I have a g37 sport that makes a lifter like noise at idle, when hot. The dealer says it's an engine management system incompatibility issue with after market oil and not to worry. Believe me, it's a sound that makes me worry, not to mention it's embarrassing. They say it has something to do with the lobeless cam and the way the oil viscosity calibration changes when hot. I don't get it. They said that Infiniti will be offering a "factory" oil in the future that will halt the noise, but not to worry. HELP!!!!
...The dealer says it's an engine management system incompatibility issue with after market oil and not to worry...They say it has something to do with the lobeless cam and the way the oil viscosity calibration changes when hot. I don't get it. They said that Infiniti will be offering a "factory" oil in the future that will halt the noise, but not to worry. HELP!!!!
Wow, what a line of BS.
Lobeless Cam??? A cam has lobes, a lobeless cam would then be a round stick.
Does the owners manual specify special oil or just the standard API(?) certified stuff? the same stuff everyone else sells for cars
If it is standard API it should not make noise with "aftermarket" oil
Wait, WHO put the oil in, the dealer? If you did it and it is not compatible, use the dealers oil, no?
If the dealer put the oil in the car and claims this, I demand to sit in another G-37 to hear the noise.
Like ThatGuy above said, sounds like a load of crap to me!
My G37 has over 4k miles on it now and I've NEVER heard any kind of sound like you're describing. I had the 1st oil change at 3k, so that means the sound didn't appear with the oil from the factory OR with the oil from the dealer oil change (Castrol's non-synthetic if I recall). If you truly believe the sound is severe enough to be causing damage, then:
1) I would insist the dealer change it immediately to whatever stops the noise. 2)If they don't have anything that will stop the noise, then demand a loaner car as the car shouldn't be driven to minimize future potential damage. 3)If they claim the car is safe to drive and the noise is not causing any damage, then INSIST on having them put that VERY CLEARLY in writing. 4)Contact Infiniti Corporate Customer Service, alert them to the situation, ask for their guidance, get a case number started. 5) Start researching lemon laws.
In short, like everyone else here, I think your dealer is really screwing with you on this one....I wouldn't take if I were you!
Thanks for the reply poormansporsche. While I was there, another G37 owner came in with the same complaint. We al went out to listen to her noise, and nothing happened for about 20 minutes, and then it made the same noise as mine.
Thanks for the reply poormansporsche. While I was there, another G37 owner came in with the same complaint. We al went out to listen to her noise, and nothing happened for about 20 minutes, and then it made the same noise as mine.
Really??, wow, now you got me worried ...How many miles are on your G37 ? Has it done it since new? If this is going to become a problem for them, I'd sure like to know more about it... maybe mine's still too new?
Sorry to worry you. The owner of the dealer is a close friend and I don't think he would b.s. me about this but.... He said that very soon, all cars are going to need proprietary materials, as the technology keeps advancing. He said that the fact that the cam has no lobes is an indication of how advanced this technology is.
My car has 7600 miles on it now. I only use premium gas, and synthetic oil. the noise comes and goes - only at idle, and as far as I can tell, only when it gets hot. I live in HELL - AKA Phoenix, Az., and maybe it isn't hot enough where you live. I'm not worried that if something happens, he won't take care of it, I am mainly curious how many others are experiencing this. The sad part is we're going to HAVE to use the dealer for oil changes, and that means they'll be able to charge a high priice.
Sorry to worry you. The owner of the dealer is a close friend and I don't think he would b.s. me about this but.... He said that very soon, all cars are going to need proprietary materials, as the technology keeps advancing. He said that the fact that the cam has no lobes is an indication of how advanced this technology is.
My car has 7600 miles on it now. I only use premium gas, and synthetic oil. the noise comes and goes - only at idle, and as far as I can tell, only when it gets hot. I live in HELL - AKA Phoenix, Az., and maybe it isn't hot enough where you live. I'm not worried that if something happens, he won't take care of it, I am mainly curious how many others are experiencing this. The sad part is we're going to HAVE to use the dealer for oil changes, and that means they'll be able to charge a high priice.
