Cracked Head Gasket
 

Hey Guys,

When I start up my car a huge plume of white smoke shoots out the tail pipe and does not really subside much at all. White smoke does have an odor to it, I initially thought it smelled of burnt oil but now I believe i am smelling burnt coolant. My coolant reservoir is completely empty ! :mad: My oil resembles the characteristic milkshake color that goes along with cracked gaskets.

What do you guys think? This car is brand new essentially.. has 8000 miles. What are the chances something is seriously wrong with the engine? Wonder if I am going to need a new engine rebuild. Nissan Canada told me they would fix this under warranty I really hope they don't try and squirm out of it I have a very strong feeling they will however.

I'm glad I realized this was a serious issue before the engine overheated as far as I know according to gauges the car never overheated so I am lucky there.

I thought I would make a new thread on this issue because the old one does not accurately describe whats going on.

Old thread:
http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...rning-oil.html

Originally I thought the car was burning oil, turns out its a cracked gasket.

If I were you I would ask for a entire new motor... but thats just me. When did you purchase the car? Do you beat on it pretty hard? Either way that should NOT happen in 8,000 miles. Oddly enough the original owner of my car had his motor replaced at 10k miles.. Said it was running rough and sounded odd (older guy, not really an enthusiast) took it in and 3 days later Nissan called him saying they ordered him a new long block.. Good luck man.

Thanks man!

No I don't beat on it hard at all. I have a few times but its a sports car that shouldn't blow the head gasket. I don't think I'll need a new long block, maybe a new short block. I'd be surprised if the long block cracked my guess is warped piston or heads or maybe I just had a faulty gasket.

I guess we won't know until the engine is torn down and checked. I am really skeptical nissan will do this the right way and really hope they don't try to cut corners. I don't want this to happen again in another 8000 miles.

I would have them replace the engine. I had a blown head gasket problem on my civic. 7k after replacing the gasket, it happened again!

I would hope you beat on it sometimes! :driving: The only reason I said I would want a full replacement is if something is already going wrong so soon... it just would make me skeptical for the future.. either way good luck hope they take care of you the right way! keep us updated.

Yes I am very skeptical for the future now..

If the shop repairs it right and doens't cut corners then it shouldn't be an issue but how much do we trust nissan? Will they truthfully tell me I need a new engine or not?> I doubt it. I think you guys are right I am going to push for a new motor. Really sucks though.. Hopefully I get to drive the car before next winter rolls around lol

not liking this for your experience, just backs up my point.. did you try to get honda to replace the motor?

CRATE MOTOR, don't settle for any less!!!

:iagree:

And of you have problems with getting a crate motor, hit me up, I'll tell you what to do/say

I'm just scared right now that nissan will try and deny warranty coverage.

I'll keep everyone posted I've contacted consumer affairs. Gets a bit complicated because I'm an american living in canada on temporary work permit.

My faith in nissan has declined significantly. This 370z may turn out to be the first and only nissan I ever purchase.

That's the fear?

If they DO deny you, I'll do my best to fúck Nissan in the áss, and I'll sell my car

Well not much point in sellin the car now nissan already got your monies for it. Either way my car will be fixed hopefully nissan cooperates and I don't have to post videos of my brand new nissan shooting plumes of white smoke all over the internet.

If Nissan doesn't cooperate then I will be getting that built motor I was planning a lot earlier then what I originally had in mind.

Lol, bought it used, gone through like 2-3k of repairs and I need AT LEAST 11k more... So I'll fúck'em for repairs, then dump the bitch and go to something else

My problem:
http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...-starting.html

Ok I recorded a video of it on startup... what you guys think?


2012 370z Blown Head Gasket? - YouTube

That's fúcking amazing, I don't think I have ever seen that on a 370 yet


Is it possible you're burning oil too? Not coolant?

I think it is burning some oil too.. smells like it

I tried to get it towed to the dealership today.. Tow truck got stuck in my alleyway though lol I'm gonna have to wait a few more weeks till the ice melts more. Just sucks because its killing me knowing that something wrong with it!

... Why can't you drive it out to the street? Lol

Don't they have a winch? EVERYONE in Canada has a winch!!! Lol

well my alleyway is kinda steep with a pretty sharp bend in it. Tow truck got super stuck in the bend lol. I'm not driving teh Z tell its gets fixed and I really doubt i would make it out of my drive way with it. the alleyway is that bad.. just full of ice and ruts

Well little bit of an update to those who are interested:

Finally was able ot get the car out of my ice covered alleyway into the dealership. Dealership confirmed head gasket issue and is now tearing apart the motor to determine the extent of the damage. They said a new short block, long block, or rebuilding will likely be the outcome depending on the level of damage caused by antifreeze in the engine. Also told me the warranty is no problem so not its just a waiting game waiting for my car to be fixed!

Hope all goes well. Just curious if the block is salvageable.

I would push for a new long block. It's not an unreasonable request for this kind of damage. Short block would suffice if it was just oil consumption but it looks like you have many more problems than just that.

Good luck.

Best of luck man, which dealer did you take it to?

Yep. New longblock.

so glad the warranty is gonna kick in

Good luck with getting a fresh engine...

Not faulting you or suggesting this is your fault, but just curious as to your break in procedure.

That is a spectacular break in failure -- again, I highly doubt its due to anything you specifically did (and could have also been due to a test drive by someone else as well as build failure), but just wondering how you broke it in...

A blown HG means coolant and oil will mix, so although you will typically see "extra" oil that is milky, it's being sucked in, burnt, and blown out too.

I drove it semi-hard. Not anything crazy though, typically with my other new cares I baby them until a few thousand miles. Drove this one hard and the head gasket cracked !

As much as I would like a new long block a properly rebuilt engine is just as good if not better than new. Question is if the dealership is capable of rebuilding correctly. They told me they were involving nissan technical services in this case to ensure every proper and necessary action is taken.

took it to Erickson Nissan

I would push for a new long block. More than likely alot of damage was done from the coolant.

:iagree: Going to talk to the techies today. I am going to request a new long block. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Also I had another thought: Should I be asking for new cats ? Does burning coolant ruin cats?

Sigh.. sux having to deal with this on essentially a brand new car!

Well, things just happen sometimes. See what they say and do not take anything less than a longblock. Course not sure what you can actually do about it. Also make sure you get a new warrenty on the motor.

Yea unfortunately I'm not sure how much my input matters on this. They will fix it in the most cost effective way that returns it to factory specs.

As long as the warrenty starts over (which it should) I wouldn't worry. But it can be bothersome with down time.

Mhcoss,

We all feel for you and share your pain. Hope that everything works out for the best for you.

The warranty for a rebuilt engine/replaced block is 1yr/12k miles, to my knowledge.

well just spoke with the stealership and they did not really inspire confidence at all. Basically sounds like they are just replacing the head gasket and calling it quits. I'm not going to be surprised at all if it goes again in another 8000 miles.

Remind me to never buy another nissan in my life

Well was told the car should be ready early next week. I have not been told at all what caused the failure, basically been told its been repaired. I am concerned they did not diagnose the root cause of failure. Really not sure what I should do at this point.

Well The car is still in the shop. Apparently it "needed" cam work too. AKA the tech probably broke the cam shaft when he was disassembling the engine. Either way, going on 6 weeks for a head gasket job. That is pitifully bad Nissan. Needless to say I will never be purchasing a Nissan car ever again.