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I have oil leaking into my distributor, dripping out the cap. I've read online that others have had their car die, and I don't favor being stranded in a snowstorm and gnawing off my left foot to survive. But the fact is that oil has been leaking past the inner shaft seal for way over a year and there has not been one sign of trouble or misfire code yet. (The dizzy is hitachi with an optical crank position sensor).
I imagine the oil is just running along the bottom, minding its own business, until it drips out the screw hole in the bottom. The leak is slow, a few drop every 50 miles. I'm prepared tear it apart at some point and replace the inner seal, but I figure there's a 50/50 chance I'll kill the patient and have to replace it, so I'm not eager to do it. What I'd like to know is, am l likely to get some warning, like misfires, before it conks out and leaves me hitching back to civilization?
Sounds like Honda to me.
All it takes is to pull it out - 3 screws - and replace 2 O-rings. Put some sealant on them too.
You WILL get stranded. Your call.
Sounds like Honda to me.
All it takes is to pull it out - 3 screws - and replace 2 O-rings. Put some sealant on them too.
You WILL get stranded. Your call.
Similar from what I've seen on youtube, but in the Nissan model the camshaft sensor disk is pressed onto the shaft, so you have to pry things off, then figure out how to press it all on again in the same place without bending anything. That's why I think I have a good chance of muffing it.
If this is a horizontal axis distributor, like the one on 3S-FE Toyota 2L DOHC 4 pots, for example - yes, mine leaks oil into the cap, and I drilled a small vent hole on the side of the cap that faces down.
According to at least one pro mechanic I know well, this engine is famous for doing that, and the only known cure is a new depo (~$500).
I have been driving the car and just letting the depo leak a bit for roughly 50K miles. No problems with spark.
Sorry for reviving this old thread, but I have an answer. In case anyone else has a 2nd Gen Altima, the answer is...
A 2nd Gen Altima can go many YEARS trouble free with the distributor oil shaft seal leaking. Mine has gone five with no problems. The distributor was redesigned for the 2nd gen (1998-2001) with a channel so oil leaking from the seal just drips out the bottom. The leaking oil will eventually eat the tiny throttle body coolant hose, so at least you should wedge a pop can underneath the distributor - a mini can cut in half is the perfect size - to catch the oil.
Source: took mine apart and replaced the seal. Sensors oil free. Wires have oil on them but insulation in perfect condition. Due to the redesign, the oil seal is easy to replace if you are slightly handy.
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sorry for reviving
