Oil inside upper plenum?

Tiny
BILL MARSHALL
  • MEMBER
  • 2011 INFINITI G37
  • 3.7L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 84,000 MILES
I've been having an intermittent multiple misfire issue for the past few months. I was having the same issue a little over a year ago and discovered that the spark plug tube seal on bank one was allowing oil down inside the tubes, each one had about an inch of oil. At that time, I replaced the valve cover gaskets, spark plug tube seals and the upper plenum gasket. Car ran fine for about 6 months and then I started getting the misfire code again. If I clear it, it won't come back for a few days, sometimes a few weeks. I just checked the plugs on bank one, because that's the side getting the misfire codes and the spark plug tubes had about a half an inch of oil down inside of them again. Moreso, when I took the upper plenum off, there was oil between the upper and lower (see pics). The runners, however, seem to be dry. I found this extremely odd because when I replaced all the gaskets the first time about a year ago, I also deleted the PCV valves, there are just little air filters where the valves used to be now. I'm not sure how else the oil would get into the intake aside from a bad PCV valve but, again, I have none. Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you
Monday, May 6th, 2024 AT 10:27 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,443 POSTS
The oil is likely due to the missing PCV valves. Their primary job is to regulate the crankcase gases so that the constant vacuum in the intake can't just pull oil in all the time. The oil around the plugs would be bad seals, if you used common aftermarket seals the first time, they may be the reason for those leaks, the aftermarket seals get hard and crack if they seal properly to begin with.
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Monday, May 6th, 2024 AT 7:35 PM
Tiny
BILL MARSHALL
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But without the PCV valves where would the intake be pulling oil in from? I used Nissan factory gaskets and seals.
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Monday, May 6th, 2024 AT 7:53 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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The oil is pulled in through the vacuum and the crankcase pressure.
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Monday, May 6th, 2024 AT 8:24 PM
Tiny
BILL MARSHALL
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Forgive me if this is repetitive but, where would the oil be coming from? Without the PCV valves, there is no source for oil to be drawn from that leads to the intake, or am I mistaken?

It's my understanding that the valves only open at low to medium throttle and minimal load or, while "cruising", and are closed at idle and at heavy to full throttle. If the valves have been replaced by filters that vent to atmosphere at all times, wouldn't the crankcase pressure be reduced?
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Monday, May 6th, 2024 AT 10:53 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
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If you have open filters, you have created a large vacuum leak and the ecu is dumping some extra fuel into the system to compensate. That extra fuel is diluting the oil and thinning it. As such it can be pulled through areas like valve stem seals and the intake gaskets easier. Restore the PCV system and reseal the intake and the oil should go away. Be sure to change the oil to remove any residual fuel from it.
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Thursday, May 9th, 2024 AT 7:44 AM
Tiny
BILL MARSHALL
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I completely understand your thought process on this but, there is no such vacuum leak. I have Stillen Gen 3 cold air intakes and the PCV delete kit is from Concept Z Performance. VQ35 and VQ37 engines are notorious for the PCV valves bypassing oil which loads up on the throttle plate and can cause throttle control actuator issues. All vacuum sources have been capped off and my short-term and long-term fuel trims are normal.
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Thursday, May 9th, 2024 AT 8:59 AM
Tiny
BILL MARSHALL
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For reference
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Thursday, May 9th, 2024 AT 9:00 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
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Would have to be pushed there either through blowby or bad stem seals.
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Thursday, May 9th, 2024 AT 11:47 PM

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