I will pay particularly close attention to engine noises now, but I gotta be honest, that lobeless cam business sounds screwy to me...why would it even be called a cam if it had no eccentrics (lobes)???
Another thing, the fact that you are running synthetic at only 7600 miles troubles me. When, mileage wise, did you originally change to synthetic ? I have 3 dealerships near me and they all insist that you stay with conventional oil for the first 15k miles before making the choice to go synthetic.
Lastly, I'd bet a dollar that, (if there isn't any mechanical problem/damage to your car already) if you swithed to a conventional oil, properly weighted for your climate, that your noises would go away. It wouldn't be too expensive of a test anyway, considering were talking about a 40k car.
...Lastly, I'd bet a dollar that, (if there isn't any mechanical problem/damage to your car already) if you swithed to a conventional oil, properly weighted for your climate, that your noises would go away. It wouldn't be too expensive of a test anyway, considering were talking about a 40k car.
I agree with the wait to use synthetic but I doubt the switch from synthetic>conventional will cause the noise to go away, provided the synthetic is the proper weight. I mean it's at idle in a "warm" climate, straight 30 weight should work fine there. Not like you need the winter rating in June in AZ
A lobeless cam is like putting a screen door on a submarine, it just won't work.
Wow, As I was waiting for the dealer to top off my oil and discuss the possibilities of a second engine replacement, I was seriously looking at a new G37s. I think I'll wait! I should hear something tomorrow about my engine. The new and improved engine they put in was 1.5 qts. low after 1200miles.
I would suggest you all do some research on oil and how engines work. I mean come on; Lobeless Cam, "aftermarket" oil, proprietary materials (oil is basically oil). There is some truth to this thread though.
Since you have low mileage it might be ok to go back to regular oil, but I strongly recommend against it. Once you make the change to synthetic, you should stay with synthetic.
Right now i have about 400 miles on my G and i am going to change the oil with conventional oil to remove any particals or any junk from breaking in the engine. Then i'll switch to synthetic, most likely royal purple! Their really is no set time frame to switch from conventional to synthetic. I'm done ranting.
Last edited by Dipstix6996 : 06-18-2008 at 01:14 AM.
Calling it a "lobeless cam" is kinda misleading but does make sense in a way. I believe he was referring to the use of VVEL in the 3.7 which by definition doesn't have cams in the traditional sense.
So in a way the cam is lobeless but probably would be better described as infinitly variable rather than lobeless.
I suppose that cams from JWT aren't in the picture now
I predict that the real power tweaking will be done in the CPU by products like the AccessPORT from COBB. Which is nice because it is cheaper than cams and ALOT easier to install/uninstall. From what I've read the G37 version should be done soon.
I switched to Mobil 1 synthetic oil at 866 miles. Changed again with Mobil 1 at 3791. At 5200 miles now at up to 90 degrees in Denver with no ticking. Yet.After owning several early 90s vehicles plauged with this issue (twin turbo Stealth, Mazda 626), I can attest there isn't much worse than your engine sounding like a time bomb. Tick, tick, tick...
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2008 Infiniti G37 6MT Sport Coupe [pics]
1993 Mazda 626 - 266,000 miles
ex's: '98 Trans Am WS6 M6, '98 Trans Am M6 conv't, '97 Mustang Cobra conv't, '92 Stealth Twin Turbo
Calling it a "lobeless cam" is kinda misleading but does make sense in a way. I believe he was referring to the use of VVEL in the 3.7 which by definition doesn't have cams in the traditional sense.
Variable Valve Event and Lift - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
So in a way the cam is lobeless but probably would be better described as infinitly variable rather than lobeless.
thanks for the explanation xeroed! Hey "Thatguy" I'm going to use my "round stick" to put a screen door on my submarine - LOL!!!!
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g37 engine noise/oil problem
...How many miles are on your G37 ? Has it done it since new? If this is going to become a problem for them, I'd sure like to know more about it... maybe mine's still too new?
