Nissan Qashqai 1.2 oil issue

[Jasper78]

So just need a bit of advise. I purchased my nissan qaushqui 2015 11 months ago and had the MOT done 6 weeks ago. Booked it in for a service today and for them to investigate a rattling noise.
Just to add I put oil in my car regularly and last topped it up 2 weeks ago. Today I get a phone call to say that the rattling may be that the oil is dry and I now need a new engine costing 10k.
I was suprised at the fact they said there was no oil as I'm hot on that. Also there was no oil light that came on to advise of this. In short they have said my warranty does not stand due to there not being any oil in the car and that they had to put in 4litres today?????
I'm stuck as how can I prove I put oil In but also does the fact the oil light did not come on matter. I am now aware of issues with this car and oil/engines.
Where do I go from here as I am still paying for this car and obviously can not afford a new engine.

[stevieturbo]

Jasper78 said:

So just need a bit of advise. I purchased my nissan qaushqui 2015 11 months ago and had the MOT done 6 weeks ago. Booked it in for a service today and for them to investigate a rattling noise.
Just to add I put oil in my car regularly and last topped it up 2 weeks ago. Today I get a phone call to say that the rattling may be that the oil is dry and I now need a new engine costing 10k.
I was suprised at the fact they said there was no oil as I'm hot on that. Also there was no oil light that came on to advise of this. In short they have said my warranty does not stand due to there not being any oil in the car and that they had to put in 4litres today?????
I'm stuck as how can I prove I put oil In but also does the fact the oil light did not come on matter. I am now aware of issues with this car and oil/engines.
Where do I go from here as I am still paying for this car and obviously can not afford a new engine.

Ask them to explain how the engine would lose 4 litres in the space of 2 weeks.

And generally by the time the oil pressure light is lit, it's probably already buggered. As to whether your vehicle has an oil level warning light....one would presume from their response, it cannot.

Lots of things not adding up here though, including a "new" engine costing £10k, unless that is literally a Nissan dealer brand new unit. Which let's face it, nobody would ever do.

I'd say find a competent garage and get a second opinion, a lot of the above has a funny smell to it.

[Jasper78]

Sorry just to add when I put the oil in I'm unsure how much this equated to.
The garage advised they needed to put 4litres but turns out the mechanic noted they put in 3.2 litres.
I was told yesterday that my oil was dry but on seeing the diagnostic report there was 1ltre oil in there on inspection. I've now been told that 1 litre is insufficient and it is my fault for not topping up.
If this was insufficient shouldn't a 'oil level low' warning light come on?
Further some more research I have found that this model has oil loss/burn issues resulting in new engines being advised. This was something Nissan were aware of in 2015 so am I right In thinking I have been sold a faulty car?
Any advise would be appreciated.

[Panamax]

If your car was drinking oil then it's had a problem for a while. Some manufacturers consider anything up to 1 litre per 1,000 miles to be acceptable (due to engineering tolerances in mass production) but anything more than that is going it a bit.

Big end rattles don't cause oil consumption. Cylinder bore or valvegear rattles might.

Was the noise worse from cold start? That's a classic time for "piston slap" to be most apparent.

Any blue smoke out of the exhaust, especially from a cold start or under acceleration? Again, classic sign of engine wear.

[Panamax]

Jasper78 said:

...I put oil in my car regularly...

That's unusual in itself, unless you're driving truly mega miles.

[Jasper78]

No blue smoke and the noise was any time of day I drove not just on a cold start but was worse on acceleration.
Now the oil has been put in the noise has completely gone?
I'm just worried as the mechanic has suggested it needs a new engine. I have contacted them to explain further their reasoning for a new engine.
Sorry I meant to say I check regularly not top up regularly.
Since the MOT on 1st of April to today i have done 1280 miles.
This is all very confusing and worrying so thank you for the advise.

[stevemcs]

I'd be suprised if these hold much more than 4 litres, if anything i guess they don't hold much more than 3.

