explained on why my last oil change I only got less than a quart out of it. There were times where I did saw on my parking that was some oil spilled (drop size) which I try to examine but did not seem like it was coming from my car. Until this time It is a nice little puddle. I finally got the 2 seals to replace, will I need to do anything extra when exchanging it? timing the engine again? What am I looking labor wise aside from removing the tension belt, loosing the bolts - also what to look out for?