[stevieturbo]

Jasper78 said:

Sorry just to add when I put the oil in I'm unsure how much this equated to.
The garage advised they needed to put 4litres but turns out the mechanic noted they put in 3.2 litres.
I was told yesterday that my oil was dry but on seeing the diagnostic report there was 1ltre oil in there on inspection. I've now been told that 1 litre is insufficient and it is my fault for not topping up.
If this was insufficient shouldn't a 'oil level low' warning light come on?
Further some more research I have found that this model has oil loss/burn issues resulting in new engines being advised. This was something Nissan were aware of in 2015 so am I right In thinking I have been sold a faulty car?
Any advise would be appreciated.

Because you did not read, I will repeat.

stevieturbo said:

And generally by the time the oil pressure light is lit, it's probably already buggered. As to whether your vehicle has an oil level warning light....one would presume from their response, it cannot.

And again, have you asked them why your engine has used so much oil in 2 weeks ? You said it was full two weeks ago after you topped it up.
They are claiming they had to put 4, 3.2 litres....whatever in to correct this. That is an absolutely huge amount for 2 weeks. They must have some explanation.

This would seem at odds with them claiming there as only 1 litre in the engine, when it appears to need 4.6 litres. 3.2 + 1 is only 4.2

Too many things here are not adding up.

[stevieturbo]

stevemcs said:

I'd be suprised if these hold much more than 4 litres, if anything i guess they don't hold much more than 3.

A quick google suggests 4.6 litres, but yes that does seem a lot for a modern small engine

[Jasper78]

Thanks for the clarification. I have put everything in an email to them so will await their response.

[Belle427]

Can you just confirm that the car is now driving ok with no noises evident?

[Jasper78]

Thats correct it is now driving with absolutely no noise at all.

[stevemcs]

Jasper78 said:

Thats correct it is now driving with absolutely no noise at all.

In that case check the oil level every few days, make a note of the mileage and if you put any oil in make sure you write down how much. Its a pain for us garages when someone says a car is using oil but you don't how much and over how many miles.

Also put the correct oil in.

[steveo3002]

go and trade it in at another dealer if it turns out to be using massive amounts of oil

[stevieturbo]

steveo3002 said:

go and trade it in at another dealer if it turns out to be using massive amounts of oil

WBAC etc.


Although it does seem a bit odd to need a complete new engine.....yet is running completely fine with no noises at all.

As said before, a lot of things are not adding up here.

[Belle427]

I’d agree about trading it asap, hideous things.
Our Xtrail Diesel engine seized at low mileage and 4 years old costing us 4000 to rectify so I hate Nissan with a passion now!
We traded it the day after it was rectified.

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

Belle427 said:

I’d agree about trading it asap, hideous things.
Our Xtrail Diesel engine seized at low mileage and 4 years old costing us 4000 to rectify so I hate Nissan with a passion now!
We traded it the day after it was rectified.

yet my wifes xtrail is up at 80k miles and never had any issues. But then I get the oil changed every 10k miles and make sure it doesn't sit in traffic all day.

To the OP - as you stated oil consumption issues on the 1.2 engines are well known. It was initially due to the piston rings being fitted in the wrong order on the piston and then the engines were assembled with this fault not rectified.

Initially it was 'new engine time' after an oil consumption test whilst the car was in warranty, but that has nearly crippled Nissan, so for a while they did an engine rebuild and then finally I think they make you use techron fuel treatment or something.

In your particular case, the tech saw low oil, and immediately condemned the engine, because it's good money for him and the dealer to earn. Essentially he hasn't done a full and proper diagnosis, just assumed total engine failure 'because they all do that' Realistically if the noise has gone away with the oil filled up, you should be ok, but its clearly not acceptable to have to fill your car with so much oil all the time. It's not a particularly good look for Nissan's to be burning that amount of oil when they are trying to get to net zero.

Ask them to see if the piston ring recall has been completed on your car, if not ask for it to be done.
If no joy, and your car has a full main dealer service history and was bought from a Nissan dealer, ask for good will to support any claim ( car has to have less than 80k miles)

failing all of that, px it for something else.

[Jasper78]

Thanks for the info, I've had a reply from my initial email to Nissan and am awaiting a further update on their investigation that I've been told will be this week.
The car is still driving with no sound and I am checking the oil to keep an eye on the levels.
I feel like I have some good knowledge and background to go back with depending on where they decide to take this.
Will update further as I know.